Sony Bundles PS2 With PS3

Report from Japan suggests that a mini PS2 will be included in every PS3. A surprising report has emerged from Japan's Ultra One monthly technology magazine. The magazine's July issue reports that Sony will be achieving backwards compatibility on the PlayStation 3 not through software emulation, as previously announced, but through physical hardware.

The magazine states that the PS3 hardware, in its current form, includes the core PlayStation 2 chipset. This presumably means that initial PS3 units will include the single Emotion Engine (the PS2 CPU) and Graphic Synthesizer (the PS2 graphics chip) combo chip that powers the slim model PS2.
Of course, including the extra hardware drives up costs. The magazine adds that Sony plans on removing the PS2 chipset from future revisions of the PS3 hardware once it has finished development of a proper software-based PS2 emulator. Such a removal would help bring down costs for the system.

[shotty]

This is how you get the system to be Backwards Compatible. They did it with the ps2 by putting in parts of the ps1 into it. Microsoft didn't own the CPU and GPU for xbox 1 so they would have to go through the entire negotiation process with nvidia and intel to produce new smaller xbox 1 chips to put into the xbox 360, MS knew this would greatly increse the cost of the xbox 360 and was not feasible charging xbox 360 owners to have xbox 1 parts in it when only some people would actually use it. However Microsoft owns the IPs to the xbox 360 this time around so they put parts of the xbox 360 into the third xbox and through have full hardware backwards compatibility

[Lucidmantra]

Agree 10000% MS didn't own it and because SOny does it can put it in there and that is how they get 100% BC... Smart work on SOnys part, but almost impossible with the Xbox because it wasn't MS's property.

[Joe]

Great... How much is the PS3 going to cost now??? The price keeps getting higher and higher...

[Lionel Hutz]

Joe, I saw in your profile that you live in North America. It is my understanding from the article that the price is only to change in Japan where the price was left as "open" at E3. For us gamers in the US and Canada, the price is still going to be the same.

[OutLaw]

It's funny how this comes on the heel of the 360 list problem. How they're going to stop making backwards compatibility. But this is kind of late because MS already cleared that up. They are going to continue with the B/C. So lets see what Sony will think of next.

[Shadow Flare]

The prices were finalized for America and Europe at E3. Actually americans get it cheapest, then the japanese, then the europeans (well UK at least, i think its pricier for the rest of europe too).

I like this article, at least the ps3 will be completely backwards compatible = cool

Joe, why do you have star trek for your avatar?

[andy capps]

MS said they would continue to work on it, but from what they said, it doesn't seem like they're aiming to get a majority of the Xbox titles in playable form. It still seems like they're only aiming for the "top-selling" titles, which is up to them to ascertain.

[Shadow Flare]

they would only need to make the system backwards compatible for like 3 games. Job done!

[jedicurt]

no where in the article did it say the price was going up. it said that the development cost is going up, and please, do you honestly think that the people of sony didn't realize this was a possiblity when they gave the price no even a month ago. if anything, if they emulation software were to be finished before launch and able to be put into first generation ps3's then they probably would of dropped the price, so as to increase consumer support in the system, that is a basic strategy in marketing, and something i am sure has been talked about for many months and not just recently

[Marriot VP]

I honestly didn't think this is how Sony made most of their games backward compatible for the ps1 and ps2. It's strange cause only the early PS3 adopters will have backward compatibility than? I guess so. It makes sense for the xbox 360 to stop making new games backward comp., but this move is quite strange if only a group of people will be able to use backward compatibility. I bet only the 600 dollar pack will have this, makes sense. Also because of the blu-ray in the 500 dollar one not having hdmi, when hdcp kicks in a couple years from now EVERY person with a 500 pack won't be able to play blu-ray movies. Just a random fact.

[jedicurt]

no, it doesn't mean that future generations won't be backwards compatible, it means that future generations will use emulation software instead of hardware to attempt to accomplish this, however with software, this means that you might occasionally find a game that doesn't work, but it will still be backwards compatible, and updateable to attempt to contiue making all games work

[Marriot VP]

yah I thought so. Sony can't afford any problems. Emulation, like the 360, just runs the system harder cause it's different code. But still performs the same.

[USMChardcharger]

actually the 360 runs less hard (is less hard correct?).
anyway, it tricks the 360 into thinking it is an xbox1 and actually shuts down 2 of the 3 cores.

[Shadow Flare]

is that why it has trouble with backwards compatibility?

[Marriot VP]

it doesn't have trouble you just have to download a patch on the hard drive, but I can tell that xbox 1 games do run hotter because it's different code. It's like having to run up a hill and run back down for groups of code. Instead of 360 games which would take one trip up the hill cause the code is for the console. Which is why PC ports have a problem doing anymore than matching very expensive PC's. Cause you have to adapt it, which slightly hinders graphical abilities. Ergo -- Oblivion, slightly better on a PC.

[Sexius Maximus]

SWEET!!! Buy one piece of crap, get a second one FREE. You can't beat it!!! I don't REALLY mean that, I'm sure the PS3 will be great, but that is just crazy talk. Two for one???

[jiggajayp]

NOW WHO`S 1.5? PS3 IS REALLY PS2.5 HAHAHAHA, LMFAO!

[jedicurt]

what do you have in your crack pipe? but yes, i guess you are right, having a fully functional backwards compatible system is stupid. dumb 360 fans.

[jedicurt]

to clerify, my previous post, i do not think all 360 fans are dumb (i actaully don't like the 360, but was a big xbox fan) i just think that most who have nothing better to than bash PS3 and nothing relevent to add in a post, like the one i was refering to, really need to get an analcranialectamy (note. that is surgically removing one's head from their @ss)

[Alexander]

So what Sony said about upgrading the textures will now not be possible because it is hardware not software that is allowing for BC. Sure 0.5% can enjoy theyre stretched low res textures, but they said otherwise before...

[jedicurt]

not probable, but it is possible. it might be possible to send the created video data to the PS3 processor at that point and then use a similar upconversion algorithm like those used in upcon dvd players to get a hd image, it is just the expensive way of doing it, but still possible to get the hd image, but you might have some stretching of games that are not already widescreen compatible (but most ps2 games that have come out within the last 2 years are). so i am not sure about the streching, but should still be able to get hd quality images

[Lucidmantra]

truely upgrading textures will take assets such as artwork to be upgraded... you will see that the textures are blocky and low res.

[joemutt]

Didnt for the PS2, Didnt for the 360(ex. Halo) and wont for the PS3.

At some point you just gotta let go.

[GamerMan]

I like only having one generation of a Game system hooked up at a time. The fact that I will be able to play all my old games is great ... only questions I would like to pose and have people ponder is how are we going to get to our saved game data on our current memory cards. Did any of you see PS2/PS1 memory card slot on the PS3?

I can careless about upscaling my games graphics. I still play my PS games and they don't exactly upscale and I don't have a problem with that so I don't see a problem with graphics of a PS2 game staying the same.

@joemutt- I still play my snes and turbo grafix 16 games to this day... so to me its a good deal instead of having to pull out the specific box for that game.

[Shadow Flare]

Man, some of the old consoles have the best games. I've played Final Fantasy 7 and 8 many a time through my ps2, and im real thankful for B/C cos final fantasy 7 is my favourite game, personally nothing beats it to this day so im thankful i can still play it on new consoles.

It sounds kinda crazy, the ps3 has the ps2 inside it lol, but thats great, 'go with what works' and the article says it'll be completely backwards compatible. Sweet

[Islandkiwi]

Emulation seemed the way to go, but I guess they're pressed for time. A few things I'm wondering about here:

Cost: This means an even higher cost for development, right? So a larger loss for Sony. But if they're planning for emulation anyway, then why take the loss?

Space: No external power brick, now they're throwing this thing in as well? Seems a bit crowded in there already.

This one I'm labelling as rumour.

[REDMOND BOYZZ]

Play them beat them; a couple-3 or 4 times and get rid of them, i only keep 8 games at any givin time. You game-trollzz!!!!!!

[TheMART]

Let them first get their Cell CPU and GPU get working right. Reading the articles that it's still not performing right, Sony should focus on that...

Otherwise, playing PS2 games will be the best the machine can offer...

[Lucas Kane]

if u are referring to the article by the " Inquirer" then i would label it BS. If it comes from some reliable source, then i'll believe it! Anyways that was discussed, so moving on......
Relating to ur post, u sound kinda weird. jus coz the console has a "relative" problem regarding the processor and the ggraphic system, PS2 games will be the best that the PS3 can offer!!!!! Sony has run into rough weather with their hardware but that doesn't mean they aren't focussing on that! they very well are! And they need not even focus on their PS2 sys implementation as they have done enough work on that. The site is just informing us gamers that PS3 will be fully B/C. that's all. The question of focus does not arise!!

[Smokey]

did you see a ps1/ps2 mem-card on the ps3? that will be really stupid if ya have to get ur save files thoght sumthin like game shark or AR? i think 360 does not have a way to get old save from xbox 1, but if the ps3 is gonna cost this much from putting all this extra hardware in it they should just ditch the plan cuz like they say there are 100 mil ps2 in the world then why still make the hardware in the new system and make the consumer pay more?(blue-ray and cell have already took a dump on the price)

[clayton]

This is ridiculous, they should have spent less time on the cell chip and spent more time on the ps2/3 hybrid chipset, to benefit the consumer. I would say this is very lazy, and just another reason I won't buy one.

[Lucidmantra]

it isn't a 2.5. The chip will be used to complete other functions when playing PS3 games, and during playing of PS2 games it will take over the processing, the CPU and EE of ps2 were combined into one chip due to miniturization. And I think the PS1 CPU was used as a COntroller input regulator or something to that effect in the PS2. If memory serves as to how they did it.

[Madmax1281980]

I Honestly Dont See The Point In Backwards Compatability Coz When I Buy A Next Gen System I Only Buy It For The Next Gen Games If I Want To Play Last Gen Games Id Buy A Last Gen System It Makes Perfect Sense To Me.

[96impala]

Personally, i love my 360 but i have like 10 games for the ps2 that i would love to play through out the years and so there for i'll hold on to my ps2, and there is time my ps2 breaks or anything and i cant find a replace ment meaning ps2's get pulled it'll be nice to know that the ps3 can run them. My 360 is in my room secured and i'll have the ps2 in the basement fam room so if company wanted to play they can.

[jinn]

the PS3 is too pricy

[jinn]

time to get rid of the ps2

[user9422077]

flop rofl