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27Oct 06

PlayStation 3 Backward Compatibility Testing

Sony PR man Ryan Bowling stopped by the GameSpot offices to do a PlayStation 3 demo for yesterday's On the Spot. He arrived an hour early to give us some hands-on time with a retail unit featuring the final shipping hardware. He couldn't show us the PlayStation Network features because it's still a work-in-progress, but he did walk us through most of the cross media bar options. I'm covering the backward compatibility testing first since a lot of readers have been asking about it.

Here's the PlayStation 3 sitting next to the 1080p HDTV we bought in preparation for the HD era.

Slide in a PS2 game and the PS3 will recognize it as a "PlayStation 2 Format Disc."

Before launching the game, the PS3 will prompt you to create an internal memory card on the hard drive to enable game saves.

Gran Turismo 4 loaded just fine on the PS3.

The PS3 doesn't do anything special to improve image quality for PS2 or PS1 games, but GT4 has built-in support for 1080i.

We used Battle Arena Toshinden 3 for our PS1 backward compatibility test. 

The PS3 ran Toshinden perfectly but couldn't do anything for the decade-old graphics. Finally, we tried out a Japanese version of Kingdom Hearts 2 to see how the PS3 handled region locking for PS2 games.

The new console can play PS3 games from any region, but it looks like the system will obey region restrictions for games from older PlayStation platforms.

  • Posted Oct 27, 2006 1:53 pm PT
  • Category: Editorial
  • 37 Comments

37 Comments

  • thefjk

    Posted Oct 27, 2006 2:31 pm PT

    Coool, the PS3 looks good. I'm not worried about those stuff though, am sure there will be official Sony upgrades that will improve the system...

    And pretty soon hackers and other programmers will have apps and patches that may incoorperate the PS3 power into the older games. And by having a linux capable system, PS3 could be really easy to tweak... I can't wait!

  • Thraxen

    Posted Oct 27, 2006 3:05 pm PT

    Didn't Sony previously announce that PlayStation and PS2 games on a PS3 could be upconverted to high definition? Hopefully a firmware update will add the feature later.

    And hopefully remove the region restrictions for past-generation games. This one doesn't make sense. Publishers aren't making money off PlayStation games anymore, and new PS2 games people want to play should be gone in about a year.

    I'd also like a pony.

  • LordAndrew

    Posted Oct 27, 2006 3:09 pm PT

    Sony has shown they hate importing anyway.

  • Korubi

    Posted Oct 27, 2006 3:27 pm PT

    Bummer, I was looking forward to maybe importing some old PS2 games I missed that didn't make it over here. At least we'll be able to import games like DMC4 and FFXIII if we can't wait for a US launch

  • death_burnout

    Posted Oct 27, 2006 3:37 pm PT

    yeah korubi, me too, i am really bummed

  • macacd

    Posted Oct 27, 2006 3:52 pm PT

    I think i better start saving for my ps3 and nice 1080p hdtv, if i get one before June next year i will be happy!

  • Chris-man-87

    Posted Oct 27, 2006 4:19 pm PT

    I dont really care about all that region stuff.I just wanna see how well the other PS2 games get along with the PS3.If the PS3 has some other problems Im not getting one anytime soon anyway.

  • Beyorkin

    Posted Oct 27, 2006 4:56 pm PT

    What does Sony gain from forcing current importers to keep their imported/modded PS2's? The most devious reason I can think of is to force future Playstationers to purchase PS2's if they want to import back-catalogue games. That's a pretty crummy reason as there will soon be thousands of used PS2's for sale, which won't benefit Sony at all.

    .. Unless it's just a silly technical issue.

  • ChiefFreeman

    Posted Oct 27, 2006 5:30 pm PT

    What kind of tv is that? I wan to buy one like that. Is that 28 or 32 inches?

  • jediskilz173

    Posted Oct 27, 2006 7:04 pm PT

    What kind of tv is that? I wan to buy one like that. Is that 28 or 32 inches?

    Looks like a 37" Westinghouse LVM37-W3 to me, but I can't know for sure.

  • halofreak3487

    Posted Oct 27, 2006 8:23 pm PT

    To be honest as long as i can just play PS3/PS2 games with no trouble i'm pretty much set

  • Ponsardin

    Posted Oct 28, 2006 1:07 am PT

    That PS3 interface looks even more awesome than the PSP one.

  • LordAndrew

    Posted Oct 28, 2006 7:51 am PT

    Does it create one virtual memory card per game or does it use one for all games?

  • RealGamer0

    Posted Oct 28, 2006 8:03 am PT

    I think you can create PS1 ''type'' memory card if you play PS1 games , when you can play PS2 games there will be created a ''PS2 Mem card'' and i think you can use each type for all games of the same type .

  • Reetesh

    Posted Oct 28, 2006 9:49 am PT

    oh.. so sad about the region locking But I HAD to ask this ONE question... are the Coaxial cables for the PS2 just like normal ones or are they like ONe end 5 pins(3 Vids and 2 aud) and other end that SOny connector type..

    Also Is it the same for HDMI cables? I mean can we just buy a HDMI cable outside and use it or should we buy a SPECIAL PS3 HDMI cable

  • LordAndrew

    Posted Oct 28, 2006 10:47 am PT

    I hear it uses a standard HDMI port so you should be able to use any standard HDMI cable.

  • Reetesh

    Posted Oct 28, 2006 12:02 pm PT

    oh. ThanX for the clarification

  • -o-o-o-o-o-o-ox

    Posted Oct 28, 2006 2:15 pm PT

    The interface definetely looks sexier than the PS2's, which I am partial to.

    Oh, well, gaming isn't about fancy interfaces anyway.

  • Vyse86

    Posted Oct 28, 2006 9:24 pm PT

    Dang it, so I STILL need to find an English copy of Rez. Stupid region restrictions.

  • k-diddy66

    Posted Oct 29, 2006 9:37 am PT

    is it all brown.it looks very retro with it brown.the menu should "pop" like the 360's

  • michael31303

    Posted Oct 29, 2006 1:42 pm PT

    Playstation Network "still work in progress" ? What the..........

  • Geekastic

    Posted Oct 29, 2006 8:10 pm PT

    Sony claims that ps3 will be 100% backward compatible but it won't. The lack of rumble will be just a annoyance in some game but it will render some unplayable. Take, for example, The legend of Black Kat from EA (surprisingly adequate game). In this game, you had to find Hidden treasures (important item as upgraded weapons) buried underground. The only indication of there position was... you guest it, the rumble. The controller would vibrate more and more as you get closer to spot where you had to dig. Without rumble, this is impossible; so this game is not playable on ps3 even if it seems to. I can remember a similar feature in Ape Escape 2 and Ratchet and Clank. And there's all those shooters where the only way to know your being shot is the rumble (no red screen or blur vision)... that's just from the top of my head... SO; PS3 IS NOT 100% BACKWARD COMPATIBLE!!!

  • rimmerbsc

    Posted Oct 29, 2006 9:33 pm PT

    yawn

  • sussexj

    Posted Oct 29, 2006 11:04 pm PT

    im pretty sure it'll have better backward compatilbility than microsofts green machine!

  • rush171

    Posted Oct 30, 2006 3:45 am PT

    xbox360 has backward compatibility. wow!! i didn't know!!

  • UmonDaisuke

    Posted Oct 30, 2006 6:21 am PT

    Didn't Sony previously announce that PlayStation and PS2 games on a PS3 could be upconverted to high definition? Hopefully a firmware update will add the feature later.

    I hope so, since that's actually one of the main things I was looking forward to.

  • RaGaRu

    Posted Oct 30, 2006 6:52 am PT

    its a good information. i hope to someone some day release a Freeloaded disk for import original games

  • PESTRUN

    Posted Oct 30, 2006 7:59 am PT

    So, Is this means that PS1,2 games on PS3 does not output on progressive mode? that`s bit shame.

  • Hit_Parade

    Posted Oct 30, 2006 2:47 pm PT

    No big deal that ppl can't play import PS2 games on the PS3. If everything stays the course, all region types will be on one Blu-Ray disc. Until then, ppl can still keep playing their imports on their uber small slim PS2s.

  • ocdog45

    Posted Oct 30, 2006 3:42 pm PT

    good stuff. at least they got it right, i can put my ps2 away.

  • JacKrauser_464

    Posted Oct 30, 2006 6:13 pm PT

    It looks really better than the PS2 interface for sure.

  • gojira_x

    Posted Oct 30, 2006 11:46 pm PT

    So much for getting rid of my asian PS2. Looks like Sony's giving people an excuse to mod their PS3s after all. Too bad, Sony. If only you'd paid attention.

  • lostn

    Posted Oct 31, 2006 3:09 am PT

    I hope PS3 games have a preview when you move the cursor over the disc, like with PSP games. For PS2 games, instead of it saying "Playstation 2 Format disc" it should at least know the title of the game.

  • iRSven

    Posted Nov 1, 2006 2:24 pm PT

    I have to say, I'm rather disappointed with how this backward compatability has turned out. In the first place, they should have made some gizmo to let you use PS2 controllers on the thing, so you could at least use the rumble feature in ye olde videogames (and also so you don't have to spend rediculous money on more PS3 controllers). Somebody needs to test one of those existing PS2 to USB adapters that are around, see if it works well.

    Also, I'm very disappointed there's no graphical improvements (so far, anyway). Even the PS2 smoothed textures on PS1 games, wich did a lot in some cases. Are they telling me they have the most powerful system on the market, and it can't do anything to help old games? I was hoping for some FSAA, texture smoothing, or something...I guess firmware updates can help that though.

    Regions...this just doesn't make any sense. I'll leave it at that.

    One question I have left: how will it handle multi-tap support? I have several games that support up to four players (and some sports games support up to 8 ). Obviously, a PS2 or PS1 multitap won't work in this case. I know the bluetooth hub can support up to 7 devices, but is the PS2 emulation program smart enough to figure out how to use that properly?

  • brody2021

    Posted Nov 1, 2006 2:31 pm PT

    it look good but i will stay with ps2

  • Berserk1982

    Posted Nov 2, 2006 10:16 am PT

    Don't worry people. Sony will be sending a firmware upgrade soon aftter the PS3 is released just as the PSP. The firmware upgrades will have new functions like PS2 game enhancements, high def ps2 output,...

  • Djungelurban

    Posted Nov 21, 2006 12:05 pm PT

    Interestingly enough, that little "This disc cannot be started due to region restrictions" makes me so happy. It means that the system recognises the game but then notices that "hey, this is a japanese game" and instead shows us this screen. And what this also means is that it's software, which in turn can be cracked/patched/overridden/bypassed/ignored/etc. Goodbye region lockout for PS1/2 games, hello all of my NTSC RPG's. Finally a Playstation console that I'm not forced to chip! Also, the PAL release has yet to happen and even then, I'm not buying it until there's a Suikoden for me to buy aswell. And by that time I'm sure there's a little region-lockout-goes-byebye already waiting for me.

My Recent Ratings

Title Score
Catan 9.0
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion 10
Military Madness 7.9
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