Don't quote me on this, but I think it's impossible for the PS3 to emulate the PS2 because the PS2's GPU had a way higher bandwidth than the PS3's GPU, and they can only emulate the CPU.

The first PS3 models had both the CPU (Emotion Engine) and GPU (Graphics Sinthesizer). Then, they took out the CPU and emulated it instead but kept the GPU. After that, when they took out the GPU, emulation was made impossible. I don't really think they could easily go the emulation route, but I may be wrong :P

All in an effort to cut costs.... :-/ I don't hate Sony for this, they have always been pro BC, but if they can make 3D/HD collections of PS2 games, they could have done something. They could have spent a little more $$$ and gotten a higher bandwidth GPU.

I won't take your word for it, but I believe you. I recall PS2 had a relatively high bandwidth compared to other last gen consoles (128MB I recall). PS3 probably has the same bandwidth if anything, and in order to emulate that isn't enough. Surprising considering how poerful the PS3 is.

To some it is. One big reason I bought a 360 before PS3 was because I didn't have a core XB, and I wanted to play Halo 2 and Conker. I also got my PS2 to play PS1 games since my PS1 broke, and there were lots of great games I had yet to play. I almost skipped getting a Wii to get a BC Wii successor, but Donkey Kong and Pikmin pushed me over (Now Pikmin is gone!).

However I hate how companies limit BC to one gen. PS3 had it right being BC with everything, why stop? I understand DS and 3DS not being able to play old GB games because of the different port, but with disk games there is no excuse, especially since current gen systems can play older gens. If PS4 can play PS1 games I would consider it more strongly then I do now, as I still can't play my Chrono Cross (PS1-PS3 all broken, PS3 I borrow isn't BC).

Well, they could have gotten a higher bandwidth GPU, but it's already too late and they'd have to go back in time before the PS3's launch to pick a better GPU for the PS3 to fix that :P.

I think the PS3's GPU bandwidth is a little bit above 20GB/s. In comparison, the Xbox 360's GPU bandwidth is above 200GB/s (I really don't remember the exact numbers :P) and it launched like a year before the PS3, so Sony could have gotten something better, but I guess the PS3 was already too expensive to manufacture and the losses would have been higher so they went for something cheaper. I think they could emulate the PS2's GPU if the RSX's bandwidth was the same as the Xbox 360's Xenos GPU.

I guess PS2 emulation is a given... for the PS4 xD

Sorry, I said bandwidth, I meant BUS. I'm not that tecky, so I'll just do my best to remember what you say and use it as hearsay evidence (which has no meaning).

As for PS4, I hope it's PS1-3 BC. That is something I've always loved about Sony consoles, and since they are all disk based, it's not hard right? Too bad PSV isn't PSP BC (it's not right?).

Thansk for letting me know about PS1 BC. Going to beat Chrono Cross next time I borrow my friends PS3 (mine broke a while ago).

WHAT? So I could have played Chrono Cross all this time?

I know why Sony stopped with PS2 BC in PS3, but they could have easily gone the emulation route.

As for the DS and 3DS not being able to play old GB and GBC games, I said they could. I said it was understandable because it would involve making another port for the games, which takes up space, and to be honest, most gamers wouldn't use.

Yeah, I hope so, it would be nice to be able to play my PS3 games on the PS4. I don't know about the Vita, I think I've heard it can play the digital version of PSP games (since it has no UMD drive), but I really am not sure about that. I haven't kept up to date with Vita news to be honest.

I think it was someone else that told you about PS1 BC being on all PS3s, but you're welcome anyways :P

You could also rip your PS1 game disc on your PC, and play it on the PS1 emulator. Any PC should be able to emulate PS1 games without any trouble these days. You could even get an adapter to connect your PS controller to your PC and play with it.

I think we're derailing this thread a little bit, we'd better stop xD

Yeah, you could have, hope you haven't been waiting too long.

As for emulation, SONY did announce that they had created a PS2 emulator for the PS3 without any use of PS2 components, but we heard nothing more from it. I think they saw more money in HD collections. If that is true, then I'm not happy, but it doesn't affect me, bog standard emulation isn't exactly great, if I had an option to play my favourite PS2 games in HD with trophies I would take it.

Only the 3DS can play GB and GBC games through the store (not sure what Nintendo have decided on yet), the normal DS cannot play GB and GBC cartridges. GB, GBC and GBA games can all fit in the original DS's port though.

I think it's because of the similarities between the DS's and GBA's hardware, still I think Nintendo should have used emulation. I only wanted it for Pokemon, and after heart gold and soul silver it doesn't matter for me, I don't need GB and GBC compatibility.

GBA SP plays everything from 1989-2004 (I love the design of the GBA SP, best Nintendo handheld ever). I read up on DS, aparently GBA and GB games are written differently, so they would have to emulate GB and GBC games in order for the DS to play them. However this would add $2-3 to development costs, and with say 60 original DS systems sold, thats something like 150 million dollars. Most people who own a DS, who want to play GB and GBC games own a GB or GBC. I think Nintendo realized GBA was enough, and I'm not mad at them for that. Heck they made a second port for GBA games (and DS accessories).

Anyway, I'm a big fan of BC, I hope all next gen consoles have it. I'm only a bit dissapointed in Wii U not being Gamecube BC, I mean how can you play smash bros without the GCN controller?

I wonder how trophies/achievements would work though, will they accumulate with current achievements or will they be separate?

Yeah that sounds about right.

And not only is the Wii U not backwards, but the new Wii announced at Gamescom isn't compatible with Gamecube games. Considering the Gamecube is the strongest library Nintendo has this decade, I think that was a pretty poor decision. Luckily I can buy an old Wii off eBay so I can play both Gamecube and Wii games I have missed over the years.

Still, something tells me Nintendo won't use any kind of rewards system.

Let me just say something though, the only missing backwards compatibility in a SONY console is no PS2 games on the PS3, PS1 games work on both the PS2 and the PS3, PSP digital games work on the PS Vita. So if you want to play Chrono Cross or any PSP games on the PS Vita, you can :P