Hardware covers the technology of game playing, whether PC, consoles or figurines on a board.
If there's one thing that's true about me when it comes to gaming, it's that I love retro games. I have more virtual console games for my Wii than all the Wiiware and Wii-software titles combined and will probably get more virtual console games before I buy more regular Wii games. Likewise, I'm looking at PS1 releases and arcade ports more than new PS3 games and should I ever get an Xbox360, you know that Xbox Live Arcade is where I'm going to be spending most of my money. So, it should be no surprise that I want to play PS2 games.
In fact, I intentionally bought a PS3 when I learned that future iterations would lose backwards compatibility so that I wouldn't have to get a PS2 in order to play those PS2 games that I had previously purchased to play on my previous roommate's system. But, I'd learn to my dismay that the PS3 version I purchased (80GB software emulation) isn't fully compatible with the range of PS2 games, including several that I want to play. Which means that I'm going to have to get my hands on a PS2 to play them--legacy connectors, resolution and accessories as well.
That would not be cool.
But I also looked into getting a beat up used PS2 and pulling the BIOS off to use for an emulator like PCSX2 so I could play those games on my PC instead. The benefit of that would be that, on the PC, I would be able to take advantage of its superior processing power and graphics capabilities, which can then be leveraged into playing PS2 games at higher resolutions with new shaders and filters to make the experience even prettier than a TV-upscaled version played from the old box. The process of pulling the BIOS, however, is a little complicated and would probably not be all that fun to make work, although I could. Furthermore, I was glancing at the compatibility list on the PCSX2 site and it turns out that many of the same games that my PS3 has trouble with, PCSX2 also has problems emulating, nullifying the main advantage of emulating.
So, it looks like I will have to eventually pick up a PS2 if I want to play those old PS2 games, unless Sony changes their minds (as they are wont to do) and greater backwards compatibility shows up on the PS3. But, that got me thinking. See, a lot of households have now entered the HDTV era and own nicer, fancier sets capable of 720p, 1080i and 1080p, using component and HDMI hookups. The old PS2 is still stuck in the stone age, putting out SDTV visuals which then have to be stretched either by the TV or some other processor in between and end up looking like blurry fuzz on the TV.
But, what if a new PS2 was released? A new enhanced PS2 that has more firepower than the old and can connect audio and video via HDMI? A new enhanced PS2 that takes emulation tech to the next level, by not only perfectly emulating the entire library of PS2 games, but on top of that, adding all the features of PC PS2 emulators, like improved 1080p resolution, and newer graphics technology to add effects to the visuals, like filters and shaders. On top of that, make all the PS3 accessories compatible with the new HD PS2 and we're set! One set of controllers, two boxes, say hello to breathing new life into your old PS2 games!
See how a custom "storybook" shader works on ePSXe (PSX emulator) for FFVII
In that ideal world, I'd finally be able to play all my old games (and many more that I don't have) for the PS2, but also get to play them with the advantages of modern technology. That said, I think retro gamers like me aren't as common as those who will only play the newest and shiniest games, but, Sony, if you're listening at all to me--here's a way to further extend the life of your old platform.
Preferably, you'd just improve backwards compatibility for my PS3 and just add all these features in, but barring that, I'd buy an enhanced HD PS2.