PS3 firmware 2.10 allows Remote Play of PS1 games

That new PS3 firmware that just dropped has a little more going for it than just DivX and WMV support -- Sony's enabled PSP Remote Play of PS1 games from a PS3, no matter whether they're downloaded from the PSN Store or the actual physical games inserted in the PS3's drive. Our peeps at PSP Fanboy tested it out and found it worked great with both a downloaded copy of Wild Arms and the disc of Metal Gear Solid. This means you could theoretically leave all those pesky UMDs at home and play games from anywhere in the world with a net connection -- as soon as Sony gets some more PS1 games online.

[Via Joystiq]

[Tyler @ Dec 18th 2007 5:10PM]

This is awesome because I think Santa is bringing me a PSP here within a few days...

[nosotros213 @ Dec 18th 2007 5:13PM]

Correct me if i'm wrong...
but i think this means PS3 and not PSP, because PSP firmware is up to at least 3.71....

[nosotros213 @ Dec 18th 2007 5:14PM]

nevermind, i get it :P

[Owen @ Dec 19th 2007 6:15AM]

Yeah I was wondering that

[Low @ Dec 18th 2007 5:27PM]

Yeah the title reads PSP firmware but then goes on to talk about the PS3 firmware. Simple mistake I'm sure :P

[Kaemon @ Dec 18th 2007 5:31PM]

Yeah, obviously they ment PS3 instead of PSP. PSP is on firmware 3.80

[mike @ Dec 18th 2007 5:33PM]

No, they are talking about PSP but I think this is a typo. It should be 3.80

[mike @ Dec 18th 2007 5:31PM]

Its firmware 3.80 not 2.10. However, the PS3 firmware was updated yesterday to 2.10 up from 2.01

[Brent @ Dec 18th 2007 5:43PM]

Good luck finishing Metal Gear via remote play...unless you have somebody at home to change discs for you! Oh well, it is still a nice option. Too bad I don't really have any PS1 games that are worth playing.

[Eric @ Dec 18th 2007 5:45PM]

I must say, that is pretty rad. I wonder if Nintendo will follow suit and do something similar with Wii Virtual Console games and the Nintendo DS. Oh man if that were the case, I'd be in heaven.

[Kalen @ Dec 18th 2007 5:51PM]

I saw only on sentence the entire time I read this:

Final Fantasy VII on the PSP, F@*k Yes.

[Xidius @ Dec 18th 2007 6:30PM]

I was thinking the same thing. :D

- Xidius

[Azayzel @ Dec 19th 2007 7:34AM]

People with custom firmware have been playing FF VII for the past year on the PSP, same with most other titles. I think Sony saw people were already doing this and decided to make it official. Not sure how they're implementing the remote play; i.e., if it need to be always connected to the PS3 to play or if it's simply to connect/download CD image/play or what. Now about those multi-disc games...

[prateeko @ Dec 18th 2007 5:52PM]

PSP needs firmware 3.80
PS3 needs firmware 2.10

You either need a downloaded PS1 game or the disc in your PS3. Then you can use remote play (local WiFi or over teh internet tubes) to play the game (or disc) from your PS3.

Now that's connectivity that kicks ass.

::looks disappointingly at the GameCube-GameBoy Advance::

[sharon-en @ Dec 18th 2007 6:20PM]

Does this only work for PS1 games that are supported by PS3? Aren't a lot of older games non-functional on PS3 (especially the newest PS3's)? Or does that only apply to PS2 and not PS1 games? (Haven't actually tried any PS1 games on our 80gb PS3, but 2/3 of our PS2 games don't work at all.)

[prateeko @ Dec 18th 2007 6:30PM]

I've got a 60GB PS3 so I can't really speak to backwards compatibility of PS1 games. Here is what I do know. If you can pop in a PS1 game into your PS3 (they should all work with PS1 games since you can download them from the PSN store, but who knows), then you can play it from anywhere (with an internet signal) on your PSP.

The more I think about it, though, the more likely it seems all PS1 games (or almost all of them) should work on every model of the PS3 since you can download these games onto any PS3 from the PSN Store...

[Temple @ Dec 18th 2007 6:46PM]

All PS3s have PS1 backward compatibility (even the 40GB). It is emulated via software. This feature works with PS3 connected to ethernet as well, only the PSP needs Wifi(obviously).

Also, remote play has remote on/off so you don't have to keep your PS3 on at all times; you can turn your PS3 on via PSP on wifi.

>>"as soon as Sony gets some more PS1 games online."

PS1 discs are supported and playable via remote play.

[Stephen Tordoff @ Dec 20th 2007 2:56AM]

Seems strange that the 40GB plays PS1 and PS3 games, but not PS2. That's Sony for you I suppose.

Here in the UK, PCWorld (Awful computer store) are still selling the 60GB model at a huge price. The main selling point in their TV ads is the backwards compatability. Sony, you got this one wrong (like most others)

[Ed @ Dec 18th 2007 6:18PM]

Good luck trying to beat psycho mantis when on the PSP...

[ssuk @ Dec 19th 2007 12:52PM]

Good luck getting on the second disc...

[Marc @ Dec 18th 2007 6:43PM]

what happens with the L2, R2, buttons?

[KarlW @ Dec 18th 2007 8:13PM]

There is a configuration setting for that. Because a lot of PS1 games don't support the analog stick, it'll map the stick on to the directional buttons, and give you the directional buttons for L2, R2 (Left = L2, Right = R2, Up = L2 + R2). It sounds a bit awkward, but it works alright for a lot of games.

[m0nk3y80y @ Dec 18th 2007 8:09PM]

I found that there is a delay between what you see and the controls (at least in Street Fighter Alpha 3). This makes it difficult to play fast-paced games.

[Andrew @ Dec 18th 2007 8:17PM]

Maybe double clicking the button?

[m0nk3y80y @ Dec 18th 2007 8:45PM]

Could just be my network, so I wanted to see if anyone else had this probelm. And no Andrew double clicking doesn't seem to affect it one way or the other.

[Joshewah @ Dec 18th 2007 9:19PM]

...or just install custom firmware 3.52M33 or 3.71M33 to the PSP so you can drag and drop PSX Eboots into your PSP's Memory stick. No need for that official firmware nonsense.

[Jarret @ Dec 18th 2007 9:27PM]

Another thing I noticed, the controller now turns off after it's idle for a period of time. As far as I'm aware, this is a feature users complained about there being a lack of in the past.

[Silverfrog @ Dec 19th 2007 9:03AM]

I used it last night and to my delight, it works great! If you connect directly to your PS3, where the PS3 is the wifi access point, do not travel far out of the room--more than about 30 feet. Also, don't go behind walls, ect.

While playing Chrono Cross, it was awesome to watch the movie load and then play the game. There was no lag or sound stuttering until I walked back into another room in my apartment. When I came back into the room, everything was perfect. I didn't notice any control lag issues when I was within 30 feet of the PS3.

[Michael Smith @ Dec 19th 2007 2:08PM]

It also works for some non ps1 games. For instance it works with High Stakes Vegas Strip poker.

[dudeInAmerica @ Dec 28th 2007 5:23PM]

I think you mean PSP firmware version 3.80 and PS3 firmware version 2.10

[p0p @ Jan 30th 2008 12:31PM]

has anyone actually tired playing any titles from the internet?? the AD-HOC review above is pretty cool, but what about from Hotspots, or using Infrastructure mode?

[p0p @ Jan 30th 2008 12:33PM]

Tried***

[p0p @ Jan 30th 2008 9:48PM]

i just picked up a psp today. i upgraded the firmware to the latest (3.9) and i am able to connect, and power on my ps3 from the internet outside of my home (work, friends house, etc.) using the WiFi + internet... this is so freaking cool.

so far I'm seeing that this supports PS1 games (FF7... i peed for like an hour). i had some trouble with the ps3 titles :"PAIN", and "Genji: The day of the blade", the psp stated it was not compatible... may at a later firmware update?? when i installed the firmware update, 3.9, the list of features was expanded remote play game support, so maybe more and more titles will become compatible in the future.

i did notice some slight "laggage", but in the option menu you can increase the kbps and this handles the lagg right away. it behaves like a really good emulator... kind of... or Remote Desktop, if anyone is familiar with that.

all in all, i say home run to Sony. the closest MS could get to this is allowing remote play from PCs to the 360 and even that isn't as good in my opinion (not to mention their almost complete lack of backwards compatibility).