Now I understand why they did this. They're still manufacturing the PS2 so why wouldn't they make us buy both to enjoy both collections of games?
 
But they're stopping the manufacturing of the PS2 this or next year (my friend works for Sony and we were talking about this) so hopefully they give PS3 owners an update where we can play PS2 games on the PS3. Hell, I'll be happy even if they make you pay for it on the PSN (Free of charge for Plus users of course :P).
 
Either way I hope this changes now that the PS2 is going out of production.
 
I'm not 100% sure on this though, as I don't know if my friend got the right information or not.
Or maybe this is already old news that the PS2's getting discontinued.

It would require WAAAAY more than a patch to get PS2 games to play on the PS3. Most of the earlier models had PS2 hardware crammed into the PS3 case, hence why the "Slim" was so much "slimmer," so it's much more likely that they're simply going to start selling us PS2 games in the Playstation Store. Which is fine by me, I like digital distribution better.

I think they took out the PS2 compatibility to make the PS3 a little cheaper to produce. Even with the discontinuation of the PS2, I'm pretty sure it will be super easy to find one at a decent price on eBay or something. Also, I think Sony's manufacturing some sort of backward compatible add-on that you plug into the PS3. Or maybe that was all in my head.

I have a PS2 already.

"It's much more likely that they're simply going to start selling us PS2 games in the Playstation Store. Which is fine by me, I like digital distribution better. "

I'm pretty sure with that PSJailbreak thing you could play PS2 games. Why can't Sony.

" @FancySoapsMan: So do I But I'd be happy to get rid of it so I can just play all my games on my PS3 "

The only solution to this is to go and play more Jumping Flash.

Another thing to note is that even on consoles like mine that were released just after they had stopped making BC PS3's, there is an option for PS2 memory cards and it's still there. When I bought my PS3 I had thought there was going to be BC with mine, but I had just missed it and didn't know. I ended up being really pissed off when I got home.

" I'm pretty sure with that PSJailbreak thing you could play PS2 games. Why can't Sony. "

@benpicko said:

" I'm pretty sure with that PSJailbreak thing you could play PS2 games. Why can't Sony. "

No it doesn't.

Backwards compatibility could be patched into the system. It seems like everyone forgets the short lived original 80gb model that had software emulation instead of having an on-board emotion chip.

It really doesn't matter, dude. Why still play PS2 games?

Suddenly 2006?

I'm fairly certain that a patch isn't gonna add PS2 compatibility. the Ps3 is lacking hardware nessesery to play Ps2 games. Your other choice is emulation which is time consuming and ultimately not worth it from a business standpoint.

I would be happy if they implement this. I really like the ps2 library but I wish I could just give my old ps2 to someone else and only having a single console on my living room.

I can't see Sony bringing it back as a feature. The EU 60GB consoles had a PS2 software emulator rather than a piece of hardware, but it was rather sloppy and caused crashes. I have PS2 backwards compatibility but I would still rather use my PS2.

" It really doesn't matter, dude. Why still play PS2 games? "

It would be quite a shock if they ended the PS2 cycle and I'm not sure that would be the best decision just yet. If I remember correctly it sold over one and half million units last year. It's certainly a drop, maybe even their biggest but the hardware and software sales still bring in a bit of money. Also over 100 new software titles were released for it in the US last year... remember that's the US, so it's probably safe to assume even more software was released in Japan.
 
If they do choose to end the PS2's long run, whether we see some sort of emulation software or hardware product is still on the fence. A software update would be a nice result as it would probably gain some support from current PS3 owners and may be useful as a sales device to entice new customers. However it might be a harder solution to create a piece of software that is capable of running those older titles without any problems (slowdowns, glitches and overall poor performance). A hardware device might be better performing but it would also be a risky move as they can't predict the sales. In the end it might not be that cost-effective.
 
I am one of the lucky ones...I chose to dive-in face first and buy a PS3 on release day therefore mine plays a large majority of the PS2 titles I still own.

" @EpicSteve: Because they're fun? "

I totally have a backwards compatible PS3 so I'm good.

It isn't as simple as running a patch and getting backwards compatibility. The early PS3 models contained the Emotion Engine and PS2 Graphics Synthesizer. It was basically like having a PS2 built into it to run PS2 games. Newer models have neither of these, and thus cannot run PS2 games.
 
They could develop some software emulation (which is how the 360 does BC) but that would be a major undertaking, that would cost a lot of money, and wouldn't be easy for them to make money off it.

I have an Australian launch PS3 and it has the software emulation. It's pretty hit and miss. Something like Ratchet and Clank 3 ran at about 10-15fps. 
 
Emulating completely different hardware like the emotion engine etc would be incredibly difficult to do properly. I would be surprised if it ever happens on PS3.

I played the original God of War and God of War 2 on my ps3 with no problems. 
Kingdom hearts 2 on the other hand had a bug that was a gamestopper. Specifically one boss after his health dropped down enough, it would not decrease. I kept hitting him for 20 mins and it wouldnt drop. Found out later it was a problem of the emulation thing.
So i guess it was kinda random.

If your lucky enough to find a 60GB PS3 for cheap, then congrats. Personally, I think you would be better off with an actual PS2. There are plenty out there (140 million) for cheap, and it's more fun to play games on their respective systems anyway.

Sony will never make the PS3 backward compatible again. The reason they eliminated BC from the 40 gb PS3s was that they still had some PS2s on stock that they wanted to sell, for people who didn't want to spend as much as $400+ (not sure how much exactly) on a newer 20GB or 40GB console.  When they finally stop making PS2s, they'll want people to buy a PS3 instead since it's way cheaper than the earlier versions. Also, they're pretty much not making money from PS2 games anymore since they're so cheap and people often buy them used anyway (I haven't seen a PS2 game in a store for a looong time).
 
I wouldn't count on seeing PS2 games on PSN as well: Sony's making all the HD polished versions of their hits instead, which is fine by me actually (can't wait for Ico and SotC HD).
I' m actually one of the lucky few who has the 60GB BC version :)

" Backwards compatibility could be patched into the system. It seems like everyone forgets the short lived original 80gb model that had software emulation instead of having an on-board emotion chip. "

I'd imagine they were looking into digital distribution for some of the PS2 games, but I think that would still require some kind of emulation. I'd imagine that they'll just keep putting out HD remakes because those seem to be doing well - I'd die if an MGS or Silent Hill HD remix collection came out.

I'll trade you my launch 60gb PS3 for a new slim :P 
 
But the ones that did have software emulation emulated PS2 games very very poorly. Games would crash, have super low FPS while others worked fine. Ones like my launch PS3 though had the actual PS2 graphics chip in it so it ran nearly exactly like a PS2.

At least I have this to make me feel a little better about spending $600 on a launch 60gb model.

I doubt this feature will ever be back but I can see more PS2 Collections being released on the PS3 in the future.

" Backwards compatibility could be patched into the system. It seems like everyone forgets the short lived original 80gb model that had software emulation instead of having an on-board emotion chip. "

" It really doesn't matter, dude. Why still play PS2 games? "

" @EpicSteve:   That's a terrible philosophy to go by. The PS2 might be showing its age, but it still has a lot of great games.  So I guess in like 10 years from now you're going to stop playing the games that you play now because they're old? "

" @Mikewrestler5 said:

" @EpicSteve:   That's a terrible philosophy to go by. The PS2 might be showing its age, but it still has a lot of great games.  So I guess in like 10 years from now you're going to stop playing the games that you play now because they're old? "

Yep, cause I already played them. I'm sure if i went back to play Mass Effect 2 in 2020 that game would feel janky and old as hell. It's very rare I go back on games. "

I'll be really happy if this does happen.  I realllly fucking want to play persona 4, but I'm not buying a 6th PS2 to play one game.

You do know it almost 2011 right?
I haven't played a ps2 game since persona 4 came out, and I don't miss them.
I also own 300 PS2 games

" @EpicSteve said:

" @Mikewrestler5 said:

" @EpicSteve:   That's a terrible philosophy to go by. The PS2 might be showing its age, but it still has a lot of great games.  So I guess in like 10 years from now you're going to stop playing the games that you play now because they're old? "

Yep, cause I already played them. I'm sure if i went back to play Mass Effect 2 in 2020 that game would feel janky and old as hell. It's very rare I go back on games. "

I'm assuming that you don't buy games then? Because if you do, then that would be pretty pointless. "

The key difference: the PS1 chip is super cheap and super easy to put in the system.  I remember hearing someone saying something to the effect of the chip that can handle the system running PS1 games natively is essentially a sound chip on the PS3 motherboard. 
 
PS2 still requires the Emotion Engine chip, which by all accounts is still costly enough to Sony that they're willing to forego the support.

I thought we were all over this by now?