Pros/Cons of buying american ps3?

animaX

Hi guys, I'm thinking of getting a playstation3 soon and was hoping for backwards compatibility with ps2 games. Then I thought, why not get the best back-compat model (the 60gb american ps3)? By the way, the ps2 game I want to play on it is an ntsc import anyway.

So as far as I can see, pal ps3 games will work on it so no problem there. The majority of bluray movies will work on it. I can connect to the european playstation network, i think?! There should be no trouble with a pal tv will there?

Is there anything else I'm overlooking? Do those early models have overheating issues?

Mossy Monk

I would get one purely for the Region A Bluray player.

Retr0gamer

I've an american PS3. The only problems I've had was when I didn't have a HD TV. Some of the games and the PS1 classics from the PSN store won't work on a PAL tv since the American console doesn't output in PAL. However they will work on a HD display. My PS3 hasn't overheated eaither but then again it hasn't really been turned on much either.

animaX

Yeah, I'll be getting a hd tv hopefully. I better start scouting online for a second hand ps3!

Do you think sony will eventually come out with a firmware update that gives ps2 compatibility? And so buying an old model is pointless? They're clearly just holding off coz the ps2 is still selling and making profit.

Mossy Monk

animaX wrote: »

YDo you think sony will eventually come out with a firmware update that gives ps2 compatibility?

Is that even possible? I was under the impression that was done with a chip that was present in the earlier 60GB PS3's.

animaX

Mossy Monk wrote: »

Is that even possible? I was under the impression that was done with a chip that was present in the earlier 60GB PS3's.

Yeah it is possible, iirc. The 60gb had hardware emulation of ps2 (emotion engine chip) but later models had software emulation. I've heard that it will be possible to reintroduce the software emulation on current models. I could be wrong though.

IsMiseConor

animaX wrote: »

Yeah it is possible, iirc. The 60gb had hardware emulation of ps2 (emotion engine chip) but later models had software emulation. I've heard that it will be possible to reintroduce the software emulation on current models. I could be wrong though.

Yeah your right, the PAL 60gb had software emulation. I would say it is possible to bring out a patch to play ps2 games, but it probably won't happen until Sony decide to discontinue the ps2.

animaX

Looks like i may have spoken too soon! Ps2 compatibility could return to all ps3 models (or new ps3 models)
link

Retr0gamer

That would be sweet. However I'd love even more if they also got rid of the region protection on old PS1 and PS2 games since they look lovely upscaled on the PS3 and I've only a few NTSC games left to play.

Kirby

I'd buy a ps3 if they implemented emulation of the old ps2 and ps1 games. It would make the purchase sensible with all 3 consoles libraries in one console.

Hope they do it so i can rush out and get one

Shades799

Hey folks,

I'm thinking of buying a US PS3, I want to play NCAA Football 2012 (which isn't released until July) but it's not available in PAL.

I've sorted out how I'd get the PS3 back here, and as far as I can see if I connect with a HDMI cable then the TV shouldn't be an issue.

Do you have a power convertor for your PS3? Also, is there anything else I need to worry about? Practicalities like buying games, the PSN, playing DVDs, anything that you’ve experienced that might be useful to me?

Thanks!

Daemos

If you're only getting it to play that game then you don't need to import a PS3. NTSC games play on PAL PS3s so you can buy the PS3 locally and only have to import the game

You'll have to set up a US PSN account to download anything from PSN for it, but that's about it

Minstrel27

Shades799 wrote: »

Hey folks,

I'm thinking of buying a US PS3, I want to play NCAA Football 2012 (which isn't released until July) but it's not available in PAL.

I've sorted out how I'd get the PS3 back here, and as far as I can see if I connect with a HDMI cable then the TV shouldn't be an issue.

Do you have a power convertor for your PS3? Also, is there anything else I need to worry about? Practicalities like buying games, the PSN, playing DVDs, anything that you’ve experienced that might be useful to me?

Thanks!

As said before me, the game will work in your European PS3. I recommend the following site, very fast and reasonably priced
http://www.videogamesplus.ca/product_info.php?currency=EUR&products_id=18695

Shades799

Ya I saw loads of people saying that it would work and then some people saying that they wouldn't. I didn't want to take any chances but I'd prefer to buy Irish obviously for loads of reasons...

I wonder could I order the game, then when it arrived rent out a console to make sure it worked, if it does game on (ha!), if not I could just get the PS3 ordered then and shipped from the states.

I had made up my mind on this and was gonna use nybox.com for the shipping but if reckon I'm safe enough I'll chance waiting.

Man, why am I so suggestible...

Minstrel27

There hasn't been a region locked game for the PS3 yet so it will work.

Grumpypants

The BC on the PS3 doesn't work on all the games and some of te ones on the list are pretty shoddy, and to tell the truth you would prob get 2nd hand PS2 cheaper than you could ship a ps3 in from the states.

I would buy the PS3 here (if only for the warranty) Then look into importing a NSTC PS2 or else pick up one here that can use a swap disk to override the region locks.

Shades799

Grumpypants wrote: »

The BC on the PS3 doesn't work on all the games and some of te ones on the list are pretty shoddy...I would buy the PS3 here (if only for the warranty) Then look into importing a NSTC PS2 or else pick up one here that can use a swap disk to override the region locks.

Sorry for my ignorance but what's the BC? Also why is PS2 being brought into the conversation?

Are you one of the people who thinks I may have an issue with the region lock?

Retr0gamer

BC is backwards compatibility as in for PS2 games. There's region locking on Ps2 games for the few units that do have BC. NTSC systems have hardware BC so playing PS2 games is really good on them. On the PAL systems it's software based so PS2 emulation is fairly ropey. Again newer systems have this removed.

Grumpypants

Shades799 wrote: »

Sorry for my ignorance but what's the BC? Also why is PS2 being brought into the conversation?

Are you one of the people who thinks I may have an issue with the region lock?

BC backward compatibility using the PS3 to play PS2 games, as the PS3 doesnt play all of them and there are region issues with PS2 games getting a old PS2 console might be handier in the long run you can pick them up for a few euro now adays. (more aimed at the OP than you though i see the confusion now)

Sephiroth_dude

animaX wrote: »

Hi guys, I'm thinking of getting a playstation3 soon and was hoping for backwards compatibility with ps2 games. Then I thought, why not get the best back-compat model (the 60gb american ps3)? By the way, the ps2 game I want to play on it is an ntsc import anyway.

So as far as I can see, pal ps3 games will work on it so no problem there. The majority of bluray movies will work on it. I can connect to the european playstation network, i think?! There should be no trouble with a pal tv will there?

Is there anything else I'm overlooking? Do those early models have overheating issues?

Im in the market for one too,so if you find one let me know and I'll do likewise with you

Minstrel27

That post was from 2 years ago. Just so you know.

Shades799

Folks,

Just to clear up my side of this. I received NCAA Football 12 from videogamesplus.ca one week after it shipped (I pre-ordered it from a month back) and I tried it on my mates Irish PS3.

It works perfectly with my Phillips HDTV on 1080p HD.

The sound doesn't work through my Elonex HDTV, I think this issue is with the telly though as the PS3 sounds come through perfectly on the main menu but when I start the game, the screen flickers to 720p and the sound stops working. However this happens on all the games on the PS3 on my Elonex TV so it's something I need to look at myself.

So the overall message is, NCAA Football 12 plays perfectly on an Irish PS3 that can play Irish PS3 games when shipped from the videogamesplus.ca site. (I presume this is the case for all games but I'm not willing to say definitely lest I be sued!)

I did have to setup an American EA, EA Sports and PSN account using a friends address in the States but it was hassle free really.

Thanks for all the advice

Shades799

RE: Sound issue.

My TVs are operating on two different HDMI sound settings. Once I changes tellies I just need to go to Sound Settings on the PS3>HDMI>(Press X which I didn't cop for a while)>Automatic.

The PS3 then determines the correct sound format to use and away I go!