Rumor: PS2 games coming to the PSN?
Here we go again. Just as one screenshot rumor is confirmed, dated and busted wide open, another comes to take its place. We were happy basking in the glow of firmware 2.40 when we stumbled upon this image on the N4G forum (which is where you can also check out a larger version). It shows PS2 games being made available on the PlayStation Store. Among the games listed we can see Metal Gear Solid 2, Red Faction and The Bouncer (which just so happened to be this particular blogger's first PS2 game). Three titles we'd gladly buy again as a digital copy.
Of course, just like last time, this is nothing more than a rumor right now. The N4G forumer says that his friend, who works at Sony London, sent this photo to him and that the service is due to be announced at E3, with a late Summer roll-out. Supposedly it will be coming to Europe first, which makes us think it might be more likely to be announced at Leipzig. If it's real, that is. Photoshop gurus can commence picking it apart ... now!
Of course, just like last time, this is nothing more than a rumor right now. The N4G forumer says that his friend, who works at Sony London, sent this photo to him and that the service is due to be announced at E3, with a late Summer roll-out. Supposedly it will be coming to Europe first, which makes us think it might be more likely to be announced at Leipzig. If it's real, that is. Photoshop gurus can commence picking it apart ... now!










Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
dabamf @ Jun 30th 2008 1:36PM
Glad that I own a 60 Gig machine...Jem, do you think the 40 Gig owners are SOL on this one?
Dehshizknight @ Jun 30th 2008 2:20PM
40 GB backwards compatibility confirmed!!!
Lol, J/K of course. It will come when it comes but, like the PSOne downloads, they are in the PSP and PS3 format, meaning the actual game itself is the emulator.
Since PS2 games are on disk, the 40 GB cannot emulate those games because a disk-based media emulator is not provided.
Laurens Holst @ Jun 30th 2008 4:36PM
@Dehshizknight:
The PS1 downloads do not contain an emulator, the PSP has a PS1 emulator built-in since firmware 3.00, and the PS1 backwards compatibility was never removed from the PS3.
PS1 games are on disk just like PS2 ones, so I don’t see what that has to do with anything. Emulators don’t really care much for the medium the game is stored on, so what you mean by a ‘disk-based media’ emulator I don’t know.
I’d say this photo, if real, points at the possible return of PS2 support for the 40GB PS3s. Because it seems unlikely that they will only provide these games for PS3 units that have backwards compatibility. Especially as the news is supposed to be released at a European event, and it’s only possible to get 40GB PS3s here right now.
beoba @ Jun 30th 2008 8:55PM
The PS2 games could also be recompiled to run on the PS3.
Stoo @ Jun 30th 2008 1:39PM
So what happens...people with non BC PS3 don't see the content on the store, or get told "sorry you bought the wrong PS3 you can't play this game, buy something else" or is there a firmware update that allows PS2 games to run on all PS3's through software emulation, or perhaps PS2 releases on the store are somehow modified to run on all PS3's?
Sounds like a minefield to me, sounds very Sony.
linebeginstoblur @ Jun 30th 2008 2:02PM
I remember someone at Sony saying that, although they didn't want to reveal too much of what they're working on, they are trying to figure out ways to emulate PS2 games on 40 GB PS3s, so I think it would be possible.
paul @ Jun 30th 2008 2:16PM
yeah the games are probably emulated like ps1 games are for psp
Paul (PSN: heypaul) @ Jun 30th 2008 3:09PM
Sounds very fake, you mean.
Arnon @ Jun 30th 2008 3:22PM
He meant "sounds very Sony." XD.. Sony has done that kind of thing before.
Roll4Lyfe NYC @ Jun 30th 2008 1:40PM
Yeeah..... OK.
I'll believe it when i see it on my own screen...
damn you, tryin to get our hopes up.... how dare you!!
haha
Kevin @ Jun 30th 2008 1:40PM
Well I doubt this is real.
For one thing the image is blurry and that is exactly how I got my Konami Beta Code.
And then the poster said that Sony sent it to him.
Would Sony really release this info to some guy on MSN, or even take a picture with some sort of webcam?
ymmv @ Jun 30th 2008 2:25PM
He didn't say Sony sent it to him. The actual text says:
I was speaking to a friend last night on MSN who works at Sony London. I was
actually asking him about the new XMB update, and if he knows when it'll be out.
He told me it was scheduled to launch E3, but more interesting was his info on a
new Playstation 2 Store that'll also be announced at E3 too! Basically Sonys
answer to Xbox Originals. He even sent me a pic, ive uploaded it here:
jgpliskin @ Jun 30th 2008 1:41PM
This is good, we could look forward to a new title every quarter.
Kevin @ Jun 30th 2008 1:41PM
Sorry for double posting but one more thing is that the people with no BC don't have all that much disk space to download 9 GB games.
(I never played the games shown so I don't know how large they are.)
Dallas Edwards Dowdy @ Jun 30th 2008 1:46PM
Well, considering PS2 games are on DVD format, the most they could be is 5.5 Gigs, right? Unless these downloaded versions or "superior" to the normal disc versions (with extra content, better graphics, no load times, etc.).
I can only hope.
BrokenMonkey @ Jun 30th 2008 1:49PM
I don't know if any PS2 games were on DL DVDs but they hold 8.5 GB
TinyTim121 @ Jun 30th 2008 2:00PM
Maybe if Sony allowed you to save the game onto an external drive.
But i doubt it, seeing as you could make a million copies for other people.
paul @ Jun 30th 2008 2:26PM
sony might compress the games to around 2 or 3GB at most and i THINK ps2 games were on single layer DVDs and most of them didnt fill the disc i heard somwhere that early games didnt use HALF of the space available thats why these are games from early in the ps2s life it must be real and is DEFINATELY doable
dabamf @ Jun 30th 2008 2:25PM
Of course someone made a Wiki...if this story is true I am definitely upgrading my PS3 HDD...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_PlayStation_2_DVD-9_games
Kevin @ Jun 30th 2008 4:18PM
Uh I do believe that some games did become DL.
Just uh search for God of War 2 on the bay for pirates or the tiny nova.
And I just checked on what the post said.
Apparently Firefox 3.0 is showing me just Sony sent him a pic.
But I just checked through the source and that is wrong so sorry.
groovemachine @ Jun 30th 2008 1:49PM
those other ones look like stuntman + ssx and also PLEASE GOD
tretle @ Jun 30th 2008 1:44PM
from now on I will only trust rumors that originated from ps3fanboy so I'm ignoring this one from the time being.
gumby @ Jun 30th 2008 1:48PM
Sweet if they stay with their proven track record of psone releases we should see 2 or 3 ps2 games released before the ps4 comes out.
Seba501 @ Aug 2nd 2008 10:38PM
i think the image is not fake, i like the idea, but i prefer to but Ps2 games whit his box and manual
Eric E @ Jun 30th 2008 2:04PM
remote play from PSP too?
Trophies for DL Classic games?
yes please!
Jason @ Jun 30th 2008 3:22PM
PSP remote play is unlikely considering the PSP does not have duel analog nubs or L2 and R2 buttons.
Eric E @ Jun 30th 2008 3:26PM
"It could happen!" you just need to watch angels in the outfield more.
Plus they have ways (like hold Select with L or R to L2 and R2)
Make them different for each game or emulate them.
What i always wanted was the ability to plug my 6axis or DS3 into my psp........
AWESOME!
Neon Jebus @ Jun 30th 2008 1:56PM
Looks like Smugglers Run as well (far right, top row).
I would hope that should this be true it would be more directed toward the 40GB unit crews without BC.
rmjohnson124 @ Jun 30th 2008 1:57PM
I was using HDAdvance to burn all manor of PS2 games to a HDD. I never saw any single disk PS2 game over 4 GB.
NeoRaiden @ Jun 30th 2008 2:03PM
Yes most PS2 games are @ 4.35gb or under. There are only three games that I know of that are on dual-layer discs(8.5gb). God of War, God of War II, and Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance.
rockmanjoey) @ Jun 30th 2008 2:01PM
I would welcome it if true but the beauty of this could be that Sony release download versions of PS2 games which wern't released in Europe!
That would get people buying games on the PSN
Zee @ Jun 30th 2008 2:04PM
Sorry, possible double post...
Hmm, it is most likely fake. Opera says that it was created in Photoshop CS3 for Macintosh... but that could just be for the black box in the corner. Could be true though.
evilfoxhound @ Jun 30th 2008 2:04PM
If this is fake then it's one of the best looking fakes of all time. I think that it looks very genuine and can see this being announced at E3.
As for 40GB owners. Stop complaining and buy a new HDD you cheap sods.
shooter_mcgavin @ Jun 30th 2008 3:30PM
really you can get yourself a 120gb Seagate (same type and specs as the ones that come in your ps3 systemes) for only $79.99
whooo should i buy Battlefeild: Bad Company Gold edition or a HDD thats 3x the size of the one i got?
I think the chose is obvious, ill take the HDD (and battlefeild, lol cause i got em both, ;-)
AdamL @ Jun 30th 2008 4:55PM
The Bouncer, nice. My first PS2 game was X-Squad, somehow I don't see them bringing it out again.
Ishimaru @ Jun 30th 2008 2:11PM
Why is it that screenshots of yet to be released "items" are *always* blurry??? le sigh.
Mike @ Jun 30th 2008 2:12PM
Seeing as this is digital distribution, my betting, is that these games are recompiled from the original PS2 games, to work on PS3, and we will see select games being ported.
Either way, I don't care, as I bought a PS3 on launch day, and whilst I was bust playing cracking games, those that lost out were too busy being swept up in the Microsoft FUD machine...
tan @ Jun 30th 2008 2:24PM
i've personally thought since announccing the 40gb without back compat meant that they would definatly bring ps2 games for download...
it makes sense now and it did at the time too..
i mean all sony had to do was introduce a very nice looking ps3 at a great price.. just without back compat, this in turn could then force people to spend money on re-buying some ps2 games through the psn.
makes perfect sense to me.
kinda sucks thoug
True_Darknight @ Jun 30th 2008 2:25PM
*Looks at his PS2 (connected thru S-video to the LCD)... soooooo???
Why would I buy these games again?? I got them! And I Can play them on my PS2!!!.. with a wireless rumble controller!!!
GO go gadget Logitech.... And oh yeah no compat problems watsoever... and yes I do have a launch PS2!!!! I was there man... on line!!
Heck i just gave a bunch of games away to my nephew.. I find myself just playing PS3 games
Dan @ Jun 30th 2008 2:26PM
God.......I neve believed in you before.....but if this rumor turns out true....I will go to church every sunday once again...
Mo @ Jun 30th 2008 4:09PM
no u wont
HAHAHA
Mo @ Jun 30th 2008 4:11PM
No, No you wont. You'll be busy playing ps2 games
haahahaha
dantad @ Jun 30th 2008 2:29PM
This sounds like a great idea, I missed so many PS2 games and would gladly pay for the digital versions. I want MGS3 snake eater as its not listed on the compatibility list for EU 60gb ps3s, only substance is listed =(
Popfrogs @ Jun 30th 2008 5:33PM
Dunno if it's any different than the US 60GB but I beat MGS3 on mine..
dantad @ Jun 30th 2008 6:26PM
EU 60GB is like the US 80gb, it is not completely backwards compatible, but it does a pretty good job at it, just not as good as the Japanese and US 60gb models.
mixel @ Jun 30th 2008 4:50PM
100% definitely going to happen, and it'll be for all PS3s regardless of their "backward compatibility". Which was a nonsense thing for them to remove - specifically so they could do this later.
This was the reason they removed disc based BC. It was totally unprofitable as they had to make mods to the emulation for half the games in the backcatalogue there without making ANY money for it.
As soon as they;
a) dropped BC
b) categorized the "games" menu to PS1/PSP/PS3
I knew this would happen. This way they can make each game work individually - perfectly and recoup the costs of some of the more awkward titles (Soul Calibur 3 runs in slowmo, hehe, as do a lot of heavy duty titles.)
I'm up for the God Of War games once they're out. My PS2 game collection already takes up so much space, this would probably help.
Also this way when a successor to the PSP comes out maybe we'll be able to run PS2 games on a PSP2 (lol that'd be a mighty fancy machine)
i3obtl @ Jun 30th 2008 2:40PM
Well, let's think about this one shall we? If you have played MGS4, then you know that PS2 games are coming. They demo the feature in the game. Otacon cycles through the entire MG library on the XMB.
Ishimaru @ Jun 30th 2008 3:03PM
Why is it that screenshots of yet to be released "items" are *always* blurry??? le sigh.
RESISTANCE @ Jun 30th 2008 3:05PM
Oh now you are getting ps2 games too, xbox 360 owners have had the ability to download xbox 1 games for a while now. I wonder when sony will copy achievements, oh ya they just announced that. But don't worry they haven't copied anything from nintendo, oh crap forgot about those shitty motion controls lol. But don't worry you guys have teh blu-rayz.
Phantom @ Jun 30th 2008 4:14PM
What are you smoking ? The PS3 had ps1 games for a LONG time(just not alot). So when MS announces downloadable Xbox 2 games , they will be copying Sony's PS2 games . LOL . As for the Nintendo thing , Sony has had motion sensing in development since the PS1 or PS2 ( don;t remember which) ,
TBH MS is copying the PS2 ( YES 2 ) because they use DVD's , like the PS2 did . yep . And the 360 avatar thing is copying home , so are the Mii's , and so is second life . Home has been in development since 2003.
I just hope Sony doesn't *supposedly* copy MS again and make consoles that break after 5 hours straight of gameplay . (360 games should ve designed to last just as long as the 360 does)