It's dead, Jim.

[Dirt]

After 7 years of faithful service, my PS2 is dead. I'm getting Disk Read Error. I'm pretty sure it's my own fault. Anyways, I've been wanting to upgrade for awhile now. Which version of the PS3 is backwards compatible? I still want to be able to play all my old PS2 games.

[Midnight Son]

60gb Ps3 is hardware compat, 80gb is said to be 80% software compat. But it costs too damn much! Just get a new slim PS2 for $129.

[EvilIdler]

Pre-owned PS2s are sold in stacks here for even less than $129. Check your local EB, and buy another two.

[RickH]

Before tossing it, try one of those disc cleaners with the tiny brushes embedded on the disc. I rehabilitated an original PS2 with DREs that's still going strong 2 years after cleaning.

But if you're looking for an excuse to upgrade, toss it.

[Jazar]

There's a 20Gb refurb PS3 for $380 at EB.com (http://www.ebgames.com/Catalog/ProductDetails.aspx?product_id=64005). That has hardware BC but no wifi.

[Qenan]

At this point, I think I'd just hold off until a cheaper PS2 model comes out. Full BC has been dropped from the PS3 line.

[Zuwadza]

Is it an original PS2? Have you tried this (http://arstechnica.com/articles/paedia/hardware/ps2.ars)? This fixed disk read errors on my launch unit.

[Gendal]

Yep, I have had to disassemble my launch PS2 a couple of times now to clean the dust off. Of course at this point I play off HDLoader and am much happier for it. Or I did till I got a PS3, which makes it usually not only look better, but play surprisingly close to HDLoader speeds for most games.

[Lizard_King]

Both my 2002 PS2 and my 2003 PS2 are still doing really well. The only problems I've ever had with disc read errors are on the 2007 slim PS2 that I bought to take overseas with me...of course, that one went the extra mile to reinforce its POS status, from not reading normal discs whenever it felt like it to outright rejecting games like GoW and Rez. Matter of fact, if my old PS2s weren't so reliable, it probably would have made pulling the trigger on a 60gb PS3 a lot easier back in the day.

[Harkonis]

Put me in the 'get another PS2' camp.

Get a PS3 if you want a PS3 or Blueray, don't get a PS3 to play your PS2 games.

[BobJustBob]

The PS3 is much, much better than the PS2 at playing PS2 games. Assuming you can find a 60GB, of course.

[jfletch]

Put me in the 'get another PS2' camp.

Get a PS3 if you want a PS3 or Blueray, don't get a PS3 to play your PS2 games.

But... he did say he wanted a PS3.

[scharmers]

GET ANOTHER PS2.

I am still getting soooooo much life out of mine now. The various plastic guitar things, Baroque, Persona, even some old Twisted Metal Black.

[Rimbo]

I was only playing two games on my PS2 when it croaked: Katamari Damacy, which I'd finished and was really pretty much done with, and Rez.

Since Rez HD came out on the 360, I haven't felt the need to replace it or to get a PS3.

[Kadath]

I'd wait for the MGS bundle if you can, if you can't wait then if you are a Costco member the in-store bundle they have on the 80GB system seems to be your best option unless you are willing to buy a 60GB used.

I also just got a dead PS2 handed to me by a coworker, I intend to strip it down to the motherboard just to see how it's put together...

[Quitch]

60gb Ps3 is hardware compat

In the US, not Europe.

[Qenan]

Right, but Dirt lives in the US.

[Abiding Dude]

Right, but Dirt lives in the US.

Yeah, bitter dirt clinging to their guns and PS2s!

[Quitch]

I'm sure more than one continent will read the thread however.