XBox 360 Backwards Compatibility Information

[bapenguin]

From the Gaming-Age forums (http://www.ga-forum.com/showthread.php?t=50574), there's a snippet on a recent Microsoft Press Briefing. One of the things discussed is backwards compatiblity, and it looks like NVidia is getting a piece of the pie.In a separate meeting with Microsoft management, we confirmed that the company has agreed to pay a small royalty to Nvidia to allow the Xbox 360’s ATI chipset to emulate the performance of the Nvidia chipset in reading certain Xbox games. For games written in a single layer
(management assumes that this is a large percentage of Xbox games), the hardware emulation should perform well.

For games written in multiple layers, a further emulation must be provided. The company intends to create software “patches” (i.e., separate emulation programs) for top-selling Xbox games written in multiple layers, and intends to sell the Xbox 360 with a hard drive that is pre-loaded with these patches. We presume that the majority of Xbox games will be backward compatible, and the company assured us that it intends to add patches should consumer demand warrant such action.

Not sure how reliable this information is, but it seems feasible.

[NACIONAL]

That is all but bad news!...

that is going to be a great selling poit... for the people who cares....

[Kamalot]

I don't know that I like the idea of waiting for Microsoft to provide patches for my favorite games.

The big question is, how long before I can use some of these patches to play Xbox games on my PC?

[netcraazzy]

It's like Bleem all over again.

[Kamalot]

It's like Bleem all over again.
Not a bad idea. Imagine if the Xbox 360 played some key PS1 / PS2 games.

[emperordahc]

It's a G5 emulator that runs x86. This can't be good.

[Vandenh]

>The big question is, how long before I can use some of these patches to play Xbox games on my PC?

Just like you are playing XBox games right now on your PC... oh wait...

These patches sound more like low level shader emulation and stuff like that (copyrighted by nVidia)

[Hellstorm]

Yes, and for just $5.99 micropayment, you can finally play Halo on your X360.

[Borys]

The big question is, how long before I can use some of these patches to play Xbox games on my PC?

1) You will never [play Xbox games on your PC].

2) This isn't the best BC solution available (Nintendo > Sony >...> MS) but what else can MS do?

3) Gaming-Age Forums rock.

[Adam Blue]

Well to me this sounds good that MS is really doing what they can to get backwards compatibility going. They are even paying roalties to Nvidia. Seriously....isn't this what the gaming community wants to hear from a dev/pub/console maker?

[Reanimated]

I love how people who have absolutely no idea how this will work try to quantify the quality of X360's BC.

The internet truly is the worlds greatest self-ownage device.

[Goronmon]

I love how people who have absolutely no idea how this will work try to quantify the quality of X360's BC.

The internet truly is the worlds greatest self-ownage device.
But hey, it keeps me amused ;)

[kickmybum]

All talk, this wont happen to the effect that they're describing.

[Thenetcase]

I'm not sure why you guys are complaining.
When did Microsoft EVER make bad hardware? Maybe I'm wrong, but MS usually makes awesome hardware. And their software is also extremely good too. It's thirdparty idiots who screw it up.
Also MS isn't delayed on their software and patch releases anymore (like the used to be). Windows x64 is actually coming out ahead of schedule (original release date was Spring 2006).

Now please stop bitching people. You haven't even seen the damn thing or even read a hands-on preview.

Underage whining doesn't sound good coming from adults.

-TNC-

[51|RandoM]

Well, at least there will be the ability to play some xbox games on xbox360.

I hope the games you want to play are all Microsoft Games games, any other non-blockbuster title is probably gonna get short shrift.

[SteveRage]

I like that MS seems to be taking such care to make old games playable, for those who will be selling their XBOX to get the 360 will appreciate it, but it means little to me; I keep my old consoles.
Plus, I want to see how well the 360 mounts my XBOX.

I am happiest about the removable HD. I've dodged the bullet on having a console die on me, but I have many friends who have lost countless saves to an XBOX death. I like the idea that if I have to buy a new system, I an swap the HD and keep my saves.

[Kamalot]

Well to me this sounds good that MS is really doing what they can to get backwards compatibility going. They are even paying roalties to Nvidia. Seriously....isn't this what the gaming community wants to hear from a dev/pub/console maker?

I would rather they not have to pay royalties to anyone. The more they have to spend on each box, the less likely they are to drop the price in the future.

Maybe this is an opportunity for Microsoft to shed itself from some rather shitty games. The officially supported games will only be the best of the library.

[if76]

I hope they add bleem-level enhancements to the old xbox games rather than the lame texture filtering the PS2 did with PS1 games. If I could play Halo 1 in 1080i that might just do it for me.

[Goronmon]

I am happiest about the removable HD. I've dodged the bullet on having a console die on me, but I have many friends who have lost countless saves to an XBOX death. I like the idea that if I have to buy a new system, I an swap the HD and keep my saves.
Umm...maybe I am being totally stupid on this, but if your HD dies, how is replacing it with a new one going to keep your saves?

[SteveRage]

many factors lead to console death, and it is rarely the HD. Hard Drives are pretty sturdy pieces of technology.

[Goronmon]

many factors lead to console death, and it is rarely the HD. Hard Drives are pretty sturdy pieces of technology.
Alright, I did read it wrong, I thought you said the hd was what had died, haha...

[Knite]

It's a G5 emulator that runs x86. This can't be good.

Microsoft's already been doing this for years. It's called VirtualPC. We have 3 Macs here running WindowsXP with it (for remote network access. Our VPN software has no Mac client yet).

[riposte101]

I'm not sure why you guys are complaining.
When did Microsoft EVER make bad hardware? Maybe I'm wrong, but MS usually makes awesome hardware. And their software is also extremely good too. It's thirdparty idiots who screw it up.
Also MS isn't delayed on their software and patch releases anymore (like the used to be). Windows x64 is actually coming out ahead of schedule (original release date was Spring 2006).

Now please stop bitching people. You haven't even seen the damn thing or even read a hands-on preview.

Underage whining doesn't sound good coming from adults.

-TNC-

Welcome to the internet. BTW I agree with you.

[Zanzibar]

Anyone know what 'multiple layers' they're talking about? Can't be DVD layering. Is it multilayer texturing? Or multithreaded graphical computations?

[chechenepiphany]

Anyone know what 'multiple layers' they're talking about? Can't be DVD layering. Is it multilayer texturing? Or multithreaded graphical computations?
im pretty sure theyre talking about the programming. layers as in interfaces for different hardware or environments.

[mister_slim]

Anyone know what 'multiple layers' they're talking about? Can't be DVD layering. Is it multilayer texturing? Or multithreaded graphical computations?
DirectX/XNA usage perhaps? I don't know, to be honest.

[31 Flavas]

Well to me this sounds good that MS is really doing what they can to get backwards compatibility going. They are even paying roalties to Nvidia. Seriously....isn't this what the gaming community wants to hear from a dev/pub/console maker?Sounds like Nvidia is the one pulling the strings now, instead of Microsoft. And I thought Nvidia was going to get screwed by MS... is that the reason why the 360 is using ATi graphics this time?

[bobbler]

Anyone know what 'multiple layers' they're talking about? Can't be DVD layering. Is it multilayer texturing? Or multithreaded graphical computations?

The way its written there it seems like it is actually talking about multi/single layer DVDs. A majority of the Xbox games were single layer.

Why dealing with single layer would be any different than dealing with double layer is beyond me.

The way the author put importance on differentiating single layer and dual layer may have something to do with the person writing it just not understanding what they were told (either didn't understand completely and made stuff up or just misunderstood). That's my bet.

There isn't really any other context that single/multi layers makes any sense with the rest of the info given (especially the comment about most xbox games being single layer) -- this would also tie into the fact that the author probably misunderstood some stuff.

Who knows...