Why aren't there many PS1,PS2, & PS3 games available for download on the PS3 store?

Question

I see Warhawk for PS3. Twisted Metal 2 from PS1. And those are all the good games. The Wii has all these...

http://wii.nintendo.com/virtualconsole.jsp

Answer 1

Because most PS3's (except the 40gb) can actually play the original PS1 and PS2 discs. You don't have to re-buy all the games you already own, you just put them in the PS3 and they'll play.

If you want a game you can just buy the disc. The Wii can only play Gamecube games, so if you want to play games from any other console (Nes/Snes/Genesis etc.) on the Wii you have to buy it again.

I'm sure they'll release more PS1 games in the future, but I doubt they will put PS2 games up for download. PS2 games are much larger than any virtual console game, and you already have the option of buying the disc, so why waste the hard drive space?

As for PS3 games, they can take up to 40 gb on a bluray disc, so you'd fit maybe 2 before the hard drive was full. Warhawk is a multiplayer only game, and doesn't take much space. That's the only reason it could be released, and downloaded on the PS Store. Even if you brought a terabyte hard drive for your PS3, think of how long it would take to download a 40gb game online. With the size of the playstation games and the option to buy cds/dvds/blu-ray discs, downloading games just isn't a good way to deliver the product.

Answer 2

the playstation 1 games are there so people buy a ps3 to get the game from the store which until recently was the only place to get them, they were put there for PSP owners

Answer 3

Top guy is right, not to mention that you would have to get that info off the HDD as you play, that would require some mighty fast spinning...