PS3 Model Compatibility Question

[hennessy1]

What models support ps2 games and do they lose the ability with updates and what features do they lose in comparison to the newer models?

 

[xVaSSagox]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PlayStation_3#Model_comparison

the only thing all ps3s lose with an update is the linux OS.

 

[hennessy1]

So there's 2 that say ps2 emulation one is hardware and one is partial software is one of those better then the other?

 

[DaveSimmons]

The 60 GB / 20 GB with full hardware emulation (using the 2 PS2 chips from a slim) are the best, they play almost all PS2 games without problems.

The visual quality on my 50" 1080p DLP over HDMI using the 60 GB PS3 is about the same as my real PS2 slim with r,g,b component cables, or maybe a little better.

A big advantage is you can create unlimited PS2 memory cards using the PS3 hard drive, instead of paying $15-20 each for Sony 8MB cards.

What you give up is the newer PS3 Slim uses half the power and is a little more quiet, and any 20 GB / 60 GB models will now be 3-4 years old.

 

[Soccerman06]

Yeah only the 20 and 60 versions currently support ps2 games. However all versions can through emulation but why do a full emulation for every game when you can sell the a single game through the psn network and make more money.

 

[DaveSimmons]

Yeah only the 20 and 60 versions currently support ps2 games. However all versions can through emulation but why do a full emulation for every game when you can sell the a single game through the psn network and make more money.

Not true. The 80 GB with lesser compatibility still needed one of the two PS2 hardware chips.

The PS2 games like God of War 1-2 and the upcoming Ico that have been released for all models are ports, not emulation.

All models can play PS_1_ games through emulation, but they do that for normal PS1 discs not just PSN downloads.

 

[Anteaus]

Not true. The 80 GB with lesser compatibility still needed one of the two PS2 hardware chips.

The PS2 games like God of War 1-2 and the upcoming Ico that have been released for all models are ports, not emulation.

All models can play PS_1_ games through emulation, but they do that for normal PS1 discs not just PSN downloads.

What he means is that even without the emu chips Sony can write emulation wrappers for individual games that will allow those games to work on all PS3s. This is exactly how MS does it with the 360. Each original Xbox game has a custom written software emulation wrapper that allows it to work on the 360. It is true that UNIVERSAL software emulation is tricky and difficult but on a game by game basis it's actually pretty easy for them.

Sony has already stated thay plan to bring PS2 games to PSN at a future date using this method. The difference between them and MS being that Sony wants to charge for them instead of offering it for free. Note that I'm talking about PS2 originals, not remakes or ports.

I promise that once the PS2 is finally retired they will roll out PS2 games on PSN that will work for everyone. Be prepared to pay though.

 

[BD2003]

What he means is that even without the emu chips Sony can write emulation wrappers for individual games that will allow those games to work on all PS3s. This is exactly how MS does it with the 360. Each original Xbox game has a custom written software emulation wrapper that allows it to work on the 360. It is true that UNIVERSAL software emulation is tricky and difficult but on a game by game basis it's actually pretty easy for them.

Sony has already stated thay plan to bring PS2 games to PSN at a future date using this method. The difference between them and MS being that Sony wants to charge for them instead of offering it for free. Note that I'm talking about PS2 originals, not remakes or ports.

I promise that once the PS2 is finally retired they will roll out PS2 games on PSN that will work for everyone. Be prepared to pay though.

The difference would also be that MS would be giving you just a wrapper that still requires a disc, but PSN would be selling you the actual game.

 

[Anteaus]

The difference would also be that MS would be giving you just a wrapper that still requires a disc, but PSN would be selling you the actual game.

My point was that Microsoft offered the compatibility for free for people who already owned the games, assuming they were games they supported through emulation. Sony can still do it this way as well as sell PS2 games through PSN which would give you the choice of buying it or using your own disc copy, but instead they will remove that choice and force you to repurchase games you may already own in order to play it on a non-emu chip PS3.

None of this would even be an issue if Sony hadn't initially advertised and sold the PS3 with PS2 BC as a major feature. Then again, its not the only time Sony ever screwed over customers by changing their minds after money had changed hands.

 

[hennessy1]

So instead of buying the games again on the psn. It would be more beneficial to get the ps3 with the 2 ps2 chips inside then correct?

 

[DaveSimmons]

So instead of buying the games again on the psn. It would be more beneficial to get the ps3 with the 2 ps2 chips inside then correct?

That will let you buy any PS2 game, new or used, instead of waiting for (some not all) game downloads to appear on PSN at $20 each.

You could buy a PS2 Slim instead for $99, but then you also need memory cards (roughly 1 per game you're playing) at $15 each, and a component cable for ~$20 if you want the best picture.

Edit: If you decide to get a PS3 without the PS2 BC, Amazon has the best deal I've seen:
Black Friday bundle with Uncharted 2, Pixeljunk Shooter (via PSN), Karate Kid 2010 blu-ray, and $25 credit towards a future video game store purchase (ASIN: B0047ZC19W)

 

[Ross Ridge]

You could buy a PS2 Slim instead for $99, but then you also need memory cards (roughly 1 per game you're playing) at $15 each, and a component cable for ~$20 if you want the best picture.

Unless you're only playing sports games in franchise mode, there's absolutely no need to buy a memory card for each game. Just buy one or two, and delete old games to make room as necessary. I've got one PlayStation 2 with save games from 10 different games on it and it still has 2.4MB free.

There are also ways to copy save games on to your PC, but your options are more limitted with current PlayStation 2 Slim models.