SPOnG correspondent, Steve Boxer, managed to catch up with Sony Computer Entertainment (UK) managing director Ray Maguire to speak to him about the implications of the PS3's recent price change - and the introduction of the 40Gb unit. High on the list was the issue of backwards compatibility.
Here's what Maguire had to say on the matter, "When we launched, we said we would focus on forward production than backwards-compatibility, but there was more of a need for backwards-compatibility six months ago. So, from here on in, there are no plans for backwards-compatibility in PlayStation products."
Read more on backwards compatibility, the race for Christmas and Ray's reaction to Microsoft and Nintendo in the full interview, which is available right here.
Here's what Maguire had to say on the matter, "When we launched, we said we would focus on forward production than backwards-compatibility, but there was more of a need for backwards-compatibility six months ago. So, from here on in, there are no plans for backwards-compatibility in PlayStation products."
Read more on backwards compatibility, the race for Christmas and Ray's reaction to Microsoft and Nintendo in the full interview, which is available right here.
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ohms 6 Oct 2007 22:08
1/7
"So, from here on in, there are no plans for backwards-compatibility in PlayStation products."
WTF!?!
I wasn't planning to get a PS3 anytime soon, but one of the great things about the PS2 was I could play any of the PS1 titles I still had, and I could dump my PS1 console, save some space. Maybe this wont matter to many people, but I actually used to play PS1 games on my PS2 now and again, and if I had a PS3 right now, I think I would probably still be playing a LOT of PS2 games, but now this!?!?
Didn't Kutaragi once say that the Playstation would forever be backcompatible?
Come back Ken, all is forgiven!! well, some is forgiven. :)
well, you never know, this may be solved by a hack. hacked 360s were 100% backcompatible with xbox games from day one.
WTF!?!
I wasn't planning to get a PS3 anytime soon, but one of the great things about the PS2 was I could play any of the PS1 titles I still had, and I could dump my PS1 console, save some space. Maybe this wont matter to many people, but I actually used to play PS1 games on my PS2 now and again, and if I had a PS3 right now, I think I would probably still be playing a LOT of PS2 games, but now this!?!?
Didn't Kutaragi once say that the Playstation would forever be backcompatible?
Come back Ken, all is forgiven!! well, some is forgiven. :)
well, you never know, this may be solved by a hack. hacked 360s were 100% backcompatible with xbox games from day one.
ajmetz 7 Oct 2007 14:23
2/7
I indeed hope this gets resolved. Getting a new PlayStation used to be like "upgrading" from an old machine. If future PS3s won't be backwards compatible, then PS3 is no longer a natural upgrade path for the *massive* PS2 userbase.
I still have old PS2 and PS1 games I was hoping to play on a PS3.
Having said that, the 60gb is still on the market, and still backwards compatible to some degree.
I hope that BC one stays on the market a little longer. Else I won't get a PS3.
I still have old PS2 and PS1 games I was hoping to play on a PS3.
Having said that, the 60gb is still on the market, and still backwards compatible to some degree.
I hope that BC one stays on the market a little longer. Else I won't get a PS3.
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Kirk 8 Oct 2007 08:30
3/7
I still don't get why it is a major issue including backwards compatibility in European systems where it is a software based solution anyway...
ultimateassmonkey 8 Oct 2007 09:36
4/7
How's about just having one version of the console out? You know, make it easy for the customer to decide what they want.
Brain Of Edsan 8 Oct 2007 10:16
5/7
"Regarding the backwards-compatibility issue, we felt it was reasonably important at launch, when there weren’t that many titles on sale,"
"We feel now, going into Christmas, with about 65 titles, there is sufficient choice that instead of looking at backwards-compatibility, we can use that money better to get the entry-level cost of gaming down."
Q: Is the 40Gb PS3 backwards-compatible with PlayStation One games?
A: "Yes….So, from here on in, there are no plans for backwards-compatibility in PlayStation products."
And Phil Harrison says….."Backwards compatibility, as you know from PlayStation One and PlayStation 2, is a core value of what we believe we should offer. And access to the library of content people have created, bought for themselves, and accumulated over the years is necessary to create a format. PlayStation is a format meaning that it transcends many devices -- PSOne, PS2, and now PS3" - Phil Harrison, Sony, December 2006.
Regarding multiple SKU’s
"I think we wouldn't take that strategy. We wouldn't create confusion" - Phil Harrison, Sony, August 2005.
And you want me to give my dosh to these guys???????
"We feel now, going into Christmas, with about 65 titles, there is sufficient choice that instead of looking at backwards-compatibility, we can use that money better to get the entry-level cost of gaming down."
Q: Is the 40Gb PS3 backwards-compatible with PlayStation One games?
A: "Yes….So, from here on in, there are no plans for backwards-compatibility in PlayStation products."
And Phil Harrison says….."Backwards compatibility, as you know from PlayStation One and PlayStation 2, is a core value of what we believe we should offer. And access to the library of content people have created, bought for themselves, and accumulated over the years is necessary to create a format. PlayStation is a format meaning that it transcends many devices -- PSOne, PS2, and now PS3" - Phil Harrison, Sony, December 2006.
Regarding multiple SKU’s
"I think we wouldn't take that strategy. We wouldn't create confusion" - Phil Harrison, Sony, August 2005.
And you want me to give my dosh to these guys???????
Bentley 8 Oct 2007 12:36
6/7
This is the worst move Sony could have made at this point.
A cheaper PS3 with rumbling controllers would have been fantastic.
An entry level PS3 with less USB, smalled HDD and lack of memory card ports, not a bad idea.
But ditching the ability to play PS2 games? When there are so, so many PS2 owners out there looking to upgrade? It's suicide. Hell, there are PS1 games I still play on PS2... Bishi Bashi Special and Metal Gear Solid, to name a couple. My PS2 games will still be as valid to me in five years. And with a severe lack of PS3 titles on shelves, the huge amount of PS2 games available could be seen as a compensation to new PS3 owners... even if 65 titles are available (which I doubt, and only a percentage of them will be worth paying £50 for), the idea of picking up an undiscovered classic PS2 title for about a tenner would always be a temptation. Not any more, eh?
How many PS2 owners who were holding out for the right price to jump to PS3, taking their games with them, will now do so? Not anywhere near as many. One of the main incentives to remain loyal to Sony has been destroyed. All Sony have done here is sell more 360s.
What a ship of fools. I'm still convinced PS3 has more potential than any other console, but I am getting frustrated with Sony's treatment of it, which so far has been a prolonged suicide note.
A cheaper PS3 with rumbling controllers would have been fantastic.
An entry level PS3 with less USB, smalled HDD and lack of memory card ports, not a bad idea.
But ditching the ability to play PS2 games? When there are so, so many PS2 owners out there looking to upgrade? It's suicide. Hell, there are PS1 games I still play on PS2... Bishi Bashi Special and Metal Gear Solid, to name a couple. My PS2 games will still be as valid to me in five years. And with a severe lack of PS3 titles on shelves, the huge amount of PS2 games available could be seen as a compensation to new PS3 owners... even if 65 titles are available (which I doubt, and only a percentage of them will be worth paying £50 for), the idea of picking up an undiscovered classic PS2 title for about a tenner would always be a temptation. Not any more, eh?
How many PS2 owners who were holding out for the right price to jump to PS3, taking their games with them, will now do so? Not anywhere near as many. One of the main incentives to remain loyal to Sony has been destroyed. All Sony have done here is sell more 360s.
What a ship of fools. I'm still convinced PS3 has more potential than any other console, but I am getting frustrated with Sony's treatment of it, which so far has been a prolonged suicide note.
tyrion 8 Oct 2007 13:37
7/7
Kirk wrote:
I still don't get why it is a major issue including backwards compatibility in European systems where it is a software based solution anyway...
The European 60GB PS3 and American 80GB PS3 both used software emulation for the PS2's Emotion Engine (EE) CPU, but retained the PS2's Graphics Synthesizer (GS) GPU.
The original PS3 models contained the combined EE/GS chips from the slimline PS2. Now the new 40GB model has neither chip.
All I can think is that to cut costs they used up stock of the old stand-alone GS chips for the PS2 phat in the EU60 and US80 versions and now they have run out. Someone didn't think it was worth allocating resources to emulating the GS in software and now we have the non-BC version.