A Sony exec did say PS2 games eventually offered as downloads make sense, so this rumor (http://www.n4g.com/ps3/News-152943.aspx#) may have some truth to it down the line:

PS3 40GB downward compatibility hitting this October?

As German site inplaystation.de reports, downward compatibility for the 40GB PS3 will be available this October via firmware upgrade. They talked to a Sony importer from Germany who told them, Sony is going to release a new firmware which allows a fully software emulation of PS2 games.

Since Sony announced that they're going to offer downloadable PS2 games in PSN, this rumor sounds believable.

I hope so, and that it works for discs as well as downloadable. I never had a PS2, but ever since I saw Shadow of the Colossus in Reign Over Me, I've wanted to try it.

Interesting, I wonder if it will be better than 50%.

I hope the article isnt singling out just the 40gb and that they hope to offer ps2 downloads for all units

Seems unlikely. Even if Sony is working on full-blown software emulation, there's no telling if it will be ready by October (things get delayed, bugs crop up, etc).

I'd say best-case scenario, there wouldn't be more than a couple dozen titles supported (others may work, but I'd expect bugs cropping up). The real challenge with any emulation software is getting everything to work bug-free, especially if you are looking at a game library that's as big and wide as the PS2's.

Maybe Sony will also send all of us that spent the extra money specifically for the BC a $50 check/gift card.

it would be pretty cool, and make sense to add some revenue to the psn. I chose the 40g because BC wasn't a top issue for me, but I'd still be open to buying some select ps2 games on psn if made available.

I can see downloads happening, but I'm not holding my breath waiting for disc-based game support.

Maybe Sony will also send all of us that spent the extra money specifically for the BC a $50 check/gift card.

Unlikely, but I could see them selling a PS2 Disc Emulator on PSN to those with the 40G units. You could buy the downloadable game and it can have a self contained emulator for that game alone and/or you can buy the limited compatibilty emulator to play your disc based games.

Anyone remember how Bleem! was sold for the Dreamcast (before being banned)? You could buy an emulator disc that would only work for a certain game, ie Gran Turismo, and that would be that. That's how I see the PSN store working it if they do manage to do full software emulation.

Maybe Sony will also send all of us that spent the extra money specifically for the BC a $50 check/gift card.


Why, exactly, should they be expected to do that? You'll have had BC for at least a year, and you have the extra hardware built in.

Why do some people always expect a handout? Technology changes and comes down in price. Get over it.

Seems unlikely. Even if Sony is working on full-blown software emulation, there's no telling if it will be ready by October (things get delayed, bugs crop up, etc).

I'd say best-case scenario, there wouldn't be more than a couple dozen titles supported (others may work, but I'd expect bugs cropping up). The real challenge with any emulation software is getting everything to work bug-free, especially if you are looking at a game library that's as big and wide as the PS2's.


What makes you think they haven't been working on full blown software emulation since they announced the 40GB without BC?

And, where are you getting this "couple dozen titles" best case scenario? Thin air, or out of your butt?

And, where are you getting this "couple dozen titles" best case scenario? Thin air, or out of your butt?Survey says, "both". Ding!

What makes you think they haven't been working on full blown software emulation since they announced the 40GB without BC?

And, where are you getting this "couple dozen titles" best case scenario? Thin air, or out of your butt?

I think they have been working on it a lot longer than that.

Still I doubt it will have compatibility to match the 80GB. Even after working on that for years (Ken Kuturagi, in an interview from like 2004, said they wanted to go with a software-hardware implementation), they only have like 80-80% compatibility and that is being generous.

I would expect they would do something like the 360 (which is totally software BC) and have a list of several hundred games that work well on it. Unlike the 360, though, I would expect improvement throughout the system's life.

Let's hope they don't disable hardware capable 60's

I don't want to find some of my games that worked previously, now are buggy!

Maybe Sony will also send all of us that spent the extra money specifically for the BC a $50 check/gift card.

I also found the BC compatibility to be selling point but doubt they are going to be giving up and goodies. See how I said that in a nice way without showing what an ass I am? Some other people might take a stab at it instead of repeatedly attacking people for sharing their opinions.

I hope it happens. It's really the only thing hold me back from getting a 40GB backup\2nd BD player for the bedroom. My son still plays alot of his PS2 games on our 60GB. I thought it was purely software emulation in the 80GB. Why would anyone think it would take so long to create software for the 40GB? What's the major difference?

I think they have been working on it a lot longer than that.

Still I doubt it will have compatibility to match the 80GB. Even after working on that for years (Ken Kuturagi, in an interview from like 2004, said they wanted to go with a software-hardware implementation), they only have like 80-80% compatibility and that is being generous.

I would expect they would do something like the 360 (which is totally software BC) and have a list of several hundred games that work well on it. Unlike the 360, though, I would expect improvement throughout the system's life.

The 20/60 giggers reached over 98% PS2 compatibility last I heard (full hardware emulation). The 80 giggers were 88% PS2 compatible at launch a year ago (partial software emulation). My guess is that the full software emulation will hit at least 75% or more.

Sony knows what is expected of an emulator for their console by the press and fans, and releasing it with poor BC like we saw on their competitior's next-gen machine simply won't cut it. Instead of coming out with a very limited emulator, they would be better off by simply waiting until it got up to speed.

If it is true that they are out there hinting that it will be released this Fall, it tells me that it is working pretty well for them behind closed doors.

I really do still find it amazing that I can take an old PS1 CD, pop it in my new PS3, and play a game I first played 10 years ago.

For all the Hate Sony gets, this is one thing they consistently been right on.

(On to MGS 1! :) )

The 20/60 giggers reached over 98% PS2 compatibility last I heard (full hardware emulation). The 80 giggers were 88% PS2 compatible at launch a year ago (partial software emulation). My guess is that the full software emulation will hit at least 75% or more.

Obviously there is no way of knowing, and I do not believe that 88% on the 80gig is anything more than marketing speak. I remember going through my library of PS2 games and saw that at least half had problems (and the problems are vague on that site - like, "at a point in gameplay the title hangs". THANKS!). And I am talking about some big games here. Other postings I have read seemed to be the same.

Right now, though, 80 gig's pretty good. If you go through the list, you see a lot of problems resolved through later firmwares - again, with big games.

If the PS2 40gig could play 50% of games well (not, "at a point in gameplay the title hangs") I would be surprised. I also think that people would be pleasantly surprised at the extra, instant added value that they obtain from their unit. I would expect a run of Metal Gear Solid 2/3, Shadow of the Colossus, and Final Fantasy XII as well!

For all the Hate Sony gets, this is one thing they consistently been right on.

That is why taking out the BC was so crappy. Honestly a 20/60 gig PS3 can play PlayStation games from the past 10 years more reliably than a modern PC could play PC games from the past 10 years. It's such an awesome feature. I really hope the 40gig gets PS2 support.

Sony's Euro exec said 88% PS2 BC when the 80GB launched over there. There are over 3,000 games released on the PS2 and they have a compatability website set up that reveals which ones work and which don't. Feel free to peruse through it and prove them wrong, but no one in the media challenged the figure. Believe what you wish

I hadn't even thought of that. Can you delete a firmware update if it does?

Let's hope they don't disable hardware capable 60's

I don't want to find some of my games that worked previously, now are buggy!

Sony's Euro exec said 88% PS2 BC when the 80GB launched over there. There are over 3,000 games released on the PS2 and they have a compatability website set up that reveals which ones work and which don't. Feel free to peruse through it and prove them wrong, but no one in the media challenged the figure. Believe what you wish

Right, and I think I amply pointed out I have perused it. Look, I don't doubt you could plug in 88% of PS2 games and start them up, maybe even play them for a bit. But a lot of them would crash randomly, or run 10fps, or hang at every FMV, or whatever. It's okay now, it's been mostly cleaned up, and I think those people overpaying for used 60gigs because of BC are nuts.

I hadn't even thought of that. Can you delete a firmware update if it does?

Why the hell would they do that? Its not like they disabled the EE when they released the 80gb.

Mindwarper: You won't be able to access the PSN to play games online if you don't upgrade your firmware. No need to worry about something before it happens; most likely a software emulator will have custom controls in the system menu to turn it on/off for us with hardware emulators.

BTW, a correction on what I posted above. The Euro launch of the 80GB units began with 72% PS2 BC but was later bumped to 88% when discussed by the Sony Euro exec (it's well over that now). We discussed this topic last year (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=903193):

With the 60GB at launch, it was something like 3% of the thousands of Playstation and Playstaton2 titles that had issues (many of these were repeated ala Greatest Hits, etc, too). Some of these saw firmware fixes at least through 1.5.

With the 80GB, compatibility is at 1,782 of the 2,451 PS2 games (72%) released in Europe were playable on the European PS3. This was from Sony's list before firmware 1.9 and 1.92 IIRC.

To put it in perspective, the 360 is currently at around 394 backward compatible Xbox titles or roughly 42%.

I hope it happens. It's really the only thing hold me back from getting a 40GB backup\2nd BD player for the bedroom. My son still plays alot of his PS2 games on our 60GB. I thought it was purely software emulation in the 80GB. Why would anyone think it would take so long to create software for the 40GB? What's the major difference?

There are two critical pieces of hardware in the PS2: the Emotion Engine (CPU) and the Graphics Synthesizer (graphics chip). The 60GB & 20GB models have both chips onboard for full hardware support. The 80GB has the GS hardware, but emulates the EE in software. The 40GB has neither, so if they get PS2 emulation working, it would be the first pure-software BC solution on the PS3 platform.

Let's hope they don't disable hardware capable 60's

I don't want to find some of my games that worked previously, now are buggy!


How could they do that? And why would they do that? Just curious:)

How could they do that? And why would they do that? Just curious:)

Shut it down via firmware, redirect emulation to software.

As for why, I don't see a reason why they would. But you never know with these companies, maybe someone thinks it be a good idea...

Wouldn't be the first time someone did something for no reason.

Maybe Sony will also send all of us that spent the extra money specifically for the BC a $50 check/gift card.

Why do people always think they need to be compensated when the PS3 (BC) or 360 (HDMI) add something new to their systems? You knew what you were buying when you bought it and you've been able to play your PS2 games the whole time you've had it. Why do you think you need to be compensated? That extra money didn't just entail BC, there were other features included that my 40GB model didn't come with.

Shut it down via firmware, redirect emulation to software.

As for why, I don't see a reason why they would. But you never know with these companies, maybe someone thinks it be a good idea...

Wouldn't be the first time someone did something for no reason.

The only reason I could think they might do that is if they wanted to add special features to older games. I doubt they would do this though. Most likely PS2 games would be like the PS1 games now and just be 100% disc rips.

I was attacked on the forums a few months ago for talking about the same rumors. Fact is, the PS3 was supposed to be 100% software emulation from day 1. When the program was not finished they added in the hardware last minute to meet the claim of BC. The 80gig was step one to full emulation and It's no secret that Sony wants to sell the PS2 library as they do the PS1 and naturally they don't want to miss sales from 40 gig owners. So it's very likely that Sony has been working on the PS2 emulation program for a couple years now.

Also to note: I had a launch 60 gig and traded for an 80 to get over bluetooth issues. Almost all the games I want to play work and work well. I also believe that Sony must have told developers how to make new games work on the 80 too since almost everything I've purchased since then has worked perfectly. SNK Classics Vol 1, Persona 3 SE, World Heroes Anthology, etc etc. Likely BC was added to dev kits at some time ago. Otherwise, small developers like SNK would take forever to be approved or patched into the 80 library.

Fact is, the PS3 was supposed to be 100% software emulation from day 1.

Sorry dude but that isn't true:

Impress PC Watch: Will the PS3's backward compatibility with the PlayStation and PlayStation 2 be done through hardware?

Ken Kutaragi: It will be done through a combination of hardware and software. We can do it with software alone, but it's important to make it as close to perfect as possible. Third-party developers sometimes do things that are unimaginable. For example, there are cases where their games run, but not according to the console's specifications. There are times when games pass through our tests, but are written in ways that make us say, "What in the world is this code?!" We need to support backward compatibility towards those kinds of games as well, so trying to create compatibility by software alone is difficult. There are things that will be required by hardware. However, with the powers of [a machine like] the PS3, some parts can be handled by hardware, and some parts by software.

http://www.gamespot.com/pages/unions/read_article.php?topic_id=21553610&union_id=423

The 80gb solution was actually what they were planning all along. The 40GB was done because the systems cost too much and cost too much to make. Honestly they probably would've done it eventually, but they had to get it out last year.

I also believe that Sony must have told developers how to make new games work on the 80 too since almost everything I've purchased since then has worked perfectly.

Yea, that is something Microsoft DID NOT do with 360, which boggled my mind. There is no reason why every Xbox 1 game released from late 2005 on was not playable on 360.