Backwards compatibility with the newer consoles

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Unless I'm missing some other reason for those companies not making their latest consoles (PS4, Xbox1) backwards compatible, I'm thinking it's purely sadistic on their part. I mean, I want to play both PS3 games and any future PS4 ones that will come out (since, I assume, now games will just be released on the latest consoles)... since it doesn't seem possible to emulate PS3 I'd have to buy a console, but I'd rather just buy the latest one to be able to play games released in the future too if only it was backwards compatible... but they seriously expect people to buy both?! What am I going to end up with, potentially... Xbox 360 (non-emulatable), 1, PS3, 4....? Even if I wouldn't mind spending so much on them, I just don't have the shelf space!

it would increase the cost and size. they would have to put a ps3 motherboard and powersouce in the ps4.
the orignally ps3 cost 600-700. the ps4 is 400. people don't want to pay 500 for a system non the less 800that it might cost to do a ps3/ps4.
the hardware of the ps3 and ps4 is different same with the xbox360 and xbox1. plus not a lot of people really want backwards compatibility, so they wouldn't sell many of them.
the slim ps3 and ps4 use the same connectors you can just swap them out. though what games do you want? quite a few of the good ps3 games are making their way to the ps4.

I really don't see why a PS4 can't handle PS3 games or the same with Xbox One.

Modern PCs would use an emulator to run older games, but I do get it. I have games that won't run well on Windows 7 even though it has an XP mode, and the XP VM option doesn't play well with the video card as a straight XP OS will. The game is old enough that it needs real XP, not a compatibility mode.

Even then, emulators might not play well with the sound and graphics hardware. Unless they see a big need to have reverse compatibility (like 360 did with original Xbox), they don't bother making one.

The Xbox One and PS4 are essentially specialized PCs with custom OSes. Their architecture is completely different from what was used in the PS3 and Xbox 360, and as a result they simply cannot run the same software. As well, the PS3 and 360 architectures are complex and powerful enough that it's impossible for current x86 PCs, or any other x86-based machines like the XBOne and PS4 to emulate them at any decent capacity. It's like how in the 90s, Macs and PCs had completely different CPUs, and software for one had to be completely reworked to run on the other.

It kind of baffles me that they didn't put in SOCs (system on a chip) for backwards compatibility, but at the same time, it makes sense since it would cost a lot of money to take an entire PS3 or 360 and turn it into an SOC. Being that these machines are already ludicrously expensive, they didn't want to make them cost more than they already do.

That's basically it....cost.

Modern Window8 PCs can run an emulator to operate Win 3.1. Emulators will compensate for clock speed and pretty much everything else, but some things don't translate as well (e.g., video card performance). Likewise, a separate OS boot that works with the new hardware is always an option, but these things cost money...something they don't want to tack on.

I suppose as long as MS wants to keep making the 360, they don't need to worry about backwards compatibility. Did not Sony still market the PS1 while still selling the PS3 because there was a demand for the original game system?

Not the PS1, but definitely the PS2. In fact, the last PS2 game to be released in North America came out just under a year ago! It was a sports title though, which isn't all too surprising. That said, the PS1 was only officially discontinued a few months before the PS3 came out.

Well, I'm getting a PS3 now... let's hope not too many interesting PS4 games are released soon that makes it necessary for me to have it too. >.<

So far I'd say the PS3 has a more compelling library than the PS4. I mean, obviously it's been out longer, but the only games I've seen so far on the PS4 have been multiplats. I watched my friend play some on his PS4, and while the graphics were nice enough, there was nothing too revolutionary about the gameplay. As well, the games don't really look all that different from Xbox 360 titles until you start looking at the finer details. That being said, the fact that games on there typically ran at 60fps blew me away. Most console games stick with 30fps just so that they can get more graphical details on screen, but 60fps allows for more fluid, realistic movement.