Xbox 360 Confirmed Backwards Compatible

[Reanimated]

Major Nelson (http://www.majornelson.com/2005/05/19/no-you-do-not-need-to-recompile-your-xbox-games/) confirms with Microsoft that there will be no recompiling of Xbox games to run on Xbox 360. Microsoft is working on EMULATION techlology to make your current Xbox games, in their current format, playable on X360 out of the box:

Ok, let’s stop this right now. There is some serious wrong information floating around, so I need to clear this up. I grabbed my favorite PR dudes, and they are saying what I was telling a few of you in email:

“We’re not sure where this came from, and it's incorrect. At launch, Xbox 360 will be backward compatible with the top Xbox games. Our goal is to have every Xbox game work on Xbox 360. You will NOT need to purchase a new ‘version’ — your original games will work on Xbox 360.”

Case closed.

Also note that Engadget (http://www.engadget.com/entry/1234000597043723/) has up an interview (http://www.engadget.com/entry/1234000597043723/) with Steve Ballmer and Robbie Bach that confirm the emulation route for backwards compatibility.

So it seems that once again all news from GI.biz, Eurogamer, or Spong.com must be taken with a grain of salt and a google search.

[B_Money]

That's cool, now all the next gen consoles are backwards compatible. Although, this now makes it harder for me to pick which console to get.

[Reanimated]

Please note that the original title of this story was: "Major Nelson confirms what people with brains already knew".

Also note that this is not a confirmation of total backwards compatiblity, but simply a statement that MS is working on emulation tech to support as many games as possible.

[InstaPete]

whoa whoa whoa whoa! wild internet speculation wasn't accurate?! this changes my whole worldview.

but seriously, good to get confirmation and nip it in the bud before it got more out of hand. people blow up the tiniest hint of information into these huge, life threatening crises.

[Reanimated]

whoa whoa whoa whoa! wild internet speculation wasn't accurate?! this changes my whole worldview.

but seriously, good to get confirmation and nip it in the bud before it got more out of hand. people blow up the tiniest hint of information into these huge, life threatening crises.




Yes, people are very stupid. Especially people on the internets.

[KNOTE]

European press seems to hate Microsoft.

[sTubbs]

I suspected this would happen after Sony made their announcement. The 360 is supposedly very capable of emulating the XBOX, and I guess that MS did not want to be left behind in this department. It certainly changes my purchasing plans, as there were several XBOX games coming from now throughout the early part of next year that I wanted to play, so I was planning delaying the 360 purchase. Now that it will be BC, I can get on board a lot earlier. I just could not stand the idea of missing out on Black.

[rein]

At launch, Xbox 360 will be backward compatible with the top Xbox games. Our goal is to have every Xbox game work on Xbox 360.

I think this is where the confusion comes in. It is Mircosoft PR guys that keep saying it will be top Xbox games that are backward compatible at launch. They have not been saying there will be 100% compatibility or that it was their goal. I do feel a lot better now that he says it is the goal to have all of them compatible. You can't blame bias against Microsoft for what they originally said though.. ..the word top being thrown in there left people to believe exactly that.

[Hellstorm]

Top games? This sounds more like damage control on MS' part.

[sTubbs]

I think this is where the confusion comes in. It is Mircosoft PR guys that keep saying it will be top Xbox games that are backward compatible at launch. They have not been saying there will be 100% compatibility or that it was their goal. I do feel a lot better now that he says it is the goal to have all of them compatible. You can't blame bias against Microsoft for what they originally said though.. ..the word top being thrown in there left people to believe exactly that.

According to the engadget interview, the MS logic is like this:

By taking the most system demanding games from the XBOX, and ensuring that those games can be emulated, they figure that hundreds more titles will then fall in to place.

This makes sense from a purely technical standpoint. If super demanding game A can be emualted, then less demandin games b, c, and d, should be able to run as well. However, I need to see this functioning before I believe it, as it sounds like a rather unstable way of doing things.

[Dariath]

It makes a lot of sense to me. It seems that they are clearing up some miscommunication on their part. I just wish they stopped miscommunicating so much. It hurts them. It hurts me.

Seriously though, I think 95 percent of the games will end up being emulated. Just as many as PS2 does for PS1 for example.

[A-Team]

Spong.com, hahaha.

Glad to see they cleared things up, but the whole idea behind "limited compatibility" was resting on very little information to begin with.

[Draft]

Top games? This sounds more like damage control on MS' part.Damage Control has replaced gigaflops as the E3 term I'm officialy sick to fucking death of hearing.

[Mac]

Top games? This sounds more like damage control on MS' part.
Argh, you said the exact, same goddamn thing yesterday in a thread about MS pertaining to a different 360 topic. Damage Control. Christ, did Gates hold your family at knife-point or something?

[Kelegacy]

I like smearing.

Psst, RegularX hasnt been around for months/weeks because he joined the circus and eats baby brains through a straw! I know it to be true!

(actually, where is he?)

[Orphiuchus]

I tend to wonder if sony's agents had anything to do with the origonal story getting out there?

[Murmillo]

Yay -
1) create fake & bogus news about next gen console
2) watch flame wars / rants / whines and bitching erupt all over the interent
3) PROFIT!!!!

[mister_slim]

I tend to wonder if sony's agents had anything to do with the origonal story getting out there?
Obviously a conspiracy.

[zorper]

I have fanboy motives, but this is actually a serious question:

Did Sony ever publicly admit that not all PS1 games work on the PS2?

(I don't know which titles. So don't ask, I'm just remembering my bud screaming at his PS2 four years ago.)

[bobbler]

Yay -
1) create fake & bogus news about next gen console
2) watch flame wars / rants / whines and bitching erupt all over the interent
3) PROFIT!!!!

I wish I could find a way to profit from flame wars / rants / whines on the internet. I'd be so damn rich.

[Savok]

I have fanboy motives, but this is actually a serious question:

Did Sony ever publicly admit that not all PS1 games work on the PS2?

(I don't know which titles. So don't ask, I'm just remembering my bud screaming at his PS2 four years ago.)

I'm fairly certain they did. Of course few of the games that didn't work weren't worth even looking at.

If it turns out the Xbox 360 can emulate everything but Britney's Dance Beat, then we're all better off I think.

[Pumped'Up]

MS is so uncreative. if they do provide bc with xbox, they'll be doing it because w/o it they know the 360 does't have the slightest chance of surviving, especially when the 360 h/w is below the competition.

i pitty xbox fanbois.

[InstaPete]

Pumped'Up, that was a joke post, right?

[Orphiuchus]

MS is so uncreative. if they do provide bc with xbox, they'll be doing it because w/o it they know the 360 does't have the slightest chance of surviving, especially when the 360 h/w is below the competition.

i pitty xbox fanbois.


Now THATS a fanboy post.

[Lagrius]

Pumped'Up, that was the least creative post I have seen.

[mister_slim]

When will Xbox play DOS games? I'm ready for some Master Of Orion.

[Rommel]

If it was a joke post it was hilarious. If it was a real post, I find it hilarious for TOTALLY DIFFERENT REASONS!

^.^

[see colon]

Did Sony ever publicly admit that not all PS1 games work on the PS2?
yep. here's a list (http://www.itweek.co.uk/news/106992)
The list is as follows: Not Treasure Hunter (Acty Art), Gradius Deluxe Pack (Konami), Aidoru Promotion - Suzuki Yumie (Alyume), Toua Plan Shooting Battle (Banpresto), Oukyuu No Hihou: Tension (Vap), Wing Commander III (EA Square), Gallop Racer (Tecmo), Ongaku Tsukuuru: Kanadeeru 2 (Ascii), Monster Farm (Tecmo) - the Japanese version of Monster Rancher, Dragonbeat (Map Japan), Susume! Kaizoku (Artdink), Tsuiridou Keiryu Kohen (Escot), Virtua Pachisuro V (Map Japan), Virtua Pachisuro EX (Map Japan), and Konya Mo Senryobako! 2000 (Hearty Robin).

MS is so uncreative. if they do provide bc with xbox, they'll be doing it because w/o it they know the 360 does't have the slightest chance of surviving, especially when the 360 h/w is below the competition.
xbox 360's competition for the first year will be PS2 and GC, and it's hardware is above both of them combined.

[Kagger]

Yes, they did release the list, but my copy of FF6 works (there is a list the offical message board I believe), the part in the quotes was not complete, I didn't check the link.

[Banacek]

I have fanboy motives, but this is actually a serious question:

Did Sony ever publicly admit that not all PS1 games work on the PS2?

(I don't know which titles. So don't ask, I'm just remembering my bud screaming at his PS2 four years ago.)

exactly, I don't know for certain, but I'm thinking at !00% BC is always going to be an impossibility...

[Eon]

What's the discussion about? Having to buy a specially recompiled game is NOT backwards compatibility - it's making your audience buy all their games again!

[Furious Wang]

Deliberate disinformation campaign. If you guys think it doesnt go on, that its just some tinfoil hat shit, then you dont know much about the industry.

[Lagrius]

MS is so uncreative. if they do provide bc with xbox, they'll be doing it because w/o it they know the 360 does't have the slightest chance of surviving, especially when the 360 h/w is below the competition.

I'm a PS3 Fanboi.I'm a PS3 Fanboi.I'm a PS3 Fanboi.

I knew it. :rolleyes:

[mister_slim]

Deliberate disinformation campaign. If you guys think it doesnt go on, that its just some tinfoil hat shit, then you dont know much about the industry.
Weren't you the guy insisting the PS2 hardware blew the GC out of the water?

My apologies if you're not.