Backwards Compatibility and Xbox 360: The Feature That Brings You Back
Published June 03, 2006
Editor's Note: This is a Point/Counter Point discussion between Matt Paprocki and Ken Edwards on the backwards compatibility of games on the Xbox 360. Please let us know what you think of this issue in your comments below. Check back soon to read more on this topic. This is in direct response to Matt's article.
Counter Point
Microsoft has been in an uphill battle since before Day One of the Xbox. They need to sell consoles. And right now the Xbox 360 is, again, facing an uphill battle, this time against the PS3. They might have been first out of the gate, they might have the software right now, but Sony is not going to give up their market share without a fight.
In order to sell consoles, you need to appeal to the widest audience possible. One of the many ways to do this is with backwards compatibility. Microsoft is not doing all it can to stay one step ahead of the competition, and has dropped the ball on backwards compatibility.
But there is no excuse when an Xbox game released after the launch of the 360 cannot run on the 360. BLACK finally runs on the 360. OutRun 2006 Coast 2 Coast does not. There are countless other Xbox titles that have been released since November, and hardly any of them will run on the Xbox 360.
I would play more Xbox games, like OutRun 2006 Coast 2 Coast, more often if I could play them on my 360. Why? Matt already nailed that one. Because it is convenient. More Xbox software would be sold if it were fully compatible with the Xbox 360.
As of this writing, there are 207 Xbox titles that will run on the Xbox 360. There is another update coming soon. This is great news, and I am glad to hear it. They are making headway.
But Peter Moore's comments could not have come at a worse time, especially seeing as the backwards compatibility team is readying another major update. But it was bad timing for many reasons. Simply put, backwards compatibility sells consoles.
Now, I am not saying that I bought my PS2 because it plays PS1 games, but I did play quite a lot of PS1 games on my PS2 — and well after the "wow" factor wore off. I jumped on the Sony bandwagon late mainly because of the great library of Dreamcast games, and so I enjoyed quite a lot of PS1 titles on my PS2. But truthfully, that is beside the point.
Ken Edwards is the Gaming Editor at Blogcritics, and calls Breaking Windows home. Ken works part time for Student Publications at BGSU as the Webmaster and System Administrator. He is also a freelance web developer.
- Backwards Compatibility and Xbox 360: The Feature That Brings You Back
- Published: June 03, 2006
- Type: Opinion
- Section: Gaming
- Filed Under: Gaming: Gear, Gaming: Xbox
- Writer: Ken Edwards
- Ken Edwards's BC Writer page
- Ken Edwards's personal site
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Comments on this articleComments
There's a fine line between offering backwards compatibility and getting people to buy new games.
Too much backwards compatibility and people won't buy enough new Xbox360 games.
Microsoft couldn't care less about the Xbox now, it's all about next gen, the 360.
"Too much backwards compatibility and people won't buy enough new Xbox360 games."
I don't buy that for one minute. If the games suck at the launch of the system, it only helps! I am looking at you Sony.
But the 360 had a very good launch. People will buy the next-gen games. People also want to play their "old" games.
It doesn't make sense business wise, Microsoft has stopped supporting the original Xbox, everything is focused on the next-gen battle.
They can't waste too much energy on Xbox games. People who buy Xbox games probably already have an Xbox. I dunno anyone who has a 360 and has bough a game released on the original.
Really? Thats a shame. There have been some good Xbox games released since November that are worth picking up.
I HATE the 360...
Compare with graphics and controlers of other consoles, thers really nothing "NEW" with it, only HD.
Its like an XBOX 1.5
Switch consoles?
I have to switch from my monitor to TV to play the compatible games.
The TV won't handle PAL-60, outputting it in B&W, and the original XBOX games won't work with the VGA adapter due to them being PAL-50.
I agree with Matt, but for the wrong reason. He uses Halo as an example of a an old game that is now compatible, but the main reason it is now compatible is because it was a best-selling game.
I think backwards compatibility is a good idea for new consoles, as it's a further incentive to buy them. Who wouldn't want to be able to play their old games, but have a nicer console? It's not like everybody sells all their games along with their console; they may want to play their faves without an old paperweight. Maybe Microsoft should consider making games that have no replay value?
Another argument for it is that old old games are resurfacing in new formats. Super Mario Bros 1, 2, and 3 were remade for the Super Nintendo, along with Super Metroid for the Game Boy Advance. Resident Evil 1 has been rebuilt for other consoles, like the GameCube. Why not revisit the classics?
I'm still waiting for a next-generation, bump-mapped Panzer Dragoon game. I would buy the X360 if Panzer Dragoon Orta would play on it!
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I fully agree with you here, Ken.
Most casual gamers don't wanna switch from one gaming console to another in order to play their favorite "old" games. They want that ability (even if they will only rarely use it) built-in to their new, high-priced console.
Matt can sneer at gamers who lack sufficient motivation to engage in the "physical labor" it requires to manually switch the setup from one console to another, but the fact remains that most gamers are lazy...that's why they're gamers!
Convenience is a crucial factor for most "casual" gamers...and the folks at Microsoft are making a big mistake if they don't include FULL AND COMPLETE backwards-compatibility in the new XBOX 360...