No backward compatibility in Xbox 2 - Game Industry

[Felron]

Because two boxes under the TV are as good as one, apparently

Sources close to Microsoft's senior Xbox executives have confirmed that the company does not intend to make its next-generation console, which is set to be launched by late 2005, backwards compatible with existing Xbox software.

Speculation about the backwards compatibility functionality has been rife since it emerged that Xbox 2 - codenamed Xenon - will have radically different hardware to the original system, with a non-x86 processor, no hard drive and an ATI, rather than NVIDIA, graphics chipset, all of which would make running Xbox titles on the platform very difficult.

It was widely believed, however, that Microsoft had retained a team of hardware emulation experts to work on the problem - although concerns over the viability of such an endeavour were voiced by some experts, especially regarding the company's ability to emulate the functions of the graphics unit in the Xbox without violating NVIDIA's intellectual property rights.

GamesIndustry.biz has now learned that Microsoft does not plan to provide any backwards compatibility in the next-generation Xenon platform - and indeed, that senior executives at the company don't believe backwards compatibility to be an important feature for consoles.

According to a source close to the project, internal Microsoft figures suggest that only 10 per cent of PlayStation 2 purchasers were interested in the console's ability to play titles developed for the original PlayStation.

Although this still represents some seven million consumers on a global basis - which is around half of Microsoft's entire installed base for Xbox - the company apparently believes that allowing consumers to play existing Xbox titles on the next-generation hardware would not be a significant deciding factor for Xenon purchasers.

However, a report into the videogames industry published today by Wedbrush Morgan Securities senior vice president Michael Pachter disagrees with this conclusion - arguing that failing to provide backward compatibility could have the effect of alienating Microsoft's existing Xbox installed base.

"In the event that Xbox Next is not backward compatible, we think that the device will be very slow to grow its footprint," the report warns, while elsewhere it suggests that such a move could damage the company's long-term prospects for the console.

"We do expect Microsoft to launch its console first, perhaps as early as 2005," says Pachter. "Should it choose to do so without backward compatibility or significant third-party software support, we expect to see its first-mover advantage evaporate."

This is a really bad idea, if they don't get a emulator on there atleast this could be a huge problem. I don't think its wise starting off with a new console this early and compeatly ditching the old one. This could just compeatly stop support for the Xbox, and developers weary of starting up with the Xenon may just stear clear of it compeatly.

This is just a bad move, atleast have the emulator.

 

[SUNSTONE]

If it causes delays, or hikes the price any, I say can it.
I never have been a guy who liked looking back much on older games that I have played.
Once I get a new system, the old one is history for the most part.

 

[Felron]

If it causes delays, or hikes the price any, I say can it.
I never have been a guy who liked looking back much on older games that I have played.
Once I get a new system, the old one is history for the most part.

BC or a emulator would allow a smooth transition. Its much wiser to do that then to throw somthing new at developers (even if it is XNA) and tell them that the Xbox is now taboo.

anyway, check this out... Again, were in the dark with the matter.

After a swell of controversy from yesterday’s article at Gamesindustry.biz regarding no backward compatibility between the Xbox 2 and the current Xbox platform, we have received an official statement from Microsoft that appears to deflate many of the claims as pure speculation:

“Recent stories in the press about future Xbox products are nothing more than pulp fiction. Microsoft hasn’t made any announcements regarding the next generation, so it’s far too early to speculate about specifics, including backward compatibility. In fact, this media conjecture is irresponsible. The credibility of any publication willing to compromise fact in favor of a catchy headline must be questioned. Xbox fans are smart enough to distinguish truth from sensational reporting.”


While this statement doesn’t definitively state that the Xbox 2 will or will not support backward compatibility, it appears that the feature is still up in the air at this point.

 

[Collide]

No hard drive? sounds like they are bringing the X-Box BACKWARDS here...not forwards...sure...all consoles graphics will improve but the harddrive and such features of the xbox is what makes it much different. *sigh*

 

[Dust and Ashes]

No hard drive? sounds like they are bringing the X-Box BACKWARDS here...not forwards...sure...all consoles graphics will improve but the harddrive and such features of the xbox is what makes it much different. *sigh*

Really...

 

[Jesusgeek87]

What a load of ****! realy the graphics card has nothing to do with how the game in the way that it will be more powerful card so it would be capeable. so y would that be a reson . y would mcrsft get rid of its gold mine of great games llike halo and halo2 that would be a waste. and i have never herd of this site were you are geting your info. and oxm has had articals and so has slashdot has said xbox2 will be backwords compatable. and a biger hd along with the rest of the next gen consceles.

 

[MoonlessNight]

No hard drive? sounds like they are bringing the X-Box BACKWARDS here...not forwards...sure...all consoles graphics will improve but the harddrive and such features of the xbox is what makes it much different. *sigh*

I think ditching the harddrive on a console is a good idea. It's a waste of space and money with how inexpensive memory cards can be made for. The xbox might have good stats and all in the console world, but in the end it isn't so much designed as a good console as it is a crappy computer. There's just a different approach that you need to take when making a console, and Microsoft didn't understand that the first time around (and I don't have much hope for the second.)

 

[MoonlessNight]

What a load of ****! realy the graphics card has nothing to do with how the game in the way that it will be more powerful card so it would be capeable. so y would that be a reson . y would mcrsft get rid of its gold mine of great games llike halo and halo2 that would be a waste. and i have never herd of this site were you are geting your info. and oxm has had articals and so has slashdot has said xbox2 will be backwords compatable. and a biger hd along with the rest of the next gen consceles.

It's not an issue of power but an issue of how things are interpreted. Take the Final Fantasy games that were ported to the psx from snes. The pseudo-3d sequences run horribly. Is this because the playstation is inferior to the super nintendo at running 3d environments? No, it's because the super nintendo utilized mode 7 to cheat at 3d, but that method doesn't really translate that well to a system that actually runs 3d.

And if it was all a matter of power, why shouldn't it be a simple matter to run my Commodore 64 games on my PC? After all, my computer is a lot more powerful, isn't it?

 

[Felron]

I think ditching the harddrive on a console is a good idea. It's a waste of space and money with how inexpensive memory cards can be made for. The xbox might have good stats and all in the console world, but in the end it isn't so much designed as a good console as it is a crappy computer. There's just a different approach that you need to take when making a console, and Microsoft didn't understand that the first time around (and I don't have much hope for the second.)

Hmm, the only reason they want to ditch the HDD is because developers have not utilized it. Most games barley use it. One thing it can be used for is making load times almost non exsistant. Now how many games actually used that feature?

Also, MS does understand how to make a great console. They have made the best console (hardware wise) this generation, it leaves the PS2/GC in the dust. Besides, if you look at the consoles, there all basicly modified PC's, just with one use and no OS.

MS is really driving the industry forward (wether they like it or not) and that is a good/bad thing at the same time. The problem is constantly giving developers new information to process, and them not having enough time to utilize it fully. Another problem, alientating the market. Forcing new hardware on a community that really doesn't need it. Sure its great for the hardware junkies, but the casual gamers will just get fed up too quickly. The money lies in the casual gamers...

Anyway, regardless of it having a HDD or not, it will have internal storage. LOL I can't belive people are still flaunting that Flash Memory dream. They need to get there heads out of the clouds, MS isn't stupid enough (nor is any company) to waste that much money on a single componant. Them switching to ATI cards also shows that they want to save money, and make there console run smoother. Just another sign then wont be using flash memory.

So, its foolish of them to take out the HDD, even though its not really used that much now. Taking it out is a step backwards, when developers really start to utilize it, its going to be big. That I can guarentee.

 

[Felron]

What a load of ****! realy the graphics card has nothing to do with how the game in the way that it will be more powerful card so it would be capeable. so y would that be a reson . y would mcrsft get rid of its gold mine of great games llike halo and halo2 that would be a waste. and i have never herd of this site were you are geting your info. and oxm has had articals and so has slashdot has said xbox2 will be backwords compatable. and a biger hd along with the rest of the next gen consceles.

Nothing is confirmed by MS yet, this is all speculation.

I'm really suprised you have not heard of Gameindustry.biz though. There quite popular.

 

[CHR15T05]

Oh no no no! Ditching Xbox so soon?

And no HDD... come on! There HAS to be some form of mass storage or they are going backwards on the whole "online content" dream

Still, no one likes change. Just cant believe it's all so soon.

Then again, maybe they will bring out Flash Memory/HDD as an "optional extra" that we all have to buy and pay mor $$$ for

Maybe they learnt something from Sony After all lol

 

[SUNSTONE]

I think ditching the harddrive on a console is a good idea. It's a waste of space and money with how inexpensive memory cards can be made for. The xbox might have good stats and all in the console world, but in the end it isn't so much designed as a good console as it is a crappy computer. There's just a different approach that you need to take when making a console, and Microsoft didn't understand that the first time around (and I don't have much hope for the second.)

They had the best console on the market, the system was easier to make games with, than any of the other three systems.
PS2 was the hardest to make games for.

If xbox was a "crappy computer" than PS2 is a foot stool.

 

[Dust and Ashes]

But if they were backward compatible with the XBox games, how could they sell you Halo Gold Pack (with modified graphics to take advantage of the new XBox 2). Let's not forget that this IS Microsoft we're talking about.

 

[Jesusgeek87]

It's not an issue of power but an issue of how things are interpreted. Take the Final Fantasy games that were ported to the psx from snes. The pseudo-3d sequences run horribly. Is this because the playstation is inferior to the super nintendo at running 3d environments? No, it's because the super nintendo utilized mode 7 to cheat at 3d, but that method doesn't really translate that well to a system that actually runs 3d.

And if it was all a matter of power, why shouldn't it be a simple matter to run my Commodore 64 games on my PC? After all, my computer is a lot more powerful, isn't it?

my first point You can run commodore 64 games on your pc with an emulator. like mame or some outer app.
second, quit using BIG words .
third, and it would be the same as playing a gameboy game on a sp, or running a game for the ps1 on the ps2. it would be easy becase you must remember the xbox is more pc than conseil (look at its guts), and you can still play doom on 98 and xp system you could do it . it would be no big deal.

 

[Jesusgeek87]

I think ditching the harddrive on a console is a good idea. It's a waste of space and money with how inexpensive memory cards can be made for. The xbox might have good stats and all in the console world, but in the end it isn't so much designed as a good console as it is a crappy computer. There's just a different approach that you need to take when making a console, and Microsoft didn't understand that the first time around (and I don't have much hope for the second.)

ditch it no no no. what are you thinking? the hd made the xbox. you have no need for memery cards, and over live you can save entire levels on the hd, so why is it a mistake it is perfect.so i dont see your biff man and memery is realy expencive for 8 megs of mem. and the ps2memery is realy small you cant save kotor on three memory cards.

im using a usb adaptor and use a thumbdrive ha ha ha.

 

[Felron]

Oh no no no! Ditching Xbox so soon?

And no HDD... come on! There HAS to be some form of mass storage or they are going backwards on the whole "online content" dream

Still, no one likes change. Just cant believe it's all so soon.

Then again, maybe they will bring out Flash Memory/HDD as an "optional extra" that we all have to buy and pay mor $$$ for

Maybe they learnt something from Sony After all lol

I really don't see them sending out a optional extra. The problem with the HDD with the xbox is its not being used by devs, why give them even more reason not to use it by making it optional?

 

[CHR15T05]

hmm, how many games used the "play music sound track from the hard drive" feture?

This is an hosesnt question. I only have 3 games and only 1 supported that feature.

But I still dont understanding ditching internal storage when all consols are pushing towards online gaming which means profiles, saved games, additional maps ect ect.

However... if they DO ditch the HDD, that stears consols AWAY from the dreaded "Patches" which means games will have to remain top notch on release. That MUST be a good thing

Mixed feelings from me still :S

Iw as just planning on getting a new Game.... now I have less motivation