PS3 backward-compatibility

**Glacier** · 10-26-2005, 02:59 AM

Here I found some info regarding PS3 compatibility and good explanation to why slim PS2 doesn't support some games:

During a little chat with Digital World Tokyo, SCEI's Reiko Sakamoto admitted that the imminent PS3 will not necessarily be 100% backwards compatible.

"It's hard to say the PlayStation 3 will be 100 percent backwards compatible but as we said earlier this year we aim to make it so as much as possible," Sakamoto said.

"We believe multiple factors are responsible," said Reiko Sakamoto, a spokeswoman for SCEI in Tokyo. The latest console uses a new chipset - the chip that sits between the main processor and the rest of the device - and changes in that chip coupled with the way some software is programmed are believed to be causing the glitches, she said. The problems are largely screen hang-ups during certain parts of the game but also include glitches such as the slow saving of game data onto memory cards.

http://ployer.com/archives/2005/10/compatibility_i.php

**Kb-smoker** · 10-26-2005, 03:09 AM

PS2 was NEVER 100% backwards compatible with ps1 games. Same will be true of the PS3. Not really a big deal, it's not like you need a HDD to play any PS2 or ps1 games on the PS3.

**Red_Eyes** · 10-26-2005, 03:10 AM

Again, Ken or somebody already said that PS3 won't be 100% compatible with PS2 or PS1 games because being the clever programmers that programmers are, they sometimes hack the system and do things that it wasn't meant to do, or, write some weird ass code that people never thought about before.

**gnznroses** · 10-26-2005, 04:40 AM

hell, even the newset slimline isn't 100% compatible, witht the same problems (slow saving, etc). read it on ign.

**Black Dragon37** · 10-26-2005, 11:48 AM

I never thought any console can be 100% backward compatible...

But below 90% isn't acceptible.

At least the PS2 was 90%+ backward compatible.

**rpgamer_2k5** · 10-26-2005, 12:16 PM

PS2's backward compatability probably runs at the high 90s; only a few games are not compatible. In fact all my PSX games work on the PS2. Dozens have been tried since my PSX is in my living room.

**CrumCon** · 10-26-2005, 02:24 PM

This doesnt surpise me at all..

I remember i wanted to play Family games (PS1) on my PS2 console. i mean.. ithey are simple compilation games like chess, checkers, bagamon and some ot her card games.. but it just wont run on my PS2.

But PS3 being pretty powerful, i expect it to emulate PS1 thorught software emulation ( is thing better then hardware emulation they did on PS2?)

and as for PS2.. must be hadrware emulated

**Glacier** · 10-26-2005, 03:49 PM

Well its a minor problem or not at all, as you mentioned, friends. Backward compatibility isn't that impotant for lots of people, but never the less, its an extra fuctionality you will be happy to see included into your machine.
And Crumcon, I like the point you rose. The PS3 will be so powerful on the hardware level that it will emulate PS1 + 2 through software emulation only.

**tazz3** · 10-26-2005, 03:50 PM

i would not mind the PS3 beging backwards compatible with ps2 games.
but backwards compatible with ps1 gamnes would be dumb.
why would any body want to play PS1 games any more.
sont should just leave out backwards compatible with PS1 GAMES.

**Glacier** · 10-26-2005, 04:12 PM

Maybe it just because it poses no challange for Sony. It comes naturally as a consequance of the PS3's structure. And because PS3 isn't just a gaming console, it spins (plays) anything that get between its grasps. Isn't this what Nintindo brag about in there DS? Tazz3, its wise to leave the choice to the customer.

**cpiasminc** · 10-26-2005, 04:29 PM

The PS3 will be so powerful on the hardware level that it will emulate PS1 + 2 through software emulation only.

Well, power isn't really the whole issue with console software emulation. For instance, you can say that it would be easy for Revolution to emulate Gamecube because they're both PPC and the new GPU will have a featureset that is a superset of the Dolphin's. Problem is that the real trick is emulating that CPU and GPU on THAT bus, with THAT type of memory and THAT type of optical drive and THAT API and so on.

I can take our games for PS2 -- all of them, and I mean all, are written in a constant maintained error state (and no, this is not unique). That is to say, that we maintain a race condition where the VUs happen to be pumping out values at the same time that the GS is rendering them and success depends solely on maintaining that the VU is staying a few vertices ahead of the GS and/or is running faster than the GS. The PS2 and the VU microcode we use happens to be balanced juuuuust right that we know this works. Difficulty emulating this? It means that your software emulator has to establish EXACTLY the same performance (within pretty small bounds) in all aspects in order to work properly. Too fast or too slow or too big a difference in performance between one thing and another, and the whole thing will just fall apart.

**CrumCon** · 10-26-2005, 04:40 PM

PS2 could not emulated fully by software, some games may be coded using codes that are only available on PS2 hadrware and could not be done throught software.

This has been proven with PS1 hadrware emulation on PS2, and till we didnt get 100% emulation on ps1.. if it was done by software, the numbers may be higher.

But hadrware emulation of ps2 on ps3 would be dirt cheap for sony i think. ps2 has been out fore more then 5 years now

***D3adcell*** · 10-26-2005, 04:53 PM

Originally Posted by tazz3

i would not mind the PS3 beging backwards compatible with ps2 games.
but backwards compatible with ps1 gamnes would be dumb.
why would any body want to play PS1 games any more.
sont should just leave out backwards compatible with PS1 GAMES.

I still play my NES, why would I not want to play some great ps1 games that I have not yet played/beaten? Just becuase the graphics wont be as good don't make a difference to me.

**KiLLA2006** · 10-26-2005, 05:51 PM

i still play mgs ps1 on my ps2 and hell if im gonna stop playing when ps3 comes out... BEST GAME EVER MADE!!!

**cliffbo** · 10-26-2005, 05:56 PM

does anyone know what games are incompatible with the new pstwo ?.
and will the ps3 be less compatible with either ps1 or pstwo/ps2 also anyone know if ps3 will be mp4 or divx or xvid capable via codecs like the psp?

**Phryne Astynome** · 10-26-2005, 06:35 PM

Not even PCs are 100% backwards compatible with legacy software. I don't know why people are surprised at this news.

**CrumCon** · 10-26-2005, 06:44 PM

Originally Posted by cliffbo

does anyone know what games are incompatible with the new pstwo ?.
and will the ps3 be less compatible with either ps1 or pstwo/ps2 also anyone know if ps3 will be mp4 or divx or xvid capable via codecs like the psp?

My ps2 plays divx , xvid , mp3s just fine

anyway, i hope ps2 will get smoothed when playing on ps3

and im pretty sure PS1 games will looks much better.

**Glacier** · 10-26-2005, 07:16 PM

Well, I think of the PS3 as the equavilant of a fully upgraded PC; with the latest GPU chip and all of the other stuffs being equiped. Then you only need the appropriate software to decode the input signals. What I mean is that on the hardware level the console will be capable of receiving and computing the signals being received but it stands up for the "mind"/software to direct the process. e.g. you can play PS1 games on the desktop if you know how to crack the security code.
So with PS3'processor capablities, backward compatiblity wouldn't be an issue. They only have to add the software that will decode PS1 and PS2's games signals.
O.K. I may know so little about computers and whats under the hood but that what my simple mind is telling me to be right.
cpiasminc, thanks for your explanation. You talked about the balance between UV and GS that must be met inside the PS2 for the processor to work.
First, tell me what do UV and GS stand for?
And where does EE(Emtion Engine) fill its roll?

**Domination** · 10-26-2005, 07:47 PM

Originally Posted by tazz3

i would not mind the PS3 beging backwards compatible with ps2 games.
but backwards compatible with ps1 gamnes would be dumb.
why would any body want to play PS1 games any more.
sont should just leave out backwards compatible with PS1 GAMES.

...the same reason some people would probably want to play games like Galaga.

It is called commitment. Forsaking the user base that made you what you are today in favor of a new user base will only distant your relationship with previous users every new generation, causing a limited user base all together.

**woundingchaney** · 10-26-2005, 08:45 PM

Originally Posted by Domination

...the same reason some people would probably want to play games like Galaga.

It is called commitment. Forsaking the user base that made you what you are today in favor of a new user base will only distant your relationship with previous users every new generation, causing a limited user base all together.

:splitspin
i agree with much you have to say there Dom, but at the same time I think BC is somewhat exagerrated. The majority of gamers arent going to be overly interested in playing back titles when they have the next gen of polish sitting next to their console. Of course having the option of BC is a large bonus, but not by any means a necessity.

As far as Sony's troubles with BC in the PS3 its something that I doubt Sony will have a problem with. Sony has always had BC as a standard and I see no reason for them to drop it now. Of course the
BC rates may be somewhat less impressive than last gen but only by a marginal basis (opinion).