Want to know if your PS2 version of Metal Gear Solid will work on the PS3? What about whether Grand Theft Auto is supported?

Sony today launched a website that will allow PlayStation 3 owners to see which of their PlayStation 2 titles are playable on its new console following the removal of the Emotion chip from European models.

However to have a chance of playing the old games, new owners of a European PS3 will need to install the latest firmware upgrade to play the PS2 titles listed on the website.

The upgrade will be available at launch from midnight on 22nd March through the PlayStation Network, for those unable to access the internet, on a disc obtained from local Customer Services and merely requires you to download it directly to the PS3 in a similar way as to PSP firmware updates.

"We will be adding additional titles to this list in future firmware upgrades, but as we have made clear before, in the future our resources will be increasingly focused on developing new services and entertainment features exclusively for PS3, rather than on delivering PS2 backwards compatibility”, said David Reeves, President of SCEE.

The latest system software upgrade already available in Japan (Version 1.60) will add the Folding@home software, background downloading of content from the PlayStation Store, support for Bluetooth keyboards and mice, and an optional full QWERTY on-screen keyboard for text entry.

The Folding@home project allows PS3 owners to connect to Stanford University’s Folding@home program, a distributed computing project aimed at understanding protein folding, misfolding, and related diseases, such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and many cancers. Using the power of the Cell Broadband Engine, PS3 system can perform computer simulations for the Folding@home program ten times faster than your average home PC. Once PS3 system is updated to version 1.60, users can easily sign up to join the Folding@home program by clicking on the appropriate logo under the Network icon. Then, when the PS3 system is left on and reaches idle mode, it will automatically begin a simulation and, once completed, send information back to a central computer

Firmware Version 1.60 also delivers a more convenient process for downloading content to the PS3 from the PlayStation Store. Up to six pieces of content from the PlayStation store can be queued up for download while the user enjoys other functions of the PS3 system, including playing games, browsing the web, using media functions including photo browsing, video and music playback. Progress of downloads can be easily tracked under a new Download Management menu under the XMB’s Network icon.

Firmware 1.60 also provides support for keyboards and mice enabled with Bluetooth wireless technology. Text entry is further expanded with the option to use a full QWERTY on-screen keyboard, in addition to the existing single tap keyboard. PS3’s built-in web browser is also enhanced with the ability to zoom in to the optimal viewing size for the selected area of a web page at the press of a button, as well as an optional tool for reducing flicker when the PS3 system is using interlaced video out (480i or 1080i).

The web site at lists those titles from the portfolio of PS2 titles available in the SCEE PAL territories that are playable on PS3.

>> Link - PS2 titles playable on PS3