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PS3's Smart Back-Compat, PS4 Doesn't Play Discs

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the our-topic-is-still-ps2 dept.

Good news for Sony fans looking forward to the PS3. Eurogamer reports that the system will feature backwards compatibility with memory cards as well as games. From the article: "An update to Sony's PlayStation 3 website has revealed that you will be able to use older PlayStation memory cards with PlayStation 3 - providing you buy an adapter. An entry in the official PS3 FAQ states: 'To use saved data on a PlayStation 2 memory card, you must copy the data onto a virtual memory card within the hard disk.'" Microsoft could have really used something like that for the Xbox/360 switchover. Relatedly, Sony is looking ahead ... way ahead, even to their next console. Wired has a piece looking at the future of downloads in the games industry. From that article: "Microsoft is releasing an HD-DVD drive for the Xbox 360. Both companies are even touting the ability of these new discs to play movies in even higher hi-def. That struggle, however, is ultimately meaningless. 'I'd be amazed if the PlayStation 4 has a physical disc drive,' [Sony's Phil] Harrison says."

2 of 164 comments (clear)

  1. Eh yeah because the gamecube was compatible by SmallFurryCreature · · Score: 0, Troll
    with all or indeed any previous nintendo game console? Oh wait, it isn't. Neither is the Wii compatible with anything but the gamecube. Or is nintendo going to accept my catridges and give me a free download instead?

    Hate Sony all you want but they are the only console maker to really make their next generation console capable of playing previous generations. Granted it is far fewer generations and they didn't have a media shift but still.

    I think this time it is definitly Nintendo who is the one doing the looking. Looking at sony and realizing people don't like having their living room cluttered with consoles and expect the new one to play old games and looking towards MS and its live service and the option to download games as a way of getting money from games that do not warrant a full box price release.

    --

    MMO Quests are like orgasms:

    You may solo them, I prefer them in a group.

  2. Backwords compatibility by richcoder · · Score: 0, Troll

    So let's get this straight... PS3 is backwords compatible with memory cards and XBOX360 is backwords compatible with games.

    I can see why a lot of people are worried about the PS3.

    -rich