PS3 Backward Compatiblity Question

[peter_vod69]

Hi folks, just wondering why the 40GB PS3 can't be made backward-compatible with PS2 games via software emulation? Is this just a marketing thing, where Sony Value-add some features into the 80gb model but not the cheaper one?

 

[TB]

The 40Gb isn't the only one that got the shaft on BC. The newer 80Gb and the 160Gb did, as well.

As for why, I don't know. My 80Gb has software BC and in the year and a few months of owning it, I've put a PS2 game in it once, so it certainly isn't a make or break thing as far as I'm concerned. I'm sure for some who don't want another piece of equipment in their entertainment center it might be an issue, but personally I don't care.

 

[peter_vod69]

Could the OS from a different PS3 be installed on a 40gb (or similarly bc-lacking) to add this feature? I know what you mean regarding older games, I had a crack at San Andreas and it felt wierd and looked very average after being used to GTA IV, but to have the feature would be nice.

 

[rpgcyco]

Could the OS from a different PS3 be installed on a 40gb (or similarly bc-lacking) to add this feature?

No, because the "software" backwards compatibility used in the PAL 60GB and original NTSC 80GB consoles wasn't entirely software. They still retained the Graphics Synthesizer (GPU) hardware, while the Emotion Engine (CPU) was emulated with software.

Sony would have to develop an entirely software based solution in order to offer PS2 BC to owners of more recent PS3 SKUs. I know how frustrating it can be for 40GB (or newer 80GB and 160GB) owners who want BC, I was one of them, but the only certain way to get BC is to buy a second hand PS3 that has it. I did and for me, it was entirely worth it.

 

[bizzychris]

Can the new 80GB model play psone games? I have one and would like to pick up a copy of Gran Turismo 1

 

[The Vanishing Boy]

^ Nope.

 

[JamboGT]

All PS3's can play PSone games.

Sorry The Vanishing Boy but you are wrong.

 

[The Vanishing Boy]

-> Not all PS3's can entirely play PS1 and PS2 games. As far as I've heard:

20G - yes
40G - no
60G (us) - yes
60G (pal) - emulation
80G (us) - emulation
80G (pal) - no
160G - no

*Wiki

-> I'm sorry JamboGT, you are wrong.

-> The one I have

 

[Coxis]

-> Not all PS3's can entirely play PS1 and PS2 games. As far as I've heard:

20G - yes
40G - no
60G (us) - yes
60G (pal) - emulation
80G (us) - emulation
80G (pal) - no
160G - no

*Wiki

-> I'm sorry JamboGT, you are wrong.

-> The one I have

Sorry Vanishing, but it's you who's wrong. All PS3s can play PS1 games, it's PS2 games that not all of them can play.

 

[Aero-R]

JamboGT and Coxis are right.

In fact, I'm playing my Playstation 1 discs since a lot of time on my Playstation 3. I even bought the SONY official Memory Card adaptor in order to back up my 6 Memory Cards to Playstation 3 and to my PC throught the Playstation 3's USB ports, and even continue my Playstation 1 games from where I left them (most of them are able to do this too). My Playstation 3 is the PAL 40 GBs model. Just a few games from Playstation 1 can't be played as the METAL GEAR SOLID VR MISSIONS expansion disc, just because of special swap checking needed which is not available on Playstation 3 (it was on Playstation 1 by opening the top of the console and swapping the VR MISSIONS expansion disc with the normal METAL GEAR SOLID disc in order to do the checking and continue the game on the expansion disc).

And if not enough with my personal opinion, you've another proof in the fact that Playstation Store is always selling Playstation 1 titles but not Playstation 2 titles, that's because every Playstation plays Playstation 1 titles but not all the models plays Playstation 2 games.

 

[Giancarlo]

My 40 gig plays PS1 games. lol.

 

[Solid Lifters]

All PS3 consoles can play PS1 games, but not all PS3 consoles can play PS2 games.

When I got my launch day 60GB PS3, I wanted the playback for PS2 games. I saw how HORRIBLE PS2 games looked and Sony promised corrections. They abandoned that and decided PS2 playback wasn't worth it. They were right.

Since having my PS3, I played PS2 games only a few times at launch time and then never did it again. PS2 playback just isn't needed. Besides, PS2 consoles are what, $99 brand new these days? If you want to play a PS2 game, keep your PS2 console. If you don't have one, get one since they're cheap enough.

 

[Joey D]

PS2 playback just isn't needed. Besides, PS2 consoles are what, $99 brand new these days? If you want to play a PS2 game, keep your PS2 console. If you don't have one, get one since they're cheap enough.

I disagree, PS2 playback is needed since many people have a ton of PS2 games they still enjoy playing. I'm pretty annoyed with the next gen consoles and how they didn't offer proper backwards compatibility when it was promised. The 360's is rather half-assed with only a select group of first party games being offered an the PS3 just dropped it altogether.

And I think it's daft to say if you want to play PS2 game just buy a PS2, you already purchased an expensive system, it should play back games just fine. I really think it's all a ploy to get people to buy the games again from the PSN store or from Live for the 360.

 

[barryl85]

I disagree, PS2 playback is needed since many people have a ton of PS2 games they still enjoy playing. I'm pretty annoyed with the next gen consoles and how they didn't offer proper backwards compatibility when it was promised. The 360's is rather half-assed with only a select group of first party games being offered an the PS3 just dropped it altogether.

And I think it's daft to say if you want to play PS2 game just buy a PS2, you already purchased an expensive system, it should play back games just fine. I really think it's all a ploy to get people to buy the games again from the PSN store or from Live for the 360.

Sorry for going off subject slightly, Great point Joey and i just want to add to that, im actually also dissapointed when they release new consoles with newer better equipment features too, forcing us to buy the newer version too, i think its very dis-loyal especially for consumers who may have queued up for hours the day before launch only to discover two months later there is a newer version with a bigger hd better internals etc.....

I bought a launch model 360 - then upgraded to an Elite when that came out, shortly after i bought my elite (mainly for 120gb HD & HDMI functionality) they announced all 360's would have HDMI even arcade system. I also heard further rumours about 360 with blu ray drive, im glad that has fell through.

Just purchase another PS3 (my third one to be exact) as my old one packed in (blu ray drive) and im hearing of a PS3 slim coming soon!

Bought a Wii not too long ago and i've now heard about a possible Wii Plus console being announced.


The worst is the handhelds:

Nintendo DS then Nintendo DS Lite then Nintendo DS Lite in diff colours now Nintendo DSi.

PSP - PSP Slim & light (then about 4 variations with different screens and all sorts) now PSP Go.

 

[Super T]

I rather stupidly left getting a PS3 till they stopped making the original 60Gb ones, mine is one of the first of the UK 40Gb models. PS2 backwards compatability was scrapped or just never planned for it meaning I'm now stuck with another console under my TV, which I might add, means I'm also stuck with using wired controllers for PS2 games.

But it does play PS1 games, not sure if it plays all PS1 games but its certainly played all the ones I've tried. Bit laggy when I'm using the PSP to play PS1 games via remote play but other than that it's fine.

 

[yeti]

I disagree, PS2 playback is needed since many people have a ton of PS2 games they still enjoy playing. I'm pretty annoyed with the next gen consoles and how they didn't offer proper backwards compatibility when it was promised. The 360's is rather half-assed with only a select group of first party games being offered an the PS3 just dropped it altogether.

And I think it's daft to say if you want to play PS2 game just buy a PS2, you already purchased an expensive system, it should play back games just fine. I really think it's all a ploy to get people to buy the games again from the PSN store or from Live for the 360.

Agree - although I ended up flogging all of my PS2 games on Ebay once I got a PS3.

C.

 

[JamboGT]

Hah The Vanishing Boy got burned!

Sorry am feeling childish today.

 

[Coxis]

Hah The Vanishing Boy got burned!

Sorry am feeling childish today.

The Vanishing Boy got vanished.

I'm so glad I got a 60GB. I still play GT4, MGS: Sons of Liberty and MGS: Snake Eater. Those are some of the greatest games of the PS2, and even though I still have my PS2 I rather play them on my PS3. I bought the memory card adaptor and backed up all my saves there, so there's no problems there.

 

[JamboGT]

Am lucky enough to have the 60GB launch version too although that means software emulation for PS2 games.

 

[Coxis]

Am lucky enough to have the 60GB launch version too although that means software emulation for PS2 games.

Actually it's the 80 GB models that use software emulation for PS2 games. The 20 and 60 GB models have the emotion engine in them.

 

[JamboGT]

Mine is a PAL one so its emulation unfortunately, I wish I had the emotion chip as there are a few graphical problems like the odd purple cloud round the Nurburgring.