Following yesterday's report that a Sony patent was spotted, pointing to a purely software-based solution to the PS2 emulation issue, TheSixthAxis reports that the PS2 emulation issue isn't due to the Emotion Engine, which is already up and running. The problem lies with the Graphics Synthesizer, which now appears to be an obstacle to downloadable PS2 games on the PlayStation Store.

For those who don't know, the Emotion Engine is the chip that Sony designed which acts as the PS2 CPU. The non-backwards compatible PS3s do not have one of these, hence, no PS2 games. According to the patent spotted, Sony is readying the code and the technology to use the Emotion Engine once again.

PS3Hax has released a tutorial (complete with video) on how to play PS2 ISOs on the PlayStation 3. Note: this process needs a launch PS3 (with the Emotion Engine) for this. Emulation's not gonna cut it. Details after the link.

We know a lot of you Sony PlayStation 3 backwards compatibility fans are worried sick about what the future holds for this feature with the demise of the 80GB PS3 SKU. Is there hope? There has to be. PSN chief Eric Lempell was quoted in an interview that possibilities exist in bringing BC via their online service. Read on for the details.

EB Games is currently taking pre-orders for Sony's behemoth 80GB PlayStation 3 model. And if we are to believe the recent listing found on the retail chain's online site, consumers should be getting it starting tomorrow, August 1. It comes with MotorStorm, aside from the now-standard five free Blu-ray movies.

Consumers should take note that these new SKUs don't come with the Emotion Engine so those who are planning to buy it will encounter problems with backwards compatibility. Despite that, it should be remembered as well that Sony has promised to come up with a software solution to this in the future.

Furthermore, EB Games cautioned that it is possible to have one or two-day turnaround time for initial deliveries that will cause some delays. The new SKU is priced for US$ 599.99. We know a lot of you currently own PS3 units right now. Anybody planning to buy a new one?

Interested parties may place pre-orders to EB Games by clicking our Read link below.

GamePro managed to catch up with Sony Computer Entertainment's (SCE) Jack Tretton during this year's E3, and sat down to discuss why a flash drive was not included in the redesign of the PSP. Tretton was also asked how he perceived the handheld gaming experience. Interestingly, GamePro also asked him how he would describe each of the three currently competing consoles, in terms of food.

Tretton said that Sony didn't include a flash drive in the redesigned PSP simply because they wouldn't want to shortchange the people who already had the original PSP handhelds. He emphasized the importance of not leaving out any consumer every time a console or handheld changes design.

I think one of the risks you run into when you get into [embedding flash memory into a new PSP model] is, what happens to the people who already bought it? And are you going to get the development community to make UMD based games? We have to make sure that anything we do, as far as the evolution of hardware, doesn't leave consumers behind.

He then talked about bringing the console experience through handhelds, which he said that the PSP is able to do with its high-end hardware. Tretton's previous definition of portable gaming was likened to something that "little kids on airplanes [play] to keep them quiet". With the PSP, however, Tretton said that they were able to port over the console gaming experience that will appeal to a broader range of people, not just children.

On a more PS3-related note, Tretton announced that gamers now have two choices on the PlayStation 3 console - whether they want the 60GB PS3 powered with the Emotion Engine, or if they prefer the 80GB PS3 that uses software emulation. With the 80GB flavor, he said, gamers get US$ 160 worth of value for only US$ 100.

Now comes the fun part. When asked about what each current game console will be should he describe them as food, he has this to say (in the process adding yet another jab towards Microsoft's Xbox 360):

I think the PS3 is the Surf 'n Turf. You want the lobster and steak and you're going to give yourself the treat of getting the best thing on the menu. The PS2 is your favorite burger restaurant -- you go there for comfort food and it's just always good and is a good value...[As for the other two consoles], one [Wii] is a lollipop, and I'm too old for lollipops. The other one [Xbox 360] I get sick from once in a while because the cook isn't always reliable.

Check out the full interview in the Read link!

It has been confirmed that the 80GB PlayStation 3 models originally released in South Korea will soon be available to North American consumers. It'll have a price tag of US$ 599 and a copy of video game title MotorStorm will be bundled with it.

Aside from that, we also got word that the new model will do away with the Emotion Engine chip. Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA) spokesperson Kimberly Otzman explained,

The current 60GB model utilizes a hardware and solution for backwards compatibility, namely the Emotion Engine chip. The new 80GB PS3 will use a software solution for backwards compatibility, similar to that currently found in the PAL model.

The spokesperson noted that the Emotion Engine chip will not be phased out as it will continue to ship with the 60GB models. However, those who will purchase the new model in August will "likely need to download system updates to ensure backwards compatibility".

For purposes of discussion, keep in mind that Nintendo has made the Wii hardware compatible with GameCube software while Microsoft has always offered updates to make the original Xbox titles run on the Xbox 360. This will be the first time PlayStation 3 owners in the U.S. will have to download updates for backwards compatibility.

This is definitely mixed news for fans of footy games. While there are plans to release a patch for the PS3 that'll allow for online support for the PS2's Pro Evolution Soccer 6, there doesn't seem to be a definite date for such a patch to appear.

One of the main problems with playing PES6 now is that the emotion Engine has been taken out of Euro PS2s. To play certain games or to allow certain games their full functionality, people would have to wait for patches to come that would remedy those existing problems. Unfortunately, Konami noted the game as playable but "with noticeable issues," one of them being the disabling of multiplayer.

There's good news and bad news behind all this trouble though. The good news is that, according to Eurogamer, "Sony told Eurogamer this morning that we'd probably not see a fix until the next firmware update." The bad news is that, since Sony just released FW 1.6 a little over a week ago, there's no date for any sort of new firmware scheduled.

Take it for what it is though, sports fans. You WILL be getting your PES 6 fix eventually, and that's definitely something worth looking forward to in the meantime.

Now that the PS3 has finally been released in Europe, it is once again time for that phase in a gaming console's life when everyone just wants to see its guts. Hence, the Swedish site Console.se did just that, and took some nice pictures of the PAL PS3's motherboard.

Known as the PS3 PAL COK-002 Motherboard, it's pretty much a beautiful green and silver panel of technology and silicon, just like its U.S. counterpart. The main difference would be that there seems to be a gaping hole in the spot where the Emotion Engine was supposed to be.

Anyway, I am admittedly a non-techy, so all I know is that the glorious 2816 x 2112 images of the motherboard are really pretty to look at. However, I do know that there are a lot of you out there who can probably see a whole lot more than I ever could in this sea of chips and plastic. Because of this, we've put up the whole set of high-res photos that the folks from Console.se took, and you just simply have to download it via the link below, extract it, and enjoy.

Download: PS3 PAL COK-002 Motherboard images

Remember the European PlayStation 3 compatibility status site that we told you about a couple of days ago? If you are a fan of Pro Evolution Soccer 6 (PES 6) on PlayStation 2 (PS2) and have actually browsed though the said site, you might know by now that it listed the video game as playing but "with noticeable issues."

According to publisher Konami, the single player and the versus modes of PES 6 are actually compatible with the PS3. The "noticeable issue", however, refers to the game's online features. Konami explained that this is due to the alterations made to the console's hardware specifications. It would be remembered that the Emotion Engine, alongside the graphics synthesizer which powers the PS2 was removed and replaced by another. Sony assured fans that compatibility issues will eventually be resolved through firmware updates.

To those who insist on playing PES 6 on the PS3 (yes, that includes us), Konami suggested that players should avoid using 60Hz and network modes. Doing so will cause, the company explained, "noticeable graphical corruption not present in the main game."