Rumor Control: The top-loading, HDD-free PS2

Rumor #1: The new, 1.1-inch-wide PlayStation 2 doesn't have a hard-disk drive bay.

Source: Just look at the thing.

The official story: See below.

What we heard: When the slim-downed unit was revealed, keen-eyed observers asked, "Where's the hard-disk drive bay?" We posed the question to Sony, which confirmed that the new unit would not have an HDD bay. However, Sony assured gamers that the lack of an HDD bay "was not a sign of Sony Computer Entertainment's change in philosophy regarding the hard-disk drive" and that the company is looking into "other memory options." So where does that leave PS2 players of Final Fantasy XI, which requires the HDD? According to Sony, there's no problem, because "consumers who want and use the hard-disk drive are typically the more hard-core gamers, and with more than 27 million PlayStation 2 units already sold in North America, we feel that a majority of those HDD-interested consumers already have their PlayStation 2 units." However, a statement by FFXI producer Hiromichi Tanaka to a British game site didn't sound nearly as upbeat. "We're still preparing, and looking into perhaps even changing platforms, because once the PlayStation 2 is phased out, [the FFXI] population will have to move somewhere," he said.

Bogus or not bogus?: Not bogus.

Rumor #2: The new PS2 is top-loading.

Source: A photo that initially surfaced on Swedish game site Game Reactor before being pulled.

The official story: SCEA reps said they had not yet seen an actual example of the new PlayStation 2, so they could not confirm or deny anything about its physical characteristics.

What we heard: When the new PS2's slender design was revealed, minimalists everywhere drooled over the prospect of sliding the unit into a tight slot in their multimedia centers. However, it looks like that won't be possible. As first evidenced from the photo from Game Reactor (pictured), the unit will be top-loading, meaning it will need at least an inch of space above it for the disc-compartment door to open. Though SCEA reps said they were unable to confirm the feature, GameSpot operatives at the Tokyo Game Show saw it for themselves, closing the case.

Bogus or not bogus?: Not bogus.

Rumor #3: The PSP will cost 33,000 yen--approximately $300.

Source: UK game site SPOnG.

The official story: "Official pricing for the PSP has not been announced, and any information in this regard is only speculation," a Sony spokesperson said.

What we heard: The SPOnG article attributed the price to a statement by SCEE Germany Managing Director Manfred Gerdes, but did not say where he said it or in what context. Regardless, Sony officials have been aggressively denying the comments attributed to Gerdes, contacting numerous online media outlets to say "we appreciate you not reporting on and perpetuating this incorrect information on your Web site." However, a $300 price point for the PSP is in tune with numerous analyst predictions, which could mean that Sony's PR effort is more damage control than debunking. Then again, maybe not.

Bogus or not bogus?: Officially bogus--until Sony says otherwise.

Rumor #4: Sony has developed an eight-layer Blu-ray disc capable of storing 200GB of data for the PlayStation 3.

Source: Macworld, the Apple-lover's equivalent of Newsweek.

The official story: See below.

What we heard: According to the Macworld article, Sony is planning an announcement at the International Symposium on Optical Memory in South Korea, which will be held October 11-15. The article quotes Sony spokesman Taro Takamine as saying that, in addition to showcasing the 200GB disc's development, Sony plans to begin offering a four-layer 100GB BD for commercial sale in 2007. While that sounds all nice and official, SCEA would not confirm or deny the announcement, despite repeated e-mails requesting comment.

Bogus or not bogus?: Sounds great, but we won't know until next month for sure.

Rumor #5: The Xbox 2 will use Virtual PC 7 for backward compatibility for original Xbox games.

Source: Self-explanatory site Geek.com.

The official story: Microsoft reps said they would "track down" the source of the rumor, but had not as of press time.

What we heard: According to Geek.com's Apple Insider subsection, the reason for the delay of the latest version of Virtual PC 7 is that "Microsoft has given this project exclusively to the Xbox team." Why would they do such a thing? "Because the next Xbox will include an IBM PowerPC 970, and current Xbox game developers are shipped G5 PowerMacs," says Geek.com. While not confirmed by Microsoft, it sounds like a much more plausible scenario than last week's Xbox 2-backward-compatiblity rumor, which had a Silicon Valley startup providing universal emulator middleware for the next-gen console.

Bogus or not bogus?: Probably not bogus.

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