40GB PS3 won’t do backwards compatibility in hardware, Sony doesn’t want to deal with software emulation
- October 9th, 2007
- 6 Comments
Now we are all sad clowns
Yes, we now know the 40GB is as real as Opie’s sports curse, but there’s a catch: backwards compatibility has taken a hit. Wait, that’s putting it mildly: Sony couldn’t give a damn about backwards compatibility.
The system, which will retail for around $400, lacks the PS2 circuitry that made emulation on earlier PS3 models effortless. Now Sony would have to go back and emulate PS2 games using software. That’s not impossible, as Microsoft has proven, but it’s not a priority for Sony.
As we have mentioned on several occasions, our engineering resources are now focused on developing new and innovative features and services for the PS3 and, as a result the 40GB model does not have backwards compatibility with PS2 titles.
Do you care? I actually might. I have a hell of a lot of PS2 games in my library and should my silver PS2 crock up one day I’d be in a spot of trouble. Save a bunch of money on the PS3 vs. being able to play PS2 games…
40GB PS3 could do backwards compatibility? [bit-tech.net]
Mark (Who am I?)
1 year ago
I’m one that doesn’t care too much. My PS2 crapped out on me a few years ago and I never replaced it. Don’t have the games any more (I still own them, but I gave them to my brother, so he’s got them all), but I doubt I would play any of them anyway. I do have a PS3 now, the 80GB, which does have software emulation…but I don’t see myself playing (as I haven’t yet) any PS2 games on it. If I wanted to play them I’d buy another PS2, especially since it’ll most likely have a price drop soon.
sanchez (Who am I?)
1 year ago
frunnnkis
vozome (Who am I?)
1 year ago
let’s be honest, software backwards compatibility of the PS3 is near perfect. The day it was released in Europe, it was already very good, and the number of titles with bugs has decreased very steadily since.
there are probably other issues with the PS3 (like an utter lack of system-selling games one year after launch) but frankly backwards compatibility is not one of them.
darthbith (Who am I?)
1 year ago
Booo Sony. Another reason to not buy a PS3 until they make the PS4. For me, one of the most awesome things about the Wii is its backwards compatibility with GC games. I owned a GC for years and built up a nice library of some of my favorite games (Metroid, Mario Kart, etc.) and all my save games from them. I don’t have to keep switching systems when I want to play an older game, plus the GCs crap out pretty often (had 2 bite the dust). Now if only they’d release NFL Blitz on the Wii Store, I could get rid of my N64 as well :-D
goldcoaster (Who am I?)
1 year ago
I don’t reall care that much about compatibility, what I hate is Sony ripping us off.
In Australia the PS3 (60GB) is AUD$1000 in the US it’s US$499, with the exchange rate (we are close to $ for $) that is AUD$560 - cheaper than the new ‘cheap’ model!! Why is the cheap one AUD$699, it should be about AUD$400…
What a rip off!
skycaptsteve
11 months ago
to goldcoaster:
I hear you man. I was totally going to buy the $1000 ps3 pack with the 2 controllers and the 2 games, until i read news about dual shock 3 controllers coming out sometime early next year. Then i got the email from sony about the 40gb model and thought sweet, i could get that.. but the price is still a bitch. And yeah i totally agree about the whole price difference between the US and Here, i mean the other day the AU was trading at 90.45 US cents, and i know factoring in shipping blah blah blah etc etc etc > but still price wise it shouldnt’ be that much more than the US. And yeah bring back BC! i never bought a ps2 (didn’t think it was that good..then regreted it years later..) and there’s games like tekken that i still wanna let loose on.
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