Why PS3 Won't Get Backward Compatibility
PS2 is alive and kicking - and it wants to kick Wii.
Is that a pink Wii? Eeewwww!
Wonder why PS3 doesn't have full, hardware supported backward compatibility nowadays? Well you don't need to wonder any longer. It's because the PS2 is a casual gaming console and the PS3, does not need to "appeal to everyone at this point in time".
So says Sony Computer Entertainment's president, Kaz Hirai. Speaking to MCV, Hirai has laid his cards on the table when it comes to the roles of PS2 and PS3. From the look of it, the former is not going away in a hurry.
Says Hirai, "We are the only platform holder to have two home-based platforms. And they both cater to a somewhat different demographic.
"We don’t have to rely on PS3 to appeal to everyone at this point in time. If we’re talking about the casual gamer, the PS2 is probably the right choice for them.
They can migrate to the PS3 when they feel it appropriate. We don’t need the PS3 to feel like the console that will appeal to everyone at this point."
For Sony, production costs on PS2 are low, R&D is paid off, the retail channels are familiar with the console; developers are too. Equally important is the fact that Joe and Joanne Nongamer could care less whether the console they own has Blu-ray and HD output. They just want to own a console to play party games on. If they can't get a Wii, then the thinking is that the Sony PlayStation brand will bring them in.
Of course, one way of maintaining PS2 sales - which will compete on price and software back catalogue with Xbox 360 arcade and Nintendo Wii - is to ensure that PS3 does not have backward compatibility.
So says Sony Computer Entertainment's president, Kaz Hirai. Speaking to MCV, Hirai has laid his cards on the table when it comes to the roles of PS2 and PS3. From the look of it, the former is not going away in a hurry.
Says Hirai, "We are the only platform holder to have two home-based platforms. And they both cater to a somewhat different demographic.
"We don’t have to rely on PS3 to appeal to everyone at this point in time. If we’re talking about the casual gamer, the PS2 is probably the right choice for them.
They can migrate to the PS3 when they feel it appropriate. We don’t need the PS3 to feel like the console that will appeal to everyone at this point."
For Sony, production costs on PS2 are low, R&D is paid off, the retail channels are familiar with the console; developers are too. Equally important is the fact that Joe and Joanne Nongamer could care less whether the console they own has Blu-ray and HD output. They just want to own a console to play party games on. If they can't get a Wii, then the thinking is that the Sony PlayStation brand will bring them in.
Of course, one way of maintaining PS2 sales - which will compete on price and software back catalogue with Xbox 360 arcade and Nintendo Wii - is to ensure that PS3 does not have backward compatibility.
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Comments
Wayne 30 Jul 2008 11:22
1/19
Ahhhmmm..... Do they expect us to buy both an massively overpriced PS2 and a overpriced Wii competing PS3 (stop laughing everybody at them, I'm serious here). We might as well buy a XBOX 360 instead.
If you are going to sell the most expensive console, at least sell it with PS2 compatibility.
If you are going to sell the most expensive console, at least sell it with PS2 compatibility.
Mornelithe 30 Jul 2008 12:20
2/19
Good thing I bought a launch 60g. The rest of you can suffer, shoulda bought one sooner.
Morne
Morne
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KC 30 Jul 2008 13:01
3/19
It always amazed me how Sony has been bashed for dropping support for old games, when Micro and Nintendo never offered it. Sony is the only company to allow you to do it for so long. I have 2 original 60's and I never play PS2 games, and haven't even nought a PSOne title of the network. I made the PS3 plunge, for next generation graphics and gameplay.
wolfking 30 Jul 2008 13:03
4/19
Posted by Mornelithe
Good thing I bought a launch 60g. The rest of you can suffer, shoulda bought one sooner.
I did get a 60gb model but it broke down and they replaced it woth a 40gb model so sony really scrwewd me out of my full bc.
they should bring it back at some point if they can
Good thing I bought a launch 60g. The rest of you can suffer, shoulda bought one sooner.
I did get a 60gb model but it broke down and they replaced it woth a 40gb model so sony really scrwewd me out of my full bc.
they should bring it back at some point if they can
schnide 30 Jul 2008 13:18
5/19
Mornelithe wrote:
Good thing I bought a launch 60g. The rest of you can suffer, shoulda bought one sooner.
Or a PS3 now, or in fact in a little while and get Dual Shock 3, for a lot less than you'll have paid at launch, and use the remaining money to buy a PS2 that'll play any PS2 game ever written.
pfreak 30 Jul 2008 13:55
6/19
The most expensive console is the 360 if you add up all the add-ons to make them equals.
Steviepunk 30 Jul 2008 14:25
7/19
KC wrote:
It always amazed me how Sony has been bashed for dropping support for old games, when Micro and Nintendo never offered it. Sony is the only company to allow you to do it for so long.
Actually, the Xbox 360 has always offered backward compatibility with original Xbox games. The list of games that work is quite big.
So people are bashing Sony for dropping it because: 1. Microsoft does still provide it and 2. Software emulation was used on European models, which means there is no hardware costs to factor in - it doesn't actually save Sony any money by having dropped it.
Steviepunk 30 Jul 2008 14:28
8/19
pfreak wrote:
The most expensive console is the 360 if you add up all the add-ons to make them equals.
Does that make the Wii redundant since you can't even buy add ons for it make it 'equal' to the other two? ;)
What add ons are you referring to anyway?
If you are referring to the HD-DVD expansion, then I think that is pretty redundant given that HD-DVD is dead (and it's not even related to playing games anyway)
tyrion 30 Jul 2008 15:48
9/19
Steviepunk wrote:
Software emulation was used on European models, which means there is no hardware costs to factor in
Actually the EU 60GB did have PS2 hardware in there.
The original US and JP PS3s had a combined CPU/GPU chip for PS2 BC.
The EU 60GB and the US 80GB versions dropped the multi-chip in favour of software CPU emulation backed up by hardware GPU.
All 40GB models and the new 80GB version have no PS2 BC at all due to dropping the GPU from the motherboard.
In order to do full, across the range PS2 BC Sony would have to develop software emulation of the PS2's GPU. They appear to be unwilling to do that.
Steviepunk 30 Jul 2008 15:55
10/19
tyrion wrote:
The EU 60GB and the US 80GB versions dropped the multi-chip in favour of software CPU emulation backed up by hardware GPU.
All 40GB models and the new 80GB version have no PS2 BC at all due to dropping the GPU from the motherboard.
In order to do full, across the range PS2 BC Sony would have to develop software emulation of the PS2's GPU. They appear to be unwilling to do that.
I was unaware of that, thought it was 100% software emu. Thanks for enlightening me :)
headcasephil 30 Jul 2008 17:12
11/19
iv got the 60 version which i got on launch and i have only played ps1 games on it as for ps2 i still use a ps2 console to play as i now when i put a game in it is going to work
SuperSaiyan4 31 Jul 2008 11:08
12/19
Its funny, if the 360 couldnt do it then all the Sony fanbabies would be laughing at the Xbox fans. No instead Sony fanbabies have an answer for everything as usual, dismal as their console may be for poor looking ports, waiting a year for old games that are on the 360 already and having to put up with constant waiting, delays, bad ports and a terrible online service and the PSN which has absolute rubbish and nothing to offer they have an answer to the BC problem - get a PS2.
schnide 31 Jul 2008 13:21
13/19
SuperSaiyan4 wrote:
I'm a complete tool. One day I'd like to grow up to be a girl, but in the meantime I want to post as much drivel as I can on here because I get a little bit excited in my willy every time someone notices the things I say and abuses me.
Sometimes I like to touch myself with a glove on because then I can pretend that Luke from my economics class is doing it. There was this one time I brought him over to play Viva Pinata and said hey, wouldn't it be fun if we played it naked! And then if we touched each other!
But Luke said he didn't want to do that, and called me a fag.
But I liked it he said that, and got excited in my willy, so then I put my glove back on. It was nice.
Sometimes I like to touch myself with a glove on because then I can pretend that Luke from my economics class is doing it. There was this one time I brought him over to play Viva Pinata and said hey, wouldn't it be fun if we played it naked! And then if we touched each other!
But Luke said he didn't want to do that, and called me a fag.
But I liked it he said that, and got excited in my willy, so then I put my glove back on. It was nice.
TimSpong 1 Aug 2008 10:40
14/19
schnide wrote:
SuperSaiyan4 wrote:
I'm a complete tool.
I would appear to have been dropped into a playground and sent back in time several decades. What's with that?
We've got Rod Todd calling people spunk-garglers over in another thread, and now schnide's pretending to quote SS4. What's with all the homophobia?
Sure, SS4 is simply trolling - but frankly, I reckon we've only got ourselves to blame for (a) responding in kind (b) insulting the poor wee lad all the time.
I mean, you wouldn't go up to some bloke ranting in the street about how cats are better then dogs at everything including barking, would you?
Cheers
Tim
-------
Tim's pomposity rating for today is a sparkling 98.3!
schnide 1 Aug 2008 10:53
15/19
Tim Smith wrote:
I mean, you wouldn't go up to some bloke ranting in the street about how cats are better then dogs at everything including barking, would you?
No way! Dogs are way better than cats.
Love them videogames!
Bridger 3 Aug 2008 22:38
16/19
For the first time ever, I've seriously thought about getting an Xbox 360 instead of a PS3.
One of the reasons I want a PS3 are so that it can replace my PS2, as in, I can completely get rid of my PS2. The only reason I haven't bought a PS3 is because I'm waiting for some better games to come out for it.
If I have to own a 2nd console, I might as well buy an Xbox 360, so that I can play Xbox exclusive titles. Really, the PS3 doesn't have a whole lot of exclusivity. Final Fantasy XIII, will be on the 360, Halo is on the 360, Dynasty Warriors 6, Ninja Gaiden, etc, etc.
PS3 does have God of War III and Heavinly Sword, but are these few rare exclusive titles really enough to make me add ANOTHER console to my entertainment center?
One of the reasons I want a PS3 are so that it can replace my PS2, as in, I can completely get rid of my PS2. The only reason I haven't bought a PS3 is because I'm waiting for some better games to come out for it.
If I have to own a 2nd console, I might as well buy an Xbox 360, so that I can play Xbox exclusive titles. Really, the PS3 doesn't have a whole lot of exclusivity. Final Fantasy XIII, will be on the 360, Halo is on the 360, Dynasty Warriors 6, Ninja Gaiden, etc, etc.
PS3 does have God of War III and Heavinly Sword, but are these few rare exclusive titles really enough to make me add ANOTHER console to my entertainment center?
bashar 5 Feb 2009 10:19
17/19
i thougt id buy ps3 and will be able to play ps2 games but reading reviews and articles on ps3 i think i will give it a big time miss x box 360 seems much better,
i have ps1 and ps2 but not gonna buy the over priced ps3 which cant play ps2 games, no point collecting the sony brand anymore,
lots of people are now buying the wii or the xbox 360 over ps3, what a shame on ps3 and they say they are the best dont even bloody have a decent game on the ps3.
i have ps1 and ps2 but not gonna buy the over priced ps3 which cant play ps2 games, no point collecting the sony brand anymore,
lots of people are now buying the wii or the xbox 360 over ps3, what a shame on ps3 and they say they are the best dont even bloody have a decent game on the ps3.
da man 9 Apr 2009 03:16
18/19
wow yall are dumb..theres plenty of games for ps3...and if the ps2 is still for sale...why would ps3 play ps2 games...than no one would buy the ps2...because if u could buy a ps3 and have the ps2 all in one package....
allcreator 15 Jul 2009 18:33
19/19
now changeing and shows how old this report is and how aincient its thinking is.