PlayStation 3 could feature downloadable PSone, PS2 games
by James Ransom-Wiley 
{ Mar 13th 2006 at 4:30PM }
GamesIndustry.biz reports that Sony is considering a digital distribution service that would bring popular PSone and PS2 titles to the PS3, rivaling Nintendo's downloadable back-catalogue plans for the Revolution. Unnamed sources claim that Sony has been discussing the technical requirements needed to provide this service, and in turn, investigating the possibility of remastering select PS2 games so that latter parts of a game can be streamed over a network while earlier segments are being played. It comes as little surprise that Sony is interested in jumping on the digital distribution bandwagon, but the company will have to overcome some hurdles if the effort is to come to fruition.
It should also be noted that plans to introduce a digital distribution service that supports downloadable PSone titles on the PS2 have also been tossed around.
[Thanks, steve]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
slash @ Mar 13th 2006 4:38PM
As long as I dont have to pay AGAIN for a game I already own I'm down.
Yaanu @ Mar 13th 2006 4:39PM
This screams Revolution to no extent.
J B Cougar @ Mar 13th 2006 4:39PM
Congrats Sony, once again you've taken a page form Microsoft's past (and your own), and have copied a company that "is not your competitor" with an idea you will no doubt market as your own. Here's a cookie. It's in the shape of Mario.
the antique @ Mar 13th 2006 4:46PM
I'm hoping for rootkits bundled with these games.
Jim N @ Mar 13th 2006 4:49PM
Well everyone seems to have hoped on this download bandwagon. I think this is great, I will be able get all the old retro games for the Nintendo Revolution, some on the Xbox 360, and now get to explore some of the PS1 games. I own a PS2, but never got the PS1. Can anyone recommend some PS1 games that might be of interest?
But I am curious how are they going to do this without any sort of storage device in it?
Steve @ Mar 13th 2006 4:49PM
Are there people out there clamoring to pay a monthly fee for a service that lets you play last-gen and gen-before-last games on a new console that presumably will cost upwards of $400?
I'm all for packing in the features but don't add to the delay for this. How about getting dev kits to developers so they can make "new" games.
obo @ Mar 13th 2006 4:50PM
Um... even Gamecube games aren't DVD-sized downloads. Is Sony really going to have the network capacity to offer this? I mean, server disconnects during in-game streaming at peak times could end up being so frustrating, it would be worse than not having the service at all.
Mustball @ Mar 13th 2006 4:51PM
Fake!!! ,You can play the disks of PS1 & PS2 games. -_-
DahCheet @ Mar 13th 2006 4:52PM
Kudos J B Cougar. Very well spoken.
slash: Sorry to burst your bubble, but if this thing actually comes about, be prepared to shell out some more dough for the download of GTA sitting in your attic. Sony is probably going to bank on the fact that some gamers are too lazy to look thru their old games to find the good ones, hookup their PS2 again and play them.
I don't plan on being one of those lazy gamers with my collection but I can see myself getting some of those titles I wish I had that I can't get an original copy.
Wayne @ Mar 13th 2006 4:53PM
Bring on Vib Ribbon and Castlevania!
Yes I realise this is blatant idea theft from Nintendo, but you can't run Sympony of the Night on a virtual Nintendo console
Tim @ Mar 13th 2006 4:53PM
#4, What would Sony want to put rootkits on your PS3 for? Stop being an anti Sony fanboy and look at the good side. I'm hoping that, unless theres a way of confirming you already have the old game and you can download it for free, the games will be cheap.
Alex K. @ Mar 13th 2006 4:54PM
Sony, you're not Nintendo. Don't act like you have a real back catalog.
and #2, why would I want to pay again for a PS2 game from Sony rather than buying a used game for cheaper and not having to constantly download 3GB files?
It makes no sense...especially since the HDD isn't standard on the PS3.
And slightly offtopic, until America gets REAL broadband (like what Verizon is doing with Fios), none of the crap that we're talking about where we download everything is ever going to happen. How Billy Gates is talking about eliminating DVDs in favor of downloading everything.
Yeah, cause I want to spend a week downloading HD content only to figure out that my hard drive is just going to die in 3-6 years, so I have to back up all the content and keep switching drives.
Pickypants @ Mar 13th 2006 4:57PM
Uhhh..
Nintendo's back catalogue > Sony's back catalogue.
I might get drunk one night, order a pizza, and download Wizards and Warriors, but I sure as hell wont be picking up Battle Arena Toshinden 2.
Most of sony's most popular games are sequels, and those sequels are often innovated purely on graphic quality. Why would we want to replay ugly old versions of games we currently own?
Morgon @ Mar 13th 2006 4:57PM
And now everyone who has ever once complained about Nintendo's policy of keeping their cards close to their chest knows the reasons why.
I don't expect much more info regarding the Revolution's capabilities until the console is much closer to release.
Brock @ Mar 13th 2006 4:58PM
Wow, looks like the PS3 is going to have everything from it's "rival" consoles... Oh except a TV remote but i already have 6 of those. So i guess there is no reason to buy anything else.
Best Graphics......................Check
Best Processor.................... Check
Best 3rd Parties...................Check
Biggest Selection of 3rd Parites...Check
Online Network.....................Check
Downloadable Content...............Check
High Definition Player.............Check
High Defintion Games...............Check
Downloadable Games.................Check
Washes the Dishes, Well...not quite...maybe PS4 will
It's absolutely amazing that Sony has the Best feature for feature set in the next console race. If they pull all of this off by next Christmas, it will be the most feature rich, enjoyable, customer satisfied and game driven console ever. PERIOD.
PS3 Forums @ Mar 13th 2006 4:58PM
Just another move to keep up with compeition. No real suprise.
Blatant theft @ Mar 13th 2006 4:59PM
You know, we sit here and criticize Nintendo for being too secretive and not letting us know everything. Their reasons for the secrecy is that the competitors(sony/microsoft/sega/ect) will steal their ideas. But then we see time and again how the competition does steal the ideas. This feature will indeed be cool for the PS3 but it's quite obvious that they never would have considered it without Nintendo announcing it. It's not really fair to criticize Nintendo for wanting to be secret when their reasons for secrecy are just validated every gen.
Michael @ Mar 13th 2006 5:01PM
hey yo, nintendo fanboy here intending to start off a console war. ahem.
LOLZ, Sony are n00bs =D
Caleb @ Mar 13th 2006 5:01PM
The PS3 is backwards compatible with the PS1 and the PS2. Therefore, if you already own the game, it would be retarded to buy a digital copy when you can just insert the disc into the PS3.
However, it would be great to download old games I do not already own.
portorikan @ Mar 13th 2006 5:03PM
Why would you download content when this system is supposed to be backwards compatible?
Sony pretty much assumes that if you're downloading content, you don't own the content, so you're going to pay again.
Also, I don't know about downloading whole gigs of info. I think this is just more hype on the table to steal thunder from competitors.
All they can do considering they're expecting some heavy delays with their product.
oe @ Mar 13th 2006 5:03PM
I wish Sony's marketing execs would take their own advice, as posted on the London Tube platform.
Mullinator @ Mar 13th 2006 5:04PM
@Brock
Half of those are not given. Sony may lose a lot of 3rd party support for all you know, assuming they won't is quite foolish at this point.
Also you can't have the best without also being the most expensive (for both consumers and developers). Do you really expect to get the best of both worlds?
spoo @ Mar 13th 2006 5:05PM
I am with Steve on this one. I never got into the whole retro bandwagon that many gamers are on. I like to play games when they are new and I have not missed many must play games in my gaming. I am 26 and have played the hell out of 99% of games that I have any major interest in.
Seeing how big the used game market is most gamers are like me once they finished a game to completion most like me will have no ambition to replay the same titles they have already completed.
I want new games not games I played 5-10 years ago. I want gaming to move forward not backwards. Also how much are they going to charge to play Twisted Metal 2? Is it going to be more then "average joe" could buy it for @ the local pawn shop or flea market, most likely.
The truth @ Mar 13th 2006 5:08PM
Just look at this list of PS2 titles that are incompatible with the PS2:
http://www.us.playstation.com/ConsumerAlerts.aspx?id=softwareTitles_75001.html
Sony might be having trouble with BC on the PS3, so I suspect they're thinking about porting old titles over and making them available for d/l vs. allowing you to load off old, existing media.
gwangi @ Mar 13th 2006 5:08PM
So I guess my big question is are they looking to do the downloadable games instead of have them BC or in conjunction?
portorikan @ Mar 13th 2006 5:08PM
Hey Brock, you may want to uncheck all those check since uh, none of it exists yet because the PS3 doesn't exist yet. It's all speculation until it's in consumer hands.
Now, if you were talking about the xbox 360, you'd be correct, with the exception of the HD player since it really doesn't exist yet at this moment.
Anton @ Mar 13th 2006 5:10PM
What's the point of this service if all you're gonna download is the same damn game that you're playing right now but with worse graphics. I guess you could download the original crash bandicoots (if found those quire fun), IQ cube would fall into the category, tumba and that's pretty much it, everything else either has a sequel or there's a game that's pretty much the same damn thing except with a different title on it.
riney @ Mar 13th 2006 5:11PM
#11
hahahahaha ......lol
im from MO the "Show me State" PS3 hasnt shown anything to anyone. Have you played the PS3 with these great graphics? or seen the finished versions from these 3rd party developers? The last time I tried to go online with the PS2 was also the first time I tried XBL. I am praying and hoping SONY delivers on just half of its promises. this would ensure future game developement from both M$ and SONY resulting in better gaming for us all. so for SONY has NOT delivered half of what MS has... 2 consoles better than the PS2 and an incredicle LIVE service.
Yes I know the PS2 outsells everything but so does the ford escort.... ill take my Corvette anyday.
graf1k @ Mar 13th 2006 5:17PM
@ #11
How quick you are to hand out awards to a system that not even developers know the final spec of yet. How quick you are to say the graphics are superior when no one has seen an actual realtime PS3 game running on PS3 hardware.
As for the downloadable content, even if it happens, I don't expect it to do too well for Sony. Nintendo can repackage and resell the same old stuff because of the nostalgia factor of those old games, and Sony seems to have overlooked the fact that very few, if any of their games have it. I can only think of 1 PS1 game I'd actually pay to play again, and that's Medieval. As for PS2 games, what's the point if I can buy it at any of a 100 retailers, probably for less, and don't have to worry about a corrupt hard drive in the future. It's all made even more ridiculous when you factor that you have to buy the hard drive seperate before you even are able to buy the games. At least with the Revolution, most of the games are so old and so small byte-wise, they could easily be streamed over a high speed connection. I'd love to see a 3-5GB game do that...
Jon @ Mar 13th 2006 5:22PM
We can't toot their horn just yet. MS has had an online service out for nearly 5 years now...it's out there and we can all judge it.
But until Sony and Nintendo show us what they got...as far as I'm concerned they don't have anything!
It's rediculous to compare Sony's online to Nintendo's cause as of right now...they practically don't even exist.
bv @ Mar 13th 2006 5:25PM
Read the article again, it states : "Several senior developers have confirmed to GamesIndustry.biz that they have spoken informally with Sony about the question of digital distribution on consoles, although these discussions were described as being "purely about technology, not business models" by one source".
Several senior developers
bv @ Mar 13th 2006 5:31PM
Great, all my words got cut off after "Several senior developers" so all im left with is some gibberish above me. Anyways, I was trying to point out how much speculative garbage is in the article. It's one of those, "My friends Dad who works for a glow in the dark mini golf knows of a vendor who sells arcade units for sega who talked to a salesperson at Sega who said someone who develops for a company who made a game for sony 4 years ago is thinking about possibly talking to Sony via email on how they should offer a downloadable back catalogue for the Playstation 3"
vidGuy @ Mar 13th 2006 5:34PM
"the possibility of remastering select PS2 games so that latter parts of a game can be streamed over a network while earlier segments are being played"
Well at least they'd have a leg up on the 360s download system, you'd actually be able to use the console while something downloaded!
Of course, there's no way Sony can put together the online community the XBOX has with Live in one generation. I do give credit to MS for that.
But let's see... you are going to charge me hundreds of dollars for a new super-duper BluRay drive, then ask that I download all the old games (for more money), just because you can't figure out how to get the laser to read the old discs? Screw that.
Another thing:
Best Graphics......................Uncheck, maybe marginal Check
Best Processor.................... Check
Best 3rd Parties...................Uncheck, who knows
Biggest Selection of 3rd Parites...Uncheck, who knows
Online Network.....................Half-Check, behind the competition
Downloadable Content...............Half-Check, possibly a good implementation
High Definition Player.............Check
High Defintion Games...............Half-Check, has it been confirmed that a HighDef standard is going to be required?
Downloadable Games.................Uncheck, we'll check this once we hear a confirmation
So basically you are going to market this as a HighDef player (for a format that may likely die within 12 months of its release) that happens to play videogames, for upwards of $499, with the same old gameplay? No thanks. I'll be with the Rev at launch and the 360 once it's through two or three revisions, no overheating or scratching discs, and down to $200.
Jim N @ Mar 13th 2006 5:37PM
Brock, Brock, Brock where to begin with your comment. Portorikan is completely right, lets wait to break out the old check list and ink pen until we have this mythical PS3 in our living rooms and we can see all the fancy bells and whistles that it has. In fact all I am going to say in addition to that is the PS2 was suppose to have an Online gaming service and I am not sure you can really call putting a Network adaptor into the console a gaming service.
Tim I think #4(antique) has a good point. Since they are only talking about it and have not published anything we do not know how they will store this content. Will it be a USB flash drive that you plug into the PS3? If so what would stop me from plugging that flash drive into my friends PS3 when I am at his house and playing the game. Which I honestly feel that it is my right since I purchased the game. But that also begs the question if it were a USB Flash drive would stop me from plugging it into my computer copying the file to my computer hard drive and then emailing it to my friend who can now put it on a USB flash drive and play it on his PS3 which by the way I do not think would be right, and if there was some way to stop that I would be in OK with that.
For all these people who post saying that Xbox 360 will fail or Playstation will fall by the way side, or Nintendo is crap. They should stop and think for a second. And be thankful that there are three top tier consoles out there competing for your money. If Nintendo had ruled the market and no one else ever made a console I doubt that the gaming industry would be anywhere close to where it is. Atari, Intelivision, Commodore, Collec Vision, Nintendo, Sega, Sony, and Microsoft have all added items to the industry have made it better. I hope that someone else can jump into the mix and make all these companies work even harder to come up with new and better ideas for the next generation of consoles.
troc 59 @ Mar 13th 2006 5:40PM
Yet another act of desparation by PLAYTENDO. Who opened up this can of pythons, anyway? M$ has to be thoroughly enjoying this dog and pony show! At least the 360 is here and it's got awesome real games.I think I'll just stick with my 360 this round, thanks.lol lol.
SuicideNinja @ Mar 13th 2006 5:47PM
Finally, positive news about the PS3. However, I already happen to have the PSX games I want, and almost all of the PS2 ones I want. = The main benefit is you don't have to try to locate a *legal* copy of a game that isn't produced anymore. You could just hop online and get it. It depends on how convenient it is. With the 360 for example, I could play Zuma and Gauntlet on the computer. But it's more convenient and fun to play it on the 360. So they got my money there.
@ Jim N: Even if the PS3 doesn't come with a hard drive, Sony plans on providing support for one. I *think* it supports CF cards as well, and those can be 6+GB. PSX games I like: FF7, FF8, Einhander, Xenogears, Intelligent Qube, and Gran Turismo 2.
@ Brock: The Cell processor hasn't really be "proven" yet, so saying it is the best processor is a bit premature (think AMD vs Intel...most people can't tell the difference). Also, we haven't officially seen a real PS3 in action, so saying it has the best graphics is also premature (developers are saying the 360 could handle those demos). As far as 3rd party games go, most of the best ones are available for other platforms. And the PS Hub and downloadable content might as well be rumors at the moment.
Sony still has to step up to the plate. They didn't with the PS2, so maybe they will make amends with the PS3?
Jay @ Mar 13th 2006 5:47PM
hmmm. the PS3 may be my second machine after my Revolution. Something like this would be very very beneficial for folk who want Tekken 2, FF7, MGS, Tomb Raider 1 but can't find the CD's anywhere, or are near destroyed in game shops. Very good idea. I like.
however some issues I'd like addressing before I go for one.
1) machine price. better be good. I'm never going to spend more than 200 on a machine to play games. not even on my salary.
2) Rootkit. I do not want any form of big brother tactics, to reduce piracy or whatever, stuck on my system.
3) online better be free. I've bought the console and I pay broadband fee's. Why do I want to pay more?
4) Please, please make MGS4 as good as the first game in terms of story and replayability.
5) That controller better be comfortable. I've yet to hold a comfy and ergonomic 1st party Sony controller. and for the love of god add some form of analogue triggers DC/Xbox/GC style.
but my view of the PS3 has just gone up somewhat. If this is confirmed. *crosses fingers*
FAN @ Mar 13th 2006 5:48PM
----------------ATTENTION---------------
1. NINTENDO DID NOT INVENT DOWNLOADABLE CONTENT!
2. HAVING A DL BACKCATALOUGE IS A NATURAL DEVELOPMENT OF DISTRIBUTION
3. NOBODY HERE KNOWS SHIT ABOUT THE PS3 YOURE ALL SPECULATING OUT OF YOUR ASS
4. WAIT UNTIL YOU KNOW WTF YOURE TALKING ABOUT BEFORE YOU PISS ALL OVER IT
5. HATING SONY IS NOW THE COOL THING TO DO. SONY IS THE NEW MS.
6. NOBODY CARES WHAT CONSOLE YOU LIKE OR WITCH CONSOLES YOU HAVE BOUGHT IN THE PAST OR HOW NEUTRAL YOUR OPPINION IS
7. STFU ALL OF YOU. SERIOUSLY!
-----------------ATTENTION----------------
vidGuy @ Mar 13th 2006 5:59PM
ATTENTION: Get an opinion that doesn't require typing in caps.
Sony Fanboy @ Mar 13th 2006 5:59PM
#4 rootkis are exclusively for crap Microsoft Windows operating system
Rootkit not works under Linux.
Kirk @ Mar 13th 2006 6:00PM
Cool feature I guess. Although, I don't think I'll have the patience to DL anywhere from 500MB - Multi GB game on my high bandwidth pipe. I'd rather pick the old games off the bargain shelf.
BTW, Hating Sony is the new cool thing, eh? That sounds a lot like the mainstream current gen fan's opinion on Nintendo. Nintendo was beat by Sony in the past. Presently, it looks to me like Sony is beating themselves this upcoming gen.
vidGuy @ Mar 13th 2006 6:01PM
ATTENTION: Get an opinion that doesn't require typing in caps.
Pickypants @ Mar 13th 2006 6:02PM
NO ONE APPRECIATES YOUR GRAMMAR AND SPELLING.
What's a "witch console?" Sounds CREEPY!
Blatant theft @ Mar 13th 2006 6:04PM
Some fact's to clarify things
1. Nintendo's wifi service has been up and has been more successful than microsoft's, it's service has accrued registered users at 4 times the rate of the live service. And it's free. It will probably follow suit for the revolution that it mirrors the DS in lack of cost. That alone will put it into prime position for the best online service for a great many gamers.
2. Nintendo did announce a download service before the last e3
3. Sony actually does have a back catalogue of exclusives that will work for downloads, something that micrsoft lacks.
4. Most people who can afford to buy a 360 or ps3 have a broadband connection.
5. Analysts are a mixed bag in general, this generation is anyone's game for market share. However it's probable that only Nintendo can turn profit.
6. Pretty much every game that is released for the xbox360 will make it's way over to the ps3, and a good many of those will go to revolution as well.
Spencer @ Mar 13th 2006 6:04PM
Durn, why didn't anyone else think of that? Oh, wait, NINTENDO.
Crap > Sony.
SetupWeasel @ Mar 13th 2006 6:05PM
I wouldn't be surprised if Sony did this. This was the first thing they announced about the Revolution, and I'd imagine it was because it was the most obvious thing. I mean GameTap is out now.
The question for Sony is what developers will jump on board with this plan. If a game needs to be restructured to work under this model, will any companies other than Sony bother. The Revolution has an advantage in that everything before the Gamecube was on the order of 256 MB or less. Nintendo also has the advantage of being arguably the best game developer and publisher in the last 2 decades. This feature is attractive for Nintendo even if no third parties sign on. Sony? ... Not so much. The old Wipeout games are the only Sony owned properties that I would care to see again. Then again, I already own the ps1 discs.
Finished.Law.School @ Mar 13th 2006 6:06PM
That's right, add more features because the previously mentioned features won't really be included in the final product when it is released in 2011....
Enigma @ Mar 13th 2006 6:18PM
Holy Nintendo Fanboys batman!
Sony has been talking digital distribution long before MS had a console, and long before Nintendo even care for online or even Disc based systems for that matter. They just have yet to implement it.
But of course, Nintendo, the last of the 3 to do anything online, must have thought of it first.
*sarcasm*
xbox360dsPSP @ Mar 13th 2006 6:20PM
Best Graphics......................TBD
No real basis for this except the Sony team produces some beautiful pre-rendered stuff.
Best Processor.................... TBD
3.2Ghz General Purpose PowerPC-based CPU, plus a 7 synergistic signal processors. For comparison, the 360 has three (3) 3.2 Ghz general purpose PowerPC-based cores.
Best 3rd Parties...................TBD
Exclusives are dead on the next generation consoles.
Biggest Selection of 3rd Parites...TBD
If you like a big pile of Japanese anime inspired crap.
Online Network.....................TBD
XBOX Live required coordination with every major ISP to ensure good QoS for XBOX Live packet. You can't launch a reliable network without it. Nintendo knows this and that's why there was a WiFi roll-out.
Downloadable Content...............TBD
And stored on your what? Memory Stick?
High Definition Player.............TBD
Blu-Ray. It's the BetaMax of the 21st century! Superior technology doomed by er. uh. Sony.
High Definition Games..............TBD
120FPS, 1080p. Uh, yeah. Sony rendered MGS4 in real time, but that didn't include any AI or game logic. It was a puppet show. The Nvidia specs aren't notably superior to the 360 ATI. Plus, the PS3 has a slower memory bus. And uh, there's no such thing as 1080p120 or 1080p60. Minor detail.
Downloadable Games.................TBD
Sounds great, but the console has no built-in storage.
------
At this point, it's all just vapor. I'm a fan and will probably buy one, but the claims are officially incredulous. I'm really getting sick of the hype.
AceMilo @ Mar 13th 2006 6:30PM
@46: Nobody else needs to comment, he summed everything up very nicely. What I really love about these comments tho is all the sony fanboys write in all caps and have horrible grammar.