Some more PS3 hardware info -- fireworks optional

by Nick Doerr { Oct 13th 2006 at 11:30AM }

Check out this picture of the PS3 running Fantavision, the, uh... fireworks simulator? In any case, what better homage to pay to a new console than using 1) an old PS2 launch title and 2) the PS3 setting off fireworks for itself as a welcoming present? At least we see that the backwards compatibility is working. Sorta. Other than the pictures that you can try to look at here (they didn't work on this Mozilla nonsense), not much is known about the backwards compatibility issue. Let's think about what we want to know about backwards compatibility.

First... the PS2 upped the textures of old PSX games (if anyone did the magical before/after trick with Vagrant Story, you know what we mean). Will the PS3 up the graphical prowess of PS2 games? That'd be killer. What about load times? That's another issue -- we'd like it if our PS2 and PSX games would load a lot faster, what with the insane new technology and whatnot. There are a couple of other interesting points cited, but we wanted to focus on backwards compatibility and such. Check it out.

Tags: Playstation 3, Playstation3, PS3, Sony

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Foppe @ Oct 13th 2006 11:39AM

Hot PS3 porn ,,/

Foppe @ Oct 13th 2006 11:46AM

"This was probably the last thing on anyone's mind, but the IT Media article also reveals that if you are using a standard AV Multicable to connect the PS3 to your TV, and you want to switch to HDMI, you'll have to power off the system so that it can detect that the HDMI cable is in place."

We live in 2006, how hard is it to make it possible to detect if anybody have inserted a HDMI cable without the need to reset the system?

Andir2.0 @ Oct 13th 2006 12:06PM

The PS2 has a 4x DVD drive, the PS3 BluRay will play DVDs at 8x. So load time "should" be halved.

"We live in 2006, how hard is it to make it possible to detect if anybody have inserted a HDMI cable without the need to reset the system?"

Yeah, because I constantly switch cables around while playing my games. Keep digging for something to whine about.

TheNatural @ Oct 13th 2006 1:43PM

"We live in 2006, how hard is it to make it possible to detect if anybody have inserted a HDMI cable without the need to reset the system?"

Yeah, because I constantly switch cables around while playing my games. Keep digging for something to whine about.

lol owned.

Brian @ Oct 13th 2006 3:08PM

the ign article mentions that the ps3 is slightly transparent? First i've ever heard of that. anyone else?

Foppe @ Oct 13th 2006 4:45PM

"The PS2 has a 4x DVD drive, the PS3 BluRay will play DVDs at 8x. So load time "should" be halved."

They "should" but nothing says they will. Some PS1 games can´t be played on PS2 if you have the faster loadingtime enabled, since some games do heavy calculations based on the loadingtime for a 2x CD-drive.
So unless there is an option to run PS2-games faster on your PS3, they will load at 4x DVD no matter what.

""We live in 2006, how hard is it to make it possible to detect if anybody have inserted a HDMI cable without the need to reset the system?"
Yeah, because I constantly switch cables around while playing my games. Keep digging for something to whine about."

My 10 years old computer have a USB port that I can insert USB devices in when my computer is on, with no need to restart to get them to work. My graphic card (which is newer) have two ports that lets me connect monitors/TV´s that works with no restart.
The PS3, which is "beyond anything ever created in the world of gaming.", can´t do what my old computer can do.
An old ocmputer that is not even worth the half price of a PS3.
If I was out for whining, I would whine that the only BC-game for PS3 is Fantavision :P

Caramella Bongo ... how are you today? @ Oct 13th 2006 7:31PM

Foppe; give it up, hook up your PS3 and forget about it.

For most people, it will be a matter of plugging in one cable (HDMI) for digital 1080p and HD audio...now, THAT is what i call next gen. ...lets see your 10 year old computer do that.

Andir2.0 @ Oct 13th 2006 7:39PM

"the ign article mentions that the ps3 is slightly transparent? First i've ever heard of that. anyone else?"

I think that might be a mis-statement. It looks like the hard drive cover might be semi-transparent (to see any LEDs on the drive maybe? I know I've had a few drives with LEDs surface mounted right at that end of the drive...)

As far as the whole case being semi-transparent, I doubt it. And it doesn't look it from the other pics.

AL7AIR @ Oct 13th 2006 7:55PM

@ Foppe
Even the Xbox360 resets itself if you switch from component to composite on the _same_ cable.

And for the record I set up my home theater once to work with the 360 and I will set it up once again if I have my PS3. That's it no more cable pulling after everthing is wired in to the dsp and the projector. How often will you do it? Twice a week? And comparing an USB device like a memory stick or digital camera which are most likely not constantly connected to your PC to a video output which you need to use the PC/console fails in my book. And even than a console is back up and running in no time compared to a PC. I think I'll have the time.

Daniel @ Oct 13th 2006 9:06PM

Guys: The reason you have to restart when you plug in a HDMI cord is because of HDCP flags.

With HDMI connection, there is a 'handshake' that occurs b/w your TV and your PS3. If you try to hook up your PS3 w/out doing that handshake, you'll get a blank screen.