PS3's PS2 BC may be coming back

[Bobtheduck]

http://kotaku.com/5304117/sony-patents-method-to-emulate-ps2-on-ps3

The Emotion engine is only 1/3 of the problem. The other 2 issues are the "graphics sythesizer" 3d card and, from what I was told, the unique ram setup for the PS2. This is a step in the right direction, though. I wouldn't be surprised if we saw a small list (maybe 5 or 10%) of PS2 games become playable on 40 gig and later PS3s.

Once we see news about them filing patents for methods to emulate the 3d card and the ram on the PS2, it looks like BC will be back for good (though perhaps never as good as it was on the American and Japanese 60 gig...)

[Cognitive Gear]

Didn't they already emulate the EE with the old 80GB?

Oh wait, this looks like it's a new way to emulate it. (Actually, this patent seems more general than a PS3 specific EE emulator)

[Scarecrow]

Why'd they take them off in the first place? I've been tossin around the idea of buying a PS3 for a while now but the lack of bc makes it not worth it IMO. I'd say that's the only reason I haven't actually gotten one yet as I've come close a few times.

[Nate]

Wait, I have an 80 GB PS3 and I can play PS1 and PS2 games on it... o.O

[ShiroiHikari]

Our PS3 is pretty backwards compatible. So far we haven't really come across a game it couldn't run. So I guess this doesn't really apply to us.

[Etoh*the*Greato]

I don't know, if I'm able to get the money together for a PS3 I'll probably just buy one of the older BC models. There seems to be a few of them more than available for decent prices in my area.

[Jingo Jaden]

I bought one of the last 60 gig BC PS3's there was around. I never understood the marketing plot of not only making the cheaper models not BC, but taking the only BC version of the PS3 off the market.

[Bobtheduck]

It wasn't a marketing plot... it was a "we need to reduce the production costs on this thing because we're bleeding cash on it" plot.

[EricTheFred]

I was under the impression that BC had remained available on the higher cost version of the PS3. Or are you guys saying the higher cost model was discontinued?

I'm out of the loop on this (having been out of video games for years) but my sons are campaigning for a PS3 to replace the PS2 that was recently stolen, and this was one of their selling points.

[Etoh*the*Greato]

The deal is, most console manufacturers take a hit when they sell a system expecting to make it up in another way, usually software. The PS3 produced a higher than average deficit, however, even with it's higher than usual cost. Cuts were more than likely a necessity.

[Htom Sirveaux]

I was under the impression that BC had remained available on the higher cost version of the PS3. Or are you guys saying the higher cost model was discontinued?

I'm out of the loop on this (having been out of video games for years) but my sons are campaigning for a PS3 to replace the PS2 that was recently stolen, and this was one of their selling points.

I think the only model you can get just about anywhere is the 80 GB one. (That's the one I have, anyway.) In any case, all models with PS2 BC were discontinued. You might be able to get one off eBay or something . . .

Weird thing is, the 80GB model has PS1 BC, but PS1 games tend to be extremely wonky on it.

[Bobtheduck]

I was under the impression that BC had remained available on the higher cost version of the PS3. Or are you guys saying the higher cost model was discontinued?

I'm out of the loop on this (having been out of video games for years) but my sons are campaigning for a PS3 to replace the PS2 that was recently stolen, and this was one of their selling points.

http://www.gamestop.com/Catalog/ProductDetails.aspx?product_id=64006

This is where you should go.

EDIT: Unless BC is brought back via full emulation... somehow.

[Bobtheduck]

Apparently, the part I missed was that the conversion patent also mentioned how it could be used to convert GS routines too, not just EE. We're only missing 1/3 of the equation, now (the ram... I guess the ram on the PS2 was actually faster than the ram on the PS3, even though there was a LOT less of it... or so I've heard, anyhow)