If you’re an early adaptor of the PS3, consider yourself lucky, because it might have paid off. In Japan, the 20GB model is burning up Amazon Japan, and most local retailers are now charging twice the price for these backward compatible machines as the newer 40GB model.

This also applies to the trade-in value from Japanese game retailers, which has skyrocketed from 15,000 to 40,100 Yen for the 20GB Model. Surprisingly, this used price is the same price the shops charged one year ago for a brand-new console.

But here’s the sweetest plum: a brand new 20 GB model is retailing at 63.800 Yen (US $616), and the 60 GB model is retailing for 74.800 ($723).

Early 60GB PS3s have recently sold on Ebay for double retail price not just for backwards compatibility, but also for SACD functionality.

Many music geeks love their 5.1 albums, and the PS3 was a system that could afford them this luxury. However, later PS3 models have had this functionality removed.

It seems the Japanese really miss these features, so much so that retailers are getting away with these murderous prices.

Tags: 100_yen, amazon_japan, backwards_compatibility, compatible_machines, game_retailers, japanese_game, models, music_geeks, PS3, retail_price

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