PS2 & Dreamcast Downloads Coming to PS3?

[DaMadFiddler]

http://www.joystiq.com/2009/09/22/rumor ... -and-drea/

Okay, buckle up -- there's a whole lot to take in here. Sega's public relations FTP site recently got a titillating addition: The alleged minutes from an August 5 meeting between the Hedgehog-centric developer and Sony Computer Entertainment America. (The document is reproduced in its entirety after the break.)

The biggest, potential news from this document concerns SCEA's general plans for the future. One excerpt from the minutes lists a Spring 2010 launch window for the PlayStation Motion Controller -- specifically March for Japan. Another noteworthy section mentions a "PS2 emulator for PS3," which claims that "SCEA wants to sell all PS2 titles on PSN." Later in the document, the possibility of Dreamcast titles on PSN is also mentioned, in addition to a "Japanese Import" section.

This leak has an air of credibility due to its appearance on Sega's public FTP resource center -- however, it's entirely possible that it could have been uploaded to said FTP site by a hack-savvy Dreamcast enthusiast. Maintain your skepticism as you browse the full document.

[Via NeoGAF]

Alleged official meeting notes:

SCEA Meeting Aug 5th Notes
Aug 6 2009 – DRAFT FOR COMMENTS

Objectives of Meeting

* Dyer agreed to regular quarterly meetings with SOA

Sony PS3

* SCEA reiterated plans to sell 13 million PS3s this year
* Big announcement back half of year they can't talk about (potentially price cut of PS3 to reach hardware goals)
* SCEA commented on indexing between PS3 and 360 SKUs, should be around 2:1 to garner most favorable treatment.

Motion Controller

* Spring 2010 launch (March in JP)
* No bundle/pricing details yet, should come Sept 1
* Plan on selling 4-5MM units WW
* SCEA agreed to provide a list of Sega IP that would work well with the motion controller, Virtua Tennis was an example
* Motion Controller support allows easy way to differentiate PS3 SKU
* Other differentiation opportunities include PSP/PS3 interoperability – think of features that would make users want to buy both PS3 and PSP SKUs.

Alpha Protocol

* Michael Foster, product evaluator, said AP felt barely RPG. Initial level too challenging for players. "Mass Effect felt more RPG."
* Review notes sent to John Merlino a few weeks prior. After meeting Gerald mentioned AP is a high priority for his team.

Planet 51

* Sell in of PS3 SKU – SCEA noted that other movie titles on PS3 had underperformed as well (inc. Transformers) this cycle.
* Dyer suggests contacting Susan at Walmart and asking what she wants in the pack to sell this SKU (movie tix etc)
* Other possibilities are Hybrid movie disc (BD 25 or 50 with Game and Movie on same disc).

Bayonetta

* Collectors edition with Bayonetta Action Figure
* Novo recommended launching PSN demo around Xmas based off a Jan 5th Ship date with 2-3 week run out to launch.
* 3-4 weeks is usually ideal demo timing with fresh content every week leading up to launch (trailers, insider video about PG heritage, video blogs).

Vancouver 2010

* HOME, Olympic destination would garner a lot of positive attention from SCEA
* Should be doing same with Bayonetta, Marvel etc. Easy to launch in all territories.
* HOME merchandizing opportunities (clothes etc).

Sonic Racing

* Open to DLC to differentiate PS3 SKU – not ratchet and clank but other characters
* maybe characters from Rare or Fable universes

Yakuza

* Could put Japanese games directly on PSN for download in a special Japanese Import section (pricing $9.99 to $39.99 for full game).
* Might need to localize menus at least with subtitles.
* SCEA interested in helping on MKTG side if they can have period of exclusivity.

AVP

* Another great HOME candidate
* AVP avatars
* Hybrid BD disc with movie

Iron Man 2

* Great candidate for HOME space – explore Tony Stark's lab etc.
* Should have one for Marvel in general.

PSU2

* Could do bundle at GameStop with PSP 30-35K units on UMD, Go, or both.

Valkyria 1937

* Could bundle with PSP as well.

Vanquish and Aliens: CM

* Opportunity for PS3/PSP interoperability (see Eidos Batman, Army of Two, Assassin's Creed for good examples).
* If we offer that SCEA would be really interested in having us at their booth next E3.

Thor

* SCEA would like a look at the code soon.

Sonic Anniversary

* Could put out collectors edition with all old sonic games on one BD disc.
* "Best of Sonic" for around $99.
* SCEA would love PSN exclusive power ups/different game modes (like Castlevania's flip it over/backwards)

PS2 emulator for PS3 (confidential)

* SCEA wants to sell all PS2 titles on PSN (GTA Vice City/Sonic/etc)
* For co Marketing money show PS3 controller on TV ads – similar to EA Madden Spots, NCAA, etc...

London Olympics

* Perfect opportunity for Motion Controller integration.

DC Digital Titles

* If we provide a list of DC titles SCEA will let us know which ones they're interested in having exclusively.
* If we give them a long period of exclusivity they'll give us more marketing support.

PSP Titles

* For SKU differentiation it's best to offer features that are slightly different from PS3 version.
* Titles that are coming up on PSP are Assassin's Creed II, GTA China Wars, Resident Evil, Little Big Planet – all massive franchises.
* SCEA has a specific PSP deck which they can send up with their hardware director for a chat.

[Specially Cork]

The DC stuff will happen at some point, on either console or possibly both. There's money to be made, may as well make it.

[Ex-Cyber]

I wonder how many games would be stuck in licensing hell.

[DaMadFiddler]

I wonder how many games would be stuck in licensing hell.

For the longest time, I was worried that I wouldn't get to see a lot of the games I'd have liked as downloadable content, for just this reason. But Capcom managed to get Marvel vs. Capcom 2 out, and the Super Star Wars games managed to make it out on Virtual Console. That gives me at least a little hope for other titles.

...Still not counting on ever (legally) seeing the Genesis Aladdin game again, though.

[U-said-it]

PS2 emulator for PS3 (confidential)

* SCEA wants to sell all PS2 titles on PSN (GTA Vice City/Sonic/etc)

What is the difference between an PS2 emulator on the PS3, and the older PS2 software backwards compatible PS3 units? The newer PS3 slim doesn't have hardware, or software, derived backwards compatibility.

[Eviltaco64X]

PS2 emulator for PS3 (confidential)

* SCEA wants to sell all PS2 titles on PSN (GTA Vice City/Sonic/etc)

What is the difference between an PS2 emulator on the PS3, and the older PS2 software backwards compatible PS3 units? The newer PS3 slim doesn't have hardware, or software, derived backwards compatibility.

I believe the PS3s that partially emulated PS2 had no Emotion Engine processor while they still retained other PS2 hardware (the graphics synthesizer). This would be entirely emulated.

Anyway, that Sonic Anniversary Collection looks cool. It would rock to see everything up to SA2 on one disc.

[DaMadFiddler]

PS2 emulator for PS3 (confidential)

* SCEA wants to sell all PS2 titles on PSN (GTA Vice City/Sonic/etc)

What is the difference between an PS2 emulator on the PS3, and the older PS2 software backwards compatible PS3 units? The newer PS3 slim doesn't have hardware, or software, derived backwards compatibility.

I believe the PS3s that partially emulated PS2 had no Emotion Engine processor while they still retained other PS2 hardware (the graphics synthesizer). This would be entirely emulated.

Anyway, that Sonic Anniversary Collection looks cool. It would rock to see everything up to SA2 on one disc.

Maybe they'll finally fix Sonic Adventure. DX partially fixed the camera, but broke it in other (far stranger) ways. The really odd thing I noticed about SADX is that while it runs at 60fps and improves the camera angles, it seems like the camera is constantly correcting itself, resulting in the game having a jerky look, giving sort of a faked appearance of a lower framerate than what's actually being displayed. It's a very bizarre effect, and I've never seen anything like it in any other game.