About the PS3.

[Lord_Stewie]

HEY GUYS,

Backward compatibility issue. I have a younger Brother who is Hardcore Sony Playstation anything. It doesn't matter to him, as long as its a playstation it is where he would get the most Entertainment + excitement + Gaming experience. Now i will be honest with you. I started buying HDDVDs around 2006 when HDDVD players were released. My little brother, was heavily disappointed when i walked in the house with an HDDVD. He told me that "You will regret it. you spent hard earned money on this peace of dead plastic. YOU DO KNOW BLURAY WILL WIN!!!." I got hard headed and angry that my 8 years old bro talks this way to his 25 years old. anyway I thought that maybe i should consider what he said, and learn more about the format war. The result is I sold the HDDVD player and all the movies along with it. bought Xbox360 and PS3 with that same money I made.

and May i say i am glad. for doing so.

About the Backward Compatibility issue. I tend to have a hard time understanding it. with the PS2 all PS1 GAMES WERE ABLE TO PLAY. However, with the PS3, Backward compatibility doesn't work as well as the predecessor.

Can someone Clarify why this is an issue and why sony is having a problem with it. (By that i meant how come it wasn't clearly figured out to pull a 100% backward compatibility.)

Thanks for sharing.

[stockstar1138]

sony came out with two consoles:

20GB ($500)

&

60GB ($600)

both of these consoles had the same chipset the PS2 had (Emotion Engine) in them, which resulted in 100% BC with PS2 and PC1 games.

The 20GB PS3 did not sell well compared to the 60GB, plus it had worse margins, so Sony canned it and began to only sell the 60GB PS3 for $600. However, people *****ed and complained about the price and the PS3 wasn't selling well.

Sony then made a 80GB PS3 bundled with Motorstorm for $600 and dropped the 60GB to $500, with the intent of firsaling off the $500 PS3 to eventually drop the whole SKU all together as they had no intent of selling a console with all the features of the 60GB for $500 all the time. Now, in order to make the 80GB PS3 cheaper for the consumers since they demanded a cheaper console, Sony had to cut some things out, including the Emotion Engine, which cost about $30 a pop to put in, instead they replaced it with some semi-conductors that could emulate PS2 games, this was about 80% effective. However, consumers further complained about $500, so Sony cut the semi-conductor emulators out completely and made the 40GB PS3 which has 0% PS2 BC.

All versions are 100% BC with PS1.

[Invincible0427]

Originally Posted by stockstar1138

sony came out with two consoles:

20GB ($500)

&

60GB ($600)

both of these consoles had the same chipset the PS2 had (Emotion Engine) in them, which resulted in 100% BC with PS2 and PC1 games.

The 20GB PS3 did not sell well compared to the 60GB, plus it had worse margins, so Sony canned it and began to only sell the 60GB PS3 for $600. However, people *****ed and complained about the price and the PS3 wasn't selling well.

Sony then made a 80GB PS3 bundled with Motorstorm for $600 and dropped the 60GB to $500, with the intent of firsaling off the $500 PS3 to eventually drop the whole SKU all together as they had no intent of selling a console with all the features of the 60GB for $500 all the time. Now, in order to make the 80GB PS3 cheaper for the consumers since they demanded a cheaper console, Sony had to cut some things out, including the Emotion Engine, which cost about $30 a pop to put in, instead they replaced it with some semi-conductors that could emulate PS2 games, this was about 80% effective. However, consumers further complained about $500, so Sony cut the semi-conductor emulators out completely and made the 40GB PS3 which has 0% PS2 BC.

All versions are 100% BC with PS1.

Good to know all that stuff..i knew most of it but you mentioned somethings i didnt know of. Thanks

[cking2729]

Originally Posted by shadblz

Can someone Clarify why this is an issue and why sony is having a problem with it.

I wouldn't say they are having a problem with it. BC works perfect on my 60 GB and Sony supported what few issues there were through firmware updates. Sony made a business decision with BC and that's about the extent of it. There are two consoles you can eBay if BC is a make or break deal, and there is another on the mass market if BC is important but not absolutely pressing. The consoles are out there to be had based on your preference, and what consoles are out there do BC a heck of a lot better than a certain competitor with only one generation of titles to worry about.

I always thought BC would be a huge deal for me, due to my PS1 and PS2 libraries and the lack of PS3 games out at launch. But from personal experience, I still maintain that once you get your hands on a few of the great PS3 titles out there, you'll never want anything to do with older games. I love the Metal Gear Solid series, but I couldn't stomach 15 minutes of MGS2 when I tried to get into it a few weeks ago.

[Manmangler]

In USA those versions have emotion engine chip aka Hardware emulation. In europe 60 GB version have Software emulation and 40 GB version don't have BC to PS2-games. Because of software emulation, I have to keep my PS2 console. There are two games that won't work in Euro 60 GB version.

[Copywriter]

60g FTW!

[Cordre69]

I still hate that I can't get a PS3 w/BC off the shelf anymore. Though admittedly, by the end of this year I'll likely never play another PS2 game again.

[mewantyblu]

So glad I bought my wonderful 60gb ps3

[Bango]

You know...a few days ago when I was in costco...they still had some bundled 60 GB ones with an extra controller and Genji (YUCK) but hell, if you need a 60...try checking Costco out.

[Marquoz]

I got the 40gb with no BC, recently unplugged my PS2 as I realized I wasn't playing any games on it. Glad I saved the 100$ which I put into buying a new HD.

[bilbravo]

I ran out to get a 60gb unit when they reduced the price because my PS2 was dead. I was so excited to get the 60gb so I could play my PS2 games. I played them for about 2 weeks, until I finally decided which PS3 game to get first (Warhawk). Haven't played PS2 games since.

[phelps]

I have rarely put a ps2 game in my ps3. I have been playing some old wrestling games, but other than that, there have been no ps2 games in the ps3. I have been having to much fun with my ps3 games. They are a lot of more beatiful and a lot more fun than the older games.

[Sylin]

Question: does the BC issue only affect games on disc? In other words, if I bought a 40gb PS3 (US version) today, would I be able to download, say, Wipeout from the PSN and play it?

I have no PS2 or PS1 games on disc, and thus don't need the BC. I've been considering getting a 40gb for the bedroom (or waiting, and getting the new model this June).

[chnandler_bong]

Originally Posted by ikcizokm

Question: does the BC issue only affect games on disc? In other words, if I bought a 40gb PS3 (US version) today, would I be able to download, say, Wipeout from the PSN and play it?

I have no PS2 or PS1 games on disc, and thus don't need the BC. I've been considering getting a 40gb for the bedroom (or waiting, and getting the new model this June).

The BC business is only for reading the disks. Anything on PSN would not be affected, so download away.

[Shin-Ra]

WipEout isn't even a PS2 game. PSone games run on every PS3 model released. Only PS2 backward compatibility is missing from 40GB PS3's.

[kingofgrills]

Originally Posted by Cordre69

I still hate that I can't get a PS3 w/BC off the shelf anymore. Though admittedly, by the end of this year I'll likely never play another PS2 game again.

Buy an 80 gig model, and you'll probably never notice any issues on PS2 backward compatiblity, unless you play really old PS2 games. Otherwise, hunt around for a 60 gig model for 100% BC.

Or, since you've stated you probably won't play PS2 games for too much longer, keep your PS2 plugged in for three months until you realize it's just collecting dust.

[Pauliesr]

I've posted recently that I've noticed a quite a few Sam's Club around town still have the 60gb bundles for sale (with extra controller and game I'm guessing but not 100%) for $550.

Love the 60gb