Some were soured when they found out the 80GB unit would use software emulation instead of the Emotion Engine (the PS2 chip in the North American PS3). But since the 80GB PS3 comes bundled with Motorstorm, many were able to look past it.

Now that it's been confirmed that the $100 discount on the 60GB PS3 is actually a clearance sale, and not a permanent price reduction, many PlayStationites are left scratching their heads as to why.

Well, Sony Computer Entertainment president David Reeves offered an explanation:

The difference is that the 60GB we (Europe, which is the blueprint forthe new NA 80GB PS3) have now has about 88 percent backwardscompatibility.

The 60GB they (current North American model with EmotionEngine) had had 100 per cent backwards compatibility. They felt that bygoing down from 100 to 88, for example, that they'd have to addsomething in - and that's what they did.