Original URL: http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/11/14/sony_ps3_sales_and_glitch/
Sony has yet to lend its voice to the argument, but independent commentators have claimed the consumer electronics giant sold just shy of 90,000 PlayStation 3 consoles this past weekend. Sony did admit that not all PSOne and PS2 games run on the new machine. Whoops.
Of course, not all Xbox games run on the Xbox 360, but while Microsoft decided to implement backwards compatibility through software, using an emulator, Sony took the more costly approach of incorporating the PS2's EE+GS chip and other components.
Which is why the company's admission that around 200 old games won't run properly on the PS3 may prove a blow. Some don't run at all, others work but without some audio functionality, according to Reuters. But plenty more will work just fine, so it's questionable just how much of a problem this is for Sony.
Indeed, how important is backwards compatibility at all? Hardcore console gamers tend to be happy having multiple machines spread around their TV.
Meanwhile, according to Japanese magazine publisher Enterbrain, Sony sold 88,400 PS3s on Saturday and Sunday - less than the 100,000 the manufacturer said it would ship in Japan for the launch but more than the 80,000 Japanese newspaper Nikkei Keizai Shimbun had claimed Sony would ship (http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/10/31/sony_ps3_japan_allocation/).
Either way, there's no doubt demand is there for the new console.
Enterbrain claimed around 62 per cent of PS3s purchased were the more expensive, 60GB model, and that Namco Bandai's Ridge Racer 7 and Mobile Suit Gundam: Target in Sight topped the PS3 sales chart with sales of around 30,000 each. ®
Glu Mobile files for $92m IPO (22 December 2006)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/12/22/glu_ipo/
Sony to ship major PS3 firmware update next March (5 December 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/12/05/sony_ps3_firmware_update/
Sony exec says 'yes' to PS4 (5 December 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/12/05/sony_says_yes_to_ps4/
eBayer offers 60GB PS3 for less than a dollar (24 November 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/11/24/ps3_offered_on_ebay_for_99c/
Sony punching out PS3s 'smoothly' (22 November 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/11/22/ps3_production_going_smoothly/
Linux-running PS3 offered on eBay (20 November 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/11/20/linux_ps3_offered_on_ebay/
eBayer bids $89m for PS3 (17 November 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/11/17/ebayer_bids_89m_for_ps3/
Man shot while queuing to buy PlayStation 3 (17 November 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/11/17/man_shot_in_ps3_queue/
Sony PS3 'costs at least $805-840' to make (16 November 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/11/16/isuppli_prices_up_ps3/
Sony to ship '150-200k' PS3s for US launch (15 November 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/11/15/ps3_uk_launch_forecast/
Developer confirms DVD-edition Wii coming H2 2007 (15 November 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/11/15/nintendo_wii_gets_dvd_in_07/
Sony's PS3 purchased, pulled apart (13 November 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/11/13/sony_ps3_disassembled/
Japanese eBay PS3s marked up 300% (13 November 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/11/13/ps3_ebay_chinese_buyers/
PS2 sales highlight Sony's challenge as PS3 debuts in Japan (13 November 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/11/13/sony_ps3_japan_debut/
PS3 overheating claim rattles investors (4 October 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/10/04/ps3_heat_claim/
Sony punching out PS3s 'full swing', claims analyst (3 October 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/10/03/sony_punching_out_ps3s/