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   If you're expecting to find out just how many PS2 games will be playable on the PlayStation 3 in Europe at launch, then I'm sorry to disappoint you. Or rather, I'm sorry that Sony still disappoints us all, with their latest comments regarding the recently uncovered PS2 (in)compatibility "issues". Late last week, it was announced that the PAL version of the PlayStation 3 will be somewhat less compatible with PS2 games, due to its updated - as in downgraded - hardware specifications. The "next-gen" stuff is all still in place, sure enough, but the Emotion Engine (used to emulate PS2 games in the US and Japanese models) suffered a slight... removal.

   We weren't entirely sure about this a few days ago, but now we are. Speaking to semi-official blog Three Speech, Sony confirmed that "with the latest European specification we have removed the Emotion Engine, retaining the [Graphics Synthesiser] chip. This has an impact on the number of PS2 titles that will be backwards compatible".

   Unfortunately, when asked to provide a figure for how many PS2 games will (not) be playable in PAL territories, Sony gave a non-response, basically restating the same thing they said last week:
"We have been assessing the extent of backward compatibility, and will continue to do so right up until launch. It is therefore not possible to provide a specific number of backwards compatible titles at this stage, but close to launch consumers will be able to check whether their titles are compatible with PS3 by looking at the list of compatible titles at faq.eu.playstation.com/bc. This site will be available on 23rd March to meet launch day."    Ultimately, Sony's only useful response tells us how we can tell apart the "good PS3s" (US / Japan) from the "bad PS3s" (Europe, Australia etc.):
On the external packaging of the PS3 there will be a small 'PAL' logo to denote that the PS3 is built for the European market (North American and Japanese models have a 'NTSC' logo). The model number will also appear on the label stuck to the top flap of the PS3 packaging (beginning CECHC followed by two digits - see below).

In addition, each PS3 carries a barcode and serial number on the back of the system. At the end of the unique serial number for each console is the model number. In the SCEE territories there are four model numbers:

Europe: CECHC04
UK and Ireland: CECHC03
Australia/New Zealand: CECHC02
Russia/India: CECHC08    One dreadful question still hangs unanswered, though: will the "updated" PlayStation 3 models be introduced on the US and Japanese markets as well in the future? I have a feeling that today's highly-backwards compatible NTSC models are going to become something of a rarity by next year.