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Sony announces Playstation2.1, sorry if the games dont work PS2 owners!
This article was taken from:
http://www.gameswire.com/ story.asp?key=825
Sony, in conjunction with Toshiba are said to be changing the manufacturing process of the PlayStation 2`s Emotion Engine CPU yet again. Initially, the chip arrived at 0.25 microns, but Sony ordered a drop in size to 0.18 microns, which enabled Simplex Solutions, who developed the CPU, to increase the on-board video RAM fro 4MB to 32MB.
Aurangzeb Khan, a Simplex Solutions representative commented that Sony was content with the job they had done with the 0.18 micron version, however, although the change brought improvements, the second incarnation of the Graphics Synthesizer was twice the size of its predecessor. The second shift - to a 0.13 microns CPU should allow Sony and Simplex to reduce the GS in size.
What this will also do is allow the Emotion Engine`s clock speed to be increased - thus boosting the PS2`s performance. While this will go a long way to making the machine more favourably comparable to the Microsoft Xbox and Nintendo GameCube, we at present do not know how this will affect current 0.25 microns PlayStation 2 owners and the games which have been designed for more up to date versions of the machine.
This article was taken from:
http://www.gameswire.com/ story.asp?key=825
Sony, in conjunction with Toshiba are said to be changing the manufacturing process of the PlayStation 2`s Emotion Engine CPU yet again. Initially, the chip arrived at 0.25 microns, but Sony ordered a drop in size to 0.18 microns, which enabled Simplex Solutions, who developed the CPU, to increase the on-board video RAM fro 4MB to 32MB.
Aurangzeb Khan, a Simplex Solutions representative commented that Sony was content with the job they had done with the 0.18 micron version, however, although the change brought improvements, the second incarnation of the Graphics Synthesizer was twice the size of its predecessor. The second shift - to a 0.13 microns CPU should allow Sony and Simplex to reduce the GS in size.
What this will also do is allow the Emotion Engine`s clock speed to be increased - thus boosting the PS2`s performance. While this will go a long way to making the machine more favourably comparable to the Microsoft Xbox and Nintendo GameCube, we at present do not know how this will affect current 0.25 microns PlayStation 2 owners and the games which have been designed for more up to date versions of the machine.
Today I got the latest issue (#7) of PSM2.
On page 13 there's an article about the HD/Broadband add-on for PS2, due worldwide later this year. In this article, SCEE's Senior Vice President is asked about the benefits of the unit.
One main feature is the 100Mb Ethernet connectivity, the other is a "double-digit gigabyte drive" - i.e. at least 10Gb.
However, more interesting - especially in light of the original subject of this thread - is Harrison's response when asked "what kind of features can we expect?"
In addition to the obvious advantages of being able to download and store large amounts of game data, Harrison says that the unit will also provide "technical benefits making things run faster, smoother, giving you more textures..."
Now this would seem to indicate (IMHO) that the technology advances mentioned by Jimmy will indeed be coming, but that they will be made available to everyone via the HD/Broadband unit.
It still remains to be seen how - or indeed, if - this will affect games, i.e. will certain games not function on a bog-standard PS2 unit. But I think the best thing is to wait and see, before we start getting all wound up about it!
On page 13 there's an article about the HD/Broadband add-on for PS2, due worldwide later this year. In this article, SCEE's Senior Vice President is asked about the benefits of the unit.
One main feature is the 100Mb Ethernet connectivity, the other is a "double-digit gigabyte drive" - i.e. at least 10Gb.
However, more interesting - especially in light of the original subject of this thread - is Harrison's response when asked "what kind of features can we expect?"
In addition to the obvious advantages of being able to download and store large amounts of game data, Harrison says that the unit will also provide "technical benefits making things run faster, smoother, giving you more textures..."
Now this would seem to indicate (IMHO) that the technology advances mentioned by Jimmy will indeed be coming, but that they will be made available to everyone via the HD/Broadband unit.
It still remains to be seen how - or indeed, if - this will affect games, i.e. will certain games not function on a bog-standard PS2 unit. But I think the best thing is to wait and see, before we start getting all wound up about it!
It really would be better - and easier - to have this discussion in one forum! :-)
Not to mention, of course, the millions of units already sold in Japan. Realistically, could you see Sony doing that?
Actually Yes!
Although I would imagine it would be very similar to what Sony have done with the PS1.
The newer Playstations play a few games slightly faster than the same game on older Playstations(although the difference is barely noticeable).
Likewise I would imagine games on the older PS2s may not run as fast or look as good, however theyll still play!
Actually Yes!
Although I would imagine it would be very similar to what Sony have done with the PS1.
The newer Playstations play a few games slightly faster than the same game on older Playstations(although the difference is barely noticeable).
Likewise I would imagine games on the older PS2s may not run as fast or look as good, however theyll still play!
I don't believe this; I think it may be confusion with a story that appeared a while ago regarding a new, smaller manufacturing process for chips in the PS3.
Such a drastic change would obviously impact software functionality on older machines when developers start to take advantage of extra VRAM etc. As most UK machines have a long way to go in their warranty period, many would probably be returned as 'faulty' if they didn't run the software.
Not to mention, of course, the millions of units already sold in Japan. Realistically, could you see Sony doing that?
If there does prove to be any truth in it, however, I would expect Sony to replace the machines of all current owners, free of charge.
Such a drastic change would obviously impact software functionality on older machines when developers start to take advantage of extra VRAM etc. As most UK machines have a long way to go in their warranty period, many would probably be returned as 'faulty' if they didn't run the software.
Not to mention, of course, the millions of units already sold in Japan. Realistically, could you see Sony doing that?
If there does prove to be any truth in it, however, I would expect Sony to replace the machines of all current owners, free of charge.
Sony announces Playstation2.1, sorry if the games dont work PS2 owners!
This article was taken from:
http://www.gameswire.com/ story.asp?key=825
Sony, in conjunction with Toshiba are said to be changing the manufacturing process of the PlayStation 2`s Emotion Engine CPU yet again. Initially, the chip arrived at 0.25 microns, but Sony ordered a drop in size to 0.18 microns, which enabled Simplex Solutions, who developed the CPU, to increase the on-board video RAM fro 4MB to 32MB.
Aurangzeb Khan, a Simplex Solutions representative commented that Sony was content with the job they had done with the 0.18 micron version, however, although the change brought improvements, the second incarnation of the Graphics Synthesizer was twice the size of its predecessor. The second shift - to a 0.13 microns CPU should allow Sony and Simplex to reduce the GS in size.
What this will also do is allow the Emotion Engine`s clock speed to be increased - thus boosting the PS2`s performance. While this will go a long way to making the machine more favourably comparable to the Microsoft Xbox and Nintendo GameCube, we at present do not know how this will affect current 0.25 microns PlayStation 2 owners and the games which have been designed for more up to date versions of the machine.
This article was taken from:
http://www.gameswire.com/ story.asp?key=825
Sony, in conjunction with Toshiba are said to be changing the manufacturing process of the PlayStation 2`s Emotion Engine CPU yet again. Initially, the chip arrived at 0.25 microns, but Sony ordered a drop in size to 0.18 microns, which enabled Simplex Solutions, who developed the CPU, to increase the on-board video RAM fro 4MB to 32MB.
Aurangzeb Khan, a Simplex Solutions representative commented that Sony was content with the job they had done with the 0.18 micron version, however, although the change brought improvements, the second incarnation of the Graphics Synthesizer was twice the size of its predecessor. The second shift - to a 0.13 microns CPU should allow Sony and Simplex to reduce the GS in size.
What this will also do is allow the Emotion Engine`s clock speed to be increased - thus boosting the PS2`s performance. While this will go a long way to making the machine more favourably comparable to the Microsoft Xbox and Nintendo GameCube, we at present do not know how this will affect current 0.25 microns PlayStation 2 owners and the games which have been designed for more up to date versions of the machine.