European PS3 to feature a new hardware

[gunntims0103]

news via psu

Sony Computer Entertainment Europe today announced that the PlayStation 3 to be launched in Europe, Middle East, Africa and Australasia on 23rd March 2007 would utilize a new hardware specification.

The European PS3 will feature the Cell Broadband Engine, 60 GB hard disc drive, Blu-ray Disc player, built-in Wi-Fi connectivity, SIXAXIS wireless controller (as with the US and Japanese PS3 units). It also embodies a new combination of hardware and software emulation which will enable the PS3 to be compatible with a broad range of original PlayStation titles and a limited range of PlayStation 2 titles.

This means we won’t be seeing the 100% backwards compatibility feature that Sony promised we’d all have sometime ago, although Sony did say that additional PS2 games will become compatible on the PS3 system through regular downloadable firmware updates.

“PS3 is first and foremost a system that excels in playing games specifically designed to exploit the power and potential of the PS3 system,” said David Reeves, President of SCEE. “Games designed for PS3 offer incredible graphics quality, stunning gameplay and massively improved audio and video fidelity that is simply not achievable with PS and PS2 games. Rather than concentrate on PS2 backwards compatibility, in the future, company resources will be increasingly focused on developing new games and entertainment features exclusively for PS3, truly taking advantage of this exciting technology.”

You’ll be able to check which games work by visiting this website: http://faq.eu.playstation.com/bc.

feedback via comment

[tsurumaru]

I cannot believe that no one else has posted about how f*%!ing disgraceful and deceitful this is. Software emulation was always in the pipeline for the PS3 but to remove the Emotion Engine chipset which only costs Sony $27 per unit before they've finished their Software emulation work for BC for PS2 titles is beyond belief. In the end we in Europe pay more, for less (again).

I hope this costs Sony loads, the delay was bad enough, then the inflated costs for the European PS3 models which was another kick in the teeth. I'll be watching the BC list for Europe with keen interest lets see if they meet their 100% BC boasts.....How very strange that the list isn't released until launch day....

[Tree]

that site anit up 4 ages ... y cant they already put it up so we can get rid of the games that wont work and mayb get more for them

[yoshinatsu]

what do the mean by "New Hardware"?

[RicardoG]

I am shocked as well but I think that maybe it's going to be good if it's emulation because some day they might use a antialiasing on the PS2 games.
Think of Final Fantasy XII with 4x antialiasing, this is possible with emulation...think of PCSX2 on the PC and try Final Fantasy X with full suport of antialiasing...it looks great almost a PS3 game.
But this is what I think...

[yoshinatsu]

I am shocked as well but I think that maybe it's going to be good if it's emulation because some day they might use a antialiasing on the PS2 games.
Think of Final Fantasy XII with 4x antialiasing, this is possible with emulation...think of PCSX2 on the PC and try Final Fantasy X with full suport of antialiasing...it looks great almost a PS3 game.
But this is what I think...

True enough!