Is Backwards Compatibility Important to you?
 

I stumbled upon this article tonight

http://www.1up.com/do/feature?pager....=0&cId=3142061

It's 3 pages, so I'm not gonna quote it all. Part of the article is about whether backwards compatibility is important to a system, or if people don't really care about it.

I was wondering how many PS2 gamers play PS1 games on the PS2.
DSer's, do you miss the ability to play gameboy/color games?
XBox owners, MS has said that they will offer "Backwards compatibiliy for top-selling games". Does that upset you?

Do you go back to old games on new systems? Sometimes? Often? Never?

Personally, I enjoy PS1 games still. Specifically when I have the boys over. We can whip out Street Fighter Alpha 3 or Rival Schools, or the many incarnations of DDR I have. Perfect Dark and Goldeneye are still popular in my circle, too. We do enjoy the newer games too, like Time Crisis 3 or Hot Shots Golf 3 (ok, not new, but PS2 don't got that large a desireable 2 player library, or I just don't).

I often still go back to FF7 and Chrono Trigger on PS1. I do kind of wish the PSP was backwards compatible with PS1/PS2 games, as a few of my friends thought it would be...

I didn't get the DS cuz I thought it was silly, and I knew I would't be able to play Galaga/Galaxian on it. I carry that game with my GBA games. There are plenty others I enjoy going back to. Mario Land 2, Links Awakening, Super Mario Bros. DX (like what they just released for GBA, but with extra content and the Lost Levels, in full and proper colour)

So, It's important to me. How about you?

Not important, but definitely desireable. I still have to go back to playing the PS1 MicroMachines games when I get a good group of people together. Plus you can build a library of games for the previous system at bargain prices from used game stores.

Very much so. Gameboy camera...

Backwards compatibility is VERY important to me. Seeing that I have to sell 2 of my previous consoles just to by a next gen one.

I better be able to play my PS1/PS2 games on a PS3.
I better be able to play GCN games on the "Revolution".
I better be able to play Xbox games on the Xbox 360.

If not, then there's no way they're getting my money. I mean, they already got me with the DS, fortunately it wasn't my money.

There's no way in hell I'm going to spend 500 bucks to be able to play Xbox games on xbox, and xbox 360 games on a separate xbox 360. Fuck that.

It's really important to me. I enjoy going back and playing old favorites and backwards compatibility makes it a lot easier than having to take out old consoles and move stuff around in the entertainment center. I really hope that the Xbox 360 is backwards compatible with a good many of its games, because I never picked up the original Xbox but there are quite a few good games for the system that I would like to be able to play.

It's importantantantantant to me because I'm too fuckin' lazy to switch my systems back and forth. :D

Seriously....yes.

Backwards compatability is gonna be the main pull of the Revolution. Hell, it's a good reason for me to get one for that alone ;)

Normally I would'nt even consider buying the revolution, but with backwards compatability to all nintendo systems, I am definatly considering it.

Nice to hear I'm not alone. The little survey 1up did got a bunch of don't cares.

I'm hoping to move my PS2 to another room, and sell off my GC. Maybe get an excuse to put away the NES, N64, and SNES. It's getting crowded down there. And yeah, I've been playing alot of Perfect Dark, Mario World, and Excitebike still, so there's reason to keep all the old stuff hooked up. If I can't have the games I own on there, I'm gonna be a little pissed, but hopefully, the Revolution will have free downloads. It looks like I'll be getting a 360, but not if I can't play Ninja Gaiden and the Stargate game coming out.

The ability to play any zelda on 1 system would be nice.

Yes and....yes.

Backwards compatability is very important to me. As any boy on a budget can attest to, it's important to get the most bang for your entertainment dollars. That's why, if it comes down to it, I'll get a PS3 before setting hands on the 360 even if it means waiting an extra six, seven months. To have the ability to play all the playstation games in my library on one system....well, it's a major selling point for me.

I said this in another thread, but it bears repeating. I wouldn't be so upset at Microsoft if they had just come out and told us that it wouldn't be possible. If they had just told us that due to hardware/software limitations it would impossible for them to make the 360 backwards compatable, I would've been fine with that. But to sell it to us in the form of a hard drive when the other companies are offering it for free? It just smacks of greed. Not that I didn't expect it, but it should really show true gamers how Microsoft regards them with such disdain.

I got off on a tangent a bit there...sorry.

Anyway, as a serious gamer, with a sizeable library of games (games I still play quite a bit, mind you), backwards compatability is very important to me.

It's important, but mainly because of funding or other resources that can't pull legacy applications into new formats.

I think that obsolete soft and hardware should be ditched, but primarily due to reliability, speed and security issues that progress whilst the older technology stagnates.

I'm glad we're seeing a new focus on emulators and virtual machines. This can allow us to keep the security and speed issues to a minimum and still support older technology.

I find backwards compatibility to be very important. I will be purchasing an Xbox360 if it supports the current Xbox games I own. If it does not then I will buy an Xbox (yes, I own games but no system *grin*). I will not buy the two. I don't plan on purchasing any 360 games, but I just like the wireless controllers... That alone would nearly be enough for the extra 150$ difference between the two systems.

I actually plan on making a game machine to hook up to my TV so that I can run emulators and not worry about keeping my SNES, NES, N64 all hooked up at the same time. I rarely play video games, but when I wish to I don't want to have to rehook up the console each time. The main reason I keep these systems around is for nostalgic purposes. I like seeing the old system that took up most of my time in my youth :)

i dont mind if x360 isnt backwards compatable, i like to go old school when i play old school games.

plus i think a 360 would look great next to my 2 xboxes 1 modded, 1 for xbl

As far as I know, the "backward compatability" of the Revolution will be thruogh ( almost certainly paid) downloads.

I don't think you will be able to put an nes cartridge in it to play Zelda or what not.

I hope I am wrong.. correct me if so.

Backword compatibility is definately important!! I play old PS1 games, and plan on playing some x-box games etc...

(hell i play a game ancient art of war from the original mac once in a blue moon)!

I personally don't care much about backwords compatibility, contrary to the general concensus. Like someone said above, if I go old-school, I've gotta go old-school ;)

Backwards compatibility is only important to me while the next gen console tries to fill out its library. Once the library has hit a critical mass, I'm probably done with the old games. If I feel nostalgic, I'll find the game some how.

The only PSX games I've ever played on my PS2 are Sim City 2000 and NFL Blitz, and that was very rare.

I hear Nintendo is going to charge for downloading their games which would suck if you happen to still have any old NES, SNES.. whatever else.. games.

Honestly, I just don't care that much. If it has it, cool. If not, I'm fine with that too.

Honestly, I went back and played Colony Wars:Vengeance (ooold PS1 game). One of the better-made games I think. Still play Megaman X4, X5, and X6 once in a while too.

The Revolution will have a flash memory drive sized at either 256 or 512 megs. I don't remember. It can play GC games in the drive, but you have to download the old gamepak based games. The revolution also has GC controller ports.

Nintendo may throw a few classic games in with the system. Games will be offered for free sometimes, with the purchase of a new Revolution game.

There seems to be an internet debate, with various articles supporting each side, as to whether or not games can be downloaded for free.

Knowing Nintendo, I'm gonna say we're gonna need to pay. I could hope for something like XBox live's 'pay monthly or buy new games here and there' scheme. I expect an iTunes like service, based on the revolution, where we can browse and buy games. They've stated that they are going to update games here in there. I expect to see alot of Peach and no Toadstool, for example. They have stated that games will recieve similar treatment to Mario 64 DS.

Is it important? Of course it is...but not so much to me. Can I see how the next-gen systems may have major trouble accomplishing it? Yes. One simple fact can demonstrate why the XBox 360 won't be truly backwards compatible with XBox games: XBox = NVIDIA and Intel, XBox 360 = IBM and ATI. You can't magically make games work for completely different hardware unless you include an entire XBox system within the XBox 360 (which is ergonomically and financially impossible). The few games that will work on XBox 360 are simply being emulated...it's not even true backwards compatibility.

The PS2 played all PS1 games because a small modification of the PS2 chip allowed pure PS1 gameplay to occur at little extra cost.

Anyway, I still really like backwards compatibility, but it's not a must for me. I can't remember the last time I played a PS1 game in my PS2 or the last time I played a GB game in my GBA.

-Lasereth

It's very very important to me. I just got my Xbox as an anniversary present from my wife 3 months ago. There's no way I'll be getting a 360 if I can't play all these games I have on it, since getting one will involve cashing out my old system.

A point to remember, though, is that the power gap between this gen and next gen is nowhere near as large as it was. When you compare, say, GT2 to GT4 and GT4 to Project Gotham, you'll see what I mean. The gap is there, just not as groundbreakingly mindblowing as it was. Hence, a lot of games from this gen will still be around as party favourites, until their next-gen counterparts steal the show.

hell yeah its important, solely because i'm lazy and i dont like sqitching between consoles. But htere are some classics that you want to play. For PS ya got FF7 and WildArms among others, I'm sure a bunch of gamecube players would love to play some 64 games on their system. Like I said I guess it comes down to laziness.

My problem is space. If I can put away my snes, n64, and nes, as well as my PS2 and GC I'll have lots of room for the next gen. I'm out of room, and not willing to renovate to accomodate the next generation (again).

The problem I have with Microsft (this time, on this issue, among many others, *ahem) is that they said it would be backwards compatible. Now they say only with some games. Feels like we're bein jerked around here.

IIRC, they said it wasn't confirmed backwards compatible, and then announced best-selling titles.

It was all over the Internet that the $400 model would be fully backwards compatible with all XBox games due to the hard drive being included. No more details were released...and for good reason, since it's a crock of shit. Ha ha. Not sure if Microsoft actually said this publicly, but every gaming news site on the Internet heralded it as truth a few months ago.

-Lasereth

Las, I heard that the PS2 plays PSX games because they literally stuck the PSone circuits, chips, etc. into the PS2.

This is essentially correct. The PS2 was able to emulate PS1 games, but some of the older hardware wouldn't work with the newer technology. They just rammed in some of the older hardware into the PS2. It wasn't a fullblown PS1, however...just the modifications needed to allow perfect backwards compatibility.

-Lasereth

everyone wants this so they can trade in their old systems... hell i paid 100 bucks or so for a refurb one. now even if i had just bought this brand new, trade in value will be what?20 -60 bucks... its just not worth it in my eyes.

sell it on ebay and you might get 80, but then again why dont those ppl wait till xbox 360, and cash in on the low ass prices

money wise, i think it is a waste to trade in old systems. hell when i have kids im gonna break out the old 8bit n let em play that. reason small few buttons small hands. move em up to sega, to ps1 then to xbox then xbox360

oh the hell with it i plan on having them all hooked up at once so i can play what i want. i hAve no brand loyality so it dosent matted if its backwards compatible. only reason i have chosen x36 over ps3 is b\c of h3 (halo 3)

I think that backwards compatibility is very important. Often I replay all of my old games (for all systems). And backwards compatibility makes it all so much simpler. Games that use to lag, may now be smooth, ect

I can finally finish FFVI?!

i have to agree with another person there are a large number of people that want it so that they can sell their system and put the money towards it.

but for me personally backwards compatibility will only be interesting to me if there is going to be improvements towards the older games for example better graphics, better sound etc etc if its just going to be the same old game then i would not care for it

Agree with this altough I see two sides to it.

All games really should be backwards compatable for the sake of the paying customer. It would also be good to see older games on todays technology running slightly smoother. Was not too impressed with running PS1 games on a PS2.

The thing that sways me slightly towards no backwards compatability is that I have recently bought an XBOX and dont fancy buying the new one any time soon. If I did it would just make the XBOX model I have redundant. It could be sold however I like the crystal look and it was a present so I would get nailed if I did sell!

Oh man, if the PS2 wasnt backwards compatable I would be in a world of hurt right now.

In the past 2.5 months I have played, FF7 (and introduced a non-RPGer to the genre.. he's hooked), FF8, FF9, FFX, Some other less known RPGs for the PSone and I havent even touched FF Chronicles and Anthology yet. Ive got a lot of time on my hands, what better way to spend that time then to relive the entire FF series.

Now, if the PS2 wasnt backwards compatable, I would have only 1/5th of my game collection to play...

Ask me again if backwards compatibility is important to me.