175 replies to this topic

[mkreku]

"Backwards compatibility, as you know from PlayStation One and PlayStation 2, is a core value of what we believe we should offer. And access to the library of content people have created, bought for themselves, and accumulated over the years is necessary to create a format. PlayStation is a format meaning that it transcends many devices -- PSOne, PS2, and now PS3."

"If the developer wrote the game according to our technical requirements checklist, we will have what we believe will be almost perfect backwards compatibility. There will be some exceptions, there always are, but we believe those will be very few and far between. Even less so than we saw from PSOne to PS2."

Source: http://www.gamepro.c...rticle_id=55108

[karka]

So, they removed the PS2 hardware from the PS3 and decided to use software emulation, eh? And for a higher price! Another reason to import.

[metadigital]

I'm starting to think Sony aren't going to win this fight, with Blu-ray looking more and more like a white elephant (MP2 encoding?! and extra levels of DRM, sub-optimal capacity on their discs) ...

[Bokishi]

Die Sony! Massive Damage!

[mkreku]

Rumble is back (perhaps):

http://www.gamespot....ws/6166644.html

Not that I care. I've never had a better game experience because of rumble. Quite the contrary, actually.

[TravisPennington]

Don't worry guys. It's not just Europe. They're removing the emotion chip and going for full on emulation for PS3's in Japan and the US as well. This was the plan from the beginning, as I remember reading a statement Sony made a while back which informed us that they'd use hardware for BC initially, then move to emulation. The problem is, this statement wasn't really moved around as "big news". I remember reading it dug in to some other news story.

The good news is, Sony is promising that over 1000 PS2 titles will be BC from the beginning, and that they'll be concentrating on hit games and franchises first. I would assume that means God of War, etc. At least the games will upscale now, I guess.

Personally I prefer the hardware BC, but 1000 PS2 titles BC at launch isn't all that bad. A lot better than what the 360 does, at least. If you want the hardware BC, you'd better import fast. Apparently they're making the change in April for Japan and US consoles. Remember though, that the BC for PS2 and PS1 games is region locked. It isn't region free like PS3 titles. So if you import a US PS3, you need US PS2 and PS1 games. And there's no telling if Sony is going to lock out the hardware BC when they release the new patch for emulation. If I were you, I wouldn't bother importing. A thousand PS2 titles being bc at launch really isn't all that bad, and there's no telling if Sony locks out the hardware BC or not on existing PS3's. You don't want to get screwed over.

Some good news for a change however, is this Playstation Home service. http://www.gamespot....newstop;title;6

Sounds pretty neat. One last thing...I've got Motorstorm. I actually recommend picking it up! I wasn't a big fan of the demo, but the full game is really fun to play. It's lacking in a lot of areas ie. content. You can't customize your cars, only a handful of tracks, that sort of thing. But it's an original racer, and isn't in the pack with the rehashed Need for Speed crap EA keeps pooping out. It's sort of...the new Jet Moto, or Wipeout. It's pure gameplay, through and through. Pretty fun game.

[Lare Kikkeli]

Console warriors, attack!

Edited by Lare Kikkeli, 09 March 2007 - 02:39 PM.

[mkreku]

That was pretty quick:

http://www.dailytech...article6454.htm

I guess Sony are getting pretty desperate in the cost cutting on the Playstation 3. Anyhow, it's good for Sony, good for the consumer and even good for the environment. And in the long run it might even mean a price cut on the console!

[aVENGER]

German review site tests European PS3 backward compatibility: only 1 out of 12 popular games worked!


Games that currently don't work:

• God of War
• MGS 2: Sons of Liberty
• MGS 3: Snake Eater
• Shadow of the Colossus
• Guitar Hero 2
• Prince of Persia: The Two Thrones
• Okami
• GTA: Liberty City Stories
• Final Fantasy X-2
• Ratchet & Clank 3
• Lumines Plus

Games that currently work:

• Eragon

This is pretty disappointing IMO. And while I'm certain that future firmware updates will ensure greater compatibility, to have some of the most popular PS2 titles unplayable at launch is quite unsettling.

[Meshugger]

Oh well, one just have to wait then.

[Bokishi]

• God of War
• MGS 2: Sons of Liberty
• MGS 3: Snake Eater
• Shadow of the Colossus
• Guitar Hero 2
• Prince of Persia: The Two Thrones
• Okami
• GTA: Liberty City Stories
• Final Fantasy X-2
• Ratchet & Clank 3
• Lumines Plus

Games that currently work:

• Eragon

Haha that's pretty bad

[mkreku]

Actually, that test was done with the 1.5 BIOS. It's the 1.6 BIOS that's supposed to bring the backwards compatibility to the PS3, so I am surprised that even one of the games worked!

[TravisPennington]

There's new developments on that list, apparently, as mkreku already pointed out.

"1UP contacted Sony about the allegations, who quickly pointed out that, by Cynamite's own self admission, they couldn't be right -- the PS3 they tested was utilizing old firmware. When PS3 becomes available in Europe, so will a 1.6 firmware update updating software emulation. "The article is misleading," said SCEE director of corporate communications Nick Sharples. "As the console tested by Cynamite was not using the latest firmware upgrade, the information posted on its site is meaningless."

The German websites PS3 didn't even have the new BC firmware. Of course those games aren't going to work.

Source: http://www.1up.com/d...ory?cId=3158019

[karka]

PAL compatibility list has been released. A pretty long list actually.

http://faq.eu.playst.../bc/bcGames.htm

[karka]

http://kotaku.com/ga...ndig-246437.php

[Diamond]

This sort of summarizes Australian way of life.

Oh yeah, and a AU$1000 price tag.

Edited by Diamond, 23 March 2007 - 03:18 AM.