PS4 Backwards Compatibility

[Nate]

I don't get consoles, why don't they just work with previous versions? The new OS doesn't understand the games made for the old one? Or is it the hardware might cause crashes?

 

[BloodOmen]

I don't get consoles, why don't they just work with previous versions? The new OS doesn't understand the games made for the old one? Or is it the hardware might cause crashes?

No idea, the earlier PS3's did work with both PS1 and PS2 games but Sony quickly phased it out and pretty much scrapped backwards compatibility, its only when fans started asking in mass over the years for it Sony started to look at it again.

 

[Moriath]

I don't get consoles, why don't they just work with previous versions? The new OS doesn't understand the games made for the old one? Or is it the hardware might cause crashes?

Money.

 

[MYstIC G]

I don't get consoles, why don't they just work with previous versions? The new OS doesn't understand the games made for the old one? Or is it the hardware might cause crashes?

Things move on, that's like saying why don't car manufacturers get their cars to run on leaded petrol anyway because the technology was here first. They don't want to put the time and effort in because they get nothing out of it, that's why Gaikai might work out because if you have to pay to access say £5 a month but they let you scan your old discs for proof of ownership, people might take it up.

 

[Raven]

Different architecture, to put proper emulation into a console they either need a chip or a decent software emulator, the first one being the most practical but the most expensive. Software emulation can be very inefficient and slow, its only been in the last few years that PS2 emulation has been usable on PC, simply because its done via software rather than hardware.

There is no way on earth a PC could use software emulation on PS4 game, even though PS4 is miles behind in tech yet the PC can obviously play the same titles with superior graphics/textures etc.

Either way it comes down to money and not just profit but the cost it takes to produce each unit and therefore being able to sell it at a lower cost.

 

[BloodOmen]

Different architecture, to put proper emulation into a console they either need a chip or a decent software emulator, the first one being the most practical but the most expensive. Software emulation can be very inefficient and slow, its only been in the last few years that PS2 emulation has been usable on PC, simply because its done via software rather than hardware.

There is no way on earth a PC could use software emulation on PS4 game, even though PS4 is miles behind in tech yet the PC can obviously play the same titles with superior graphics/textures etc.

Either way it comes down to money and not just profit but the cost it takes to produce each unit and therefore being able to sell it at a lower cost.

I'd be very surprised if they tried to software emulate it, it'll drain a lot of the power away from the PS4 while doing so. The thing is there was code within the PS3 to emulate both the ps1 and ps2 (even the psp iirc) this is after they stopped allowing ps2 games to work on ps3 systems as well, I would imagine somewhere in the PS4 there will be the same coding and MAAAAAAAAAYBE hardware as well lying dormant so hopefully it'll just be a case of them enabling it all so to speak.

Just have to see how it goes, as a frequent user of a PS2 emulator on the PC I have to say they have their work cut out for them if its just software they're going to rely on because some PS2 games still lag on my PC my PC isn't top end either but its not bottom end either, still more powerful than a PS4.

 

[Embattle]

In essence most emulation is just an exercise in brute force.

 

[BloodOmen]

In essence most emulation is just an exercise in brute force.

Yes and No, if it were brute force only PS2 games wouldn't lag on my PC, its also making sure all games are compatible with X software etc, Sony will puzzle it out i'm sure, if they want to milk the market place with older ps1/ps2 games I have no doubt Sony will get it working perfectly, they have the resources and staff after all.

 

[Embattle]

Yes and No, if it were brute force only PS2 games wouldn't lag on my PC, its also making sure all games are compatible with X software etc, Sony will puzzle it out i'm sure, if they want to milk the market place with older ps1/ps2 games I have no doubt Sony will get it working perfectly, they have the resources and staff after all.

No but because they can't get a good compatibility level they get fairly close then try to over come it by power. Sony are more likely to do it better since they'll naturally have some of the best knowledge how but part of the reason they don't spend too much time on emulation is because the effort is rarely worth the reward, you won't pay much for any PS2 emulated game in a PS4 era.

 

[BloodOmen]

No but because they can't get a good compatibility level they get fairly close then try to over come it by power. Sony are more likely to do it better since they'll naturally have some of the best knowledge how but part of the reason they don't spend too much time on emulation is because the effort is rarely worth the reward, you won't pay much for any PS2 emulated game in a PS4 era.

You'd be surprised what people will pay for old games if you see a PS2 game in a shop in town, you'll probably pay 50p-£3 for it, I'd wager they can easily sell them at £5-£10 a pop on the PS network store.

 

[Raven]

I would quite happily pay £10 for a decent PS1/PS2 game, which is why I think the new PS thing is fantastic. Pretty much sold me on getting a PS4.

 

[Embattle]

You'd be surprised what people will pay for old games if you see a PS2 game in a shop in town, you'll probably pay 50p-£3 for it, I'd wager they can easily sell them at £5-£10 a pop on the PS network store.

Yes but that isn't the only cost factor, they do cannibalise current generation game sales to a small degree so while they will develop it they will do so slowly unless the competition does something suddenly.

 

[Raven]

I disagree. I think it makes it a lot more like PC gaming. Yeah I buy several new releases at new release price but I also buy a lot of cheap indi or old games on steam for £5-£10. Just because there is a wide range of cheap titles about, doesn't mean people wont buy the new releases too. They will basically be making money from nothing.

 

[Embattle]

I did state it was a small amount and not everyone has your buying habits, plus it is some what of an exaggeration to state they would make money from nothing.

 

[BloodOmen]

I disagree. I think it makes it a lot more like PC gaming. Yeah I buy several new releases at new release price but I also buy a lot of cheap indi or old games on steam for £5-£10. Just because there is a wide range of cheap titles about, doesn't mean people wont buy the new releases too. They will basically be making money from nothing.

Aye, they will especially sell old titles if they manage to get the HD scaling right.