I am so confused on the PS3 Backward Compatibility!

[11killer11]

I've had the money to buy a PS3 for a while now. But I don't know which model to buy because I don't know which one has the best Backwards Compatibility so i go to Gamestop thinking the employees should know.
They're working at Gamestop!

They tell me that all the models can't play PS2 games including The PS3 Slim. Which i know is a bunch of lies. Can someone juist give me rundown on which PS3's play ps2 games? Including the PS3 Slim?
I'm not giving up my whole PS2 Collection just for a PS3! Help!

[Nebagram]

Is there something preventing you from keeping your PS2? I'm confused. :-/ The easiest answer is simply to keep your PS2 for PS2 games and use the PS3 for PS3 games. The 60gb model and (iirc) the 80gb model all have limited PS2 BC but even then it's a lottery as to whether or not the game'll be playable.

[Hitman Tyler]

20,60,and 80 with 4 usb ports.
To help you out:
http://www.us.playstation.com/Support/CompatibleStatus
use this page and check your games to see if they work or have errors while playing. Just select which GB you want and input the title of the game.

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PlayStation_3

Jump to Model Compatibility Chart for your answer. Hardware based = best, Software based = okay.

If you want a PS3 with PS2 Backwards Compatibility you may be able to find a new one online, but it'll be older stock that's still NIB.

Otherwise, it doesn't look like Sony is putting it back in in the near future. (Though they probably will at some point).

Also, remember - ALL PS3s are PS1 backwards compatible.

[Overbite]

Basically if you can go to the store and buy it you can't play ps2 games on it. Unless the store has a MGS4 bundle kicking around.

[StetsonGraves]

If you do end up buying a PS3 that has backwards compatibility and you want to port over your old saves, you're going to also need a memory card adaptor. Like someone already said, it's better just to keep your PS2 with your PS3, simpler that way.

[aaron7]

Far as I know the 20,60,80gb are backwards compatible.

The 20 and 80 are SOFTWARE emulated and do not play EVERY PS2 game.

The 60gb is the ONLY one to have HARDWARE backwards compatibility.

[exit]

If you are going to play your PS2 games a lot, then I would say go and try to track a 60 or 80 gig down. Most likely you'll probably only use the feature very rarely, so I'd say just keep your PS2, use component cables and you'll be just fine.

[TurboGenesis]

Far as I know the 20,60,80gb are backwards compatible.

The 20 and 80 are SOFTWARE emulated and do not play EVERY PS2 game.

The 60gb is the ONLY one to have HARDWARE backwards compatibility.

The 20GB is as capable as the 60GB. These were both launch models and the 20GB is fully backwards compatible as is the 60GB.

[aaron7]

http://bombmatt.wordpress.com/2008/08/29/playstation-3-backwards-compatibility-demystified/

[kupomogli]

Just to clear even more confusion, I've read some people say 80GB are backward compatible. ONLY SOME 80GB are BC. Probably about half the 80GB you'll find aren't.

All PS3s have PSX compatibility, 20GB, 60GB, and SOME 80GB have PS2 BC.

If you want the best PS3, aside from that nice looking slim that doesn't have PS2 BC, you'll want to track down a 60GB. The reason for this is that it has all the memory card slots, hardware based BC, and wireless.

The 20GB is the one I'd recommend avoiding. The reason for this is that it's the same as the 60GB, but no wireless. Now, screw playing multiplayer wireless because that sucks compared to wired. However, in order to play ad-hoc party, you'll need wireless(you need to be connected online wired and the wireless to connect to your PSP.) This will allow you to play people that aren't right next to you multiplayer on a PSP game even if the game is ad-hoc only.

[Cloud121]

http://bombmatt.wordpress.com/2008/08/29/playstation-3-backwards-compatibility-demystified/
Just as it says on there, the 20GB is Hardware based.


The 20GB is the one I'd recommend avoiding. The reason for this is that it's the same as the 60GB, but no wireless. Now, screw playing multiplayer wireless because that sucks compared to wired. However, in order to play ad-hoc party, you'll need wireless(you need to be connected online wired and the wireless to connect to your PSP.) This will allow you to play people that aren't right next to you multiplayer on a PSP game even if the game is ad-hoc only.
I'm able to connect my PSP to my 20GB just fine. No issues at all.

[duffmanth]

Okay, the original 60GB and 20GB launch PS3's are fully hardware based backwards compatible with PS1 and PS2 games, meaning these two models have the actual physical PS2 guts in them. The only 80GB models that are somewhat backwards compatible are the Motorstorm/80GB bundle that came out in late 2007, and the MGS4/80GB bundle that came out last summer. However, these two models are only software/emulator backwards compatible, meaning there is no physical PS2 guts in the console, just software that lets you play some PS2 games and most PS1 games.

Just something else you might want to consider, I was determined to get a launch 60GB at launch, but waited until summer 2007 to get the 60GB when it had a price drop because I really wanted the hardware backwards compatibility. As it turns out, I barely play PS2 and PS1 games on it, I play them on my PS2. So if you have a PS2, don't drive yourself crazy looking for a 60GB. Besides the B.C., the only nice things about the 60GB is that it has 4 USB ports, which is pretty useless considering 2 is fine, and it has the memory stick slots which may or may not be of use to you? I think you should just wait and get the new slim, because the B.C. is a really overrated feature.

[Leo_A]

Lots of incorrect information being repeated in this thread. The largest of which is statements by several individuals about PS3's emulating the PS2.

No PS3's emulate the PS2. European models and early 80 gig models have a hybrid solution for achieving PS2 compatibility where the PS2's GPU remains while the PS2's Emotion Engine is emulated. It's both a hardware and software based solution depending on the chip.

There's been no purely software based solution for PS2 compatibility, or all PS3's would ship with the program installed.

[LiquidPolicenaut]

Although I love my slim PS2 to play my imports on, I really enjoy using my PS3 to play my PS2 and PSOne games on it. I like them being upscaled :)