How Do We Know that the PS3 Will Be 100% Backwards Compatible

[Alpha_Spartan]

Is there any evidence that proves that the PS3 will indeed be 100% backwards compatible with the PSX and PS2? If I'm not mistaken, they face the same challenges that Microsoft faces with Xbox backwards compatibility. IIRC, the PS2 was b/c because it used the PSX CPU as it's I/O controller so they had bare metal backwards compatibility. With the PS3, however, Sony will have to go the software emulation route. This can mean one of two things:

1) Not all PSX and PS2 games will be compatible with the PS3 unless an emulator is written specifically for them. In that case, where would that software be stored?

2) Since we're talking about software emulation (as opposed to hardware emulation) there's a chance that PSX and PS2 games could use upgraded graphics a la Bleem.

If I'm wrong, please correct me.

 

[Shifty Geezer]

There's no official solution explained to date. Kutaragi mentioned that their BC solution involves software and hardware. I've speculated one variation between G70 and RSX is removal of unnecessary features like video decoding and using some of those transitors for hardware support of BC.

 

[London Geezer]

Well even PS2 wasn't precisely 100% backward compatible even though basically having a PS1 inside the box, there were a few problems with very very few games.

PS3 will be backward compatible with the vast majority of games, but i expect there to be issues with a few games. It's only normal. There are more than 10,000 games to choose from, expectig every single one to work flawlessly would be asking a lot.

 

[Alpha_Spartan]

Well even PS2 wasn't precisely 100% backward compatible even though basically having a PS1 inside the box, there were a few problems with very very few games.

PS3 will be backward compatible with the vast majority of games, but i expect there to be issues with a few games. It's only normal. There are more than 10,000 games to choose from, expectig every single one to work flawlessly would be asking a lot.

Well with a back library of 10,000 games, statistically the PS3 will be the closest system to 100% backwards compatibility. I expect the Revolution to come second.

 

[London Geezer]

Well with a back library of 10,000 games, statistically the PS3 will be the closest system to 100% backwards compatibility. I expect the Revolution to come second.

Yep. Even if 100 games don't work, that's still 99%. 100 sound like a lot of games, but it's nothing compared to the total. Obviously though, we'll hear lots of kids nagging "why THIS ONE!!?" when they see that their favourite game is one of those 100.

 

[valioso]

Well with a back library of 10,000 games, statistically the PS3 will be the closest system to 100% backwards compatibility.

link? official release? Sony has been very quiet about it, I expect them to have the same exact issues as MS is having, if it was going to be 100% compatible they would mention it any chance they got.

 

[London Geezer]

link? official release? Sony has been very quiet about it, I expect them to have the same exact issues as MS is having, if it was going to be 100% compatible they would mention it any chance they got.

They actually did at E3. They said you will be able to play the whole library of about 13,000 old games (PS1 and PS2) on the same platform, PS3. That's a lot of games. That means they aim to get as close to 100% as they possibly can. Whether they will, doesn't matter, and personally i will be playing very very very few PS2 games on PS3 so i don't mind.

 

[Shifty Geezer]

http://biz.gamedaily.com/features.asp?article_id=9823&section=feature&email=

"It will be done through a combination of hardware and software. We can do it with software alone, but it's important to make it as close to perfect as possible," said Kutaragi via GameSpot's diligent translation.

Kutaragi went on to explain that a combination of hardware and software becomes necessary mostly because of third-party developers, which don't always create games by directly adhering to a console's specs.

"Third-party developers sometimes do things that are unimaginable. For example, there are cases where their games run, but not according to the console's specifications. There are times when games pass through our tests, but are written in ways that make us say, 'What in the world is this code?!' We need to support backward compatibility towards those kinds of games as well, so trying to create compatibility by software alone is difficult. There are things that will be required by hardware. However, with the powers of [a machine like] the PS3, some parts can be handled by hardware, and some parts by software," he said.

 

[Thegameman]

Is there any evidence that proves that the PS3 will indeed be 100% backwards compatible with the PSX and PS2? If I'm not mistaken, they face the same challenges that Microsoft faces with Xbox backwards compatibility. IIRC, the PS2 was b/c because it used the PSX CPU as it's I/O controller so they had bare metal backwards compatibility. With the PS3, however, Sony will have to go the software emulation route. This can mean one of two things:

1) Not all PSX and PS2 games will be compatible with the PS3 unless an emulator is written specifically for them. In that case, where would that software be stored?

2) Since we're talking about software emulation (as opposed to hardware emulation) there's a chance that PSX and PS2 games could use upgraded graphics a la Bleem.

If I'm wrong, please correct me.

From what i learn it is software and hardware based.

 

[Qroach]

It's the same deal with Microsoft. A combination of sotware and hardware (hence the IP licensing deal they made with Nvidia)

 

[Shifty Geezer]

Does the XB360 feature hardware emulation on some level? I thought it's hardware emulation went no further than DirectX API calls mapped onto different chipsets through a driver system. They haven't spent transistors on emulating XB hardware have they?

 

[mckmas8808]

It's the same deal with Microsoft. A combination of sotware and hardware (hence the IP licensing deal they made with Nvidia)

It's not the exact same as MS's though. If it was wouldn't the PS3 only be able to play the top best games avaiable? Sony must be doing something better right? I mean if you buy the core X360 system and never buy the $100 HDD then you will NEVER play old Xbox games.

While the PS3 with no HDD can play PS2 and PS1 games. You can play FF VII, MGS3, and Heavenly Sword on the same machine with the orignial disc (read: no downloading) with no HDD required.

That alone puts Sony in the position to say that they have the best BC.

 

[Alpha_Spartan]

link? official release? Sony has been very quiet about it, I expect them to have the same exact issues as MS is having, if it was going to be 100% compatible they would mention it any chance they got.

No link, buddy. I agree with you. I'm talking STATISTICALLY they will have better b/c since they have more games. It's common sense.

 

[valioso]

It's not the exact same as MS's though. If it was wouldn't the PS3 only be able to play the top best games avaiable? Sony must be doing something better right? I mean if you buy the core X360 system and never buy the $100 HDD then you will NEVER play old Xbox games.

While the PS3 with no HDD can play PS2 and PS1 games. You can play FF VII, MGS3, and Heavenly Sword on the same machine with the orignial disc (read: no downloading) with no HDD required.

That alone puts Sony in the position to say that they have the best BC.

all that is speculation, until the details come out.. no one knows anything.

 

[Carl B]

all that is speculation, until the details come out.. no one knows anything.

What's speculation, that you won't need a hard drive to play PS1 and PS2 games?

I'd be willing to put quite a sum of money on it if you want to wager. Sometimes there's speculation, and sometimes there's the obvious.

 

[a688]

It's the same deal with Microsoft. A combination of sotware and hardware (hence the IP licensing deal they made with Nvidia)

No hardware is dedicated to BC therefore its software only. They are emulating the nvidia hardware.

What's speculation, that you won't need a hard drive to play PS1 and PS2 games?

I'd be willing to put quite a sum of money on it if you want to wager. Sometimes there's speculation, and sometimes there's the obvious.

Isn't FFXII the only PS2 game to require the HDD.

 

[scatteh316]

There is a major difference between the 2 companys and there backwards compat implementation.

1. Microsift have to emulate hardware from a company that is nothing to do with them, sure microsoft might know all the technical side of the hardware but they did'nt really " create it " and thus there knowelge is still limited.

2. Sony on the other hand is trying to provide BC for hardware that it knows hands down how it works as they they designed it. As sony created there own chips they should have all the knowlege that helps them implement BC much more successfully.

 

[Inane_Dork]

Well even PS2 wasn't precisely 100% backward compatible even though basically having a PS1 inside the box, there were a few problems with very very few games.

PS3 will be backward compatible with the vast majority of games, but i expect there to be issues with a few games. It's only normal. There are more than 10,000 games to choose from, expectig every single one to work flawlessly would be asking a lot.

I think you're making a comparison that's not accurate. The PS3 compatibility is not as hardware based as the PS2's is, which probably means it's not as good. Also, the PS3 has to provide compatibility for a vastly greater number of titles than on the PS2. And lastly, emulating PS1 should be significantly easier than emulating PS2 because of the respective complexities of their hardware.

If you add all those together, I think there's a strong possibility the PS3 won't be as backwards compatible as the PS2 was.

 

[one]

I think you're making a comparison that's not accurate. The PS3 compatibility is not as hardware based as the PS2's is

But... but PS2 has only CPU of PS1 in it!!!

 

[mckmas8808]

If you add all those together, I think there's a strong possibility the PS3 won't be as backwards compatible as the PS2 was.

Now this is the definition of speculation. So instead of 99%, it could be what 95%. Still pretty strong if you ask me. (I know I'm speculating now also in this statement. )