Playing PS2 games on your PS3. We know Sony could so it with hardware emulation (the launch 60GB model could). We know Sony can do it with software emulation (they recently received a patent for software emulation). But Sony doesn’t want to do it, and have gone as far as to say it won’t ever be happening.

So, is this really a bad thing? It’s not like there’s a shortage of quality PS3 titles both at retail and on PSN, but the PS2 library is so expansive, and filled with hundreds of great titles, why should gamers be forced to buy a last generation console, when their current one can do the job just fine? Why Sony, why?

I think we got confirmation of the real answer this past week with the announcement of the special God of War 2-pack coming soon for the PS3. And I think the simple answer is this: why should you pay Gamestop for a used copy when Sony can sell you a brand new version at a higher price? Call me cynical, but I firmly believe that backwards compatability is dead, and it’s all about the dollars.

To their credit, this new version will be tweaked with hi-resolutionish graphics and include trophies for both games, so it is a better product than just picking up a used copy of the PS2 games. And its not really fair to criticize the choice of the God of War titles, because they are without question amongst the best of the last generation. But in the long run, I imagine we’ll be seeing more compilations of the best series of PS2 titles. And eventually, I can see a select number of PS2 titles available in the Playstation Store.

But I don’t see putting a PS2 disc in my PS3 and being able to play Burnout Revenge, or Final Fantasy XII. Which is kinda too bad. Maybe I shouldn’t have sold my PS2 to pay for the PS3 after all.