Backwards Compatibility

[Sushi_b]

How do you feel about backwards compatibility. I'm sure that a large majority of us really like that we can pop in old games on our current system and play them. It's a nice addition and hopefully every system that comes out in the future will continue to support this.

After recently reading that the PS3 is getting new 80 gig harddrive consoles, but won't feature the ability to play PS2 games, I was initially excited and then very disappointed. Does any one know why Sony would make this choice?

I know that the Xbox 360 has a limited number of games that can be played from the previous generation as well. Wii has the very nice addition of playing GC games.

Thoughts.

[Matron]

Since my PS2 is giving me issues with loading various areas on FFXII for some reason, I quite like being able to throw it into the PS3 and play. We don't use the 360 for many Xbox games, which you can't even do if you don't have a Live account, because you have to download something for every game to make it playable. We did so with a few games, but mostly, those we just throw in the original Xbox in the bedroom to play.

It does kinda suck that I have to dig out the old Playstation to play those games now, but I don't have room to keep more stuff hooked up at once, with the 360, PS3, and the Wii, all on one tv.

[moogle]

Wasn't the ability to play PS2 and PS1 games software emulation anyway? It doesn't make sense that they'd remove it.

I love backwards compatibility as long as it doesn't jack up the price. The PS2 had a PS1 processor built in so it could play PS1 games, so that must have had an impact on the price. But Xbox 360 and (I believe) the PS3 use software emulation, and the Wii usues basically a beefed-up GCN processor, so there's no need for extra hardware with those.

[Phakiel]

Sony is cutting costs i believe and as long as the ps3 keeps getting closer to affordability i am all up for it. I always keep my consoles when upgrading and even with full backward compatibility, some games never worked on my ps2, or for some reason worked halfway, like for instance by GH copy of Xenogears worked through the first disc. Then on the second disc, nothing, pretty weird.

I think that BC is a nice thing but its not particularly a main thing for me when considering consoles unless I dont have the previous console, like with the wii. One of the things that excited me the most was that when buying the wii i would have the "current gen" nintendo console and also be able to play gamecubes game i missed out, same thing with the 360. However this was before that Wii Fit crap, Miyamoto saying that this past E3 was not for the core gamer and the fact that every xbox 360 seems to have some faulty hardware. Are the new editions getting RoD as well?

Anyway, I think that as technology advances we'll have our BC regardless of hardware, emulation is truly the way to go. With HDD with tetra bytes capacity, in less than we can imagine, we will be able to have a lot of games all in one drive. Hell even a blu ray disc you can technically cram 10+ ps2 games.

[Priest4hire]

Wasn't the ability to play PS2 and PS1 games software emulation anyway? It doesn't make sense that they'd remove it.


Not exactly, no. The PS2 emulation at least was a mixture of emulation and actual hardware. I believe the EE was emulated but the GS was still present. Pulling PS1 support would be odd.

For me it's a nice feature but it doesn't ultimately influence my purchasing to any great extent.

[Abominari]

The 60 GB PS3 basically had a PS2 inside it for maximum backwards compatibility. They nixed that pretty quick, though, and put out the 40 and 80 gig models with software BC.

[Sushi_b]

Well after doing a little searching the Original 20 gig and 60 gig PS3's have the micro chip that the PS2 was running it's games on. Every recent system has since then pulled that out of the hardware and now has a running emulation program built in. It's lead to some games not running perfectly and such. I'm a little disappointed that they will even be pulling the emulation feature from future consoles for PS2. Apparently the PS1 is fully compatable and won't be lost from the hardware upgrade.

I too keep my old consoles but I've been on the move for the last 3 years and it would be nice to catch up on all the PS2 games I've missed out in that time frame. I was thinking I could pick up a PS3 and do that, but apparently not and it's disappointing because I don't want to have a PS2 and PS3 to lug around.

[scorpion]

I was gonna get a ps3 when the price went down but if there gonna remove backwards compatibility then I probbaly won't bother with since most of the games on it get released for the 360. anyway backwards compabitily is a major issue with me, I never woulda gotten ps2 if it didn't have the ability to play ps1 games on it. well hopefully sony will realize it's mistake and give the ps3 back it's backward compatibility with ps2 games.

[Skuderya]

I wanted to put my PS2 in its original cardboard box and leave it there FOREVER. I guess I won't have that pleasure now...

[Blackdragon]

Just one more reason for me to not buy a PS3 anytime soon. Still wish I never left my PS2 at home. Getting that is my number one priority when I visit my folks.

[Indigo]

I need a new PS2... Mine is ancient.

[Polygon]

To be honest backwards compatibility isn't useful to me at all, save for the Virtual Console on the Wii which is brilliant. This is mainly because I don't get rid of old game systems so I have no need for the new one to play the old games.

[Matron]

I don't get rid of old consoles either, they just have a nasty habit of dying on me. I'm jinxed, remember?

[Blackdragon]

I always trade in my older console to help pay for the newer ones, with games in tow. I see no reason to hang on to them, and they can help lower the total dollar amount I'll be paying. Which is a Win/Win for me.

[Void]

I love backwards compatability. In a day and age where console games can live into the decades, backwards compatability is a must have, for nostalgia serving purposes.

[Jarrid]

That is why I have loved the Nintendo handheld consoles so much. I do like the idea of there being backwards compatibility for PS1 and PS2 games, because I have seen each one of my consoles die once before. However, when it comes to buying a new console, that is not my top priority at all. I really care about what the future holds for the new console. Then again, with all my old PS1 and PS2 games, I may eventually in the future want to play them again, so it would be nice to have something like that. I do not want them to dust and be a lost worthless item.

[Poofy]

I'm glad I bought a PS3 before they decided to pull the emulation features. I got the 80gb model that was a part of the MGS4 bundled, and though it's reported not to be as efficient as the old 60gb when it comes to backwards compatibility, I'm pleased with the feature nonetheless. I could never imagine buying the 40gb version since it's just so gimped.

As for the whole concept of backwards compatibility altogether, I love it. I don't use it all that often but every blue moon I love to go back a decade or two with my games. As does everyone really, and when companies decide not to include the ability to do that on their current hardware, it's up to us, the gamers, to find a way to play games of the past generations. Throughout my life I've owned every major system, but all of them eventually crapped out, so now days when a system doesn't allow me to play a retro games , I'm forced to go about a more nefarious method that permits me to do so. Of course I'm talking about ROMs/ISOs, chipping, and emulators, but that makes the parent companies understandably upset, but they should realize these are the options we are left with when they decide to cut corners in the name of friendlier prices. I could go onto eBay and buy all the old consoles again, but that's just needlessly impractical.

Needless to say I love my Nintendo Wii and what they've done with Wii Shop, and Sony is catching on with the idea with their Playstation Network Store. Just the other day I bought Castlevania: Symphony of the Night and played it for the first time, and it was an amazing experience that I would have forever missed out on otherwise. In the end, I think including these features with the current generation of consoles pays for itself. Yeah things are a little more expensive, but it's definitely easier and more enjoyable than the alternatives.

[Matron]

I got the 60 gig, and so far I haven't had any problems at all with playing PS2 games. In fact, the PS3 is the only thing I can play FFXII on, because the PS2 refuses to load certain areas, like the Giza Plains.