UK PS3's to have inferior backward's compatiblity compared to US and Japan
27 February 2007 | 11:40 AM
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UK PS3's to have inferior backward's compatiblity compared to US and Japan
Euro PS3 to play fewer old games
Some PS2 games will play on PS3 after downloading updates
The European version of Sony's PlayStation 3 (PS3) console will not play as many old games as American and Japanese models, Sony has announced.
Gamers who already own PlayStation 2 (PS2) and PlayStation (PS) games may find they will not work on the long-awaited, new console.
The European PS3 has a different design to the Japanese and American consoles, which went on sale in November.
The PS3 is due to go sale in Europe on 23 March.
The console was supposed to be "backwards compatible", meaning all older PS and PS2 games should work on the new console.
But the European PS3 utilises a new combination of hardware and software emulation in which software takes over some of the functionality that was previously taken care of by dedicated chips.
This means that while European gamers will be able to play a wide range of original PlayStation titles on the PS3, there will be a limited number of PS2 games that will be compatible with the new console.
Downloadable updates
"Rather than concentrate on PS2 backwards compatibility, in the future company resources will be increasingly focused on developing new games and entertainment features exclusively for PS3," Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE) said in a statement.
Some additional PS2 games will become compatible on the PS3 through firmware updates made available for download on the PlayStation website.
The first such update is scheduled to be released on 23 March, the same day as PS3 is launched in Europe.
European gamers will have to wait until then to find out what PS2 games will run on the PS3, as Sony intends to announce which games are compatible on launch day.
"We're disappointed not to be able to deliver what we originally aspired to, which was full backwards compatibility," a Sony spokesman told the BBC News website.
"It's changing on an almost daily basis as to how many games will be supported," said David Wilson of SCEE, but there will be regular firmware updates."
Japanese PS3 consoles also faced compatibility issues following last year's launch, with Sony acknowledging audio and graphics problems with some older titles.
Around one million PS3 units will be made available for the European launch at a price of £425 (599 euros) per console.
Some PS2 games will play on PS3 after downloading updates
The European version of Sony's PlayStation 3 (PS3) console will not play as many old games as American and Japanese models, Sony has announced.
Gamers who already own PlayStation 2 (PS2) and PlayStation (PS) games may find they will not work on the long-awaited, new console.
The European PS3 has a different design to the Japanese and American consoles, which went on sale in November.
The PS3 is due to go sale in Europe on 23 March.
The console was supposed to be "backwards compatible", meaning all older PS and PS2 games should work on the new console.
But the European PS3 utilises a new combination of hardware and software emulation in which software takes over some of the functionality that was previously taken care of by dedicated chips.
This means that while European gamers will be able to play a wide range of original PlayStation titles on the PS3, there will be a limited number of PS2 games that will be compatible with the new console.
Downloadable updates
"Rather than concentrate on PS2 backwards compatibility, in the future company resources will be increasingly focused on developing new games and entertainment features exclusively for PS3," Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE) said in a statement.
Some additional PS2 games will become compatible on the PS3 through firmware updates made available for download on the PlayStation website.
The first such update is scheduled to be released on 23 March, the same day as PS3 is launched in Europe.
European gamers will have to wait until then to find out what PS2 games will run on the PS3, as Sony intends to announce which games are compatible on launch day.
"We're disappointed not to be able to deliver what we originally aspired to, which was full backwards compatibility," a Sony spokesman told the BBC News website.
"It's changing on an almost daily basis as to how many games will be supported," said David Wilson of SCEE, but there will be regular firmware updates."
Japanese PS3 consoles also faced compatibility issues following last year's launch, with Sony acknowledging audio and graphics problems with some older titles.
Around one million PS3 units will be made available for the European launch at a price of £425 (599 euros) per console.
Way to go Sony.
6 months later and now we have to pay more for less.
It's also very suspicious that they won't be releasing the list of compatible games until lauch day.
Last edited by rik1471; 27 February 2007 at 11:45 AM.
27 February 2007 | 12:06 PM
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27 February 2007 | 01:10 PM
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27 February 2007 | 01:23 PM
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From: Swindon, Wiltshire Xbox Gamertag: Gutgouger
Trending Topics
27 February 2007 | 01:24 PM
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From: Northampton Xbox360 Tag - GTMonkeyboy Project-Stealth Wagon WIP
Used to be dedicated Sony Playstation fan, was wary of this new console, what was it called "xbox" or summin.
Mate got one, I called him a **** for wasting his money.
Now would'nt touch a new Playstation on launch day, wait for all the bugs to be ironed out and the price to plumit.
Did play a PS3 the other day thou, RidgeRacer8 or whatever the demo running, what a pile of ****, looked good - but you cant polish a turd thou.
Ridge Racer was good 10years ago, this was the worst driving game ive played in years. Time will tell come launch day.
Mate got one, I called him a **** for wasting his money.
Now would'nt touch a new Playstation on launch day, wait for all the bugs to be ironed out and the price to plumit.
Did play a PS3 the other day thou, RidgeRacer8 or whatever the demo running, what a pile of ****, looked good - but you cant polish a turd thou.
Ridge Racer was good 10years ago, this was the worst driving game ive played in years. Time will tell come launch day.
27 February 2007 | 01:59 PM
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27 February 2007 | 02:11 PM
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From: still behind twin turbos
They ought to as a good will measure. It's not just games, US companies selling IT hardware here sell it at a much higher price than they do in the US, for no other reason than greed, and things should be even cheaper what with the US Lire, but it isn't 
Greedy basts. Look at Vista pricing between here and the US, it's a joke.
Greedy basts. Look at Vista pricing between here and the US, it's a joke.
27 February 2007 | 02:35 PM
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From: Swindon, Wiltshire Xbox Gamertag: Gutgouger
For example, you pay £40 for a game and get 20 hours of gameplay out of it. This equates to £2 an hour. For other games where there are more hours of gameplay available, this becomes even more apparent. For example, Oblivion took me just over 100 hours to complete. So, that works out at somewhere around 40p an hour.
Doesn't sound expensive to me...
Last edited by Iain Young; 27 February 2007 at 02:37 PM.
27 February 2007 | 03:09 PM
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Not really. Games these days cost a great deal of money to develop, especially on the "next-gen" platforms where demand for every more complex content is constantly increasing. The development cycle for a decent game these days (not EA sequels) can be several years. Assuming you get a reasonable amount of gameplay out of a particular game they are still fantastic value for money when compared to going to the cinema, buying dvds, or going down the pub for example.
For example, you pay £40 for a game and get 20 hours of gameplay out of it. This equates to £2 an hour. For other games where there are more hours of gameplay available, this becomes even more apparent. For example, Oblivion took me just over 100 hours to complete. So, that works out at somewhere around 40p an hour.
Doesn't sound expensive to me...
For example, you pay £40 for a game and get 20 hours of gameplay out of it. This equates to £2 an hour. For other games where there are more hours of gameplay available, this becomes even more apparent. For example, Oblivion took me just over 100 hours to complete. So, that works out at somewhere around 40p an hour.
Doesn't sound expensive to me...
27 February 2007 | 04:46 PM
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" The original PS3 used the Emotion Engine/Graphics Synthesiser to emulate PS2 titles. With the latest European specification we have removed the Emotion Engine, retaining the graphics chip. This has an impact on the number of PS2 titles that will be backwards compatible."
So, Sony have actually removed the "emotion engine" chip from the euro version of PS3. Perhaps they're confident their software emulator will do a good job. To be honest, and considering they've retained the PS2's graphics chip, with something as powerful as PS3 there shouldn't be any reason it couldn't be done in software. Either that or they're desperate to cut costs.
So, Sony have actually removed the "emotion engine" chip from the euro version of PS3. Perhaps they're confident their software emulator will do a good job. To be honest, and considering they've retained the PS2's graphics chip, with something as powerful as PS3 there shouldn't be any reason it couldn't be done in software. Either that or they're desperate to cut costs.
27 February 2007 | 05:15 PM
#14
I'm sure it will be done with software over time as per the 360 but they admit that on launch the Uk machine will be inferior to the US and Jap machines. Not to mention the delay. it's just how Sony view this market.
28 February 2007 | 04:56 PM
#15
Not really. Games these days cost a great deal of money to develop, especially on the "next-gen" platforms where demand for every more complex content is constantly increasing. The development cycle for a decent game these days (not EA sequels) can be several years. Assuming you get a reasonable amount of gameplay out of a particular game they are still fantastic value for money when compared to going to the cinema, buying dvds, or going down the pub for example.
For example, you pay £40 for a game and get 20 hours of gameplay out of it. This equates to £2 an hour. For other games where there are more hours of gameplay available, this becomes even more apparent. For example, Oblivion took me just over 100 hours to complete. So, that works out at somewhere around 40p an hour.
Doesn't sound expensive to me...
For example, you pay £40 for a game and get 20 hours of gameplay out of it. This equates to £2 an hour. For other games where there are more hours of gameplay available, this becomes even more apparent. For example, Oblivion took me just over 100 hours to complete. So, that works out at somewhere around 40p an hour.
Doesn't sound expensive to me...
02 March 2007 | 11:53 AM
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Rumble back
Sony and Immersion sign new rumble agreement // GamesIndustry.biz
At least rumble will be back...soonish
Cheers
Dan
At least rumble will be back...soonish
Cheers
Dan
Why they didn't settle out of court like MS did is beyond me.
18 March 2007 | 10:32 AM
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A local emporium near me still has 5 preorders available ..
me... i,m really undecided...
at the mo, there are too many negatives in the equation.....
1) The price..
2) The removal of the PS2 hardware chip, (why), and the lack of info on backwards compatible / PS2 playable games until launch day...
3) The way it locks out when using the web..
4) The fact that i dont really justify the use any more, i use the PC more at the mo...
Positives...
1) wifi out of the box
2) 60GB hard drive
3) Blu ray player
Strange to say, (hardware reliability issues aside) that the 360 may be a viable alternative, there are only a couple of games i can see myself playing ... forbidden planet & oblivion.....
will have to wait and see i suppose
Mart
me... i,m really undecided...
at the mo, there are too many negatives in the equation.....
1) The price..
2) The removal of the PS2 hardware chip, (why), and the lack of info on backwards compatible / PS2 playable games until launch day...
3) The way it locks out when using the web..
4) The fact that i dont really justify the use any more, i use the PC more at the mo...
Positives...
1) wifi out of the box
2) 60GB hard drive
3) Blu ray player
Strange to say, (hardware reliability issues aside) that the 360 may be a viable alternative, there are only a couple of games i can see myself playing ... forbidden planet & oblivion.....
will have to wait and see i suppose
Mart
19 March 2007 | 02:55 PM
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From: Northampton, Xbox GamerTag - Neanderthal1976
Does anyone reckon there will be a 'xbox 360' supply and demand mayhem for the PS3?
For the price it's advertised at (most will only do it as a bundle) surely it'll price a lot of people out of the market?
For the price it's advertised at (most will only do it as a bundle) surely it'll price a lot of people out of the market?
19 March 2007 | 04:26 PM
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From: Northampton, Xbox GamerTag - Neanderthal1976
Having been reading up on various threads (been on hols for a week - so many posts!) I'm thinking I might cancel mine as well. The only thing I really like the look of (that's exclusive to the PS3) is Motorstorm but I certainly don't want to be lumbered with a black box as big as the original Xbox with Spiderman font written all over it 
20 March 2007 | 03:19 PM
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From: The Terry Crews of moderation. P P P P P P POWER!!
I think Sony have 'dropped the ball' with the PS3
Ns04
20 March 2007 | 03:21 PM
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Compatibility list is live apparently
PLAYSTATION®3
Cheers
Dan
20 March 2007 | 03:27 PM
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Having been reading up on various threads (been on hols for a week - so many posts!) I'm thinking I might cancel mine as well. The only thing I really like the look of (that's exclusive to the PS3) is Motorstorm but I certainly don't want to be lumbered with a black box as big as the original Xbox with Spiderman font written all over it
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