Sony: Backwards compatibility does not Define the PS3

[Zeus]

Fresh news indicats that the European PS3's will have VERY LIMITED PS2 backwards compatibility. While firmware updates should help tackle the situation, a Sony UK rep has played things down by saying backwards compatibility does not define the PS3 in respect to features such as Blu-ray.



"PS one title backward compatibility has not changed and there will be a limited number of PS2 titles compatible - but PS3 is defined by key features such as the CELL broadband engine, its Blu-ray drive, the SIXAXIS Controller and its ability to output full 1080P HD game content which makes it an entertainment system for the future, without equal. Backwards compatibility is important but it does not define the PS3 in the same way as the other features do.


News Source: <A href="http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=158696" target="_blank">CVG</a>

[twanbiz]

lololol what happened to sony bashing all over ms for its backwards compatibility issues this really is a joke over a year longer and they couldnt get that **** right, so they are like just abandoning it? Unreal!

[Galgor]

This is ****.

Not only did Sony promise a worldwide launch that didn't happen, they also promised full backwards compatibility. Fair enough backwards compatibility might be done alright in the U.S & Japan, but what the hell did we do to deserve this??

Months late, huge price, and now this.

What's next sony? You have to buy three games, second controller and two pairs of socks just to get your console? Rediculous.

[[ACF]Umax]

This is just fantastic. Sony screws europe yet AGAIN.

[Trashcat]

What was the reason to include PS2 hardware in the ps3 if bc is so horrible in the end? Also what happened with all this talk about how ps3 already has a library of thousands games thanks to bc?

[Kenban]

I believe this might be a sign Sony has removed the PS2 hardware from the European consoles. It would be pretty easy for Sony to emulate the PS1 on the Cell. The problem is emulation of the PS2 which is why until now the PS2 hardware was also inside the system. If Sony is already producing a system without the hardware its very possible we might start seeing this in other regions as well. If I remember right it was estimated that the cost of the PS2 hardware inside the PS3 was around $30.

[Monkey01]

Hey, who cares that Sony doesn't have any good games to buy the console for and that now you can't even play all PS2 games with it... It has blu-ray and that's the only thing that mathers, cause... well... it has blu-ray!!!1111

[WalkingTiger]

Wow... It'd be a true bummer to be serverely lacking backwards compatibility... Since the PS3 has only a few games available, the PS2 library is what it depends on for success.... I'd certainly call that "defining it", at least at this point in time...

It's getting old, hearing public relations repeatedly invoke "Blu-Ray" as a magical fairy-dust word that's supposed to make people instantly forget all their troubles...

~WalkingTiger

[Honcho]

At least this helps me with my decission wether to buy a PS3 or not. So with bc gone the PS3 ist definatly not comming to my household.

[daps83777]

man after all the things sony has pulled with people in europe over the years i can't believe how much support sony is always getting from them.

[DEDDOA]

This is ripping the piss. Sony must really dislike the EU

4 months late
Higher Price
No 20GB option
Downgraded hardware you have to pay more for.

Sony do themselves no favours at all. I supose one thing is certain tho, all those people who wanted to sell ps3's on ebay from the US or Japan will now have a better chance due to them having better hardware to sell us in the EU.:confused: :confused: :confused:

[Ichijoe]

NO NO NO NOOOOOOOO WTF!!

No really WTF is worng w/you S0NY®™?!
You come to the Next-Gen party not only a year late but, also have the Balls to make us Europeans wait an addional Four Months, just to get our Hand's on a castrated PS3™?!

Oh man, oh man, oh man....
I'd never would have thought getting a XBOX360™ would ever turn out to be a good Investment.
But w/Games like Enchanted Arms® ~FINALLY A HALF-ARES'D J-RPG ON THE XBOX!!!~ I just might like this 'Next Gen' better then the Last One...

So who's still gonna bend over and spread 'em on the 24th of March?!
At this Point S0NY®™ can take there PS2 BC Crippled PS3™ and ram it up where there [where the Sun dos not shines]

Perhaps when [if] S0NY®™ ever manages to figure out how to turn "This is [Sh*t] Living!"© into:

~IT'S THE GAME'S STUPID!!©~

And actually start to live by that Motto instead of trying to pown Billy-Ray off on us, I might get re-interested in the PS3™ again someday.

Till then I'll continue playing Enchanted Arms® on my XBOX360™, while continueing to pray for more J-RPGS to hit the XBOX360™.
At the rate S0NY's®™ going, I suspect that I may not have to wait long, given Dev's (e.g. Publishers), usually like to follow the Money, and it's looking more, and more likely that S0NY®™will get there Arse duely handed to 'em! :D

[Rockman_Joey]

SCEE will have to because whats gonna happen when PS2s are no longer in production and people want to play the old PS2 games?

I'm kinda glad I imported the Japanese PlayStation 3 even if there is **** all to play at the moment. I do like to play the 2D fighters which are amazing in Japan like Guilty Gear, Street Fighter, Tekken etc.

Its absolutely stupid, PS2 is Sony's biggest success and to throw away a feature which they introduced is dumb and isn't gonna help a console which comes at the highest cost of all three consoles. I saw this feature in the PS3 a major feature which does better than the 360 but just reading that, I'm shocked and kinda happy I chose to import my PS3 for £400.

I read the article on Gamespot, and If i'm correct, they've removed the PS2s CPUs from the PS3 motherboard and chose to use the Cell instead.

I think its just really clumsy as the PS3's in Japan and America do a far better job of backward compatibility than the XBOX 360 as PS3 emulates 98% of the PSone and PS2 library.

Well, I just hope to god an exploit comes along for my Japanese PS3 so I can play my PAL and U.S PSone and PS2 games.

[Trashcat]

I wonder are they trying to save some money on PS2 components or they screwed up beyond repair implanting PS2 into ps3 so they have to revert to a completely software solution. It might be a good thing to start emulating PS2 now so its ready for the PSP2.

[aic007]

I wonder are they trying to save some money on PS2 components or they screwed up beyond repair implanting PS2 into ps3 so they have to revert to a completely software solution. It might be a good thing to start emulating PS2 now so its ready for the PSP2.


Emulation was in the cards from day one but they couldn't get a significant number of titles compatible by launch time. The PS2 chip was just a hold over till the emulation was basically perfected and almost all titles worked. I guess putting in the chip was thier way of trying to stick it to the 360 regarding its limited BC library.

Now they say that it will have limited BC and they aren't really gonna concern themselves with updates since they are looking towards the future. So Pal regions pay alot more for less of a console, its been out for 3 months and already is having major hardware revisions. How people still support Sony blindly boggles the mind. At least MS was upfront about it and they update the list every few months, can't wait to see how Sony handles this.

While no company is perfect, Sony is just floundering right now. Fortunately for them they haven't had many hardware failure issues that have been in the media like the 360 has, but that could be because no one is really playing due to the lack of good games. Time will tell if the system will be anywhere near as successful as their previous systems but right now I would bet heavily against it.

[Havok154]

but PS3 is defined by key features such as the CELL broadband engine, its Blu-ray drive, the SIXAXIS Controller and its ability to output full 1080P HD game content which makes it an entertainment system for the future, without equal.

So they're confirming what I've been saying. SONY is concentrating on hardware more then games, and the fact they cut out BC to save some money just makes it that much more solid.

[Xenogears V]

Do I wonder me as the sony could have launched the ps3 without verifying some compatibility, do you remember the video where it made him see to the difference among the Ps2 and game Ps2 played on the Ps3?.(If I am not wrong it was final fantasy 10).