Here are some more thoughts from a demented mind in Central Florida: With Rock Band coming out tomorrow (and not for the Wii), I've been thinking for weeks about either getting an Xbox 360 or a PS3. I've finally settled on the PS3, due to free online, less backward compatibility issues, and no Red Ring of Death stories. However, backward compatibility is still a question for me.
I know with older PS3 models, like the 60 GB one, backward compatibility is built into the hardware. With newer models, such as the 80 GB, there's software that you download for the backward compatibility. I've played on emulators before on my PC, but my question is - for the PS3, is there a difference? I've heard that the hardware for backward comp should be better than the emulator software, but I don't know or understand why. Can someone please be so kind as to clue me in on this?
Why yes, I am both a musician and a lawyer. Thanks for asking. :)
With software backward compatibility for PS3 (and 360), you can only play games that have been specifically coded to work via the emulator. I think around 60% of PS2 games work on PS3 via software BC, whereas around 99% work via hardware BC. Any new PS2 releases are likely not going to work on PS3 unless a new BC patch is released and that game is included. The advantage of having software BC is that in general, those games can be enhanced with cleaner graphics or better framerate instead of just straight emulation. Disadvantage is you might not get everything in your library working on the PS3. Sony keeps a list of games available via software BC and bug lists on their website.
Actually, you quite specifically won't be able to play the PS2 Guitar Hero games as the controller isn't compatible with the PS3. The PS3 uses bluetooth for wireless controller connectivity and I've been told that the USB/PS2 controller adapters don't work for the PS3.
Also, I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for a software backwards compatibility update as Sony has made it clear they're not interested in continuing BC support.
Wasn;t the 80GB one of the original SKUs, and the 60GB version a recent addition?
I'm PS3 shopping next month, and I'll be damned if I get one that can't work with my older PS2 games.
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Originally posted by OliverWasn;t the 80GB one of the original SKUs, and the 60GB version a recent addition?
I'm PS3 shopping next month, and I'll be damned if I get one that can't work with my older PS2 games.
You've got it backwards, it started with 20 and 60, then soon dropped the 20, added the 80, and have added the 40. I would suspect they will be dropping the 60 in short order.
Here are some more thoughts from a demented mind in Central Florida:
Originally posted by Guru ZimI couldn't find the 60g online anywhere this afternoon.
About the only place online I found it was GoGamer.com. They're selling it at a premium, at about $540. And shipping for it was over $150. That's right, shipping was over $150 for it.
I may have to reconsider about getting an Xbox 360...
Why yes, I am both a musician and a lawyer. Thanks for asking. :)
Yeah, I go back and forth. I know the "smart" move is to buy the 60g, but I have two PS2s as it is... the odds of both of them breaking are pretty low, I think.
I'm more worried about my PS2 save games on the stupid memory cards than anything.
I've never looked into them, but you can buy adaptors that let you back up your game saves to a computer (or download game saves off the internet, which would be very useful when/if I ever get my copy of Fire Pro Wrestling Returns).
(edit: unless you mean you're concerned about being able to access your PS2 game saves on a PS3, in which case, never mind)
If you plan on getting Rock Band to have a complete band experience, PS3 is not looking too good. Apparently the GH3 Les Gibsons are currently not compatible with Rock Band, so you cannot currently have a full 4 instrument suite without having 2 bundles. The 360 version has compatibility with both GH2 and GH3 guitars in Rock Band. However the inverse is not true, as only GH2 and GH3 games permit their guitar controllers only and won't recognize Rock Band's guitar.
I bought my 360 edition last night at Best Buy. Allegedly they had 100 bundles total. I was 20th in line. The two guys behind me got pissed to find the PS3 edition only had 4 set aside for launch. It looks like the PS3 version will be extremely hard to find this season.
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