GAF machine
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Last year a patent application drove speculation that SIE was working on PS3 emulation and/or peripheral support for current PS5 consoles. I think that speculation misses the mark. In the 'Images' section of the application there's an illustration labeled FIG. 14 that shows a PS3 labeled '1400'. This "PS3" seems to actually be a PS5 that's PS3-like at the hardware level.
Entry [0203] of the application states: "The game console 1400 is an example of game console 402 (FIG. 4A)." Head up to entry [0073] and it reads: "The game console 402 is an example of the updated machine. For example, the game console 402 is the PS4™ or the PS5™".
In plain language, game console 1400 is an updated machine that runs PS4 and PS5 games. In addition, it also runs PS1 and PS2 games. Entries [0075], [0049], [0050], [0051] and [0081] (read in this order to get the gist) state that game console 402 has an 'emulated processing system' that takes PS1 or PS2 emulated PU code (i.e. PS1 or PS2 machine/binary code stored in memory as 'gcN'; per entry [0052] this code can't be executed by an updated machine if it hasn't been converted), converts a portion of the emulated PU code (i.e. gcN) into basic blocks of intermediate game code (i.e. 'GCN', not to be confused with gcN), compiles the blocks of GCN, then dispatches the blocks to game console 402's CPU and GPU to perform the operations of a legacy game in the same way a PS1 or PS2 would.
The emulated processing system works the same on game console 1400 as it does on a game console 402 (i.e., a PS4 or standard PS5), but game console 1400 is different in that it can process CPU related basic blocks of GCN code on a CELL processor. Entry [0204] reads: "For example, when the player is playing the legacy game N generated by execution of a portion of a game code, such as the game code GCN, the I/O bridge 1434 receives input data or an input signal, described herein, from a game controller 1342 (FIG. 13) or 1403 and/or from the HMD 1405 via a Bluetooth link and directs the input data to the cell processor 1428, which updates a current state of the legacy game N accordingly. As an example, a camera within the HMD 1405 captures a gesture of the player to generate an image representing the gesture".
Clearly, game console 1400 is not a PS3 in the original sense. It's likely a PS5 that:
Another interesting thing is that the application was published about three months before Tom Henderson's report on a 'D chassis' PS5 that accepts an optional disc drive. The timing of these two events give me the sense that a CELL-integrated version of the rumored D chassis PS5 is also coming, and will share the same optional disc drive with its base PS5 counterpart. SIE has probably already developed/test manufactured it in total secrecy to prevent leaks about its existence.
The first patent application is compelling in itself, and there's a second application that makes the first even more compelling. In FIG. 10 of the second application, there's a generic console illustrated and labeled ‘600’. Entry [0091] refers to this console as 'device 600' (game console 1400 and device 600 are similar in that they have dual CPUs). Even though device 600 is shown having a single CPU, the first sentence of entry [0092] reads: "In accordance with various embodiments, CPU 602 is one or more general-purpose microprocessors having one or more processing cores." And the last sentence in entry [0091] reads: "CPU 602 may be comprised of one or more homogeneous or heterogeneous processing cores".
In other words, device 600's CPU can consist of two CPUs. One CPU can have homogeneous cores, the other CPU heterogeneous cores. The PS3 is discontinued, and the PS4's time has passed. The only console dual CPUs make sense for is a yet to be announced CELL-integrated PS5.
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Entry [0203] of the application states: "The game console 1400 is an example of game console 402 (FIG. 4A)." Head up to entry [0073] and it reads: "The game console 402 is an example of the updated machine. For example, the game console 402 is the PS4™ or the PS5™".
In plain language, game console 1400 is an updated machine that runs PS4 and PS5 games. In addition, it also runs PS1 and PS2 games. Entries [0075], [0049], [0050], [0051] and [0081] (read in this order to get the gist) state that game console 402 has an 'emulated processing system' that takes PS1 or PS2 emulated PU code (i.e. PS1 or PS2 machine/binary code stored in memory as 'gcN'; per entry [0052] this code can't be executed by an updated machine if it hasn't been converted), converts a portion of the emulated PU code (i.e. gcN) into basic blocks of intermediate game code (i.e. 'GCN', not to be confused with gcN), compiles the blocks of GCN, then dispatches the blocks to game console 402's CPU and GPU to perform the operations of a legacy game in the same way a PS1 or PS2 would.
The emulated processing system works the same on game console 1400 as it does on a game console 402 (i.e., a PS4 or standard PS5), but game console 1400 is different in that it can process CPU related basic blocks of GCN code on a CELL processor. Entry [0204] reads: "For example, when the player is playing the legacy game N generated by execution of a portion of a game code, such as the game code GCN, the I/O bridge 1434 receives input data or an input signal, described herein, from a game controller 1342 (FIG. 13) or 1403 and/or from the HMD 1405 via a Bluetooth link and directs the input data to the cell processor 1428, which updates a current state of the legacy game N accordingly. As an example, a camera within the HMD 1405 captures a gesture of the player to generate an image representing the gesture".
Clearly, game console 1400 is not a PS3 in the original sense. It's likely a PS5 that:
- runs disc/digital versions of PS1, PS2, PS3 games, digital versions of PSP games.
- Share Plays disc/digital versions of PS1, PS2, PS3, PS4, PS5 and digital versions of PSP games between itself and another game console 1400 or other updated machine (per entry [0049] of the application, the other updated machines are: "a Sony PlayStation™ 4 (PS4™) or a Sony PlayStation™ 5 (PS5™) or a desktop computer or a laptop computer or a smartphone or a smart television.").
- runs Stereoscopic 3D (S3D) PS3 games and possibly select PS2, PS1 games (e.g., Warhawk PS1 illustrated in FIG. 4) in VR should SIE choose to retrofit them.
- allows users to connect old PS3 peripherals (e.g., a PSP or PS2 card reader) via WiFi, Bluetooth or USB to use remotely and/or retrieve data from, like a PS3.
Another interesting thing is that the application was published about three months before Tom Henderson's report on a 'D chassis' PS5 that accepts an optional disc drive. The timing of these two events give me the sense that a CELL-integrated version of the rumored D chassis PS5 is also coming, and will share the same optional disc drive with its base PS5 counterpart. SIE has probably already developed/test manufactured it in total secrecy to prevent leaks about its existence.
The first patent application is compelling in itself, and there's a second application that makes the first even more compelling. In FIG. 10 of the second application, there's a generic console illustrated and labeled ‘600’. Entry [0091] refers to this console as 'device 600' (game console 1400 and device 600 are similar in that they have dual CPUs). Even though device 600 is shown having a single CPU, the first sentence of entry [0092] reads: "In accordance with various embodiments, CPU 602 is one or more general-purpose microprocessors having one or more processing cores." And the last sentence in entry [0091] reads: "CPU 602 may be comprised of one or more homogeneous or heterogeneous processing cores".
In other words, device 600's CPU can consist of two CPUs. One CPU can have homogeneous cores, the other CPU heterogeneous cores. The PS3 is discontinued, and the PS4's time has passed. The only console dual CPUs make sense for is a yet to be announced CELL-integrated PS5.
Part II
Part III
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