Sony Comments on Backwards Compatibility

syngod · 14-11-2006, 01:57 AM

November 13, 2006 - Yesterday, we shared with you a quickly compiled list of PS2 titles that were, according to a database accessible at the official Japanese PlayStation.com site, causing problems when being played on the PlayStation 3. We only looked for the biggest games and found a list that wasn't too long. But the full list of problematic titles is apparently quite hefty.

Japan's Cnet.com reports backwards compatibility problems for over 196 PlayStation 2 titles. This figure counts multiple versions of the same game (budget versions, limited editions, etc.) as a single entity and includes the full range of problems, from simple sound issues to more dramatic freezing issues.

In response to these issues, Sony's PR department pointed out that it, from the start, expected backwards compatibility to be less than 100%. It was also good enough to point out that some people can put up with playing games that lack sound.

Regardless of this somewhat arrogant response, an official statement issued at the PlayStation.com site states that Sony will fix the problems with a future system update, and may even resort to individual patches for certain titles. When this will happen has yet to be specified.

Source: IGN

Sniper · 17-11-2006, 03:10 PM

I don't see it as a major problem, as no doubt the problems will be fixed in future firmware updates, as Sony have stated.

mut · 18-11-2006, 09:10 PM

Backward compatibility I suppose has to exist, but personally I never played a PSX game on my PS2...
The step up in graphics is so large that you spend your time drooling over the new stuff and just forgetting about the old ones.

Addis · 19-11-2006, 06:38 PM

At the price of the PS3, why would you buy it just to play PS2 games? PS2's can be had for cheap on ebay, so I don't see this as a problem either. I read that some of the problems were due to the fact that a number of games didn't stick to a set of technical standards set by Sony to ensure compatibility with future Playstations.

syngod · 19-11-2006, 09:01 PM

The main thing here is that Sony promised 100% compatibility and didn't deliver. The part about some games not following Sony's standards was supposed to be a non-issue since Sony put the Emotion chip into the PS3 to alleviate that problem.

Not sure what's happening with Sony but I think they need to make a major shakeup in their decision makers.

Exfoliate · 23-11-2006, 01:31 AM

Console launches are always rife with broken promises, and things like some older games not working, about 200 out of 8000 isn't too bad this early in the game. At least Sony is trying to work this out and make updates to get all games more or less functioning. Either way it's a better situation than with the Xbox 360 where they only make populare titles backwards compatable.
It really shouldn't affect things too much, a lot of those 200 games are ones that most of us haven't even heard of or consist of dinky little glitches like in Devil May Cry 3:SE there's a little sound bug that occurs when a certain door opens.

syngod · 23-11-2006, 05:39 PM

The only thing with that though is MS never promised 100% compatibility, and actually at first said there would be no backwards compatibilty but when they found out the could emulate titles on the 360 threw it in as a bonus.

Sony on the other hand has made huge promises and hasn't really delivered on anything. 100% compatibilty right out of the box - didn't happen. 400,000 units available for launch - didn't happen, analysts are estimating 150,000 to 250,000. They also promised being able to sign up for an online user id from a PC for those who were unable to get a launch unit but wanted to reserve they're username - until now still hasn't happened.

I know all systems have their flaws but when Sony was promising things right up until release date knowing full well they couldn't deliver then they should be called out for it. After all how many people were upset becasue they pre-ordered their systems and Sony failed to deliver the amount of systems they said were coming to a store and that person was left without their unit.

Exfoliate · 24-11-2006, 06:30 AM

Wow, I didn't realize there were this many issues. That is rough, I'm not sure exactly what I would have done in Sony's position but I'm sure they couldn't have handled it better than just leaving people hanging.
Every console has it's faults after all, the Wii can't even play CDs/DVD's, the 360 had a bit of a bad rap for it's beefy external PSU's and early troubles with overheating/dying units, not to mention past consoles. I'm just pleased to hear the PS3 is a cool and quiet running machine with very little word of DOA units or crashes.

14-11-2006, 01:57 AM	#1 (permalink) Top
syngod Moderator Join Date: Oct 2001 Age: 28 Male Posts: 949 Times Helpful: 16 My Mood: Stressed Status: Offline My Computer	Sony Comments on Backwards Compatibility November 13, 2006 - Yesterday, we shared with you a quickly compiled list of PS2 titles that were, according to a database accessible at the official Japanese PlayStation.com site, causing problems when being played on the PlayStation 3. We only looked for the biggest games and found a list that wasn't too long. But the full list of problematic titles is apparently quite hefty. Japan's Cnet.com reports backwards compatibility problems for over 196 PlayStation 2 titles. This figure counts multiple versions of the same game (budget versions, limited editions, etc.) as a single entity and includes the full range of problems, from simple sound issues to more dramatic freezing issues. In response to these issues, Sony's PR department pointed out that it, from the start, expected backwards compatibility to be less than 100%. It was also good enough to point out that some people can put up with playing games that lack sound. Regardless of this somewhat arrogant response, an official statement issued at the PlayStation.com site states that Sony will fix the problems with a future system update, and may even resort to individual patches for certain titles. When this will happen has yet to be specified. Source: IGN __________________ DVD Collection

17-11-2006, 03:10 PM	#2 (permalink) Top
Sniper Administrator Join Date: Oct 2001 Age: 24 Male Posts: 4,432 Times Helpful: 116 My Mood: Bored Status: Offline My Computer	I don't see it as a major problem, as no doubt the problems will be fixed in future firmware updates, as Sony have stated. __________________ Zone 365 \| F@H Team \| Team Stats \| Use The Thank You System \| My Groups: Manchester United \| Apple

18-11-2006, 09:10 PM	#3 (permalink) Top
mut Big Geek Join Date: Aug 2006 Age: 19 Male Posts: 166 Times Helpful: 3 My Mood: Bashful Status: Offline My Computer	Backward compatibility I suppose has to exist, but personally I never played a PSX game on my PS2... The step up in graphics is so large that you spend your time drooling over the new stuff and just forgetting about the old ones. __________________ Current Rig Intel Pentium D 805 ASUS P5LD2 Deluxe 2GB Kingston ValueRAM DDR2 667 Palit 7900GS Seagate 250GB HDD 7200RPM Hiper 480W Type-M

19-11-2006, 06:38 PM	#4 (permalink) Top
Addis The King Join Date: Jan 2004 Age: 18 Male Posts: 5,255 Times Helpful: 403 My Mood: Drunk Status: Offline My Computer	At the price of the PS3, why would you buy it just to play PS2 games? PS2's can be had for cheap on ebay, so I don't see this as a problem either. I read that some of the problems were due to the fact that a number of games didn't stick to a set of technical standards set by Sony to ensure compatibility with future Playstations. __________________ Never trust a program you don't have the source code for. My website \| Powerful Desktop Linux \| Linux for human beings \| Linux for power users \| Linux for ricers

19-11-2006, 09:01 PM	#5 (permalink) Top
syngod Moderator Join Date: Oct 2001 Age: 28 Male Posts: 949 Times Helpful: 16 My Mood: Stressed Status: Offline My Computer	The main thing here is that Sony promised 100% compatibility and didn't deliver. The part about some games not following Sony's standards was supposed to be a non-issue since Sony put the Emotion chip into the PS3 to alleviate that problem. Not sure what's happening with Sony but I think they need to make a major shakeup in their decision makers. __________________ DVD Collection

23-11-2006, 01:31 AM	#6 (permalink) Top
Exfoliate Captain Dial-up Join Date: Jan 2005 Age: 19 Male Posts: 4,258 Times Helpful: 223 Status: Offline My Computer	Console launches are always rife with broken promises, and things like some older games not working, about 200 out of 8000 isn't too bad this early in the game. At least Sony is trying to work this out and make updates to get all games more or less functioning. Either way it's a better situation than with the Xbox 360 where they only make populare titles backwards compatable. It really shouldn't affect things too much, a lot of those 200 games are ones that most of us haven't even heard of or consist of dinky little glitches like in Devil May Cry 3:SE there's a little sound bug that occurs when a certain door opens. __________________

23-11-2006, 05:39 PM	#7 (permalink) Top
syngod Moderator Join Date: Oct 2001 Age: 28 Male Posts: 949 Times Helpful: 16 My Mood: Stressed Status: Offline My Computer	The only thing with that though is MS never promised 100% compatibility, and actually at first said there would be no backwards compatibilty but when they found out the could emulate titles on the 360 threw it in as a bonus. Sony on the other hand has made huge promises and hasn't really delivered on anything. 100% compatibilty right out of the box - didn't happen. 400,000 units available for launch - didn't happen, analysts are estimating 150,000 to 250,000. They also promised being able to sign up for an online user id from a PC for those who were unable to get a launch unit but wanted to reserve they're username - until now still hasn't happened. I know all systems have their flaws but when Sony was promising things right up until release date knowing full well they couldn't deliver then they should be called out for it. After all how many people were upset becasue they pre-ordered their systems and Sony failed to deliver the amount of systems they said were coming to a store and that person was left without their unit. __________________ DVD Collection

24-11-2006, 06:30 AM	#8 (permalink) Top
Exfoliate Captain Dial-up Join Date: Jan 2005 Age: 19 Male Posts: 4,258 Times Helpful: 223 Status: Offline My Computer	Wow, I didn't realize there were this many issues. That is rough, I'm not sure exactly what I would have done in Sony's position but I'm sure they couldn't have handled it better than just leaving people hanging. Every console has it's faults after all, the Wii can't even play CDs/DVD's, the 360 had a bit of a bad rap for it's beefy external PSU's and early troubles with overheating/dying units, not to mention past consoles. I'm just pleased to hear the PS3 is a cool and quiet running machine with very little word of DOA units or crashes. __________________

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