When I bought my PS3 a short while ago, it was because I KNEW that after the announcement of the removal of the backwards compatibility chip in the overseas-only 80GB model, Sony would bring that same model to the US.
80GB PS3 Doesn’t Have Emotion Engine news from 1UP.com:
“The 80GB model uses a software solution for backwards compatibility, similar to that currently found in the PAL,” said a company spokesperson. “We are putting more of our resources behind creating new content for PS3 users (more than 120 titles are coming this fiscal year) that can take full advantage of PS3 hardware and PSN.”
I weighed this inevitability against the announcement of Sony settling w/ Immersion: the company that sued the rumble out of PS3. My thoughts were that a rumbling controller can easily be added, while the Emotion Engine can’t. Even though there wasn’t a great deal of software on the PS3 that I wanted to play, I made the plunge.
The same hardware I bought at launch price is now $100 cheaper, so get it while you can — it’s sales have gone up 2400% on Amazon.com, and it’s likely to sell out VERY quickly. If you have a good deal of PS2 and PS1 software, this is your chance.
Don’t blow it!