New Tech Could Make All PS3s Backwards Compatible

Images of new technology patented by Sony illustrate a method by which the PS3's Cell Processor can be used to emulate the PS2's Emotion Engine code.

The patent describes the tech as "an example of a host system based on a cell processor that may be configured to emulate the target system." The patent's wording and the appearance of the Emotion Engine and Cell Processor in the images leave little possibility of anything other than PS2 emulation on the PS3. It's unclear if this emulation includes PS2 disc support or if it will be geared towards potential PS2 title downloads.

Siliconera.com describes Sony's process as: "[...] a way to translate instructions from an Emotion Engine chip into chunks that can be referenced." This new plan for emulation differs from early backwards compatible PS3 models in that the originals actually included the Emotion Engine hardware in the console. Sony's emulation patent is more in line with the Xbox 360's (sometimes faulty) emulation of previous gen titles.

While the emulator is no replacement for the hardware itself, Sony is still selling the PS2 and would surely rather make cash off of Emotion Engine chipset sales rather than just giving them away with the PS3. Either way, this is potentially great news for current and future PS3 owners, as the lack of backwards compatibility has consistently drawn major criticism from the gaming community.

Source: Siliconera

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This would be a great boon to PS3. Suddenly, one of the biggest issues... fragmentation of the userbase over a generational gap... would be largely resolved.

Well, my PS3 is already backwards compatible. And I hardly ever play PS2 games anyway. But I'm still pleased that this is happening, a lot of people with a new PS3 want to play old PS2 or PS1 games, so I'm happy for them at lest.

I got the 20GB model back when it first came out, and later installed a 160GB hard drive to make it a monster, so this news really doesn't affect me. All the same, this is great news for other PS3 owners.

it would make it easier on me money wise for a ps3. i won't get one without the backwards compatability and so far looks like i may have to import it. and i really don't want to do that.

If they did this, and the price-drop rumours were true, i'd go out and buy a PS3 for sure. Price and backwards compatibility are the two issues that seem to have crippled PS3 sales.

I don't understand what compatibility the PS3 is missing. I've played PS2 and PS1 games on it. I played MGS and FFVII on it just a few months ago, and now I'm playing Spyro: Eternal Night because I picked it up in a bargain bin (it sucks, I miss the old Spyro).

I've never had any compatibility problems, so...could anybody tell me what exactly the problems are? I tried googling it, and it just keeps telling me PS2 and PS1 games don't work on the PS3, but they do.

Krakyn:
I don't understand what compatibility the PS3 is missing. I've played PS2 and PS1 games on it. I played MGS and FFVII on it just a few months ago, and now I'm playing Spyro: Eternal Night because I picked it up in a bargain bin (it sucks, I miss the old Spyro).

Depends on when you bought your PS3. The earlier PS3s had the Emotion Engine chip, which basically meant that every PS3 had a PS2 on a chip inside it. Then they dropped the chip in favor of emulation (we Europeans never got the PS3 with the EE chip). Pretty soon after that they dropped backwards compatibility entirely, which means that you aren't playing any PS2 games on a new PS3.

Krakyn:

I've never had any compatibility problems, so...could anybody tell me what exactly the problems are? I tried googling it, and it just keeps telling me PS2 and PS1 games don't work on the PS3, but they do.

Depends which PS3 model you have.

Original US/Japanese 60GB models and 20GB models will play all PS2 games and PS1 games.
Original European 60GB models and US 80GB models will play some PS2 games and all PS1 games.
40GB models and newer will play PS1 games but no PS2 games.

Woe Is You:

Krakyn:
I don't understand what compatibility the PS3 is missing. I've played PS2 and PS1 games on it. I played MGS and FFVII on it just a few months ago, and now I'm playing Spyro: Eternal Night because I picked it up in a bargain bin (it sucks, I miss the old Spyro).

Depends on when you bought your PS3. The earlier PS3s had the Emotion Engine chip, which basically meant that every PS3 had a PS2 on a chip inside it. Then they dropped the chip in favor of emulation (we Europeans never got the PS3 with the EE chip). Pretty soon after that they dropped backwards compatibility entirely, which means that you aren't playing any PS2 games on a new PS3.

Thank you, I couldn't seem to find that information anywhere. Yeah, I think I picked up my PS3 in 2007.

I got the 60GB so mine already works with PS2 and PS1 games but this is good for all the cheap people who get the 20GB.

Personally, I think all next-gen consoles should have had backwards compatibility to begin with. Shelling out large amounts of money for a new console that separates us from the old library of games we've come to know and love just seems annoying.

However, I am glad that Sony has taken the initiative on fixing this problem. Maybe this will light a fire under Microsoft's asses.

Finally i'll be able to play red faction and ultimate spiderman all over again.

Hooray! At long last, the deaf ears of Sony hear reason! Now as long as this doesn't make me download the titles I already own (like some Xbox Originals style deal) I'll be ok with it.

Psychosocial:

But then again, RROD isn't fully fixed, so they're not the slowest.

It is already fixed.

HardRockSamurai:
Personally, I think all next-gen consoles should have had backwards compatibility to begin with. Shelling out large amounts of money for a new console that separates us from the old library of games we've come to know and love just seems annoying.

Unless you're very strange, your old consoles don't spontaneously combust when you get new ones.

GloatingSwine:

HardRockSamurai:
Personally, I think all next-gen consoles should have had backwards compatibility to begin with. Shelling out large amounts of money for a new console that separates us from the old library of games we've come to know and love just seems annoying.

Unless you're very strange, your old consoles don't spontaneously combust when you get new ones.

Naw, but I usually sell the old console plus a few games in order to afford the new console. Lots of people do it.

This is the first positive Sony story I have seen on these forums for a while.
I'm glad people are getting their backwards compatibility, although I was one of the lucky ones who got a 60GB PS3.
Only problem is, I cant play PS1 games, but Im guessing that they wont fix that and make a killing from the PStore.

I grabbed the only one worth buying the 60GB and tossed in a 320GB drive for $100 CAD. Even the proposed emulation for this patent would be weaker then what the 60GB was released with.

finally hurrah for sony i got a shelf full of Ps2 games just waiting to be played again. i'm just to lazy to get my PS2 out from the closet.

Utarefson:

Psychosocial:

But then again, RROD isn't fully fixed, so they're not the slowest.

It is already fixed.

Yeah, tell that to my Elite that's sitting in Texas waiting on a repair. *grumblecakes*

don't need it, have a 60 gig

I've got the 80 GB one. These are good news for me.

Finally, Sony will give the PS3 something it already had before wait, what?

Was there a reason they dropped backwards compatibility in the first place?

This is a brilliant piece of news since I have been waiting for this feature in modern PS3s since I got mine.

this is cool but i have one of the 60 gigs with the original chip, it's the reason i got it cause i heard they were discontinuing it

I don't want a PS3 if it can't play PS2 games on it, so something like this will make me consider buying one. Well, this and a price drop.

MK Tha Rebel:
Finally, Sony will give the PS3 something it already had before wait, what?

Was there a reason they dropped backwards compatibility in the first place?

Saved something like $20 per system built. At a time when they were taking an utter hosing on build costs.

[quote="Michael Grimm" post="7.122000.2441129]Sony is still selling the PS2 and would surely rather make cash off of Emotion Engine chipset sales rather than just giving them away with the PS3.[/quote]

So they are going to sell the emulator to not losing money of ps2 sales? They could boost ps3 sells isn't that better?

Now all they need to do is sell more memory card USB adaptors so the players can transfer their PS1/2 saves to the PS3 drive in time for the unlocking of PS2-playing on it.

:D