Sony Releases PS3 Back-Compat Checker

With the 60GB version now 'sold out', the 80GB version of the PlayStation 3 is quickly going to be the only option for consumers in stores. Besides the hard-drive size, though, the two systems have another fundamental difference: the 80GB unit handles backwards compatibility with software and not hardware. What games work on the two console versions is now a bit trickier. To aid in your comprehension, Joystiq notes, Sony has released a handy online game checker to let you know how your library will fare. Over at Curmudgeon Gamer, they have an examination of a game library looking at both a PS1 collection of titles and a group of games from the PS2 era. Assuming this random sampling to be in any way indicative, it looks like there isn't much difference between software and hardware compatibility for PS1 games ... but PS2 games might not have an easy time of it.

Re:sure

[king-manic]

The software emu rate success is pretty high. It doesn't hobble the non hardware versions much. In a random sampling of my library of 50+ ps2 games I have yet to hit one where the software emu wasn't good. No glitchiness yet.

Re:To Clarify

[tlhIngan]

As the above posters have mentioned, Sony removed the hardware emulation to cut costs on the unit and added another 20GB to make you feel like you got something in exchange. The problem (or not depending on how you look at it) is that they increased the price by $100 for 20GB...yea thats not what I would call an "acceptable" cost trade-off. Thus they made the 60GB look much more lucrative for those who care about the backwards compatibility, die-hards, or to those looking for a better deal. In turn the 80GB looks like you get something for the extra $100 to the ill-informed.

Well, they did sweeten the pot a little more. The 80GB models on the shelves right now come with Motorstorm, and a tossed-in HDMI cable. So while it doesn't cost Sony any extra $100 for these extras, it might tilt the value proposition that way for the consumer. (After all, it's only a little bit extra in cost - a game plus a cable is only a few bucks for Sony).

only option? perhaps not

[Harlockjds]

>With the 60GB version now 'sold out', the 80GB version of the PlayStation 3 is quickly going to be the only option for consumers in stores.

Kotaku/Ars Technica says otherwise

http://kotaku.com/gaming/rumor/40gb-ps3-with-spider+man-3-for-christmas-298145.php [kotaku.com]

for those too lazy to click Sony may be coming out with a 40GB system for $399 and dropping the price of the 80 gig system to $499 (and including spiderman 3 as a packin for both). Yeah it's an odd move but I've stopped trying to explain Sony's product moved logically long ago.