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[m_hael]

http://www.gamesindustry.biz/news.php?aid=12554

QUOTE

PlayStation 3 may not offer full backwards compatibility

Ellie Gibson 08:45 27/10/2005

Will be compatible 'as much as possible', says Sony spokesperson

Doubt has been cast over whether the PlayStation 3 will be fully backwards compatible with all previous PlayStation titles, despite earlier claims that the next-generation console will play both PlayStation and PS2 games.

Speaking to the IDG News Service, Sony spokesperson Reiko Sakamoto said: "It's hard to say the PlayStation 3 will be 100 per cent backwards compatible."

"But as we said earlier this year, we aim to make it so as much as possible."

Sakamoto's comments came after Sony published a list of games which are not compatible with the new silver slimline PS2 console, due to go on sale in Japan next month. A total of 38 PSone and nine PS2 games were listed, including Tekken 5, Hitman: Contracts and Resident Evil.

"We believe multiple factors are responsible," Sakamoto told IDG, explaining that the new console has a different chipset which is not compatible with the way some software is programmed, resulting in glitches such as hangs and slow game saves.

The consoles had already gone into production by the time compatibility testing began, and since testing is not finished more games could yet be added to the list.

This is not the first time backwards compatibility issues have arisen for a next-generation console - there was also considerable confusion over whether the Xbox 360 would play Xbox titles, and even now it's not clear which games will be fully supported by the platform. A list of compatible games is due to appear on the official Xbox website within the next week or two, according to recent comments by Xbox VP Peter Moore.

[gamerguy999]

QUOTE(m_hael @ Oct 27 2005, 10:37 AM)

The consoles had already gone into production by the time compatibility testing began, and since testing is not finished more games could yet be added to the list

Is he indicating that the PS3 is already in production, or does he mean something else by that?

[bzerk187]

QUOTE(gamerguy999 @ Oct 27 2005, 12:57 PM)

Is he indicating that the PS3 is already in production, or does he mean something else by that?

"Sakamoto's comments came after Sony published a list of games which are not compatible with the new silver slimline PS2 console."


 

[Shakey_Jake33]

To be fair, it could mean anything... the PS2 wasn't 100% backward compatible remember.  That said, I'd think on the PS3, it would be relatively trivial to make some kind of emulation system that runs PS1 games near-as-dammit perfect.  PS2 though, different thing...

This whole thing started because the new Satin Silver PS2's show compatibility problems with various PS1/2 games (key titles like Tekken 5 and Resident Evil 2 no less), I'd expect similar symptoms with the PS3.

This post has been edited by Shakey_Jake33: Oct 27 2005, 06:28 PM

[thax]

Speaking to Japanese website Impress Game Watch, Kutaragi explained that a balance between hardware and software emulation is necessary for PS3 to be fully backwards compatible. "We can do it with software alone, but it's important to make it as close to perfect as possible."

Kutaragi feels that the launch of the Xbox 360 will instantly make the original Xbox obsolete unless it is fully backwards compatible - and he doubts MS can solve the problem. "The only way to avoid that is to allow 100 percent compatibility from launch, but MS won't be able to guarantee that. It's technically very difficult."

[m_hael]

QUOTE(thax @ Oct 27 2005, 11:15 AM)

Speaking to Japanese website Impress Game Watch, Kutaragi explained that a balance between hardware and software emulation is necessary for PS3 to be fully backwards compatible. "We can do it with software alone, but it's important to make it as close to perfect as possible."

Kutaragi feels that the launch of the Xbox 360 will instantly make the original Xbox obsolete unless it is fully backwards compatible - and he doubts MS can solve the problem. "The only way to avoid that is to allow 100 percent compatibility from launch, but MS won't be able to guarantee that. It's technically very difficult."

you realise of course that sony have exactly the same issue only theirs is made more complex by the addition of several proprietary chips within the ps2 AND the fact that ps1 emulation will require the SAME solution as ps2; a ps1 within it.

[LowProfileWurm]

So let me get this straight... for PS1 emulation on PS2, there was a PS1 chipset?  By that logic there will be both a PS2 and a PS1 chipset in PS3 for emulation??  That's like 3 consoles for the price of 2!!  What a bargain.

[crobar]

well wasnt the ps2 backwards compatable because it had  ps1 components in it...almost like having a ps1 in your ps2?
so this will be the "first time" they are emulating their hardware on another system...
i can imagine them getting it right if the latest ps2 cant even play ps2 games

[m_hael]

QUOTE(crobar @ Oct 27 2005, 01:29 PM)

well wasnt the ps2 backwards compatable because it had  ps1 components in it...almost like having a ps1 in your ps2?
so this will be the "first time" they are emulating their hardware on another system...
i can imagine them getting it right if the latest ps2 cant even play ps2 games

didn't wurm just say that?

[crobar]

:lol: guess so

[VariableElite]

:rolleyes: Next, they're going to announce that PS3 games aren't guaranteed to be compatible with the PS3.


 :lol:

[twistedsymphony]

you would think they'd be able to emulate the PS1 entirely with software at this point... heck if the PS3 is so powerful wouldn't they be able to emulate that entirely with software as well?

After all we have some near perfect homebrew PS1 emulators and some homebrew PS2 emulators that are getting better everyday.

Correct me if I'm wrong but didn't the PS2 use the "PS1 on a chip" as it's sound processor when it wasn't emulating PS1 games?

[Reaper527]

QUOTE(gamerguy999 @ Oct 27 2005, 12:57 PM)

Is he indicating that the PS3 is already in production, or does he mean something else by that?

he means sony collects your money before testing for bugs? thats the only way i can interprate "it was already being manufactured before testing began"

[Shakey_Jake33]

QUOTE(twistedsymphony @ Oct 27 2005, 10:54 PM)

Correct me if I'm wrong but didn't the PS2 use the "PS1 on a chip" as it's sound processor when it wasn't emulating PS1 games?

Pretty much, it used the PS1 processor to process I/O stuff like the game controllers, USB, HDD etc.  That's why you cannot play PS1 games from HDD like you can with PS2 games (using HDLoader/ToxicOS) - the processor is in use.

Didn't Sony buy the Connectix (developers of the old VGS PSX emulator way back in the Bleem days) developers a few years back?  We all speculated that it was to help provide the backward compatiblity for the PS3.  I'd certainly be underwhelmed if the PS3 stuggled to emulate a PS1 when you hardly need a top-spec PC to achieve this.
Would make sense for them to use the 'on-a-chip' method with the PS2 though.

[Shakey_Jake33]

[double post]

This post has been edited by Shakey_Jake33: Oct 27 2005, 11:26 PM