Xbox 360 core system NOT backwards compatible?

[Zeus]

Looks like you need the HD to have backwards compatibility

http://www.torontosun.com/Entertainment ... 1-sun.html

God, I hope that's an error by the Sun people 'cause it would be a STUPID move by Microshaft if that's the case

[Imakeholesinu]

It's only BC if you get the Hard drive with it. This is old news.

[Agent 57]

Sorry, Zeus, it's not a typo...

http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3143142

And I'm not so sure how "stupid" it really is - it might have been inevitable.

For example, let's look at the only two backwards compatible systems that actually exist at the moment - the PS2 and the GBA/DS. Both of those achieved BC because they used the same sort of proprietary hardware and form factors in both generations of machines. Since MS cobbled together the Xbox from a whole bunch of COTS components, I doubt they could have maintained hardware consistency between generations, meaning that an emulation program has to be used to ensure BC.

However, what I don't get is why the emulation program has to be stored on the hard drive as opposed to somewhere on-system, like in a EEPROM or something - it's can't be THAT big if they're going to be able to store it on an Xbox game disc along with the rest of the content, can it?

[Zeus]

That's what I mean, why the hell isn't the emulator built in rather than on the HD? In order for Microshaft to make proper headway, they're going to have to have some kick-ass titles before the other systems come out to make people buy it. I'm sure they're saving Halo 3 for the PS3 launch, so that means PDZero or Quake 4 in North America and, well, nothing in Japan

[Agent 57]

In order for Microshaft to make proper headway, they're going to have to have some kick-ass titles before the other systems come out to make people buy it.

Wait a second, are you saying that you think that regular Xbox games coming out after the 360 launch are going to make people buy a 360?

Permission to think you're crazy, sir. I've always thought of backwards compatibility as a novelty and a convenience...never as an incentive. I mean, the only two kinds of people I can think of for whom BC would be a major selling point are 1) people who want to sell off their old system, and 2) people who didn't own the previous system - and I can't think of any realistic scenario where either of those people would end up being an early adopter of a new console, especially one as expensive as the 360.

[Julius Seeker]

For DS it was an issue because the screen is better than the GBA screen. That is about all I can think of though. Well, I use my PS2 for PSX games, but I still have my PS1

[Flip]

I sold my PS1 a week before the PS2 launch, about as top dollar as you could get given the situation.

[Nev]

In order for Microshaft to make proper headway, they're going to have to have some kick-ass titles before the other systems come out to make people buy it.

Wait a second, are you saying that you think that regular Xbox games coming out after the 360 launch are going to make people buy a 360?

Permission to think you're crazy, sir. I've always thought of backwards compatibility as a novelty and a convenience...never as an incentive. I mean, the only two kinds of people I can think of for whom BC would be a major selling point are 1) people who want to sell off their old system, and 2) people who didn't own the previous system - and I can't think of any realistic scenario where either of those people would end up being an early adopter of a new console, especially one as expensive as the 360.

Slightly off-topic - the Revolution actually for me defies that, and is one of the only reasons I really want the system. I mean, emulators are great, but a decent download service, real controller, and TV screen for all the older games make that a huge selling point for me.

However, a big part of that is the download service.

Simple backwards compatibility is less of a draw, but I still like it when done right. (It irks me that I can't seem to save data on the PS2 memory card for PS1 Bust-A-Groove 2, but I can't tell if that's a bug in the system or the game itself, since I've never tried to save anything for older games.)

[SineSwiper]

The PS2 requires a PSX memory card for any PSX game. Kind of annoying, but I guess they didn't want to shock any PSX games that would notice that there's 800 "blocks" of memory on the card.

[Zeus]

In order for Microshaft to make proper headway, they're going to have to have some kick-ass titles before the other systems come out to make people buy it.

Wait a second, are you saying that you think that regular Xbox games coming out after the 360 launch are going to make people buy a 360?

Permission to think you're crazy, sir. I've always thought of backwards compatibility as a novelty and a convenience...never as an incentive. I mean, the only two kinds of people I can think of for whom BC would be a major selling point are 1) people who want to sell off their old system, and 2) people who didn't own the previous system - and I can't think of any realistic scenario where either of those people would end up being an early adopter of a new console, especially one as expensive as the 360.

Backwards compatibility was instrumental in the PS2's success since there was absolute garbage in the beginning; that and DVD playback. If they had to rely on just the software, no one would have purchased it in the first year.

With the PS2 and 'Cube still releasing big titles, Microshaft is going to need the whole you can play your Xbox games...if the 360 games aren't strong. And, people who didn't play the Xbox have a library to choose from 'til the real games (read: Halo 3) come out. If they don't have that and no one cares about the launch, you'll get the Saturn all over again.

[Zeus]

The PS2 requires a PSX memory card for any PSX game. Kind of annoying, but I guess they didn't want to shock any PSX games that would notice that there's 800 "blocks" of memory on the card.

That and to sell more PSX memory cards

[Julius Seeker]

Final Fantasy 12 and Zelda: The Twilight Princess may very well be the best games on PS2 and Gamecube respectively.

[Julius Seeker]

Backwards compatability is important for system sales. For example, the DS has backwards compatability whereas the PSP does not. Worldwide April 28th the DS had sold over 5 million units worldwide, the PSP had shipped 2.08 million by July 28th http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PlayStatio ... ompetition

Aside from DS's Mario game, neither system has had a major title (well, until very recently). So what is the draw to the DS? It's the GBA games that are also available for the system; people who didn't buy an SP, but had the original GBA will likely prefer to purchase a DS which will have an even wider range of games. So in this case, backwards compatability has really worked in Nintendo's favour; also getting the system launched earlier in non-Japanese locations also helped as well.

I also believe that one thing that really helped PS2 get a head start leading to an insurpassable lead was the backwards compatability. Also getting the system out earlier.