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PS3 Backwards Compatibility Confirmed

Posted by simoniker on from the anything-else-would-have-been-crazed dept.

Thanks to Gamesindustry.biz for their story confirming that the PlayStation 3 will offer backwards compatibility with earlier PlayStation consoles via emulation, offering a quote from Sony boss Ken Kutaragi, sourced from the Japanese newspaper Asahi Shimbun: "PSone runs on the PlayStation 2 through emulation rather than actual hardware. PlayStation 3 will offer the same compatibility for PS2 software and the format will continue forever." He also partially attributed the PS2's success to its multi-purpose nature, saying "[PS2] offers a sense of insurance because it is compatible with PSone and DVD movies", echoing earlier suggestions about DVD players in consoles, and obvious advantages to backwards software compatibility.

73 comments

  1. good good !!! by BigBir3d · · Score: 4, Insightful

    This is good news to hear.

    Although I am uncertain how long CD/DVD sized optical media will be around for (refer to "forever" comment).

    1. Re:good good !!! by GeckoX · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Well, I still have a couple of tape decks and a record player in operation.

      Actually, every computer I currently use still has a floppy drive in it, and most of them have never even been used.

      Safe to say that even if a new form of media takes over from the CD/DVD formats, there will still be drives in use for a very long time to come.

      --
      No Comment.
    2. Re:good good !!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Problem is optical discs don't last that long. I seem to remeber seeing a recent article stating degradation of discs within 2 years.

    3. Re:good good !!! by GeckoX · · Score: 1

      I'm replying to a coward, oh what a day.

      Anyways, what? And that has what to do with anything? You don't think cassette tapes degrade? ok then.

      And none of the CD's you bought 15 years ago work anymore? Oh, you've never even owned one? Ok, then why are you even talking.

      BTW, I have NEVER had a cd degrade on me except through abuse...scratches and the like or melting. And no, I'm not disputing that it's not possible, because I do know that it is, but it's not the general case...and again has virtually NO relevance in this conversation anyways. How many people burn digital content that was never even distributed on physical media to cd's and dvd's?

      There will ALWAYS be a use for SOME physical media of some sort and the timeframes that those physical media are valid for, especially when in use by the vast majority and not just some niche, are FAR longer than when the next popular media format comes along.

      If you still don't get the point, well, as I said before what the hell am I doing responding to a coward?

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      No Comment.
  2. I'm not sure about the "PS1 emulation" part... by GrosTuba · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I thought that the IOP in the PS2 was in fact a near exact replica of the MIPS R3400 that was the heart of the PS1, and that when not handling PS2- or DVD-intensive I/Os, it was in charge of running the PS1 games on the processor they had always run before.

    The PS1 is enclosed in its material form in the PS2, thus eliminating the need for emulation. Is this wrong ? Does anyone have reliable info on this ?

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    Who needs a .sig anyway ?
    1. Re:I'm not sure about the "PS1 emulation" part... by GeckoX · · Score: 2, Informative

      I am positive that you are correct. There is a PS1-on-a-chip in the PS2. I believe this article has missed the boat on this fact.

      I'm sure somebody will take the time to provide a link to the relevant facts, if they haven't already.

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      No Comment.
    2. Re:I'm not sure about the "PS1 emulation" part... by GrosTuba · · Score: 5, Informative

      OK, here's the link : PS2 specs

      Basically, it says :
      IOP (I/O Processor)
      CPU Core: PlayStation (current) CPU (R3000)

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      Who needs a .sig anyway ?
    3. Re:I'm not sure about the "PS1 emulation" part... by simoniker · · Score: 1

      It's an interesting point, actually - I guess I'm presuming that the PS1 will get software emulated in some way on the PS3, but the article doesn't make that completely clear. I'm sure Sony would be crazy to put PS2 and not PS1 compatibility in, though, so I'm sure they're working out some way to make it happen - the I/O chip will probably need to be more powerful this time round.

    4. Re:I'm not sure about the "PS1 emulation" part... by PainKilleR-CE · · Score: 1

      The actual quotes don't even make it clear that there will be any PS1 compatibility in the PS3. It just states that the trend will continue and explicitly states that PS2 games will run on PS3, as the PS1 games ran on PS2. Of course, having read earlier that the PS3 would run PS2 games but not PS1 games, I was specifically looking for him to mention that PS1 games would run on PS3, but the only statements like that are from the article's author, not direct quotes.

      The PS1 emulation thing is just wrong, though, since they talked about the I/O chip being PS1 compatible from the release of the PS2 in Japan.

      They do have the 2 primary chips (CPU/GPU) of the PS2 combined into 1 now, though, which should make stuffing a PS2 into a PS3 much easier. The hardware compatibility was fairly impressive to me, as well, even though it's obviously a function of the chip. Of course, it would be nice if I didn't have to have a PS1 memory card to save PS1 games (yeah, that's being a bit picky, but still... how much longer am I going to be able to buy memory cards for the PS1 games?).

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      -PainKilleR-[CE]
    5. Re:I'm not sure about the "PS1 emulation" part... by Radius9 · · Score: 1

      The PS1 consisted of more than just an R3000. It also had a math/transform chip, a GPU, and a sound chip. All though the PS2 does not need to emulate the R3000, it does emulate the rest of the PS1's chips, as well as things like memory layout, CPU speed, etc.

    6. Re:I'm not sure about the "PS1 emulation" part... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      You know what a cool article would be for the Games section - a discussion of what guest characters you'd like to see in some popular fighting games. You may have seen that Soul Caliber II has exclusive characters that weren't expected to be in the Soul Caliber universe. What crossover characters do gamers out there want to see? Perhaps Johnny Cage mixing it up with Ryu in the Virtua Fighter 4 environment?

      Don't you think that would make an interesting story?

  3. Yes but, by Tirel · · Score: 3, Funny

    will it run linux?

    1. Re:Yes but, by wickedj · · Score: 1

      Considering that Sony put out the linux kit for PS2, I believe it's highly likely that they will produce one for the ps3 as well.

  4. gamecube2 by MORTAR_COMBAT! · · Score: 1

    I have to doubt that the "gamecube2" will be backwards compatible in a similar fashion. I also doubt that it will serve any "dual" purpose such as a DVD player.

    It's really too bad that the current GameCube doesn't play Mini-CD audio or Mini-CD VCD movies... or Mini-DVD movies... etc, etc. Otherwise it's a far superior platform.

    --
    MORTAR COMBAT!
    1. Re:gamecube2 by edwdig · · Score: 4, Informative

      I wouldn't be surprised if the next Nintendo system was backwards compatible. I think they've learned that backwards compatibility helped Sony this round. Besides, there are a lot of people that want to play a few GameCube games, but not enough games to warrent buying the system. Maybe those people could be swayed to buy the next system since it could also play the games they missed this time around.

      Nintendo did try to make the SNES compatible with NES games. The SNES CPU is a 16 bit version of the NES CPU, which has an 8 bit mode. The rumor is they had trouble getting it to work well enough, and decided it wasn't worth the time and money to work out the kinks.

      All Gameboy systems are backwards compatible.

      They didn't attempt backwards compatibility with the N64 as the SNES showed they could get by without it. Besides, the SNES was a 2d system whereas the N64 was a 3d system, so the hardware wasn't even remotely similar.

    2. Re:gamecube2 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It's also a game machine. It doesn't play DVDs in the same way that it doesn't make toast or check the oil pressure in your car; there's no need.

    3. Re:gamecube2 by Isbiten · · Score: 1

      Nintendo did try to make the SNES compatible with NES games. The SNES CPU is a 16 bit version of the NES CPU, which has an 8 bit mode. The rumor is they had trouble getting it to work well enough, and decided it wasn't worth the time and money to work out the kinks.

      Yes they did get it to work, but it would have added an extra cost of 100$ or something in that area, and they felt that it wasn't worth he extra price.

      --
      I fought the corporate America, and the corporate America bought the law.
    4. Re:gamecube2 by MORTAR_COMBAT! · · Score: 1

      Yeah, because we wouldn't want to lose the Gamecube's entire 10 game library

      Even if it were only 10 games, at $50 per game that's still $500 of games.

      Mario Sunshine, Eternal Darkness, Metroid Prime, and The Wind Waker are all "Only for GameCube". Those 4 games alone are in a lot of people's top 10 for all 3 consoles.

      1. Metroid Prime (GCN)
      2. GTA3 (PS2)
      3. Halo (XBox)
      4. The Wind Waker (GCN)
      5. MGS2 (PS2)
      6. GTA:VC (PS2)
      7. KOTOR (XBox)
      8. Splinter Cell (XBox)
      9. Super Mario Sunshine (GCN)
      10. Final Fantasy X (PS2)
      11. Devil May Cry (PS2)
      12. Resident Evil (GC)
      13. Panzer Dragoon (XBox)
      14. Eternal Darkness (GC)

      This list excludes sports, racing, and fighters, and as always people's tastes differ greatly. If you like GTA then obviously the PS2 is your machine. If you like Halo then obviously the XBox is your machine. If you like Mario and Zelda, then obviously the GameCube is your machine.

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      MORTAR COMBAT!
    5. Re:gamecube2 by I(rispee_I(reme · · Score: 1

      Backwards compatibility for the SNES was also available through a third party periphal. Also, Nintendo themselves released a very cool product called the Super GameBoy, which allowed the SNES to play GameBoy games in color, albeit still with a four-color palette.

    6. Re:gamecube2 by MORTAR_COMBAT! · · Score: 1

      It doesn't play DVDs in the same way that it doesn't make toast or check the oil pressure in your car; there's no need.

      It plays DVD media for games, and it is connected to my TV and stereo. Do you have your toaster or car plugged into your TV?

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      MORTAR COMBAT!
  5. The obvious question by lightspawn · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Since the PS2 emulates the PS1, did Sony just need to get PS2 emulation right to get PS1 emulation 'for free'?

    1. Re:The obvious question by MORTAR_COMBAT! · · Score: 3, Insightful

      One would hope that they would not take it "for free" even if it would be "for free" -- I can't imagine it not being better to put in 1-layer emulation for PS1 than to go through 2 layers in the "free" path.

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      MORTAR COMBAT!
    2. Re:The obvious question by damiam · · Score: 1

      No, because the PS2 doesn't emulate a PS1. it has actual PS1 hardware included. However, since the Xbox is more than capable of emulating PS1 games (through Bleem), the PS3 should have no problem doing them in software if needed.

      --
      It's hard to be religious when certain people are never incinerated by bolts of lightning.
  6. Good news! by jvmatthe · · Score: 4, Interesting

    If this really happens, then I think I'm pretty much guaranteed to upgrade. After I got my PS2 and got tired of Ridge Racer V (ugh) I went on a used PSX (aka PSOne) game-buying spree. My library of PSX games went from about 20 to about 40 in the space of a couple of months, and while somewhat expensive for some titles, many of them were sub-$15 and a few were sub-$10. From a gamer's point of view, a gamer who doesn't mind some chunky graphics, it was a time of great fun. During that time, I got into Ape Escape, for example. (Review. Sequel.) A great, but slightly flawed, PSX game that I might not have bought had PSX game prices not dropped precipitously after the advent of the PS2.

    The PS2 is still our DVD player, too. In terms of use of entertainment hardware, the PS2 is second only the TV itself in our house.

    The only bit about the blurb posted here on /. that I don't understand is that they guy says that PSX emulation is done in software. That sounds wrong to me, since I thought that it was just using the PS2 input processor, which happens to be the same as the main chip in the PSX, as a PSX. Add in the PSX BIOS and perhaps some tiny software bits here and there, but still isn't it mostly hardware?

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    Curmudgeon Gamer: Not happy
    1. Re:Good news! by entrager · · Score: 1
      The only bit about the blurb posted here on /. that I don't understand is that they guy says that PSX emulation is done in software. That sounds wrong to me, since I thought that it was just using the PS2 input processor, which happens to be the same as the main chip in the PSX, as a PSX. Add in the PSX BIOS and perhaps some tiny software bits here and there, but still isn't it mostly hardware?
      If memory serves, PSX emulation is done mostly on the PS1 chip included, but some aspects (mostly graphics) are handled via software emulation. But I could be wrong.
    2. Re:Good news! by eht · · Score: 1

      So why would you buy a PS3? You've already got your DVD player in your PS2, you're got all your PS1 games that work on your PS2, what would be the point of "pretty much guaranteed to upgrade." you don't even know what games will be out for it and you're already "pretty much guaranteed to upgrade", I would think for you this would be more like "pretty much guaranteed NOT to upgrade" since you already have everything you want.

    3. Re:Good news! by GeckoX · · Score: 1

      The assumption being made, and it will be true or NO PS3's will sell, is that it will be technologically far superior to PS2, and that there will be kick-ass games to go along with it.

      I believe you are trying to start an argument for the sake of the argument itself since this should be fairly self explanatory.

      Or are you still playing a PS1 and tell all your friends that GTA Vice City is a piece of crap and all you need is your PS1?

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      No Comment.
  7. Well, duh. by Mmm+coffee · · Score: 2, Insightful

    I do not own a TV. Haven't watched TV in over a year. Opiate for the masses, indeed. Can't understand how anybody could vedge away.

    However, if I had one and was given a choice between the PS2, Gamecube, and X-Box, I'd most definitely take a PS2. Here you have a simply massive game libary that spans two systems worth of modern classics, a DVD player, and a cheap CD player all in a very small black box for $200. If Sony didn't keep up with backwards compatibility the game libary for the PS3 would be on par with the X-Box 2 and whatever Nintendo came out with next, and lord knows that both will also do the "entertainment center in a small box" thing, thus leveling the playing field quite a bit.

    Sony would be shooting themselves in the foot if they didn't do that, and they're smart enough to know. Nintendo has done the same with the Game Boy, and it's payed off very nicely.

    1. Re:Well, duh. by Palshife · · Score: 1

      Buying a system based on its overall value is one thing. Buying one based on the games it provides is another.

      There's more to it than you argue for.

      --
      Attention deficit disorder is a complicated issue, spanning several major... HEY LET'S GO RIDE BIKES!
    2. Re:Well, duh. by eclipsemgp · · Score: 1

      Seeing how you don't a TV and you don't own a PS2, does it matter what your opinion is? Seriously, it appears you said "IF" i was going to buy one. Sony is not catering to you, they are catering to people who buy their system and their games. That's like saying I like this car or that car but I don't have a license nor do I intend of buying and driving a car.
      And please don't open your messages with a "holier than thou, I'm better" attitude because you don't succumb to the evils of TV. How this got moddded "interesting" is beyond me.

    3. Re:Well, duh. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Instead you "vedge" away on the computer. How nice.

    4. Re:Well, duh. by checkyoulater · · Score: 1

      I do not own a TV.

      However, if I had one and was given a choice between the PS2, Gamecube, and X-Box, I'd most definitely take a PS2. Here you have a simply massive game libary that spans two systems worth of modern classics, a DVD player, and a cheap CD player all in a very small black box for $200.

      Yeah, but seeing as you don't own a TV, you could technically only use a third of the capacity of this device. See, games are played on a TV, something you can't watch. DVD's also play on said TV. If you are looking for a cheap CD player, believe me you can get one for a hell of a lot less than 200 dollars. Hell, you can probably find one for 200 pesos.

      Sorry, but your opinion does not count, and I am curious why you were even modded up? Is it because you said you don't watch TV, so somebody decided to mod you up +3 intellectual?

      --
      Is that a real poncho? I mean, is that a Mexican poncho or is that a Sears poncho?
    5. Re:Well, duh. by NihilSmurf · · Score: 1

      Area Man Constantly Mentioning He Doesn't Own A Television

      You need to watch a certain amount of TV, to exercise your media and pop culture interpretation skills. It's like how you have to drink beer at least every so often, to maintain your alchohol tolerance. In both cases, moderation is beneficial, while going overboard is dangerous.

    6. Re:Well, duh. by bigman2003 · · Score: 1

      The fact that you don't own a TV, and don't see a reason for one- means that nobody gives a damn about your opinion on this subject. Please go find a thread about some stupid way to protect your rights by not agreeing with an EULA, and making a nuisance of yourself.

      Additionally- the first respondant to your post cracked me up with his beret comment. Mr. AC, you should stand up and have yourself counted- I love you man!

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      No reason to lie.
  8. Will PS3 actually emulate PS1?? by cybergrue · · Score: 5, Interesting
    I can't see anything in the article specifically saying that the PS3 will support PS1 games, just a claim for backwards compatability for PS2 games.

    PS3insider also does not think that the PS3 will support PS1 games. Mind you, with the ammount of power the PS3 is suppost to have, then emulating a PS1 should be trivial.

    1. Re:Will PS3 actually emulate PS1?? by Ceyan · · Score: 1

      You didn't read the article. The very FIRST LINE of the article states: "Sony Computer Entertainment boss Ken Kutaragi has confirmed that the PlayStation 3 will feature backwards compatibility with the PS2 and PSone..."

    2. Re:Will PS3 actually emulate PS1?? by PainKilleR-CE · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Actually, if you read the article closely, you'll see that although the author of the article states it, Sony did not.

      "PSone runs on the PlayStation 2 through emulation rather than actual hardware. PlayStation 3 will offer the same compatibility for PS2 software and the format will continue forever," he explained.

      Of course, the other point that people have already brought up is that most of the PSOne 'emulation' on the PS2 is done by having PSOne hardware in the PS2 in the form of the I/O chip.

      The question is, is the 'format [that] will continue forever' the format of supporting the previous generation's software, or continuing to support the software all the way back to the PSOne? That is only made clear by the author's comments, and not the comments of Kutaragi.

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      -PainKilleR-[CE]
    3. Re:Will PS3 actually emulate PS1?? by DonkeyJimmy · · Score: 1

      I can't see anything in the article specifically saying that the PS3 will support PS1 games, just a claim for backwards compatability for PS2 games.

      I can't see why they wouldn't support it. The IOP of the PS2 is a ps1. So if they do full PS2 emulation, they'll have a ps1 available. In fact, for it to be full emulation it will have to play PS1 games, because the PS2 can. Emulation means it does the same exact thing, including play PS1 games.

      --
      "Probably the toughest time in anyone's life is when you have to murder a loved one because they're the devil." -Philips
    4. Re:Will PS3 actually emulate PS1?? by Zhenya · · Score: 1
      I read in the Official UK Playstation2 Magazine that the PS3 would not be able to play PS1 games. I don't know how I would survive without Wipeout2097, the Final Fantasies VII, VIII and IX, Vib Ribbon, the decent first three Spyro games and the first Tomb Raider.("No! I'll never let go! Never!") I don't believe that with the amount of power the new machine is supposed to have, they can't fit in a little PS1 emulator. Buying a PS3 would certainly not be the no-brainer the PS2 was if my entire precious PS1 game collection became obselete.

      Maybe they could release some classic PS1 games again, in a souped up PS2 DVD format, with improved graphics? And the PS1 games were CD-ROMs not DVDs- so if they're going to include a CD player again, which is highly likely, then it'd be a pinch to add a PS1 emulator, as they'd already have the technology to play the discs...?

      --
      Politics is derived from two words - poly, meaning many, and tics, meaning small blood-sucking insects.
  9. PS2 Emulation... by samsmithnz · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Very good news indeed. But will the PS1 emulation be run from the PS3 or the PS2 emulator (an emulator running inside an emulator)??? ;)

  10. Nope, Media Center! by GeckoX · · Score: 0, Troll

    Actually, according to this link, it will be running Microsoft XP Media Center!

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    No Comment.
    1. Re:Nope, Media Center! by GeckoX · · Score: 1

      Troll?
      Wow.

      I was expecting -1 idiot or the like.
      But troll?

      It was a fscked up JOKE people.

      The only part that could possibly be construed as a troll is the fact that I mentioned Microsoft when responding to a comment containing 'linux', which if anything was more of a troll than my comments. (BTW, this was the root of the joke people)

      Please, find a sense of humor somewhere, anywhere. You're all WAY too serious.

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    2. Re:Nope, Media Center! by Dot.Com.CEO · · Score: 1

      You post an idiotic fake link to goatse and then you whine that people mod you down as a troll. Either learn to troll properly or get a sense of humour mate.

      --
      Mother is the best bet and don't let Satan draw you too fast.
    3. Re:Nope, Media Center! by GeckoX · · Score: 1

      Sorry, I forgot this is slashdot and there is no humour to be had when linux and MS are mentioned in the same thread, it must always be a flame war.

      Mine appologies, it will never happen again.

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    4. Re:Nope, Media Center! by Dot.Com.CEO · · Score: 1
      That was not humour. This is humour:

      Two guys are in a car. One of them looks at the traffic lights and tells the driver "it's green". He replies "I don't know, a frog"?

      Goatse links are not humour, they are a tired, stupid juvenile joke that passed to the realm of unoriginal trolling three years ago. Even somethingawful trolls have gone past it. If you insist on finding a man's anus being stretched "funny" and, what's more, rage against the stupid moderator who don't really understand your delicate sense of humour, well, I doubt you'll find much sympathy.

      --
      Mother is the best bet and don't let Satan draw you too fast.
    5. Re:Nope, Media Center! by GeckoX · · Score: 1

      You're sick if you thought that the link itself was even supposed to be funny. It's a fucking _cliche_ now you tool, which I was attempting to use as a tool to ensure that people actually got the fact that I was obviously joking when I said that the PS3 would be running XP Media Center instead of linux. (The whole /. linux/MS zealot thing, yeah, uh huh, not the fucking picture)

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    6. Re:Nope, Media Center! by jenoazrael · · Score: 0

      you sir, are an idiot.

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      this is a sig
    7. Re:Nope, Media Center! by GeckoX · · Score: 1

      Absolutely and without a doubt, I believe I already stated that _way_ up the thread.

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  11. Reason for keeping my ps1 around by karnal · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I've got a modded PS1, primarily for playing Gradius Gaiden -- an import game that Konami of America said will never hit this continent in native form....

    The problem being, since I've purchased a PS2 as well, is that I cannot play this game on the PS2 because of the region check.... so it looks like I'll be keeping my PS1 in good working order (I've already replaced the power supply, due to water damage....) I don't plan on modding my PS2 either, since I have no real benefit at this point...

    I just wish they'd do away with the region checks. On a side note, since I've got my PS1 modded, there are some Capcom games that detect the mod chip, and throwing the game halt screen up before you can even play it... ugh.....

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    Karnal
    1. Re:Reason for keeping my ps1 around by AndyBusch · · Score: 2, Informative

      I know, it's a kludge to a kludge, but there are often GameShark codes that circumvent the mod-chip check. And newer mod chips act in "stealth" mode to avoid that test.

    2. Re:Reason for keeping my ps1 around by Firehawke · · Score: 1

      Emulation, my good man. EPSXE and VGS run Gradius Gaiden just fine-- I, like yourself, imported G.Gaiden because it wasn't coming across. Even if you're not on Windows, there are PSX emulators on the Mac and Linux..

    3. Re:Reason for keeping my ps1 around by karnal · · Score: 1

      I had a problem with VGS on a windows based pc (not sure how I got the binary *wink*) and applied a patch to allow it to run in win2k...

      Problem being, my usb to ps2 pad adapter doesn't work with it now, so I can't play it there... but I've still got the ps1, so it's more of an annoyance... the only 2 games I ever play on the ps1 anymore is Megaman X4 and GG anyways..... and X4 will run on the ps2, so.....

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      Karnal
    4. Re:Reason for keeping my ps1 around by I(rispee_I(reme · · Score: 1

      VGS doesn't like Win2K, even with the patch, which is why I have a win98 partition just for Symphony of the Night and VGS. ;)

    5. Re:Reason for keeping my ps1 around by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yep, and psx emus on Linux work great...as long as you're not using anything more recent than debian stable. Otherwise wine and windows based emus are going to prove a better solution for the problem of epsxe developers who won't compile for modern linux builds.

  12. Happy me. by kabocox · · Score: 3, Insightful

    At one point in time, I was hard-core Nintendo. NES, SNES, & then I bought a N64. Actually N64 was o.k., but everything that I wanted to play was on Playstation. I wanted a PS2 mainly as a DVD player and PS1. The PS2 was all bonus... I won't go out and buy. I will buy several of PS2 games for $15-$20 that I couldn't afford at $40-$55 each.

  13. a bit OT...: Re:Reason for keeping my ps1 around by siliC · · Score: 1

    Region codes... feh. I just got a flip-top mod for my ps2 (basically it's a new case - no electronics), so i could play the UK version of ICO. It works fine for skipping the region check on PS2 games, but it doesn't work for PS1 games. (i'm using the swap magic discs)

    I too would love to play some japanese imports - particularly PS1. I hear that if you boot with a Gameshark 2 disc, it will work... but don't know for sure.

  14. X-Box had a chance to do this, but can they now? by 2Flower · · Score: 1

    I love backwards compatibility. I like to know that my favorite titles will carry over, and if I want to buy some legacy game down the road, I'll still be able to play it. Glad to hear the PS3 will do this now.

    But I also own an X-Box, and the chances of it doing the backwards-dealie are looking slimmer. Microsoft just ditched NVidia and have shifted to ATI to do their graphics chips for the XB2 -- will the old games still be playable on new hardware? Have coders worked with a generic API like Direct X, or did they go to the metal on the NVidia part and thus old XB games have no chance of dealing with the ATI part?

    I look forward to a day when all the major consoles simply 'upgrade' as they go along without cutting off support for yesterday's games, much as the PS and Gameboy series are doing. I hope the others follow in suit.

  15. Re:X-Box had a chance to do this, but can they now by PainKilleR-CE · · Score: 2, Informative

    But I also own an X-Box, and the chances of it doing the backwards-dealie are looking slimmer. Microsoft just ditched NVidia and have shifted to ATI to do their graphics chips for the XB2 -- will the old games still be playable on new hardware? Have coders worked with a generic API like Direct X, or did they go to the metal on the NVidia part and thus old XB games have no chance of dealing with the ATI part?

    Assuming that Microsoft allow for backwards compatibility, the only reason that anything would not work would be because someone 'coded to the metal' as you stated. MS has been promoting Direct3D/DirectX as the method for coding for the XBox for quite some time, and eventually added OpenGL due to developer pressure, iirc, and both OpenGL (at least base OpenGL without nVidia extensions) and Direct3D should have no problems with changing the CPU, video card, and sound processor.

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    -PainKilleR-[CE]
  16. Even better news from the time.. by Inoshiro · · Score: 1

    "A great, but slightly flawed, PSX game that I might not have bought had PSX game prices not dropped precipitously after the advent of the PS2."

    I found it much better to buy Dreamcast games for the same reason. Better graphics, better gameplay -- and Soul Calibur! :)

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    Internet Explorer (n): Another bug -- that is, a feature that can't be turned off -- in Windows.
  17. Maybe over simplfiying. by Inoshiro · · Score: 1

    While it's rumoured that N5 will support GameCube games, it's so far away as to not matter at this point. Nintendo doesn't paper launch consoles for years before you can actually buy them. Best to wait and see what they'll do (I hope that they release Bluetooth adapters for the GBA link port and have it connectable to N5 via bluetooth, as well as shipping with only Wavebirds -- no more corded controllers).

    The situation with the SNES was a bit different. The NES was a 6502, and the SNES had a 65C816 (which has a complete 6502 mode). At the time, though, no one had backwards compatibility. SMS games wouldn't run on the Genesis (although they'd run on GameGear with an adapter), etc. Nintendo saw no benefit to forcing the extra circuits into their SNES and having an adapter cartridge ship with it when most people had a NES anyways.

    It's all cost/benefit. It's why they stopped shipping systems with 2 controllers (people will buy a second one if they need it, and it encourages 3rd parties), and why no more pack-in games are around (unless you're trying to promote your system -- even then, you can pass on the costs ala MS' Adrenaline pack).

    I wouldn't be surprised if the next-gen systems ship with just the hardware and the power cord. That'll let me get the component video AV without already paying for the shitty composite that "comes free" with the system :)

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    Internet Explorer (n): Another bug -- that is, a feature that can't be turned off -- in Windows.
    1. Re:Maybe over simplfiying. by ProtoCat · · Score: 1

      Actually, the Genesis is more than capable of being backwards compatable with the SMS. There was an official Sega device called the Power Base Converter that sat atop of the Genesis and allowed the SMS cards, carts and controllers to be plugged into the system. At boot time on the Genesis, there's an interrupt you can call that sends the system into an SMS compatable mode. It's all pretty much there in hardware.

      Backwards compatability is an old hat for many systems. All the Atari consoles of note were backwards compatable (though one required an adapter), the PC Engine/TG-16 line was rock solid in Japan due to how you could *upgrade* older systems to play newer games, in addition to backwards compatability, which is something no other console platform has really pulled off successfully. The 32x doesn't count in the slightest..

    2. Re:Maybe over simplfiying. by default+luser · · Score: 1

      The Sega Genesis contains both a 68000 series processor and a Z-80, which I believe was used for the sound hardware.

      The Z-80 could also be used to run Master System carts, provided you had the converter. This is the sole reason Nintendo went to such great extents to attempt to make the Super Nintendo backward compatible.

      This only turned out to be a "failed feature" because the Master System itself failed. When you do this for highly successful platforms like the PS1, you get a much better outcome.

      --

      Man is the animal that laughs.
      And occasionally whores for Karma.

    3. Re:Maybe over simplfiying. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "All" the Atari consoles "of note." Heh.

      PC Engine upgrades: YEP. SuperGrafx failed for ONE reason, you couldn't turn your old CoreGrafx into one. Pre-release hype was extremely high. Super Famicom had nothing to do with its failure.

      32X: SEGA OF AMERICA. Nuff said.

  18. Maybe now they can emulate 4 controller ports. by Stubtify · · Score: 1
    So they're working on all of this emulation and its great, but I've been pretty pissed to see that the last 4 big competitors to sony's consoles all came with 4 native controller ports and sony still wants to bleed as much money out of their customers as possible. Maybe they can work on solving their problem with trying to make you buy a multitap every time you buy a sony system.

    I wouldn't be so mad if the damn multitaps worked at least. I've had to replace 3 multitaps over the life of my ps1 and ps2's because ports stopped working. At $30 each thats enough to almost piss me off from buying a new ps3 if it doesn't have four ports, emulation or not.

    1. Re:Maybe now they can emulate 4 controller ports. by Riff10111 · · Score: 1

      You do know that the PS2 has two USB ports, right? Just get a couple $10 PS2->USB adapters. Works fine.

      How many games are there that have a 4-player option, anyway?

      --
      "When I smile, I have a mouth full of teeth; when I frown, I'm not even here."
    2. Re:Maybe now they can emulate 4 controller ports. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      How many games are there that have a 4-player option, anyway?

      That's the entire point! If the system has 4 controller ports built-in, a lot of the games are likely to support them. When you have to use a peripheral like the multitap, the game companies know that consumer adoption is dramatically lower and you get many fewer games supporting it.

      Just look at the number of GameCube or Xbox 4-player titles and compare those numbers to the PS2. In the cases where 4-player support would be appropriate for a game but isn't included, it's usually an indication of a PS2 port.

      4-player simultaneous gaming is one of the greatest improvements consoles have made in the past few years (thanks, N64!) and it would be a real shame if Sony were to miss the ball again. Games like Monkey Ball, Smash Brothers, Halo, Mario Kart, and many more are all tons more fun with 4 players. Here's hoping Sony gets it right this time.

    3. Re:Maybe now they can emulate 4 controller ports. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No it doesn't. padman doesn't have support for USB controllers.

  19. Sweet. Now I still don't have to buy one! by raygundan · · Score: 1

    Why waste my money buying a PS1 or PS2? I'll just wait until the PS3 is cheap. Or maybe the PS4. Heck, maybe I'll just adopt a policy of buying every 10th console from Sony.

    But seriously, this is good news for the handful of us that are still putting off our first Playstation purchase. I'll just keep waiting. :)

  20. Software Mod chips by evilhayama · · Score: 1

    I wonder how this will effect the modding community, but legal and non. If there's emulation in software for ps1 and/or ps2 software, will the copy protection checking still be in hardware? If it isn't, someone might be able to engineer a bios update to bypass the check.

    It would be nice to extract the emulation software and use it for existing ps1/2 emulation projects too.

    1. Re:Software Mod chips by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Did it have an effect on PS2 now? Doesn't PS2 have copy protection checking on PS1 games? I think it will be the same.

      Visit this place:
      http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PlayStation3 /