I read that there are only certain version of the PS3 that can play PS2 games. How can I be sure to get one of these versions that can? All PS3s can play PS1 games, right?

Only the early model Playstation 3's had backwards compatibility capabilities. Why Sony took out the feature is beyond me, I suppose so they could re-sell games digitally but still. I think it would be a win in their book with the fans to let people be able to play the games they already have instead of having to rebuy.

I think I did read something where they've supposedly been tossing around the idea of Playstation 4's being able to play Playstation 3 discs which would be nice and would sway me to getting one.

The only way you can get one is to buy a used console. The only consoles that had it were the launch 20 and 60 GB models, and the 80GB version that was originally packaged with Motorstorm or MGS4. Also, any BC PS3 is most likely a ticking time bomb which will eventually YLOD on you anyway, so it's really not worth it.

I'd rush out and get one, if that was the case.

+1
They wanted to cut costs by dropping its chip from the PS3, and also push people into buying simulated digital versions through the PSN.

I babied three different 60 GB launch units and one died without warning about three years ago.

I honestly find it hard to believe that it costs them that much more to put the chip in that allows for the backwards compatibility feature. I might be wrong but to me it just seems like an excuse for them to say "if you want some of your old games to work we're going to make you buy them again." Obviously it's good for them because they get to sell you on something you already have again but it's kind of a cheap shot to fans if you ask me.

Oh, and I just realized that nobody answered your second question, but yes, all PS3's play PS1 games.

You'd think all these new systems could have emulator apps that allow backwards compatibility, since they're built similar to PCs now, but perhaps I'm wrong with this assumption.

So, I should just get a PS2?

That's not how it works.

Unlikely, Sony is working on game streaming via their Gaikai service to play older games. I imagine they could think up some validation method using a PS3 disc to let you play, but I have my doubts that will happen. They would need some type of emulator app to straight up play PS3 games... and speaking of which...


They could, but it would be difficult since the previous generations all used different architecture. The 360's limited XBox 1 compatibility was through emulation and apparently difficult to maintain and manage.

The PS4 will never be backward compatible with the PS3. It's just not powerful enough to emulate the Cell Processor.

What you may have read is that they are thinking about adding compatibility for PS1 and PS2 games, which can be done through emulation.

PS4 getting PS1 and PS2 support

Now this is not including Playstation Now, which will be the only way to play PS3 games on a PS4.

Ah I must have read the article wrong then. Not as cool as if it were Playstation 3 games in that case.

It was a real bad hack they needed to even include PS2 compatibility in the PS3. They basically stuck the main processing chip from the PS2 inside the PS3, since its cell architecture was so different. Even then, they still couldn't get 100% compatibility.

Exactly. The PS2, PS3 and PS4 each have vastly different chips. This is why emulation is so hard. The PS4 should be able to handle emulation of the PS2 at this point, but there will always be glitches and oddities with it.

The original PS3 had full BC, the second release of the PS3 (I want to say 80 and 40gb models?) had partial BC for PS2 games.

I still have my 60gb, I bought it refurbished about six months after launch. No YLOD yet *knock on wood*.

A couple articles explaining why this isn't possible, at least not for PS3->PS4 / 360->One:

http://www.totalxbox.com/67910/featu...compatibility/
http://www.theguardian.com/technolog...rds-compatible

This sort of emulation requires hardware that's massively more powerful, and these new consoles aren't nearly enough of a leap forward, plus the very complex and very different architecture present their own sets of hurdles. The consoles that have done the best job with backwards compatibility were based on the same architecture (GameCube->Wii; Wii->Wii U) or had some of the same core technology inside (PS1->PS2; PS2->PS3). The more software-based Xbox -> 360 emulation was so hit or miss that it really wasn't worth it.

Only the 80GB, and only the ones packaged with Motorstorm or MGS4. That model was more software emulation than hardware.

And even the original models had some games that it couldn't play.

The original PS3 had this as a hardware solution, which added to the cost of the console. At a time when Sony was struggling, a good way to cut costs was to remove a feature that not a lot of people were using.

I know that not everybody is a fan of the PS3 HD Collections, but they really made backwards compatibility a non-issue for me. PS3 has improved and widescreen versions (on disk with trophy support) of:

• Ratchet & Clank 1-3
• Jak & Daxter 1-3
• God of War 1-2
• Shadow/Ico
• Sly Cooper 1-3
• Prince of Persia 1-3
• Tomb Raider collection
• Metal Gear Solid 1-3
• Devil May Cry 1-3
• Silent Hill
• Splinter Cell
• Kingdom Hearts 1.5

...and probably more. They also did a great job with downloadable HD versions of Okami, Resident Evil 4 and Beyond Good and Evil amongst others.

With all that, I honestly can't remember the last time I had the urge to pull a PS2 disk off the shelf.

Yeah, I think that the PS2 to PS3 HD versions were pretty good since that was the first time those were available in HD. But the PS3 to PS4 versions are just meh since those are going from HD to slightly better HD. But yeah, for the people that never got around to playing them, it might be worth a look.

I haven't seen any PS3 to PS4 ports yet (outside of some basic indie games and of course the x-gen but those don't count), but stuff like Far Cry 3 and Last of Us could be big steps up if done right (especially Far Cry 3). That is if they don't just crank up the resolution to 1080p, if they actually improve the models and textures it'd be a big upgrade. Even Beyond: Two Souls which was obviously pushing the PS3 into territory it couldn't handle would be a big jump up (terrible game though).

I'm personally a huge fan of the HD collections.

I think some people looked at the HD collections a bit cynically as a cash in, and that's understandable after they removed BC from the PS3, but they legitimately improved those games in most cases for HD and Widescreen support, and they added trophies. If they do something similar for PS3 games on PS4, increasing resolution, textures and/or framerate and including all DLC on the disk, I'm fully on board for all variety of ports, especially if they price them like they did the PS3 collections.

And any 2012-2013 game is fair game as far as I'm concerned. I actually think Sony made a couple of mistakes on their PS3 releases in 2013, where they would have done better if they'd been on PS4 in the first place. Puppeteer and GT6 are the two that leap to mind...maybe God of War and Sly Cooper too. They were good games that got drowned in PS4 hype. There is no rational world where Knack should sell more copies than Puppeteer, but that's what happened.

Now that's exciting! Especially with how they might play in 1080p.

Also excited about media updates - hopefully a DLNA as good as it is on the PS3.