PS2 and PS3 compatibility

I respect your opinion but backward compatibility (BC) does matter to me and to most of people I talk to.
Imagine if DVD format was not BC. What would we do with so many CDs? Keeping the old player is not a good option to me.

Regards!

First of all HD players have to be BC because alot of people have a gigantic back catalog of DVD's that they will probably watch quite frequently and it's a waste of money to re-purchase all the movies in HD, the HD player is for new movies and maybe to pick up a few old favorites you really want to see in HD. DVD players don't really have to be BC with CD's but it is nice, how many people use their DVD player as their primary CD player really? It's nice the have BC with CD's for picture CD's or something but honestly I know if my DVD player couldn't play CD's I probably wouldn't care, or even notice for that matter. Now video game consoles are totally different, the whole point in buying a new console is to play NEW GAMES! Why in hell would you drop $400-$600 on a 360 or PS3 to play X-Box or PS2 games? If you have games from one of those consoles, then when you decide to whip one out (which honestly in a year how often do you think that will be) then take 2 freakin minutes to hook the other system up, my set-up isn't exactly simple but if I feel the need to play LoZ:OoT I don't have alot of difficulty pulling the N64 out of storage and plugging the red, white, and yellow RCA cables in. Similarly if I feel the need to revisit a PS2 classic down the line I don't think i'm gonna ***** about the PS3 not having any BC, I think i'm gonna hook the PS2 up (surround sound and all) and enjoy the friggin game. Look at the 360, BC seemed kind've important when there was hardly anything out on the system but now a year and 3 months later when there's plenty to play MS has abandoned making any other games BC. The only reason the Wii's virtual console is so popular is because it allows people to go back and play games they haven't played in over a decade for systems they probably don't have anymore. I'm sorry if that sounds hostile because it's not supposed to, my point is if you buy a new console why don't you enjoy all the new great things it has to offer? BC is a nice feature and all but I can't believe how bent out of shape people are getting over this.

Hello!
You're right when you say that buying a new console our main goal is to play 'new games'.
But if BC wasn't so important Sony would not promise this feature to PS3. Different from players produced for US and Japan, other countries will not have PS3 with its full potential.
Thanks for replying.

Considering it's been over a year since Sony's PR department has done anything smart I don't think the fact that Sony was pushing BC really means much at all. I cannot comprehend what the big stink over this is, you're still gonna have BC, chances are if a game was popular they will release the software emulation for it in a patch. Just look at the 360, the fact that people showed so little interest in playing X-Box games on it once some good 360 games came out that MS has abandoned BC updates all together is a testament to how much having 100% BS really matter. The PS3's ability to play PS2 games is no more a part of its full potential then the PS2's ability to play PS1 games, honestly looking back can you honestly say: Oh my God thank goodness Sony had BC so I could randomly play a couple PS1 games now and then without having to spend 2 minutes hooking up the old console. O and it's not just people outside of the US and Japan who will have to rely on software emulation for BC, Sony's will eventually take the Emotion Engine out of all PS3's, NA and Japan included so if BC is that important to you, you better either own a PS3 or buy one soon.

I think the point here is that Sony is not backing up its promises and that they touted their 'full backward compatibility' as a distinguishing advantage over the 360. Yes, only a small percentage will really care about full BC, but from a PR standpoint Sony has shot themselves in the foot. Unless (or until) great games start flooding the PS3, there is absolutely no reason to buy one over an xbox 360.

Sony's PR department has hurt the PS3's rep far more than it's helped a damn thing, Kutaragi and Kaz Harai haven't done alot to help with consistent design screw-ups ,lack of a scaler chip, making a console that's difficult to program for, and now this recent BC issue. But it's Sony's PR department that has done nothing to help these issues by lying to people and doing a terrible job of explaining issues in a way that doesn't make it look like Sony's way too cocky for it's own good. I would love it if Ken Kutaragi, Kaz Harai, Phil Harrison, and Jack Tretton would resign so they could be replaced by people who know what the hell they're doing. Back on topic though I know Sony's PR sucks but I was just pointing out that lack of BC really shouldn't be a huge deal and shouldn't dissuade people from buying an otherwise potentially great console, that is once there are games out for it that people want to play.

Both of you are right!
I agree that BC shouldn't be the "big problem" to be considered when buying a PS3. I really wouldn't expect to run older titles using a new gen console.
The point here is really about Sony's PR promises.
Yeah guys, you've changed my mind.
Regards!

Here's what I've learned to do about Sony's PR, if they make a promise that sounds to good to be true: it is (with the exception of Motorstorm which does look amazing despite not quite living up to the video). If they say something stupid: ignore them, they have an amazing ability to turn a glimmer of good news into showing how cocky and arrogant they are. And finally: don't let them dissuade you from buying a PS3, if in the future games come out for it you want don't be frightened off by their frequent design and PR screw-ups with the hardware and if there aren't any games you want on it the don't badmouth it because some people like the damn thing.

You've posted a useful link
Regards!