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Difference Between Emotion Engine & Emulator

Some versions of the PlayStation 3 game console include a chip called the Emotion Engine. The Emotion Engine is the Central Processing Unit for the PlayStation 2 console. Its presence in the PlayStation 3 makes it possible for the PlayStation 3 to run PlayStation 2 games exactly as they would run on the older console. Other versions of the console do not include the Emotion Engine and maintain partial compatibility with PlayStation 2 games through software emulation.

Background
- There are significant differences between the hardware of the PlayStation 2 and PlayStation 3. The Emotion Engine processor -- jointly created by Sony and Toshiba -- uses a reduced instruction set called MIPS. Sony collaborated with Toshiba and IBM on the development of the PlayStation 3 processor, called the Cell Broadband Engine. The two processors are not compatible. For this reason, Sony elected to include the Emotion Engine in the original design of the PlayStation 3 so consumers could purchase the new console without losing the ability to play legacy games. However, Sony removed the chip in later revisions of the PlayStation 3 as a cost-cutting measure. Sony originally used software emulation to translate software for the Emotion Engine into code the Cell Broadband Engine could process, but eventually removed the emulation feature as well.
Backward-Compatible PlayStation 3 Models
- Three PlayStation 3 models manufactured for distribution in the United States have full or partial PlayStation 2 compatibility. The original 20 gigabyte and 60GB PlayStation 3 models -- model numbers CECHB01 and CECHA01 respectively -- include the Emotion Engine. The original 80GB PlayStation 3 -- model number CECHE01 -- uses emulation to run PlayStation 2 software. No PlayStation 3 models released after late 2007 are compatible with PlayStation 2 software.
Emulation Compatibility Issues
- PlayStation 3 consoles that use software emulation for PlayStation 2 compatibility do not work with all PlayStation 2 games. Some of the games that exhibit problems in software emulation include "Xenosaga: Episode II," "Virtua Fighter 4," "Unreal Tournament," "Tekken 4" and "Star Ocean: Till the End of Time." The problems range from audio and video anomalies to freezing that prevents game completion. The official PlayStation website has a partial list of PlayStation 2 games that do not work properly under software emulation.
Downloadable PlayStation 2 Games
- If your PlayStation 3 does not have the ability to run PlayStation 2 software using the Emotion Engine or an emulator, you may find the game you want on the online PlayStation Store. Sony began offering PlayStation 2 games on the store in late 2011. Some of the available PlayStation 2 games include "BloodRayne," "Full Spectrum Warrior," "Odin Sphere" and "Raiden III." They work on any PlayStation 3 model.

PlayStation 3