DailyTech - New PlayStation 3 System Update Improves Backwards Compatibility

Submit News

Software New PlayStation 3 System Update Improves Backwards Compatibility
Marcus Yam (Blog) - January 25, 2007 1:13 AM

32 comment(s) - last by plonk420.. on Jan 26 at 4:02 PM

PS3 v1.5 allows you to play old games on your new system better than ever

Those who have been experiencing less than optimal backwards compatibility with their PlayStation 3 consoles will be pleased to learn that Sony is addressing that very issue in the newest system update. After just two short months, PS3 firmware hits the half version mark with 1.5.

The most notable change, as detailed by PS3 Fanboy, is the improvement in the appearance and display of all PSone and PS2 games while being played on the PS3. Prior to this update, previous generation games played on the new console would look worse than when being played on the original platform. The suggested fix to the situation was simply to switch to composite cables and play the old games in their old interlaced formats. With the version 1.5 update, gamers can now finally enjoy old software without have to downgrade to old TV technology.

Other changes included in the new version are:

Users

You can now select an image to use as the User icon from [Photo].

Settings

[Key Tone] has been added as an option under [Sound Settings].
[Delete Backup Data] has been added as an option under [System Settings] > [Backup Utility].
WEP 128, WPA-PSK (TKIP) and WPA-PSK (AES) have been added as security methods that can be used with [AOSS™] under [Automatic].*
* If you have already set up for AOSS using an earlier version of the system software, you must perform AOSS setup again to use the security methods listed above.
* When [Automatic] is selected, the security method to be used is automatically set.

Friends

The method for saving your password / signing in automatically under PLAYSTATION® Network has been changed. There are now two separate options.

Other

You can now enter text in Korean using the on-screen keyboard.

The update can be found by using the System Update feature, using update data that is included on a game disc, or downloaded first on a PC.

Comments

Threshold

Username
Password
remember me

This article is over a month old, voting and posting comments is disabled

Good update

By Sparke on 1/25/2007 9:16:27 AM , Rating: 2

Now if they can just get 720p games to upscale to 1080i I would be a happy man. For now I will have to continue to play 720p games in 480p because my tv only displays 1080i.

RE: Good update

By PAPutzback on 1/25/2007 9:30:23 AM , Rating: 1

Should'nt your TV upscale it. Shirley if you have Cable or Satellite you get various HD formats and they upscale.

Parent

RE: Good update

By therealnickdanger on 1/25/2007 9:43:39 AM , Rating: 2

There were many early CRT HDTVs that are unable to process 720p at all. They can only accept 480i/p and 1080i. If you have cable or satellite, the receiver box usually handles the scaling. Most over-the-air HD is also in 1080i. I'm curious why Sony can't/won't add this fix to an update. The Xbox360 renders every game in the res its programmed for (720p) and then can scale it to virtually any resolution through any manner of cable. +1 to MS in this arena.

Parent

RE: Good update

By Solema on 1/25/2007 11:43:45 PM , Rating: 2

That's exactly the type of TV that Sparke has, although it was purchased less than two years ago. In fact, I purchased my Toshiba rear projection HDTV, and while it only outputs 1080i, it accepts and upscales 720p in hardware. Sparke brought his PS3 over and we confirmed it. His is a Mitsubishi, and not the only one that I have seen with 720p issues. I don't think Mitsu included any hardware upscalers in their RP HDTV's.

Parent

RE: Good update

By Sparke on 1/25/2007 9:45:02 AM , Rating: 2

http://ps3.ign.com/articles/746/746282p1.html

The PS3 forces the downscale.

Parent

RE: Good update

By Spivonious on 1/25/2007 9:50:05 AM , Rating: 5

The PS3 downscales it so the TV doesn't have a chance. And don't call me Shirley.

Parent

RE: Good update

By Hawkido on 1/25/2007 10:01:56 AM , Rating: 2

All the explanations i have read states that the playstation renders the video at the best resolution (set by the manufacturer), 1080P for Blu-ray movies and 720p or 1080i/p for games, then it only scales downward from there. So long as your HDTV can support HDCP and you use HDMI cables then you will get the best resolution that your TV can support. Unfortunatly games, if they do not support 1080i and your HDTV doesn't support 720P, will scale all the way down to SDTV resolutions before it finds a valid least common denominator.
I can see where a driver update would be able to fix that. But everyone says how horrible and difficult it is to program for, so it may actually take them a few more months to fix that particular problem, and as it is actually making them money "oh, you need a new HDTV with that shiny new PS3" They may not be in a real big hurry to fix it.
I'm not a Sony hater, I actually like most of their products, but I can say they mimic'd Intel during the 1.0 GHz race.

Parent

RE: Good update

By slacker57 on 1/25/2007 3:33:17 PM , Rating: 3

quote:
Shirley if you have Cable or Satellite you get various HD formats and they upscale.

I am serious. And don't call me Shirley.

Parent

RE: Good update

By allnighter on 1/25/2007 9:31:59 AM , Rating: 2

Which is pretty much the main reason I haven't picked one up yet. I am also unclear about whater Blue-Ray HD video playback suffer the same issue on CRT HDTV's or not?
Anyone?

Parent

RE: Good update

By bplewis24 on 1/25/2007 11:12:10 AM , Rating: 2

It does not suffer the same issue. It will output at 1080i or 1080p. If your tv accepts 720p signals it will most definitely accept 1080i signals.

Brandon

Parent

RE: Good update

By hstewarth on 1/25/2007 10:09:52 AM , Rating: 2

720p Upscaling issues are rumor to be fixed and included in another system update in March timeline.

I am also curious that some uses that experence this problem, could have the problem resolved just by selecting Manual option for HDMI. I have both a 720p projector and 1080p XBR and have no problems on both displayes.

Also check out Bestbuy's Playstation games site, March is also time of 16 or more new Playstation 3 games. March should be major push time for the Playstation 3.

Parent

RE: Good update

By Lakku on 1/26/2007 3:09:14 AM , Rating: 2

Although I don't know about games, I do know my BluRay movies don't do 720p. Now, if I knew this going in, I wouldn't be AS upset. However, version 1.0 of the firmware COULD OUTPUT AT 720p FOR BD MOVIES. Sorry, but it makes me angry they disabled this AFTER I updated. There is no logic to it, and for a 600 dollar machine, unacceptable. I bought it as a BD player and my 720p projector looks much better at 720p, though mostly due to the fact it is much brighter in 720p for some reason. Anyway, it does 1080i nicely, but it still looks better in 720p. I shouldn't be forced into something that EVERY BD player and HD-DVD player can do, and that is output at 720p if you want it. That also includes the 360, which outputs at anything I tell it to, and doesn't decide what is best for me.

Parent

RE: Good update

By plonk420 on 1/26/2007 3:57:25 PM , Rating: 2

where are you getting this? my lauch-day PS3 came with 1.1 and 720p output for BRD was no option.

anywho, i let my projector do the scaling (720p native, can accept 1080i/p over component and does some damn good scaling both up and down to 720p)

Parent

Good news.

By therealnickdanger on 1/25/2007 8:48:14 AM , Rating: 5

Seriously. I have no jokes or puns here, I'm sincerely happy that Sony fixed an obvious shortcoming.

RE: Good news.

By themadmilkman on 1/25/2007 8:59:23 AM , Rating: 2

I agree.

It's good to hear that Sony is responding to complaints and fixing an obvious flaw in their system.

Parent

RE: Good news.

By vdig on 1/25/2007 9:32:08 AM , Rating: 2

Well, this is good news. Hearing the jaggy upscaling problem existed was like telling me FF7 would look worse on a 2006-07 machine. I just can not believe that. This should help make their feature into a full plus for the console, rather than half baked.

If the PS3 starts gaining new abilities because of firmware updates, I may yet get a PS3. Still need games, though.

Parent

RE: Good news.

By hstewarth on 1/25/2007 10:14:27 AM , Rating: 2

Games are coming.. more than 16 of them in March

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?navLevel=5...

Probably same amount coming this summmer

Parent

RE: Good news.

By vdig on 1/25/2007 10:28:12 AM , Rating: 3

Might I add that as a 360 owner, I will lean to the 360 for non exclusive titles, thus, crossover titles will not count as incentive for the PS3 until I own it. When I finally do, I will then, and only then, lean to the system that plays that game the best.

So far, the 360 versions on the whole are superior to the PS3 versions. For now. Sony better help the developers overcome the coding difficulties so that they get the better experience, and thus, the gamers' money.

Parent

RE: Good news.

By daftrok on 1/25/2007 1:10:42 PM , Rating: 2

If only it was cheaper. The scaling issue doesn't affect me, and by the sound of it, that will most likely be fixed in Spring when the new wave of games arrive. Man I want this console!

Parent

RE: Good news.

By Zirconium on 1/25/2007 6:08:17 PM , Rating: 1

quote:
Man I want this console!

The good news is that it isn't too hard to find one.

Parent

RE: Good news.

By Exodus220 on 1/25/2007 10:22:49 AM , Rating: 2

Both the PS3 and the Wii need some good games for the system. I am not willing to buy a system for just one game anymore. Back in the day I bought a PS1 just so I could play Resident Evil 2, and it was well worth the money. That actually converted a few of my friends that were N64 fanatics. Anyways, both of the new systems need some games to merit the purchase...otherwise I will just be waiting about a year before investing in either system (most likely the Wii though).

Parent

RE: Good news.

By vdig on 1/25/2007 10:41:16 AM , Rating: 2

The Wii, for the most part, has a strong launch lineup. Not quite the decisive roster of titles, but better than good for launch. It is true that there is only one truly big app for that system at the moment, but, considering the audience that Nintendo is aiming for, that is no real problem. Almost all the titles hint at the killer apps to come, and are fun for the most part. Even crossover titles gain new appeal on this console because of the new interface. I've heard so many good things about Madden 07, it is not funny. Then there are the titles that can not crossover. Let us see a Trauma Center on the 360 or PS3. It is not going to happen.

Sony's PS3 really does need more good games for the system. Fortunately for them, they typically crescendo into a gaming force to be reckoned with. Unfortunately, demand is a little too slow at the moment. They need the software to rekindle their needed momentum.

Because of this, Sony needs to pull every possible plus they can muster to make the PS3 more attractive to consumers. That is why I am pleased by the 1.5 patch. Now, what I really desire is the option to scale to whatever resolution I want if I have the HDMI cable setup. If they make that happen, my wallet will be just about ready to open up.

Parent

RE: Good news.

By michal1980 on 1/25/07, Rating: -1

RE: Good news.

By daftrok on 1/25/2007 1:15:16 PM , Rating: 2

If your television can handle 480i/480p/720p/1080i (or even 1080p) you should be fine. I guess the only grudge would be that you might not be able to scale your Blu-Ray movie to 720p (it'll go to 1080i) but other than that you should be set. In fact, its probably a good idea to get it if you can afford it NOW, that way come March when the 16 or so games come out you won't be hard pressed to find it.

Parent

RE: Good news.

By Borat Sagdiyev on 1/25/07, Rating: 0

Can someone explain to me?

By Le Québécois on 1/25/2007 12:07:12 PM , Rating: 2

How is it that backwards compatibility is a problem to begin with?

I thought the PS3 had a build-in PS2 to be sure it would be 100% backwards compatible.

quote:
It has been confirmed that initial PS3 units include the CPU/rasterizer combination chip used in the slim PS2 (EE+GS) to achieve backward compatibility.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ps3#Backward_compatib...

Not trying to start a flame war on Sony here. Just asking a legitimate question for those with more knowledge on the technology than I have.

RE: Can someone explain to me?

By michal1980 on 1/25/07, Rating: -1

RE: Can someone explain to me?

By Le Québécois on 1/25/2007 1:02:33 PM , Rating: 2

That's still doesn't explain the WHY of this problem. If there's a PS2 inside it should be 100% compatible.

Take the Wii for exemple. It's basically an over-clocked Gamecube. Same basic technology should mean 100% backwards compatibility.

I'm sure there's a reason for this problem and that what I want to know.

Parent

RE: Can someone explain to me?

By michal1980 on 1/25/07, Rating: 0

RE: Can someone explain to me?

By JimFear on 1/25/2007 1:46:19 PM , Rating: 2

The EE was designed with specific hardware to be used along with it, the PS3 is different hardware so the Cell is trying to make it work with the rest of the system, the firmware is obviously doing a bad job of telling the Cell what to do with the data from the build in EE.

Parent