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Rumortoid: new firmware to bring backwards compatibility to 40GB PS3 photo

Those that were late to the PlayStation 3 bandwagon know that their shiny black console doesn't play well with PlayStation 2 games. The word on the street is that a new firmware update will change this. Every upcoming firmware update has its fair share of rumored features attached to it, so take this newss of the addition of PS2 backwards compatibility with a grain of salt.

According to German game site InPlayStation, an October firmware update for the PS3 will bring full backwards compatiblity for PS2 games for that poor 40GB model that got left out in the cold. PSXextreme reminds us that Sony has said that they plan to make PS2 games downloadable on PSN some day, so they say that this could be a plausible rumor.

Granted, none of this is confirmed. It never is. And hearing another firmware feature is like hearing "wolf" again. But, seeing as how there are still plenty of great PS2 games hitting the market, I would really like to see this happen. What do you think?


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prev next 50 comments

51 comments | showing # 1 to 50

Noah's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/04/2008 09:27
Noah
'bout time, sheesh
SilverDragon1979's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/04/2008 09:28
SilverDragon1979
The PS3 is going to need a lot more then 40Gb if Sony plans on releasing PS2 games as downloadable content.
Netrat33's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/04/2008 09:35
Netrat33
I have the 60 gig model so I personally don't have to worry about this. But this is great news to standardize all the systems on at least what they can do at the base level: Play games.
shipero's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/04/2008 09:35
shipero
I hear there's a new firmware coming down the pipe that turns your PS3 into a magical genie that'll grant your heart's every desire.
Jetsetlemming's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/04/2008 09:36
Jetsetlemming
Software emulation, eh? Wonder if pirates can learn from Sony's breakthrough. PCSX2 could use some improvements.
Merry Ho's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/04/2008 09:38
Merry Ho
hmm dont care, I have the 60 GB version
PikkonX's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/04/2008 09:47
PikkonX
I have a 60GB and this is the feature I've wanted most, but only if the emulator has the ability to render the games in HD like PCSX2 does. I doubt Sony will take it that far, but it would be tons better than the stretch-o-vision upscaling that the PS3 currently does.
Alfie Haggis's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/04/2008 09:50
Alfie Haggis
Woot! Would be awesome if true! Trouble is my 40Gig PS3 is back home on Earth!

Im stuck in space battling with Rage Monsters and Cock Dragons!

Alfie
Trev's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/04/2008 09:52
Trev
It's my understanding that there isn't PS2 compatibility in the 40GB PS3 because emulating the PS2 graphics processor was exceptionally difficult. It would be great if they figured it out though.

To be perfectly honest though, I've barely played PS2 games on mine, and I've got a 60GB so I'm looking at the best compatibility I could have. It was never much of a contest deciding if I would play an old game I had already finished a few times, or my brand new Ratchet & Clank (or whatever it happened to be at the time)

7d 14h 1m!
Gemsi's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/04/2008 09:55
Gemsi
This is a great move if true, i've been wondered for a while about why sony didn't just stick the PS2 emulator on PSN, but having it in a firmware update would be awesome.
FuriousGeorge's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/04/2008 09:57
FuriousGeorge
thats what she said!
Qraze's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/04/2008 10:01
Qraze
good for them 40 gigs. my 60gig is flawless though.
Lucca's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/04/2008 10:07
Lucca
That would be great. If true.
DrNutt's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/04/2008 10:07
DrNutt
This would make me happy. I didn't have the patience to wait for the 80gig MGS4 bundle, and now I'm wishing BC was there.
king3vbo's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/04/2008 10:22
king3vbo
Get Inside Me

BAHAHAHAHHAHAHA
nademagnet's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/04/2008 10:31
nademagnet
If they finally add the backwards compatibility to the PS3 40 Gig, then I'll buy it.
Schmo0zle's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/04/2008 10:34
Schmo0zle
This would be nice, as I just bought a PS3 and was bummed that it didn't have backwards capability; as I STILL have yet to play God of War 1 or 2.

/cry. /wrist. /emo.
MATTFOO's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/04/2008 10:38
MATTFOO
40gb neeeds this sooooo bad. I wanted to play BLACK on the ps3 and I failed. I hope this is true.
Tash's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/04/2008 10:38
Tash
And here I am waiting for the MGS 80gig bundle for 5 months...
linuxguy's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/04/2008 10:47
linuxguy
guess if anyone knows sony hardware it's sony.
PaperBowser0's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/04/2008 10:50
PaperBowser0
meh, gotta see it happen first.
necrozen's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/04/2008 10:54
necrozen
Well, I hope it's true cause I was one of those folks late to the party, but im not getting my hopes up.
loki d20's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/04/2008 10:54
loki d20
I'd be happy if they just fixed a lot of the issues with BS on the 60/80 GB PS3s with a firmware update.

The PS3 is going to need a lot more then 40Gb if Sony plans on releasing PS2 games as downloadable content.

Which is why you can install any standard SATA HDD in your PS3. You can pick up 500 GB for not even a third of what you payed for your 40GB PS3 now and that should hold a crap load of content for many years.
freker's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/04/2008 10:58
freker
Not all games work on 60gb in EU, I hate the fact I can't play the past Ratchet and Clank games (I love a quick blast of Gladiator/Deadlocked) or the original Jak and Daxter properly on it.
This update could even be somewhat useful to EU 60gbs.
Besides, remember you can replace the harddrive to any size you want? downloading PS2 games? Not a problem!
SantanaClaus89's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/04/2008 11:00
SantanaClaus89
If this is true I will shit my pants and post pics on my blog. I've already upgraged my HDD to 250GB so I'd be all set with full backwards compatibility.

I could also get rid of my ps2 finally.
freker's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/04/2008 11:05
freker
Yeah SantanaClaus89, I only keep mine for the fact the only PS2 games in my collection that don't work on the PS3 are the R+C series and original J+D everything else works fine, I've put my old mem cards as virtual memory cards.

Also, pointless captain obvious fact; The PS3 is the only CONSOLE capable of playing every GTA in the main series.
brainderailment's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/04/2008 11:17
brainderailment
I've got a 60Gb and a PS2, and I never touch ps2 games. This is good for those who didn't have a ps2, but bought a 40Gb ps3.
DinnertimeNinja's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/04/2008 11:44
DinnertimeNinja
This would certainly be good news.

My little brother has been bugging me to find him a good deal on a PS3 (or sell him mine, HA!) and the 40gb is the only one anywhere near his price range. He has a ton of PS2 games currently and I KNOW he'd be bummed if he got a PS3 without backwards compatibility.

Frankly, if ANY of these recent firmware update rumors come true, I will be a happy panda.
MaxVest's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/04/2008 12:38
MaxVest
If this is true (and it sounds unlikely to me. October???), expect BC to be even dodgier than it is on the 60GB PAL and 80GB models.

Those models use software to emulate the emotion engine, but still include the original graphics synthesizer GPU hardware. The 20GB and 60GB NTSC has both pieces of hardware, and the 40GB has neither. So it sounds far-fetched.
Corak's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/04/2008 12:46
Corak
As cool as this would be, I'm gonna have to call bullshit on this one. But if true, its great news for those 40 gig PS3 owners.
MrFrunkus's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/04/2008 12:48
MrFrunkus
Why would it be so tuff for PS3 to emulate PS2? The PS3 is more powerful then the Xbox 360, and the 360 can emulate Xbox 1 games, but the Xbox is more powerful then the PS2 so theoretically the PS3 should easily emulate PS2 games. Unless the 360 really is more powerful.
tueac's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/04/2008 13:01
tueac
MrFrunkus >> Because PS2 is an work of art but the XBOX is just a overhyped computer... The same with X360 which explains why it can run the Xbox games... easily... The poor thing is that those who bought the X360 actually thinks that they are getting a Next gen machine... when it can't even run a firefox or something like that... (hint: IE =D)
Timmeh's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/04/2008 13:02
Timmeh
Har de har, all those people inflating the price of 60GB models to £400+ will be kicking themselves now!

Also, DinnertimeNinja's avatar is awesome.
CypherVR's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/04/2008 13:19
CypherVR
I'm one of those folks who STILL WANT PROPER BC. I'm a convenience whore, wanting a slice of pie while a hooker is bobbing my knob. XD
Projectexodus's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/04/2008 13:24
Projectexodus
Ever since I ordered a PS3, good news keep appearing :D
Make it happen! That was my only setback for not buying a PS3 sooner!
MrFrunkus's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/04/2008 13:33
MrFrunkus
Ok, an answer from someone who doesn't hate the 360 would be appreciated. I have a PS3(20GB model) and hope for some better looking BC from it. Granted the 360 BC doesn't run ALL Xbox games, the one's it does run look nice. I hope that if this rumor is true that the PS2 game get upgraded a bit. I'd love to play Shadow of the Colosas and ICO at 720P, or the older Ratchet games, also Sly Cooper would look SWEET scaled up. I hope this rumor is true, and Sony provides 100% BC and show's up MS. But, like I asked, is the PS3 more powerfull? Or am I wrong?
pedrovay2003's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/04/2008 13:40
pedrovay2003
This is awesome news. Other than the Silent Hill games, everything plays fine on my 80gb, so if they use the same method to emulate the games on the 40gb, that'll be a huge jump in the right direction.
Guagloves's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/04/2008 14:14
Guagloves
if this is true I would be more likely to get a PS3.
Kaikara's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/04/2008 14:19
Kaikara
Well if this happens I'll probably get a PS3. Just make sure they can play all regions of PS2 games. I want to be able to play all my imports as well!
Dan CiTi's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/04/2008 15:54
Dan CiTi
Sweet.
Bacchus's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/04/2008 16:10
Bacchus
wants it
Sam Spectre's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/04/2008 16:10
Sam Spectre
If this happens I'm definitely getting a PS3
ApocSin's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/04/2008 16:58
ApocSin
Im sad i only have the 40gb PS3...alas though...Im poor lol.
i would like to get a hold of an 80gb Metal gear soild 4 ps3!...would make a nice gift for oooo say my b-day comming up on the 9th lol!
OH ABOUT F***ING TIME!
Gate's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/04/2008 17:01
Gate
Damn, I got rid of all my PS2 games when I got my 40GB PS3 figuring I'd never play them again. Oh well, you can get them cheap, anyway. But that's awesome, FULL backwards compatibility, not just selected titles? Sweet.
mister1337's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/04/2008 17:56
mister1337
From a programing aspect this is not some out of the mind feat. It actually seems very believable. This would be like some epic dream coming true (I regret not getting the 80 GB when I could have) and October would be in time for Persona 4. I'm calling truth on this one.
MaxVest's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/04/2008 18:51
MaxVest
Some PS3s have both video and processor hardware from the PS2. - All PS2 games are BC.

Some PS3s have just the video hardware from the PS2 and use emulation for the processor.
- This BC works for about 75% of games, many of those with noticeable technical issues.

The 40GB has no hardware from the PS2.
- Emulating both graphics and hardware will probably be the worst kind of BC.
Too Much Coffee Man's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/04/2008 19:21
Too Much Coffee Man
@MrFrunkas

BC does not mean BC + upscaling

the old 20/60GB has PS2's EE chip & used the cell to upscale.

a firmware update would most likely mean cell PS2 emulation, which means less overhead to upscale. I doubt it will have upscaling. I know the RSX can't because it's busted (the scaling, that's why PS3 games are limited to horizontal stretching unless the cell does the scaling)
Taicho's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/04/2008 21:58
Taicho
This would be awesome since the PS2 has one of the best libraries in the history of uh.... history. Also, this would make the 40Gb PS3 a complete PlayStation at a $400 price point. I've heard of people who didn't buy it because it felt gimped compared to other PlayStations.

I own a 60Gb NTSC unit and I am hoping this is true.
Volomon's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/04/2008 22:22
Volomon
So this is why Gamestop employees are saying that 40GB will be BC. When did Dale North become an anus, regurgitating crap off the internet?
hpv's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/04/2008 22:31
hpv
How can this possibly end well? They took out some of the PS2 hardware from the 80GB and can't even get backwards compatibility up to an acceptable level (judging from my own game collection, which might not mean anything)? I'd love to think it was true, but I just don't see it happening.

They really need to re-introduce a version of the 60GB. It's possibly my favorite game console ever (not counting SNES, but you don't compare fantasy novels to Tolkien either) primarily because it's such a fantastic PS2 player on top of delivering the media capabilities and current games. With the huge catalog of PS2 games that are both excellent and cheap they're missing a real opportunity to convert those who recently purchased a PS2 or are considering it now.
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