Sony Patents Software Based PS2 Emulation Technology
by eXophase Mirror on Jun.30, 2009 at 4:49 pm, under Gaming, PlayStation 3 | Thread ID: 4545
It’s no secret that the lack of PS2 emulation on newer PS3 units is a bit of a put-off to prospective purchasers. Especially when considering that majority of would-be PS3 owners are those that own a large library of PS2 titles. Granted, not being able to play those games isn’t a deal breaker for most, but it certainly makes laying down $400 on new hardware a tougher decision.
However, it looks like Sony may be bringing to PS2 emulation to non-backwards compatible PS3 units after all, if a recently unearthed patent is any indication. The patent references a software-based technology that would allow the PS3’s Cell CPU to translate or emulate code written specifically for the PS2’s Emotion Engine chip.
We can only think of one reason why Sony would be experimenting with such a technology and that is backwards compatibility. That leads us to questions over implementation. Will Sony allow folks to emulate any PS2 game of their choosing or sell digital downloads of PS2 titles over the PlayStation Store? We can only hope that Sony will side towards both options. Doing so would benefit consumers across the board, those that own an expansive library of PS2 oldies as well as the younger ones that missed out on last generation’s hits.
Sony Patents Software Based PS2 Emulation Technology - [eXophase.com]
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June 30th, 2009 at 10:11 pm
They could use the fact that it's only 50$ more then a blu-ray player to boost sales...that's what sold me.
June 30th, 2009 at 10:21 pm
They're gonna sell backwards compatibility on the PSN. I just know it. Why wound Sony give us PS3 owners something cool for free?
June 30th, 2009 at 10:22 pm
Maybe they care for once?
June 30th, 2009 at 10:24 pm
We can only hope.
July 1st, 2009 at 12:12 am
You're obviously forgetting whom we're talking about here :p
Seriuosly, software based emulation of the PS2 is a nice thing for the newer PS3s.
Question that now stands for me, if they really implement it into the PS3's firmware, will only the games bought (again!) on PSN work, or will actual PS2 discs work as well on those PS3s?
/me hugs his old former-60G PS3 with full PS2 compatibility :cool:
but a buddy of mine (who bought his PS3 one week before I did *lol*) got one of the not PS2 compatible ones - and has a large PS2 game lib as well....
It'll be quite nice for him :)
July 1st, 2009 at 12:19 am
It'll be quite nice for him :)
I have the current 80GB and a very extensive library of PS2 games as well. My PS2 still works(after turning the laser voltage up quite a bit) but I like the convinience of being on the PS3 (and hopefully the upscaling)
July 1st, 2009 at 1:41 am
Oh, how I love my 60GB PS3, too. :love:
July 1st, 2009 at 1:46 am
*jealous of all these happy PS3 owners*
Well. I love my Xbox 360. :angry: *hugs xbox tightly*
July 1st, 2009 at 1:56 am
I never got a ps2 and never got to play gow and sly copper and jack and daxed games I want to play them now!
July 1st, 2009 at 1:59 am
Well, ps2's are fairly cheap and hackable (< pretty sure) so if you are cheap, there are.....methods.....of obtaining the games for little to no money.