Sony’s Ephraim downplays backwards compatibility lag

Sony Computer Entertainment Australia managing director Michael Ephraim says that cost-cutting is the primary reason why the Sony PlayStation 3 version set for release in Europe and Australia on March 23 will not be as backwards-compatible as its Japanese and American counterparts.

Ephraim said that there will still be a “broad range of PS1 games which will work on the PS3 and a “limited” set of PS2 games  which will work on the new platform. Software emulation, he says, is the better way to go about things.

It was reported last week that the PS3 Euro will carry different specs from the Japanese and American versions. The specifications are similar to those of the PS3’s premium package in America but lacks the Emotion Engine chip which essentially is the key to PS2 backwards compatibility.

“Clearly cost is one of the [reasons]. If software is cheaper than the cost of the chip, then why not do that?,” says Ephraim and he promises that “the software emulation list will grow, and thereÂ’s a web site people can check to see what games are backwards-compatible. It will be a progressive emulation.”

Ephraim also emphasized that backwards compatibility isn’t the focus of the new generation of PlayStation hardware. He downplayed the value of the aforementioned function and highlighted the machine’s technical prowess as the real selling point of the system.

“People will be able to play quite a few [PS1 and PS2] games. PS1 games are not a problem. I think PS2 backwards-compatibility is important, but when you look at what PS3’s doing with new games, digital content and so on, that specific functionality may not be as important as previously felt. But then again, that is something the consumer has to decide on. We are intending to deliver backwards-compatibility–just through different means,” said the managing director.

No mention was made as to whether or not the move will affect PS3 retail prices.

Via Gamespot

Sony Computer Entertainment Australia managing director Michael Ephraim says that cost-cutting is the primary reason why the Sony PlayStation 3 version set for release in Europe and Australia on March 23 will not be as backwards-compatible as its Japanese and American counterparts.

Ephraim said that there will still be a “broad range of PS1 games which will work on the PS3 and a “limited” set of PS2 games  which will work on the new platform. Software emulation, he says, is the better way to go about things.

It was reported last week that the PS3 Euro will carry different specs from the Japanese and American versions. The specifications are similar to those of the PS3’s premium package in America but lacks the Emotion Engine chip which essentially is the key to PS2 backwards compatibility.

“Clearly cost is one of the [reasons]. If software is cheaper than the cost of the chip, then why not do that?,” says Ephraim and he promises that “the software emulation list will grow, and thereÂ’s a web site people can check to see what games are backwards-compatible. It will be a progressive emulation.”

Ephraim also emphasized that backwards compatibility isn’t the focus of the new generation of PlayStation hardware. He downplayed the value of the aforementioned function and highlighted the machine’s technical prowess as the real selling point of the system.

“People will be able to play quite a few [PS1 and PS2] games. PS1 games are not a problem. I think PS2 backwards-compatibility is important, but when you look at what PS3’s doing with new games, digital content and so on, that specific functionality may not be as important as previously felt. But then again, that is something the consumer has to decide on. We are intending to deliver backwards-compatibility–just through different means,” said the managing director.

No mention was made as to whether or not the move will affect PS3 retail prices.

Via Gamespot