They are not standard DVD format discs despite the physical media. The PS4 will see it as an unknown disc because of the data headers. I can accept it would be too much of a palaver to overcome, MS are the same with Xbox 360 discs.

Scottie said ...

They are not standard DVD format discs despite the physical media. The PS4 will see it as an unknown disc because of the data headers. I can accept it would be too much of a palaver to overcome, MS are the same with Xbox 360 discs.

Ah did not know that.

although the X1 will still read an Xbox 360 disc and allow you to download the digital version. Hmmm. Must try this out ...

So is it a software thing?
For example. It does not matter what disc its on, PS1, PS2 or PS3. If Sony release a firmware update that allows the PS4 to read the data on those discs, then you're good to go?

KnightFall500 said ...

So is it a software thing?
For example. It does not matter what disc its on, PS1, PS2 or PS3. If Sony release a firmware update that allows the PS4 to read the data on those discs, then you're good to go?

Hardware and Software. The PS4 won't be able to Emulate Ps3 because of the PS3 complicated CELL architecture being very difficult to emulate (Also sony spent too much money on gaikai streaming tech a.k.a PS Now to actually attemt Ps3 emulation anyway).

PS2 and PS1 on the other hand not so difficult to emulate since Sony already built a pretty good emulation program for those titles for the PS3 and is basically using a tweaked up version of that software for the PS4 to run Ps2 games at 1080p etc.

Basically what would be ideal is to actually include the emulator programme in an update (As opposed to have it daisy chained to the "classics" games themselves like they do now) which would allow you to run pretty much any PS2 game you want on your console with varying success cause some games have different hardware requirements that others due to how the where developed for the specific console. Long story short.

Emulation is complicated, but if your a billion dollar company, then that's no excuse to not try and make it work for the consumer.

*I basically know all this mainly due to having been part of the "Emulation scene" for a couple of years and the hours spent on PS 1, 2, GC, Wii, and Dreamcast emulators. I'm also part of the SEGA Saturn testing group (The hardest console to emulate for)

KnightFall500 said ...

So is it a software thing?
For example. It does not matter what disc its on, PS1, PS2 or PS3. If Sony release a firmware update that allows the PS4 to read the data on those discs, then you're good to go?

AFAIK PS4 optical drive does not support CDs (PS1 and some PS2 games).

@BlazenTech Interesting, thanks

@Scottie I forgot about the CD thing.

So X1 being able to run Xbox360 game discs, is because the X1 hardware is more accepting towards it?

Scottie said ...

AFAIK PS4 optical drive does not support CDs (PS1 and some PS2 games).

PS4 can't even play music CDs

KnightFall500 said ...

@BlazenTech Interesting, thanks

@Scottie I forgot about the CD thing.

So X1 being able to run Xbox360 game discs, is because the X1 hardware is more accepting towards it?

I guess the drive is a least capable of reading a portion of the disk data to identify it (as I believe with BC-by-disk, you need to keep it in the drive to play the downloaded version).

Otherwise Blazentech has it right - in the simplest terms, the Xbox 360 had 3 X 3.2GHz cores for the CPU (capable of handling 2 threads each) and a unified 512MB of memory shared by the CPU and GPU. I guess for BC, the Xbox One needs to split processing to 6 (or now 7?) 1.75 GHz cores and has plenty of unified system memory.

The PS3 with the CELL architecture has one primary 3.2 GHz core and 6 "SPEs" for simultaneous processing (with 1 extra for the OS). It also has a split pool of RAM with 256MB system memory and 256MB video memory. As it was designed to effectively offload and run multiple processes at once, it's really hard to emulate that on the PS4 which has a much more standard PC setup.

Lurch said ...

KnightFall500 said ...

@BlazenTech Interesting, thanks

@Scottie I forgot about the CD thing.

So X1 being able to run Xbox360 game discs, is because the X1 hardware is more accepting towards it?

I guess the drive is a least capable of reading a portion of the disk data to identify it (as I believe with BC-by-disk, you need to keep it in the drive to play the downloaded version).

Yeah, thats right.

BlazenTech said ...

Looks like the PS2 emulation is only for games you buy on Ps4. So the classics you bought on Ps3 or your PS2 discs will be incompatible. SONY "Where the payers are"

http://www.destructoid.com/looks-like-the-ps2-emulator-on-ps4-won-t-work-with-discs-or-classics-324170.phtml

Nothing says you need to rebuy anything. That is just wild speculation based on nothing.

Sony need to get on top of this, internet is going bat[censored] crazy over this rumour. The bottomline is that only newly optimised PS4 version of the PS2 game will work. the $ million is do you need to buy it again or will it be like cross buy. Answer needs to be soon.

Sinncross said ...

BlazenTech said ...

Looks like the PS2 emulation is only for games you buy on Ps4. So the classics you bought on Ps3 or your PS2 discs will be incompatible. SONY "Where the payers are"

http://www.destructoid.com/looks-like-the-ps2-emulator-on-ps4-won-t-work-with-discs-or-classics-324170.phtml

Nothing says you need to rebuy anything. That is just wild speculation based on nothing.

Nothing says you DON"T have to rebuy anything either. To be honest SONY and 3rd parties don't really care about re-releasing their classic games on digital storefronts (In the west) anyway. This can be seen by the pretty dismal offering of classics on the European and US storefronts (Compared to Japan and Hong Kong PSN).

So we'll probably get like maybe 20ish games on the PS4 that where old ps2 titles in Europe/USA (More like 9 for Europe). Then SONY would scrap it/shove it under the rug like they did with classics on PS3/Vita PSN and then try their best to convince people that PS Now is a viable alternative (Which it not exactly is at the moment with input delays being prevalent not to mention you actually have to pay to play games you may all-ready own, and you need 5mps internet to get a semi-stable connection)

It does not really matter to them anyway. Whatever they do business wise at the moment is more a courtesy to their install base than anything else.

(Sorry for the walls of text. I kinda take the preservation of older games and game emulation a bit too seriously some times )

BlazenTech said ...


Nothing says you DON"T have to rebuy anything either. To be honest SONY and 3rd parties don't really care about re-releasing their classic games on digital storefronts (In the west) anyway. This can be seen by the pretty dismal offering of classics on the European and US storefronts (Compared to Japan and Hong Kong PSN).

So we'll probably get like maybe 20ish games on the PS4 that where old ps2 titles in Europe/USA (More like 9 for Europe). Then SONY would scrap it/shove it under the rug like they did with classics on PS3/Vita PSN and then try their best to convince people that PS Now is a viable alternative (Which it not exactly is at the moment with input delays being prevalent not to mention you actually have to pay to play games you may all-ready own, and you need 5mps internet to get a semi-stable connection)

It does not really matter to them anyway. Whatever they do business wise at the moment is more a courtesy to their install base than anything else.

(Sorry for the walls of text. I kinda take the preservation of older games and game emulation a bit too seriously some times )

No of course not. But its a laughable leap of logic considering Sony already supports cross-buy for PS1 classics across 3 different devices.

There are number of reasons many classics arent up on the store: incompatibility with the emulator, legal issues, etc.

PS Now is not designed as an alternative. Its designed as a streaming service for those consumers who are not interested in buying dedicated gaming platforms. And many ppl have actually reported pretty spot on results when using the service.

The wall of text is fine. I appreciate your passion for these things. But I dont see the point in jumping the gun on an issue that isn't anything until it is officially announced.
This info is being based off a disclaimer, that could mean any number of things. It could just very well be a clause in place to prevent any possibility that ppl said Sony were lying about their BC plans.

we just don't know.

Sinncross said ...

BlazenTech said ...


Nothing says you DON"T have to rebuy anything either. To be honest SONY and 3rd parties don't really care about re-releasing their classic games on digital storefronts (In the west) anyway. This can be seen by the pretty dismal offering of classics on the European and US storefronts (Compared to Japan and Hong Kong PSN).

So we'll probably get like maybe 20ish games on the PS4 that where old ps2 titles in Europe/USA (More like 9 for Europe). Then SONY would scrap it/shove it under the rug like they did with classics on PS3/Vita PSN and then try their best to convince people that PS Now is a viable alternative (Which it not exactly is at the moment with input delays being prevalent not to mention you actually have to pay to play games you may all-ready own, and you need 5mps internet to get a semi-stable connection)

It does not really matter to them anyway. Whatever they do business wise at the moment is more a courtesy to their install base than anything else.

(Sorry for the walls of text. I kinda take the preservation of older games and game emulation a bit too seriously some times )

No of course not. But its a laughable leap of logic considering Sony already supports cross-buy for PS1 classics across 3 different devices.

There are number of reasons many classics arent up on the store: incompatibility with the emulator, legal issues, etc.

PS Now is not designed as an alternative. Its designed as a streaming service for those consumers who are not interested in buying dedicated gaming platforms. And many ppl have actually reported pretty spot on results when using the service.

The wall of text is fine. I appreciate your passion for these things. But I dont see the point in jumping the gun on an issue that isn't anything until it is officially announced.
This info is being based off a disclaimer, that could mean any number of things. It could just very well be a clause in place to prevent any possibility that ppl said Sony were lying about their BC plans.

we just don't know.

Your kinda jumping the gun here. Granted, you always do when SONY is involved, Seriously, do you work for the company. You like a PR guy for them or something? Cause if you are, you have to be transparent about it.

BlazenTech said ...


Your kinda jumping the gun here. Granted, you always do when SONY is involved, Seriously, do you work for the company. You like a PR guy for them or something? Cause if you are, you have to be transparent about it.

jumping the gun is using limited and unverified info to assume that a company who does cross-buy across 3 platforms for existing PS1 classics (and other PSN titles) is for some reason not going to do that with the PS4.

If you have to rebuy PS2 classics then that sucks for anyone who owns any currently and of course is not a good way to go about it. in 24 hours we will know whats up with Sony's BC plans. And then everyone can actually make informed opinions.

Sinncross said ...

BlazenTech said ...


Your kinda jumping the gun here. Granted, you always do when SONY is involved, Seriously, do you work for the company. You like a PR guy for them or something? Cause if you are, you have to be transparent about it.

jumping the gun is using limited and unverified info to assume that a company who does cross-buy across 3 platforms for existing PS1 classics (and other PSN titles) is for some reason not going to do that with the PS4.

If you have to rebuy PS2 classics then that sucks for anyone who owns any currently and of course is not a good way to go about it. in 24 hours we will know whats up with Sony's BC plans. And then everyone can actually make informed opinions.

Fair enough...still did not answer my question though

BlazenTech said ...



Fair enough...still did not answer my question though

btw you and me... I am not paid well enough

Sinncross said ...

BlazenTech said ...



Fair enough...still did not answer my question though

btw you and me... I am not paid well enough

*Shrugs* Fair enough

Primal, Ape Escape 3, Okage: Shadow King, Siren, and Wild Arms 3 set to be next PS2 games on PS4