Tech Shout!

Last month, when the PlayStation 3 was launched in Europe, it came out in the open that the hardware model was not compatible with the PlayStation 2. Yesterday, Sony Computer Entertainment Europe launched a Web site that allows PlayStation 3 owners to see which of their PlayStation 2 game titles are playable on the new European PS3 hardware model.

This latest PS3 software upgrade version 1.60, will deliver features such as Folding@home connectivity, background downloading of content from the PlayStation Store, support for Bluetooth keyboards and mice, and an optional full QWERTY on-screen keyboard for text entry.

The web site, which is available here, lists all the game titles from the PlayStation 2 portfolio available in the SCEE PAL territories that are can be played with no hassles on the PS3.

According to David Reeves, President of SCEE, “Our engineers have been working overtime, and have succeeded in delivering a significant number of playable PS2 titles for the European launch.”

“We will be adding additional titles to this list in future firmware upgrades, but as we have made clear before, in the future our resources will be increasingly focused on developing new services and entertainment features exclusively for PS3, rather than on delivering PS2 backwards compatibility,” Reeves added.

In order to play the PS2 game titles that have been listed on the new Web site, owners of the European PS3 will be required to install the latest firmware upgrade. This upgrade will be available from March 22, midnight onwards, through the PlayStation Network.

Firmware Version 1.60 also delivers a more convenient process for downloading content to the PS3 from the PLAYSTATION Store. Up to 6 pieces of content from the PlayStation store can be queued up for download while the user enjoys other functions of the PS3 system, including playing games, browsing the web, using media functions including photo browsing, video and music playback. Progress of downloads can be easily tracked under a new Download Management menu under the XMB’s Network icon.

Firmware 1.60 also provides support for keyboards and mice enabled with Bluetooth wireless technology. Text entry is further expanded with the option to use a full QWERTY on-screen keyboard, in addition to the existing single tap keyboard. PS3’s built-in Web browser is also enhanced with the ability to zoom in to the optimal viewing size for the selected area of a Web page at the press of a button, as well as an optional tool for reducing flicker when the PS3 system is using interlaced video out (480i or 1080i).