The PlayStation 3 has been confirmed as backwards compatible for the entire back catalogue of previous PlayStation games, and the Revolution will also provide Nintendo games from the year dot available for download. Microsoft have been reticent for some time about the retro capabilities of the Xbox 360, but have finally been forced by recent announcements to give us some idea of what we can expect.
The word is that there will be some form of compatibility with old Xbox games, but only the ‘top-selling’ ones. This suggests that the games will be processed using software emulation. The PlayStation 2 uses embedded hardware to enable it to play PSX/PSone games, and it’s assumed the PlayStation 3 will use the same technique. But it seems that this approach is something that has been made very difficult to achieve by the Xbox 360’s design, with component costs very likely a significant factor. Stay tuned for any more information on a feature that has become quite an issue pre-E3.
The word is that there will be some form of compatibility with old Xbox games, but only the ‘top-selling’ ones. This suggests that the games will be processed using software emulation. The PlayStation 2 uses embedded hardware to enable it to play PSX/PSone games, and it’s assumed the PlayStation 3 will use the same technique. But it seems that this approach is something that has been made very difficult to achieve by the Xbox 360’s design, with component costs very likely a significant factor. Stay tuned for any more information on a feature that has become quite an issue pre-E3.
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Comments
config 17 May 2005 12:26
1/6
Knee. Jerk. Reaction.
richardjamesparker 17 May 2005 12:34
2/6
The smaller PSTwo uses emulation to play PS1 games and not embedded hardware. Not sure about PS3....
As regards xbox backwards compatibility I'd like to know if I could play a live enabled game on xbox 360 vs. someone on xbox. Or will I have to kepp the xbox for Halo 2.
I wonder if Microsoft will release a list of games that are backwardly compatibile.
As regards xbox backwards compatibility I'd like to know if I could play a live enabled game on xbox 360 vs. someone on xbox. Or will I have to kepp the xbox for Halo 2.
I wonder if Microsoft will release a list of games that are backwardly compatibile.
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SPInGSPOnG 17 May 2005 12:38
3/6
richardjamesparker wrote:
The smaller PSTwo uses emulation to play PS1 games and not embedded hardware. Not sure about PS3...
Dude, are you sure about that? Because if the PSTwo can software emulate a PS1, there's no reason why the PS2 couldn't... so then it would have. If you get my drift.
richardjamesparker 17 May 2005 12:43
4/6
I have this quote form Kutaragi from somewhere:
"PSone runs on the PlayStation 2 through emulation rather than actual hardware. PlayStation 3 will offer the same compatibility for PS2 software and the format will continue forever," he explained.
My understanding is the original PS2 did use hardware to play PS1 games but when they redesigned the PS2 they introduced emulation as a cost cutting exercise.
I don't know if anyone else can confirm....
"PSone runs on the PlayStation 2 through emulation rather than actual hardware. PlayStation 3 will offer the same compatibility for PS2 software and the format will continue forever," he explained.
My understanding is the original PS2 did use hardware to play PS1 games but when they redesigned the PS2 they introduced emulation as a cost cutting exercise.
I don't know if anyone else can confirm....
tyrion 17 May 2005 12:51
5/6
richardjamesparker wrote:
My understanding is the original PS2 did use hardware to play PS1 games but when they redesigned the PS2 they introduced emulation as a cost cutting exercise.
I don't know if anyone else can confirm....
I don't know if anyone else can confirm....
The PS2 USB/Firewire controller was a PS1 CPU. Don't know about the PSTwo, it has USB but no firewire, so a different controller may have been used.
TwoADay 17 May 2005 17:24
6/6
The cavat is likely there so that the older games, that don't support HD resolution or stereo sound, aren't supported. Xbox 360 is supposed to be "HD all the time" or however they said it.
So all you kids wanting to play Nightcaster, Azurik, and Bloodwake will be crying.
D'oh, that means no original Halo....
So all you kids wanting to play Nightcaster, Azurik, and Bloodwake will be crying.
D'oh, that means no original Halo....
