I doubt sony will ever release a software based ps2 emulator for the ps3 firmware that covers physical games. Its possible that they would release select ps2 titles on the playstation network. They might do that via emulation in a case by case instance or if the God of War collection is any indicator they might just have the games rebuilt for the ps3. The PS2 was a very complex and unique system which during the course of its existence developers employed various techniques to get the most out of the architecture. Building a software emulator that not only accurately emulates the complex hardware but also the quirks that developers exploited in building game on the system would be a daunting time consuming task. The Launch 60GB & 20GB playstation 3s had the ps2 CPU and GPU soldiered onto the system motherboard. These initial models had near perfect backwards compatibility. The 4 USB 80GB playstation 3 removed the ps2 CPU but left the GPU using the CELL and software to emulate the missing CPU. This model took a good hit in software compatibility and it was just emulating one aspect of the hardware. Later models removed all ps2 hardware and thus any and all ps2 backwards compatibility. The psone backwards compatibility remains as the system is simple and strait forward enough that creating an accurate software emulator is not nearly as difficult or hardware intensive. Sony representatives have said in numerous interviews that ps2 compatibility is off the table, is not being worked on and will not come back.

most recently HERE

QUOTE:

Sony's John Koller

"With the backwards compatibility issue, we're at a point now in the cycle of the PlayStation 3 that there's so many PS3 games available, so many strong PS3 games, that it's really become far less of an issue than I think a lot people -- particularly the media -- are asking about. In all of our studies, we've noticed that it's fallen off the map in terms of demand."

but also HERE

QUOTE:

Sony's John Koller

"It's not coming back, so let me put that on the table," Koller says with an air of finality. But it's all people ever talk about! "It's not as big as a purchase intent driver as you may be hearing," he claimed. "We've got such a substantial lineup of titles on the PS3; most people are buying the PS3 for PS3 games. They've buying it for PS3 games and Blu-ray movies." "That won't be returning,"

Assuming you have already run through most of the quality multi platformtitles on the 360. Here are some ps3 exclusives that are worth a play excluding platformers (Little Big Planet, Rachet & Clank);

Uncharted 1 & 2

Killzone 2

Metal Gear Solid 4

Resistance 1 & 2

Infamous

Demon's Souls

Gran Turismo 5 Prologue

MLB The Show

Motorstorm 2

God of War Collection

Fat Princess

Also keep an eye out for these exclusives coming out next year for the ps3;

God of War III

MAG

Gran Turismo 5

Modnation Racers

3D Dot Game Heroes

The Last Guardian

i got one of these for christmas and i already have many classic sega titles such as sonic 1-3, mortal kombat 1-3, jurrassic park, zombies ate my neighbors, x-men 2 clone wars and a couple other classics, anyway im lookin to pick up some genesis retro games and i need suggestions? (none of the ones i listed obviously)

icedout06

Shinobi 3, Streets of Rage 1+ 2 + 3, Kid Chameleon, Vectorman 1 + 2, Outrun, Gunstar Heros, Contra Hard Corps, Castlevania bloodlines, Crusader of the Centy, Beyond Oasis. Of thoughs Shinobi 3 is my favorite and is in fact one of my favorite games generations later.

Graphically there is little difference that I am aware of. However the best sound quality is on the first model. After the first model they revised the audio chip resulting in a more distorted sound.

In this clip from the streets of rage you first hear the output of the revised chip found in all models from 2 and up. After you hear the same output from the model one sega genesis which is clearly superior.

The greatest appeal of Mortal Kombat was its shock value. The game it self has not aged well. So Street Fighter FTW.

[QUOTE="Efaustus9"]

I have no qualms about comparing multi platform titles. As it is beneficial to owners of both consoles to know which version of the title will provide the better experience. Some times the two are very close (e.g. COD 6, burnout paradise), many times the 360 version is superior (e.g. bayonetta, assassins creed) and on a occasion the ps3 version wins out (e.g. dragon age, saboteur). Seldom with the multi platform titles do you see the developer wring all the potencial out of the console. Exclusive titles I think give a better indication of what a console is capable of. Right now some of the best looking console games right now reside on the ps3. This is largely thanks to 1st and 2nd party developers learning how to take advantage of the spu's not just for AI and physics but acting as a ancillary gpu as well.

FLYNHAWAIIN

Exclusives tend to give the best indication of what a console it capable of. The exclusives are tailored to take advantage of the hardware's strengths while playing down its weaknesses. It is however difficult to do an apples to apples comparison of exclusive titles like you can with multi platformers. The parity of the multi plat title will often vary based upon the developers and their development choices. If they first build the game for the 360 hardware and then try to port the code over to the ps3 the quality will often suffer greatly (e.g. byonetta, assassins creed). Titles tend to fair better going the other way as the xenos is the more powerful gpu and seldom do 3rd party developers optimize for the cell as an ancillary GPU to make up for the shortcomings of the RSX. I wouldn't say one console is distinctly better then the other. Each have their advantages and disadvantages. The ps3 currently has the disadvantage of being the console with the smaller market share and more difficult to program hardware. Meaning that developers tend to start with the 360 and then port to the ps3 to save cost. Others like capcom have built development tools that adjust to the lowest common denominator. Making a base game then adding graphical fluff and features to the more capable hardware. Resident Evil 5 (PC/360/PS3) is one such game that used this method. Unfortunately I dont think this method truly takes advantage of the ps3 hardware. Instead treating the ps3 more like a CPU GPU set up and in such a way making the ps3 underutilized and the most inferior of the three. Almost never is the ps3 version of a multi platformer broken or unplayable. Its just more likely to have frame rate dips, lower resolution graphics, an muddied textures on these cross platform titles. Does it mean that the ps3 is inferior on the whole? no just that games are made on a budget with time constraints. make a playable game for a many people as possible while keeping cost down.

If you got the cash and the time, why not? The ps3 has some very good exclusives that are already available or will soon be available. Its also a very good blu ray player. If you decide to get a phat its also good at playing older consoles as well (see signiture).

since you are a new owner. I would get two or three discounted titles instead of a newly released title. The games may be a year or two old to us who have owned a ps3 for a while but for you they are as good as new. To get the most bang for the buck I would suggest trying the following titles. Assuming you have $60 to spend get...

COD 4 GOTY edition (good single player, great multiplayer) ~$30

Grand Theft Auto IV (great sandbox game, good multiplayer) ~$20

Dead Space (geat horror survival game) ~$15

I have no qualms about comparing multi platform titles. As it is beneficial to owners of both consoles to know which version of the title will provide the better experience. Some times the two are very close (e.g. COD 6, burnout paradise), many times the 360 version is superior (e.g. bayonetta, assassins creed) and on a occasion the ps3 version wins out (e.g. dragon age, saboteur). Seldom with the multi platform titles do you see the developer wring all the potencial out of the console. Exclusive titles I think give a better indication of what a console is capable of. Right now some of the best looking console games reside on the ps3. This is largely thanks to 1st and 2nd party developers learning how to take advantage of the spu's not just for AI and physics but acting as a ancillary gpu as well.

Check out the ps3 exclusives. If they appeal then take the dive. Having a great blu-ray player and a decent linux PC are two other bonuses you will get with a PS3 (note: if you get the slim then you will not be able to add linux to the system, see my sig to learn more about other os feature).