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Groove · #1 03-05-2007, 08:07 AM

I looked around and I didn't see this posted. This is a pretty awesome rumor if it turns out to be true. I guess we have to wait until GDC to find out

http://www.rumorreporter.com/?p=202

Hondan · #2 03-05-2007, 05:12 PM

Unlike what was stated in the document, the PS3 didn't have any hardware scalers... They are doing all of the scaling through a programmable multi-functional chip, and a 720p and 1080i scaling from a 480i/p source is going to be very resource intensive. However, this maybe possible thanks to PS3's cell processor, I think they can easily dedicate one of the 7 cores to scaling the PS1 and PS2 games. I am interested to see this, although the games may look a little funky after scaling. (Remember when Sony ran GT4 at 1080p at E3? Some of the polygons looked horrible)

Groove · #3 03-05-2007, 06:25 PM

The article states that it needs emulation, meaning it's all done with software. The PS3 DOES have a hardware scaler, just a little FYI, because there was a story about Sony unlocking the horizontal scaler just recently.

http://www.beyond3d.com/articles/ps3scaler/

Hondan · #4 03-05-2007, 09:02 PM

Ha! That is interesting. I guess I must have missed that story. Good to know. I wonder why they have to put the scaling option in the SDK though... I thought scaler chips typically act by themselves and are independent of developer controls.

As far as emulation goes, there are hardware emulation (Emotion engine chipset) and software emulation (EU PS3s), emulation simply means the duplication of functionalities of one system on another, and it can be achieved by both a hardware and software approach. So not all emulation means software.

I think the PS1 and PS2 games will be played in software emulation mode on EU PS3s, but if there is indeed a hardware scaler, then the scaling should be done through the hardware. The JP and NA PS3s have the emotion engine chipset built in, so unless Sony is planning to retire the Emotion Engine hardware in these PS3s, then I guess we will be getting hardware emulated PS1 and PS2 games with hardware scaling! Woo-hoo!

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