EU PS3 = Software PS2 Emulation

[Shifty Geezer]

I expect they've been testing the emulator and software for a good while prior to the announcement. I doubt 1 month before release, with the freighter loaded up, someone surprisingly suggested to HQ that they start testing what PS2 titles actually work...

 

[nAo]

If they're still working on it (and I bet they are) they want to make sure that that list is filled as much as possible, and they could be testing games right now

 

[Gradthrawn]

I expect they've been testing the emulator and software for a good while prior to the announcement. I doubt 1 month before release, with the freighter loaded up, someone surprisingly suggested to HQ that they start testing what PS2 titles actually work...

Jim: Hey, hey Bob?

Bob: Oh, hey Jim. How's it going? *finishes signing the shipping manifest and hands it over to the carrier*

Jim: Uh, not bad Bob, not bad. But, uhhh, I was wondering?

Bob: What's up, Jim?

Jim: I was wondering, did we ever test out those PS2 games?

Bob: What PS2 games?

Jim: ......

Bob: ...... *blank look*

Jim: .....

Bob: ..... *looks confused*

 

[Inane_Dork]

If they're still working on it (and I bet they are) they want to make sure that that list is filled as much as possible, and they could be testing games right now

They could've announced that more than 950 PS2 titles were compatible when they announced the backwards compatibility was limited. Heck, they probably could have said 1000.

But they didn't. It was dumb to not give a number when the number they would've given was so helpful/calming/impressive.

 

[hongcho]

Just to nit-pick... 1000/2500 is actually 40% (sure, "a bit short" of 50% may work in some contexts).

Hong.

 

[Fafalada]

I doubt 1 month before release, someone surprisingly suggested to HQ that they start testing what PS2 titles actually work...

More likely then not, most current FW update for emulation will be day 1 download (much like what you got with US launch or with Wii for that matter), so changes could still be added days before the release.
And if they are still working on fixing some of the key titles - those changes can affect many other titles.

 

[DJ12]

Taken from another forum so take with a heavy pinch of salt.....

Details from Phil Harrison- Sony Computer Worldwide Studios
Keynote at GDC March 7th 2007:

..... snippity-snip .....

Removal of Emotion Engine chips in PS3's in NA and Japan to follow in April. Reason for this is to reduce costs and focus on enhanced opportunities via software. Benefits include the ability to upscale selected PSone/PS2 games to 1080i/720p.

http://www.neoseeker.com/forums/index.php?fn=view_thread&t=846685

 

[Mmmkay]

Hiroshige Goto has some musings on the European PS3 hardware layout:
http://pc.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/2007/0314/kaigai344.htm

He says an industry source told him that GS is there because it's not possible to emulate with RSX. He seems to think that the GS could be integrated into the Southbridge. Anyone fancy translating the article? It's a bit difficult to understand via babelfish...

 

[Todd33]

http://www.playthree.net/2007/03/european-ps3-has-over-1200-compatible.html

Firmware is 1.6 and supports 1200+ games. Shipped firmware is 1.5, so everyone has to update.

 

[Arwin]

http://www.playthree.net/2007/03/european-ps3-has-over-1200-compatible.html

Firmware is 1.6 and supports 1200+ games. Shipped firmware is 1.5, so everyone has to update.

Did you see that hot comment from Tom? (Presumably Eurogamer.net's Tom?)

Tom said...
Hey - it was a great evening!

I managed to ask Phil when Remote Play from Wireless hotspots was being added and he said that it is included in 1.6.

This is going to be fun at work ...

 

[jonabbey]

A Japanese poster at ps3forums.com has posted a link and some commentary concerning an Impress article in Japanese, which seems to suggest that the GS is being (may be?) integrated into the South Bridge on the PAL PS3.

It also states that the bandwidth between the current North American SouthBridge and the EE/GS chipset is not adequate for the close coupling required between the EE emulation software running on Cell and the GS.

This would suggest that the North American models currently out will not be able to do anything with the emulation software Sony is building for the new models.

Edit: Google translation of the referenced article. A pretty poor translation, but good enough to get some sense of the original work.

 

[ATI-liens]

Sad that Sony didn't think many people should care much about play the 1000+ games made for the PS2.

It makes sense that they improved the European PS3.

If they were to start manufacturing US PS3's with the emulation hardware, they would get sued for infringement. To avoid it they would have to replace every sold PS3 (Like hell).

Either that or release the PS3 "Version 2". Though at this moment in time problems would emerge, version 1 PS3's would not get sold, or many will be returned.

Who knows,

Maybe there will be a PS3 V2

(Take it back to the good old days like the Genesis lol)

 

[Gradthrawn]

Sad that Sony didn't think many people should care much about play the 1000+ games made for the PS2.

Arguably, there's hardly a 1,000 games worth playing. Quality over quantity. We've yet to see what they were striving for.

It makes sense that they improved the European PS3.

Improved what? Over what?

If they were to start manufacturing US PS3's with the emulation hardware, they would get sued for infringement.

Infringement of what?

To avoid it they would have to replace every sold PS3 (Like hell).

The PS2 went through numerous revisions. The latest slimline version, in fact, lost some of PS1 emulation compatibility (over previous slimline revisions), and PS2 game computability! No, they didn't replace every PS2 sold. No, they were not sued for "infringement" upon some unknown entity.

Either that or release the PS3 "Version 2". Though at this moment in time problems would emerge, version 1 PS3's would not get sold, or many will be returned.

There will more than likely be a SKU change for the revised PS3. It will be one of many. No different than the past 2 generations of Sony consoles.

 

[DJ12]

Can any of my fellow "Euros" confirm the status of Gran Turismo 4 as it isn't listed on the BC website.

 

[Mmmkay]

Can any of my fellow "Euros" confirm the status of Gran Turismo 4 as it isn't listed on the BC website.

PALGN checked, it doesn't work:
http://palgn.com.au/article.php?id=7053&rss=1&title=PlayStation+3+backwards+compatibility+test

SCES-51719 Gran Turismo 4
What Sony Says: Doesn't work at all.
What our tests reveal: Unfortunately the screen below reveals everything you need to know. When selecting to play the game the PlayStation 3 will bring up a blurry green image and then you'll be booted back to the initial load-up screen for the console.

 

[PatrickL]

According to gamekult (french website) Gran Turismo 4, Ratchet & Clank, Metal Gear Solid 2 : Sons of Liberty are not working with 1.6.

 

[Npl]

According to gamekult (french website) Gran Turismo 4, Ratchet & Clank, Metal Gear Solid 2 : Sons of Liberty are not working with 1.6.

Whats more interesting however is that Sony iare conservative when saying "Works with noticeable issues" as they apparently arent easy to discover at all, according to the article

 

[Rolf N]

*plug*



Testing is still in full swing.
A few results are already up. Will do the rest asap.​

 

[DJ12]

Interesting the emulating the PS2 seems to be pushing the PS3 harder than actual PS3 games.

 

[Npl]

Interesting the emulating the PS2 seems to be pushing the PS3 harder than actual PS3 games.

Well, the PS3 is pretty consistent with its powerdraw (either Idle,XMB or ingame). I guess when playing PS2 Games you dont tax the Cell or RSX much, but you have the PS2 Hardware switched on and drawing additional power.