X360 Ditching Backwards Compatibility

[TheChefO]

Wasn't there an adapter for playing Sega Master System games on the Genesis ? For handhelds, the GBA is backward compatible with the Gameboy and Gameboy Color, and the DS is backward compatible with the GBA (not the GB and GBC, though).

ah yes the master system adaptor, good catch - but that didn't come with the machine. WRT portables, yes Nintendo has done a great job with that but I don't consider them consoles in the traditional sense.

 

[darkblu]

BC on the 360 was never anything more that yet another of those MS marketing's me-too's. just like HD, it was an afterthought after some dickhead saw it as too big a bulletpoint on the box of the competition. i'm sorry for those guys who bit the bullet, but if you really like some xbox titles - don't sell your xboxes. at least you'll know better next time.

 

[Sis]

So we shouldn't discuss something that someone important like Peter Moore says? That's like Phil Harrison saying something about the PS3, Xbox Live, and the PC and us not talking about it. Oh wait.

We can discuss it. If that's what we wanted, then I'd imagine the thread title would be "Peter Moore's thoughts on BC". Instead we have an overly emotional title lifted almost directly from GAF, where every thread is filled with overly emotional posts. GAF is fun, in a self-flagellating kind of way, but I prefer the discourse over here.

 

[TheChefO]

BC on the 360 was never anything more that yet another of those MS marketing's me-too's. just like HD, it was an afterthought after some dickhead saw it as too big a bulletpoint on the box of the competition. i'm sorry for those guys who bit the bullet, but if you really like some xbox titles - don't sell your xboxes. at least you'll know better next time.

I thought 360 was designed from the ground up with HD as the targeted output all along? (although with only 10mb embedded, it does seem to point to 640x480 w/4xaa)

 

[darkblu]

I thought 360 was designed from the ground up with HD as the targeted output all along?

yeah, it surely was. tell that to the devs who developed the first batch of 360 titles (i hope you have a good insurance policy)

(although with only 10mb embedded, it does seem to point to 640x480 w/4xaa)

it seems indeed.

 

[Shifty Geezer]

although with only 10mb embedded, it does seem to point to 640x480 w/4xaa

Or tile based rendering designed in from the start, as enough eDRAM to fit 720p with 4xAA would have been far too costly...

 

[TheChefO]

Or tile based rendering designed in from the start, as enough eDRAM to fit 720p with 4xAA would have been far too costly...

but according to articles I've seen when introducing tile based rendering you also cancel out other features which were designed into 360. Procedural content generation for one which from what I understand could have been quite useful for a few things. Also for now it appears tile based rendering is causing headaches for ue3 which seems to be quite popular at the moment.

The implimentation of the edram in 360 does seem to be targeted at resolutions lower than 720p (w/aa) and at the moment it seems all invloved are trying to "massage the hardware" into doing what they want. A far cry from what was initially supposed to be "free 4xAA @ 720p".

back on topic - are there any favorite games from this crowd that aren't bc?

 

[darkblu]

Or tile based rendering designed in from the start, as enough eDRAM to fit 720p with 4xAA would have been far too costly...

or tile-based rendering designed as a wildcard for higher resolutions, but way off the optimal path.

 

[Shifty Geezer]

but according to articles I've seen when introducing tile based rendering you also cancel out other features which were designed into 360. Procedural content generation for one which from what I understand could have been quite useful for a few things.

Not sure I support that view, as procedural content generation doesn't just mean JIT creation, but also creating content and storing it in RAM for use. Still, that's really for a tech topic 'Is XB360 really designed around SDTV res?'

 

[Rolf N]

I've heard conflicting reports on the success that Sony is having on ps3 bc. Does anyone have an update on where they stand?

Recollecting from memory, they'll do it (properly), and one of their heavy hitters has gone on record saying that they "went through great pains" for it. Really made it sound like they value bc pretty high.

 

[TheChefO]

Recollecting from memory, they'll do it (properly), and one of their heavy hitters has gone on record saying that they "went through great pains" for it. Really made it sound like they value bc pretty high.

By "properly" I take it you mean include ps2 guts for bc. Any guesses how much this may cost? (die size/cost ratio)

 

[NavNucST3]

[snipped]

back on topic - are there any favorite games from this crowd that aren't bc?

Beyond Good and Evil and the Otogis, for my son The Incredibles (both versions)

But I have gone on these boards on many an occasion to pronounce my feelings about BC. To me complaining about BC when you still have a viable system in your home is nonsense, space requirements be damned. The only instance where I feel BC is more than a marketing bullet point is when a person has NOT owned the previous console. In my case, when I get the Wii or even the PS3, having not owned their current generation of consoles this is a benefit for me. I gave away my Xbox when I bought my 360s, but all things being equal..."Out of sight, out of mind"

 

[TheChefO]

Beyond Good and Evil and the Otogis, for my son The Incredibles (both versions)

It's a shame beyond good and evil didn't sell more - great game. Never played Otogis. Incredibles was pretty good for a kids game. I don't know how the last two sold but based on the quality of game BGE bc should be worked on. Sad thing is unless unough people complained it probably won't.

Good point on lack of prior ownership for bc. In fact under this criteria, Ms is in even bigger need of bc with a much greater chance to pick up consumers who didn't have an xbox last gen. Although I'm sure they'd be happier if you bought the 360 $60 version of King Kong than the discounted xbox version.

 

[NavNucST3]

It's a shame beyond good and evil didn't sell more - great game. Never played Otogis. Incredibles was pretty good for a kids game. I don't know how the last two sold but based on the quality of game BGE bc should be worked on. Sad thing is unless unough people complained it probably won't.

Good point on lack of prior ownership for bc. In fact under this criteria, Ms is in even bigger need of bc with a much greater chance to pick up consumers who didn't have an xbox last gen. Although I'm sure they'd be happier if you bought the 360 $60 version of King Kong than the discounted xbox version.

In this case though, with around 800 games, how many of those were exclusive titles that many gamers had not played? Obviously, the MGS games, but as far as I know those are on the list.

 

[scooby_dooby]

207 titles, but many with glitches and faults from what I hear. To say they 'over-delivered' is a cop-out.

Well they certainly over delivered on the number of games, if not the quality.

I find it pretty funyn that people are still nailing MS to the wall over this. Have they stopped working on BC? NO. So..what exactly is everyone biitching about and calling them 'dickheads' for (darkblu)?

Hell, they've gotten just about every single good XBOX game working, I agree there are some gems like Otogi that aren't on there, but what did you think they meant by 'top selling'? Otogi didn't sell well, and most other titles that people clamour for only sold like 100k copies.

MS was explicit from the start, they delivered more than what they promised, and the fact is 95% of people buying X360 for BC will be able to play the games they want to play (halo, splinter cell, forza, fable, riddick, KOTOR etc) almost all the best games are there.

 

[TheChefO]

In this case though, with around 800 games, how many of those were exclusive titles that many gamers had not played? Obviously, the MGS games, but as far as I know those are on the list.

good point - are there any other good quality exclusives that didn't make the list?

 

[rounin]

Conkers

 

[TheChefO]

Conkers

?? suprising - does anyone have the list of bc that they are working on at the moment?

 

[Corwin_B]

back on topic - are there any favorite games from this crowd that aren't bc?

Panzer Dragoon Orta, Valkyrie Profile (haven't checked the list in a while, though, so they may have been added recently ?).

 

[expletive]

I find it pretty funyn that people are still nailing MS to the wall over this. Have they stopped working on BC? NO. So..what exactly is everyone biitching about and calling them 'dickheads' for (darkblu)?

Well the top 'dickhead' definitely mis-spoke here and left the door open for some criticism. Phil Harrison has been recently nailed for saying some stupid things as well so its only fair the Moore get his share...