dsheinem wrote:I have the 80gb with software BC, and have been pretty happy with it. The question I have, though, is why - if it is simply software - it can't be included on ever ps3? Couldn't the software be installed on all models? Or downloaded?
That's a really good question. Never thought of it like that. However, even if it's possible to add software emulation to all models of PS3, it sure doesn't seem like Sony will be willing to do that anytime soon.
dsheinem wrote:I have the 80gb with software BC, and have been pretty happy with it. The question I have, though, is why - if it is simply software - it can't be included on every ps3? Couldn't the software be installed on all models? Or downloaded?
As I understand it the software emulation isn't pure software. It's a hybrid of the PS2 GPU and software emulation of the Emotion Engine, while the hardware BC has both chips. Recent models also remove the PS2 GPU, so they'd also have to emulate that as well.
Blizzard Entertainment Software Developer - All comments and views are my own and not representative of the company.
dsheinem wrote:I have the 80gb with software BC, and have been pretty happy with it. The question I have, though, is why - if it is simply software - it can't be included on every ps3? Couldn't the software be installed on all models? Or downloaded?
As I understand it the software emulation isn't pure software. It's a hybrid of the PS2 GPU and software emulation of the Emotion Engine, while the hardware BC has both chips. Recent models also remove the PS2 GPU, so they'd also have to emulate that as well.
It's hybrid BC. With the 60 GB hardware BC there's nothing being emulated; it's all original hardware (ok, it emulates a memory card, but that hardly counts). The software BC is emulation of the GPU, so that's why there's a compatibility list.
Blizzard Entertainment Software Developer - All comments and views are my own and not representative of the company.
Is the 60GB really able to play PS2 games all that well, though? I seem to remember when it came out, there were literially tons of magazines ripping the PS3 apart because of how bad games like Metal Gear Solid 2 looked while playing them on a PS3.
I gleefully skipped the BC PS3s for multiple reasons. 1) YLOD, which at the time seemed even more widespread than RROD, 2) Region-locked PS1 and PS2 BC. If the PS3 was truly region-free, I'd have been able to justify it. And 3) The fact that my launch PS2 was - and still is - kicking like a champ.
Maybe when I finally get an HDTV, I'll be able to justify getting a BC PS3, but considering I've played Sengoku Basara X and Hokuto No Ken on an HDTV and they looked just as sexy as BlazBlue, I think I'll be fine
the7k wrote:Is the 60GB really able to play PS2 games all that well, though? I seem to remember when it came out, there were literially tons of magazines ripping the PS3 apart because of how bad games like Metal Gear Solid 2 looked while playing them on a PS3.
Honestly I can't comment, as I use my PS2 for my PS2 games, and my PS1 for my PS1 games.
Blizzard Entertainment Software Developer - All comments and views are my own and not representative of the company.
RadarScope1 wrote:60GB/20GB have full hardware PS2 BC, and some 80GB have hardware/software mix PS2 BC.
This is not the case in UK. We only got the 60Gb version at launch, so this is the only model with the emotion chip. 2nd gen had software based BC, and were released in 20 and 80Gb flavours. You are correct in that no further models have any BC.
Not true, the only BC PS3 we got was the 60GB version, and even then it wasn't full PS2 backwards compatibility. We never got the same 60GB PS3 that the US got. Every single SKU after the initial 60GB PAL system had no PS2 backwards compatibility at all.
the7k wrote:Is the 60GB really able to play PS2 games all that well, though? I seem to remember when it came out, there were literially tons of magazines ripping the PS3 apart because of how bad games like Metal Gear Solid 2 looked while playing them on a PS3.
I'm pretty sure Sony improved the BC later on in a firmware update. I didn't buy a PS3 until after that, so I have no idea how it worked at launch. Maybe it didn't upscale or smooth things out that well at first, and they improved that later on. Anyway, PS2 games look great on the PS3 today so that's all that matters.
I never bought a PS2, but when i did get back into gaming I definitely wanted to get some PS2 games I missed. so I got the 80 gig refurb from Gamestop. I've seen a glitch or two but they went away upon a 2nd reboot of the game. I'm pretty happy w/ how it plays all the games I've got.
if it died I'd definitely go for either another refurb, a good used one off ebay, either 20gb 60 gb or 80, whatever I can find that looked like the best deal. I'd consider buying a PS2 but I'd really prefer a BC PS3 cause I really like the cordless controllers.
there is some down loadable PS2 support file on the PS Store, I got it but I can't see what it's doing.
