Author Topic: ps3 mods?  (Read 666 times)

Necromancer

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Re: ps3 mods?
« Reply #15 on: October 16, 2008, 02:28:14 AM »
There were PS3s that ran PS2 games on hardware and there were PS3s that ran them via emulation.  Not all PS3 backward compatible models are the same!

From what ooPo said (and which further intrawebz research has confirmed), all PS3s offering backwards compatibility rely on hardware.  The original models contained both the CPU (emotion engine) and GPU (graphics synthesizer); subsequent models kept the GPU and dropped only the CPU in favor of emulation; and the 40gb and newest models lack both the CPU and GPU, hence no backwards compatibility.
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SignOfZeta

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Re: ps3 mods?
« Reply #16 on: October 16, 2008, 06:44:36 AM »
sony sucks.  [-(

Yeah, Sony sucks, but honestly the amazing level of complexity in modern consoles makes backward compatibility hard to pull off. When a new machine comes out they either have to more or less build the old machine inside of it (what Nintendo usually does with Gameboy stuff), make an adaptor that basically has the old machine inside of it (Master Base Converter, not very cheap) or you have to do it with emulation. Unless the time between generations is very large, then the hardware you have to build in is going to cost some significant money, or the emulation is going to suck. The 360 is in a similar state, although its less relevant given that there are only about 5 good Xbox games anyway and the system is worth about $0.50 now.

The PS3 is already a huge money loser so I imagine they are doing whatever they can to get that kit-bash monster to a reasonable price. What they should have done, what Nintendo always does, is look further down the road during the design phase and have a plan for making the machine cheaper as prices on components drop. They probably never should have put PS2 compatibility in it in the first place. I just don't see how Sony will ever be able to make a $129 PS3.

Joe Redifer

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Re: ps3 mods?
« Reply #17 on: October 16, 2008, 10:18:00 AM »
Quote from: Zeta

make an adaptor that basically has the old machine inside of it (Master Base Converter, not very cheap)


Are you talking about the Power Base Converter for the Genesis which allows you to play Master System games?  First of all, all of the SMS hardware was inside the Genesis already.  That hardware could even be used by Genesis games (many Genesis games featured PSG sound in addition to the FM for more instruments) and the Z80 CPU that powers the SMS typically ran the sound side of things in the majority of Genesis games.  Secondly, the Power Base Converter was less than $30 at the time of its release.

SignOfZeta

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Re: ps3 mods?
« Reply #18 on: October 16, 2008, 05:33:03 PM »
Quote from: Zeta

make an adaptor that basically has the old machine inside of it (Master Base Converter, not very cheap)


Are you talking about the Power Base Converter for the Genesis which allows you to play Master System games?  First of all, all of the SMS hardware was inside the Genesis already.  That hardware could even be used by Genesis games (many Genesis games featured PSG sound in addition to the FM for more instruments) and the Z80 CPU that powers the SMS typically ran the sound side of things in the majority of Genesis games.  Secondly, the Power Base Converter was less than $30 at the time of its release.

OK well...fine.

I change my example to the 2600 adaptor for Colecovision then. :)

TH0R

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Re: ps3 mods?
« Reply #19 on: October 17, 2008, 01:29:03 PM »
are there different versions of the ps2 as in performance? i'm looking at these two and they're slightly different. some outer parts are different and placed differently...

ooPo

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Re: ps3 mods?
« Reply #20 on: October 17, 2008, 02:56:13 PM »
Nope, all PS2 models play the same games at the same speed and quality.