Is Sony Prepping Backwards Compatibility for the PS3 via Emulation?
While backwards compatibility has been out of the PlayStation 3 for a long time, there are a bunch of folks that would like to see it back in the system (myself included). Siliconera (by way of Ars) as unveiled a patent that outlines "Emotion Engine Emulation Technology For Cell Processors." Could this be signaling the return of the much sought after feature?
Quote:
PlayStation 3s without PS2 backwards compatibility are missing the Emotion Engine, a chip Sony designed as the PS2’s CPU. What if the PS3’s cell processor could emulate the Emotion Engine? Theoretically, all PlayStation 3s would be able to play PS2 games even if a console didn’t have the proper hardware. According to a recent patent filed by Sony Computer Entertainment in the US, Sony has the code and technology ready to do this.
[Thanks Ruumis]
Update: It has been pointed out that Emotion Engine emulation has been done before, but the Graphics Synthesizer (GS) has not.
This is a great idea but please, for the love of god won't someone think of the filtering options available today and (drumroll) implement them! Oh and up-scaling too
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This is old news. The 80GB ps3s that had PS2 backwards compatibility used this. The 20GB and 60GB PS3s had EE and GS (graphics chip) built in. The 80GBs still had the GS but emulated the EE chip as in this patent. The newest non BC ps3s removed the GS chip, which they have yet to be able to emulate hence the problem. (Supposedly the GS had some very low latency cache which is hard to emulate)
So yeah, when we get word of a patent that talks about emulating the GS then its time to get excited.
If they don't, then don't bother lowering the price. Blu-ray games are WAY too expensive here (about U$150). Even 360 games are off (about U$100~120). Wii games are a tad more reasonable at around U$80.
That's why PS2 games are still very prominent here. (And why piracy goes rampant)
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What's more likely Sony re-introduces Backwards compatibility to the PS3 and allows users to play old PS2 discs or Sony allows users to pay for, and download OLD PS2 games for their PS3 which now magically plays the game thanks to emulation....
yeah... exactly... PS2 disc playback is not coming back to the PS3.... but downloading PS2 games is.
This is old news. The 80GB ps3s that had PS2 backwards compatibility used this. The 20GB and 60GB PS3s had EE and GS (graphics chip) built in. The 80GBs still had the GS but emulated the EE chip as in this patent. The newest non BC ps3s removed the GS chip, which they have yet to be able to emulate hence the problem. (Supposedly the GS had some very low latency cache which is hard to emulate)
So yeah, when we get word of a patent that talks about emulating the GS then its time to get excited.
Looking through the comments and this particular schematic, it looks like there's some sort of GS emulation planned with this as well (104).
Although who the hell knows... I'm not a patent lawyer.
I'm with BritishDavid on this one. Very doubtful that they would be doing all this work just to give people the ability to play old games for free. I think they are going to announce something similar to the Xbox Originals thing where you can download the old games (for a small price) and play them on the new console.
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I thought Sony laughed in the face of software emulation? Isn't that what they gave Microsoft crap for years ago?
This is rumble all over again!
Sony is really a piece of work. Their PR screw-ups should be taught in classes.
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Ive never owned a Sony console in my life, so a PS3 with full BC would be of great use to me.
The only two things keeping me from owning a PS3 is the lack of BC and the current price. Announce a price drop and reinstate full BC (I don't mind how) and I will buy a PS3.
I've been waiting on BC and a lower price. When both are offered in tandem, I'll happily purchase a PS3. Until then, I remain perfectly happy to keep my money and spending my gaming dollars elsewhere (PC, DS, 360). I don't need another gaming platform, but if Sony offers what I want, I'll jump in.
If this happens this will ensure sony will have me as a customer and i will be purchasing a PS3. I applaud these efforts to give me things i think i deserve in a console. I am a gamer and i have rights. To not have BC in this day and age is a stupid. Since i have a giant backlog of PS2 games and no PS2 to play them on since my PS2 was stolenated and they left my games. I love playing crash, socom medal of honor and other jaggie games with bad framrates. Thank you sony.
I'd pay for BC on my PS3, maybe if they offered it as an add-on at cost rather than make me pay exorbitant amounts to purchase digital copies of games I already own.
This is -not- for the PS3. Corporations generally pursue lines that will make them money. We must keep that premise in mind. So, ask yourself, how would Sony monetize this development?
It's not likely to be downloadable content or something like that, that's all niche material. In fact, I'm going to say that this isn't even for the PS3.
Mark my words: this technology is being produced for the PS4 so that it can have backwards-compatibility all the way back to the PS1.
Sony wants to mimic Nintendo and have a console that can play everything, and have the ability to download and play the game of all of its past consoles. You'll be able to download and play PS1 and PS2 games on your PS4. It will also be able to play PS3 game-discs.
And, if I were them, you know what my first downloadable PS1 game would be for the PS4?
