Latest on Xbox 360 backwards compatibility & pricing

[Shifty Geezer]

By layers, I presume they mean levels of abstraction from the hardware. Thinking about the Amiga, you could write software that used the OS system calls to the graphics, or bypass the graphics and code to the metal. When the next-gen A1200 was released, games written as OS compliant ran okay, but those that hit the metal often wouldn't - so backwards compatibility was a hit and miss afair.

As XBox was really a 'DirectX Box', DX being the interface to the hardware, I imagine they've got emulation of that working very well. This would be the 'one layer'. I question how many devs would stick to DX though, as in a closed system you get most performance from writing straight to the hardware and exploiting any peculiarities. Certainly the best games I'd have thought would need a lower level of hardware emulation.

So by layers, I agree with jvd. One layer (out of the box compatibility) will be games using DirectX and the system APIs. Layer 2 might be some direct hardware poking, which'll need a bit of tweaking to address the hardware differently. Layer 3 could be hardcore metal-thrashing. These games would need some rewriting which is why they'd stick to only the most popular titles.

I guess it'll be just like the A1200 days to see what works and what doesn't, though I would expect (or rather hope for) a degree of improvement from the original.

 

[west]

DVD Layer

 

[darkblu]

what that blurb basically says is 'no backwards compatibility. we'll be able to emulate some stuff, the rest needs recoding.'

 

[therealskywolf]

what that blurb basically says is 'no backwards compatibility. we'll be able to emulate some stuff, the rest needs recoding.'

Well BAckward compatibility would allways be impossible since Architectures differ.

But from what i read, they will be able to emulate alot of stuff, word is, 200 titles will be supported on launch.

 

[AlNom]

Layer 3 could be hardcore metal-thrashing. These games would need some rewriting which is why they'd stick to only the most popular titles.

My guesses would be... Halo 2, Team Ninja games, MA2...

Jade Empire, UC2, Doom3 might be layer 2?

 

[kyleb]

Yeah, assuming it can, they havn't rightly explained if backwards compatiblity will provide higher resolution and AA yet.

Can you see any 3D data not getting passed through the eDRAM? Whether the game is new or old, it's gonna have to be 2xAA at the least.

But the eDRAM doesn't automaticly provide AA, it just provides a place for the framebuffer making it much more efficent to do so. However, games like Halo and Splinter Cell arn't comptatable with AA on the PC, so it stands to reason that it won't be as simple as flicking a switch on the 360. Best I can tell, MS has made absolutely no promises of graphical upgrades to orignal Xbox games; I sure hope they do, but I wouldn't be shocked if their backwards compatablity initiative doesn't include any such upgrades.

 

[therealskywolf]

Yeah, assuming it can, they havn't rightly explained if backwards compatiblity will provide higher resolution and AA yet.

Can you see any 3D data not getting passed through the eDRAM? Whether the game is new or old, it's gonna have to be 2xAA at the least.

But the eDRAM doesn't automaticly provide AA, it just provides a place for the framebuffer making it much more efficent to do so. However, games like Halo and Splinter Cell arn't comptatable with AA on the PC, so it stands to reason that it won't be as simple as flicking a switch on the 360. Best I can tell, MS has made absolutely no promises of graphical upgrades to orignal Xbox games; I sure hope they do, but I wouldn't be shocked if their backwards compatablity initiative doesn't include any such upgrades.

Actually since its emulation, AA is easier to implement.

 

[kyleb]

How so?

 

[Karma Police]

SC:CT PC does allow AA to be used.

It doesn't allow AA while HDR is enabled, however, like Farcry.