Some Questions about the Playstation 3

[Mister Frodo]

Howdy-ho, it's Mister Frodo. Lately I've been considering buying a Playstation 3. Originally I wanted to buy a Wii, but I've now come to the conclusion that Wiis are myths and they are not actually real. -_- (The Wii my cousins own? An illusion.) Anyway, since buying a Wii seems out of question, at least until they chop down on the supply limitations, I've been debating whether I should buy a Playstation 3 or a Playstation 2.

I've never owned a Sony console before, and I'd like to be able to play PS2 games (and possibly PSOne games as well). A PS2 is fairly cheap, and would be able to play PS2 and PSOne games (I think.) However, a PS3 is the next-gen console, it can play Blu-Ray, and it has LittleBigPlanet and Final Fantasy XIII. (Yay.) Apparently, an 80GB PS3 can play Playstation 2 games. My questions, then: How well does the PS3 play PS2 games? And can it play PSOne games? If I want to play a PSOne game on my PS3, will I need a PSOne memory card?

Also, I've been trying to convince my dad to get a Playstation 3 to play Blu-Ray DVDs. So I was wondering, how well does a PS3 play Blu-Ray DVDs? Basically, is a PS3 on par with other Blu-Ray players? Does a PS3 plays normal DVDs, and if it does, how well does it play normal DVDs?

I would be very, very thankful to whoever could answer these questions for me.

[ShiroiHikari]

Well...as far as I know, the PS3 is a very nice Blu-ray player. (As a matter of fact, it might be better than a lot of standalone players right now.) It plays normal DVDs pretty well too.

However...good luck getting a hold of an 80GB PS3. They're no longer in production and the MGS4 80GB bundles are all but gone.

I haven't actually checked out the backwards compatibility on ours yet, so I can't really say anything about that.

[Mr. SmartyPants]

The 40gig has ZERO backwards compatibility.

The 60gig has FULL backwards compatibility, but they are no longer in production.

The 80gig has SOME backwards compatibility, but are extremely hard to find.

Refer to this chart:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ps3#Retail_configurations

Edit: Read Omega Amen's post instead.

[ShiroiHikari]

Oh okay, I thought the 80GB was the one they weren't producing anymore. My bad. I also didn't know that the 80GB wasn't fully backward-compatible.

[Omega Amen]

IAAYAN, I think you need to further clarify your comparison.

The 20GB, 40GB, 60GB, 80GB models all support PS1 backwards compatibility (it is done through the system software).

The 40GB has ZERO PS2 backwards compatibility.

The 20GB and 60GB has FULL PS2 backwards compatibility, but they are no longer in production.

The 80GB has SOME PS2 backwards compatibility, but are extremely hard to find.

That is a more accurate comparison and should answer the basic backwards compatibility questions of the PS3.

[Mr. SmartyPants]

So wait... ALL PS3s support PS1 Backwards Compatibility, but not all support PS2?

I didn't know that. XD Thanks for clarifying, Omega.

[Stephen]

PS3 has Metal Gear. If you are still undecided, I will give Fish permission to headshot you.

[mechana2015]

After hearing this I am further convinced to wait on the PS3 until the games I want are made for it... I'll be buying a new PS2 within the next week.

[Mister Frodo]

PS3 has Metal Gear. If you are still undecided, I will give Fish permission to headshot you.

I really want to get Medal Gear Solid 4, but I don't know if my parents would let me get it, and since I'm still living under their roof, I have to do what they say. (Or, I don't have to, but I want to.)

My biggest concern is that if I get a PS3, it won't be able to play the PSOne and PS2 games that I want. Playstation.com does let you search for what titles work on a PS3, and what issues they may have, which is pretty helpful.

Anyway, I thought that trying to find a refurbished 60GB PS3 might solve all of these problems. I don't know if Gamestop still sells them, though. Getting an 80GB PS3 would be nice, though apparently it has trouble playing the Ratchet and Clank games (one of the franchises I've been wanting to play.) But FFX seems to work all right, according to Playstation.com, and FFVIII and FFIX are apparently functional.

I guess for the moment I'll just save up my money and then decide once I have enough to buy a PS3.

[Mr. SmartyPants]

If you can, I think that getting a refurbished 60gig would be the best option.

Unfortunately, they are also still pretty hard to come by. Ebay, perhaps?

[ADXC]

I have a 60gig, I think that's what it is. But I see a flaw in the PS3, and it makes me sad. You can't play your PS2 DDR games with the DDR pad(I assume you can use the controller, but where's the fun in that?), why don't they make any DDR games for the PS3? I do hope that they can make a cordless dance pad.

[Nightshade X]

I have a 60gig, I think that's what it is. But I see a flaw in the PS3, and it makes me sad. You can't play your PS2 DDR games with the DDR pad(I assume you can use the controller, but where's the fun in that?), why don't they make any DDR games for the PS3? I do hope that they can make a cordless dance pad.

There exists a controller adapter that you can use. I got one to play stepmania on my pc. I haven't tested it on my ps3, but it should work about the same.

[mechana2015]

I just want my gran turismo with my Logitech wheel. Only 5 of the 13 games I own come up with a 'no major error' and none of them are games that I play on a regular basis... except GTA:SA

[ADXC]

@ Nightshade X- Really? Where could I buy one of these adapters? Because Ive searched for adapters like this, but I can't seem to find one. If you could tell me of a store or a website where I could buy one, I would be grateful.

[Mister Frodo]

Well, I've decided that for this summer, I'm going to buy a Playstation 2. My reasoning is that a PS2 is much cheaper than a PS3, not to mention that it probably shouldn't have any trouble running PSOne or PS2 games, one of my main reasons for getting a Sony console. Also, if I have a PS2, I won't have to worry about getting a PS3 that can play older Playstation games, if I decided to buy a PS3 in the future. Plus... I now own Final Fantasy VII, so I need something that I can play it on.

On a related topic, does anybody know any store (online or in the real world) that sells PSOne memory cards? I have none, and I believe that I need one for FFVII if I'm going to play it.

[Nate]

I have none, and I believe that I need one for FFVII if I'm going to play it.

Nah you can probably beat that game in one sitting easily.

Anyway, you're not going to find any in any stores in real life. Even Gamestop and stores like that have stopped selling PS1 stuff for the most part. Your best bet is going to be either Amazon or ebay.

[Bobtheduck]

@ Nightshade X- Really? Where could I buy one of these adapters? Because Ive searched for adapters like this, but I can't seem to find one. If you could tell me of a store or a website where I could buy one, I would be grateful.

Pelican adapter works, but the things break really easily... Probably not as fast as the pads themselves, but still... Gamestop doesn't seem to carry them anymore, however...

[KagayakiWashi]

Here's some questions:
Does it come with HD cables?
Does it come with standard AV cables?
Do some games not play if you're not hooked up to an HD TV?

[Mr. SmartyPants]

No it does not come with HD cables. It comes with your standard AV Composite cables instead (Red White Yellow).

And from what I've seen, you can play all games on a SDTV.

[Scarecrow]

Would you recomend the PS3 as a primary DVD/Blu-Ray player? I was thinking about getting a new DVD player and since there was also a couple PS3 games I wanted (k only one I wanted... Drakes Fortune FTW), I thought maybe I should just get a PS3 and play my dream game as well... (other than that game and a couple others, I don't really see me playing many games on it... never been a major gamer).

[KagayakiWashi]

Does anyone know if Super Street Fighter 2 HD will play w/o a HDTV?

[Bobtheduck]

Does anyone know if Super Street Fighter 2 HD will play w/o a HDTV?

Do some games not play if you're not hooked up to an HD TV?

All games from your own region will work on any TV from your region. They won't work on SDTV only if you get games from a different region... For instance, if I get PAL games, they won't work on my SDTV, but HDTVs are a worldwide standard, so running HD will work everywhere.

[Rocketshipper]

Yay, I found the thread again. And I have a question of my own.

I'm going to be purchasing a PS3 in the very near future. I'm not really concerned about the backwards compatability issues because I still have my PS1 and PS2, but I do need to know one thing...am I going to need a memory card to save games, like with the previous two systems? I'd hate to buy the thing and get it home and then find out I need to get a memory card before I save, so I thought I'd ask here.

[Kkun]

If you want to play your PS1 and 2 games on your PS3 with your current save files, you'll need something to move the data onto your PS3. Otherwise, no, all of the saving for PS3 games is done on the hard drive.

[Rocketshipper]

yay! thanks for the info.

One more question. Do the old PS2 controllers work with the PS3 for playing PS3 games? The PS3 set comes with a wireless controller, but I'd prefer to be able to use one with a cord, because I don't have to keep putting batteries in it (which is the one annoyance I have with the Wii. ^^;;). From what I've seen, it seems that all the controllers for purcahse seperately are also wireless :/

EDIT: one of the products I saw on amazon is a PS3 recharging hub. So...do the wireless controllers run on batteries, or do you just charge them up, like a DS or a PSP?

[Omega Amen]

One more question. Do the old PS2 controllers work with the PS3 for playing PS3 games? The PS3 set comes with a wireless controller, but I'd prefer to be able to use one with a cord, because I don't have to keep putting batteries in it (which is the one annoyance I have with the Wii. ^^]No, PS2 controllers do not work on the PS3 since their connectors are different.

That being said, you should not be concerned about that. All PS3 controllers have wireless capability, and all of them can also be plugged into the PS3 with a USB cable (a controller with a cable comes with a PS3), allowing you to play wired and recharging the controller's batteries as you play.

So your concern does not apply to the PS3.

EDIT: one of the products I saw on amazon is a PS3 recharging hub. So...do the wireless controllers run on batteries, or do you just charge them up, like a DS or a PSP?

It runs on rechargeable batteries. You cannot replace the batteries, but you can recharge them if you plug the controller with a USB cable into the PS3.

So, to recap, all PS3 controllers can be played wirelessly. All PS3 controllers can be played wired as well. All PS3 controllers can be recharged while playing with them wired to the PS3. No need to replace the rechargeable batteries, since they are rechargeable and you cannot access them.

[Bobtheduck]

If your battery dies completely (won't hold a charge any more), I believe you can send it into Sony to have them change it for cheaper than getting a new controller.

Also, PS2 / PS1 controllers will work if you have an adapter... There are PC adapters, which will work on the PS3 if it registers on the computer as logitech (PS3 can read most, if not all, logitech controllers) and there are adapters made specifically for converting PS2 controllers into Sixaxis output (minus the tilt, of course, and minus the vibration, unfortunately, at least for the one I have) The advantage you have with one of those specialty converters (such as from pelican) is that you can use Guitar Hero 2 controllers on GHIII and Rockband and also use DDR mats, which you can't with a straight PS2 --> PC converter.

As for people not concerned about BC... Just be glad you don't know what you're missing, I suppose... If my PS3 bites it and I have to get a non-bc model in replacement, I'm going to freak... I can't handle using wired controllers, and I like being able to have infinite memory cards and being able to take any of those files straight to a Flash drive or memory stick and download straight from / upload to the internet.