The story so far on Xbox 360 backwards compatibility

[Richter Belmount]

http://kotaku.com/gaming/gdc07/gdc07...ing-242776.php

It may have been lost in the news yesterday, but right after the Microsoft Blogger Breakfast I cornered Chris Satchell to ask him about the future of the Xbox 360's backwards compatibility.

He said that Microsoft still has a team working on it, but that they won't continue to do so forever.

"At some point we're going to focus less on it," he said. "When you get to the end of this year there will be a reduced focus on backwards compatibility. There are so many 360 games out there. I don't know if it's important anymore."

So that now leaves the Wii as the only console that seems to keep that as an important feature. Is it? Brian Crecente

[Ze_ro]

There's nothing that implies any time line, let alone anything that would lead you to believe it is happening "soon".

--Zero

[Richter Belmount]

Im not going to debate that, bad name for the topic

[Nintendo Gamer]

.....

[Technosis]

More than likely, Microsoft can't see a business case for continuing to pay the salaries of programmers to increase the list of compatible games.

[njiska]

"So that now leaves the Wii as the only console that seems to keep that as an important feature. Is it? Brian Crecente"

Yes, because apparently the PS3 doesn't exist in this world.

Europeean PS3s have software only backwards compatibility. Far less support then the US PS3.

[Griking]

I really don't have a big problem with this. I never expected EVERY original Xbox game to be compatible. I mean, is everyone going to get up in arms because they can't play their old copy of Barbie Horse Adventures on their 360?

[agbulls]

I admit to being frustrated by this. I had all three consoles last generation, and purchased the XB version often due to the superior visuals. Now, in order to eliminate clutter, I've gotten rid of my original XB. What does this mean? It means I regret having bought XB games and not buying the PS2 version. I have a PS3, and its plays everything with no problems. Long term problem? No. Short term frustration? Hell yes.

[MegaDrive20XX]

That stinks....well no 2D fighters will make it for sure now Thanks Microsoft, ya green case lovin' bastards...

I still wish I could play Silent Hill 2 again...or Metal Gear Solid 2....or Return to Castle Wolfenstien..oh well, I guess it's for the better.

[Neil Koch]

I really don't have a big problem with this. I never expected EVERY original Xbox game to be compatible. I mean, is everyone going to get up in arms because they can't play their old copy of Barbie Horse Adventures on their 360?

Well, actually Barbie Horse Adventures _is_ one of the compatible games, which is a bit of a noodle-scratcher.

[SaturnFan]

I really don't care.

Halo
Halo 2
San Andreas
Ninja Gaiden Black
Shenmue II

Works already and thats the only BC games I own and care about playing on the 360.

[PapaStu]

Well, actually Barbie Horse Adventures _is_ one of the compatible games, which is a bit of a noodle-scratcher.

There are lots of games that are programmed similarly and when they are working out the emulators they try out all kinds of games. Sometimes it only takes a few tweaks to make a game work when that inital emulator was designed for some totally different game.

[heybtbm]

I admit to being frustrated by this. I had all three consoles last generation, and purchased the XB version often due to the superior visuals.

I'm in the same boat. While I haven't ditched my original Xbox, easily 50% of my games are not yet backwards compatible. Since last year, I've been picking up the PS2 versions and selling my Xbox versions just so I can play them...but usually the PS2 version ends up looking and playing terrible. I still hate the analog stick placement on the PS2 controller. C'mon Microsoft...give us a B/C update with Mercenaries at least.

[Richter Belmount]

Or atleast with one good 2d fighter

[Melf]

I really don't care.

Halo
Halo 2
San Andreas
Ninja Gaiden Black
Shenmue II

Works already and thats the only BC games I own and care about playing on the 360.

Unfortunately, not everyone is you.

I won't be happy until OutRun 2, Orta, Chronicles of Riddick, D&D Heroes, and a few others are compatible.

[Rob2600]

I'm in the same boat...easily 50% of my games are not yet backwards compatible.

The majority of gamers these days don't spend up to $600 on a new video game console so that they can play the same old games they've been playing for the past five years on machines they already have. They spend up to $600 so that they can play new games.

If you want to play your old games, just keep your old consoles. That way, the games are guaranteed to work.

Besides, time has not been kind to all but a handful of games. Trust me; go back and play Triple Play '98, Magic Carpet, Metal Gear Solid: VR Missions, Flintstone's Bowling, MediEvil, Mega Man Legends, Bushido Blade, Outlaw Golf, Blood Wake, or Oddworld: Munch's Oddysee. You'll wonder how you sat through most games. Even best-sellers like Final Fantasy VII or Metal Gear Solid look and feel crusty compared to some other timeless classics.

[agbulls]

The majority of gamers these days don't spend up to $600 on a new video game console so that they can play the same old games they've been playing for the past five years on machines they already have. They spend up to $600 so that they can play new games.

If you want to play your old games, just keep your old consoles. That way, the games are guaranteed to work.

Besides, time has not been kind to all but a handful of games. Trust me; go back and play Triple Play '98, Magic Carpet, Metal Gear Solid: VR Missions, Flintstone's Bowling, MediEvil, Mega Man Legends, Bushido Blade, Outlaw Golf, Blood Wake, or Oddworld: Munch's Oddysee. You'll wonder how you sat through most games. Even best-sellers like Final Fantasy VII or Metal Gear Solid look and feel crusty compared to some other timeless classics.

Do I really even need to qualify these statements with a friendly response? SIGH. Ok, I'll be nice--cause I've done this before. Let me remind you YOU'RE ARE ON A CLASSIC GAMING FORUM. Many us still play with our Atari 2600 and Colecovision--let alone all the games you've mentioned. Sure, some haven't aged as well as others--but that is not the discussion we're having. We're talking about XB games that came out in the last five years---with some as recent as last year. These hardly qualify as "crusty." To even say that the original Metal Gear Solid plays crustily (is that a word?) honestly tells me you might be on the wrong forum. Let me point you in the right way... http://www.gamefaqs.com. Oops, that wasn't nice.

[Joker T]

I don't use 360 for Xbox games very much but I do enjoy using it for that occasionally. Halo 2 in 720p 16:9 is pretty awesome.

[Rob2600]

Many us still play with our Atari 2600 and Colecovision--let alone all the games you've mentioned. Sure, some haven't aged as well as others--but that is not the discussion we're having. We're talking about XB games that came out in the last five years---with some as recent as last year. These hardly qualify as "crusty." To even say that the original Metal Gear Solid plays crustily (is that a word?) honestly tells me you might be on the wrong forum.

The reality is that we classic gamers are in the minority. Most people spend hundreds of dollars on new consoles to play new games. The top video game manufacturers know this.

I know that not all of my favorite Atari 2600, NES, SNES, etc. games will be perfectly emulated or even emulated at all. That's why I still have some of my old consoles. That way, I can play them whenever I want.

[njiska]

Well as far as Retro gamers are concerned i think you just made a key point.

Do I really even need to qualify these statements with a friendly response? SIGH. Ok, I'll be nice--cause I've done this before. Let me remind you YOU'RE ARE ON A CLASSIC GAMING FORUM. Many us still play with our Atari 2600 and Colecovision--let alone all the games you've mentioned.

We still play with out 2600s and Colecovisions. WITH THE ORIGINAL SYSTEM. We don't go gaga over things like Atari Anthology. I mean sure we like it, but a retro gamer strives for the ORIGINAL GAME ON THE ORIGINAL SYSTEM so that we can have the ORIGINAL EXPERIENCE.

Why do you think i own a Pong? Hell i can play that on everything down to a graphing calcuator, but the fact is as a retro game we don't just want retro games on new systems, we want the original as it was intended.

And really how many of you actually use your new system for playing older games? At least after you a ways into the next generation. I rarely use my PS2 for PSX games and while yes my Wii is subbing for my GC, i don't actually use it to play many Wii games in reality it's not really anything more then a GC.