backwards-compatability
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Microsoft: Xbox 360 back compat 'winding down'
Albert Penello, group marketing manager for the Xbox 360, hinted to Kotaku this week that the hefty backwards compatibility update the system received in November could be its last. "I don't know if we have plans to do any more releases," he told the site. "It feels like we kind of hit the point of diminishing returns there."Now, if you were the sort to assume the worst about giant corporations you could theorize that Microsoft realizes that every new back compat game lowers the chance of you buying the Xbox Originals version, which makes new additions less attractive. For our part, we're just depressed that Everything or Nothing still isn't BC. Anything you're still carrying the torch for?[Via OXM UK]
Xbox 360 gets new backwards compatibility update
Updates to the 360's compatibility are always kind of a mixed bag, but this new update is, perhaps, more mixed than usual. Sure, there are plenty of games, but there aren't too many standouts. Freedom Fighters and Breakdown are nice, but the decent game to stinkeroo average is not so hot.That said, there are now over 300 465 backwards compatible games, and we can't think of a lot of marquee titles left to be brought up from the minor leagues. [Update: The 84 new games bring the list to 465. Sorry, Major Nelson is behind the times.] Check out the list after the jump and let us know which games you'd still like to see added to the list.
PS3's rumored backcompat solution: a PS2 inside
"Sony guts!"IGN has a story up citing Ultra One, a Japanese monthly tech magazine whose July issue reports that the PS3 will include the unified Emotion Engine/Graphic Synthesizer combo chip that currently resides in the slim-PS2 model, thus ensuring a high level of backwards compatibility. This is a change from their claim that the PS3 would use software to emulate older games, similar to the solution the Xbox 360 (still) employs. The key points of such a decision: It will increase the price of each unit; as the software solution approaches 100% compatibility, they will have the option of removing the hardware to cut costs. The PS3 could use a software / hardware combination to have even greater backwards compatibility than the PS2 slim currently enjoys. Will the system handle graphical upgrades -- similar to the 360's upsampling of older games -- if they use a hardware solution? The good news is the system will support an incredible number of titles right out of the box; the bad news is this is just another component that may prohibit them from lowering the console's retail price quickly. Sony was awfully mum on the topic at E3, so this could explain why. Without a working emulator for launch, Sony may be presented with the unpalatable prospect of putting PlayStation 2s in their PlayStation 3s.See also:PlayStation 3 not 100% backwards compatible?So will or won't the Sony PlayStation 3 be backwards compatible?[Thanks, Canadian Geese and David]
