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[Swifty]

Backwards compatibility is nice and all but the realities of hardware development make it really difficult. The hardware platform providers seek the best design of the times and the chip design of yesterday may not align with the goals of chip design tomorrow. This is especially true ever since we left the old days of single core CPUs to multiprocessor architectures.

It's becoming more and more complicated to get processing power. Maintaining complicated pipelines and architectures that have arisen to extract all that power while also doing so on solutions developed based on entirely different paradigms just isn't feasible anymore.

 

[Aaron]

I have a PC so I don't have to worry about BC. Dosbox and other solutions take care of problems with running older games.

 

[archnemesis]

NHL 94 is where its at!

Yep, this is still my favorite sports game.

 

[DidntKnowJack]

The lies. They hurt us.

No, NHL '94 is pretty fucking rad. No sarcasm there.

 

[abstract alien]

I don't like it and wish design relied much, much less on it.

 

[Seik]

Backfire: The Thread.

Seriously, BC is a very welcomed option.

 

[Sir Ilpalazzo]

The idea that it's not worth replaying games you've beaten or that old games aren't worth playing is so ridiculous that I can only assume this is a troll thread.

 

[Eusis]

Why don't we just break this down piece by piece. What if you don't own uncharted?

Scratch that, what if you have Uncharted but never got around to it? Not like time stands still and lets us blast through all these games, otherwise backlogs would be a joke.

And while not as bad as Fifa 95 (what the fuck) that really isn't the most replayable game anyway. More likely it'd be something like Demon's Souls or Mass Effect we keep doing over, Demon's Souls you can keep trying different builds, and ME also has the multi choice angle for it.

 

[BocoDragon]

When I get a TV with 20 HDMI in ports and a receiver with 20 optical audio inputs, maybe ill share your same naive opinion.

Well...... you can get an autoswitching HDMI box for very cheap... but you're not wrong.

 

[Replicant]

I suppose if you're a student and have a lot of time to play many games including old titles, then BC is an attractive proposition. But as someone who has to work from 9 to 5, I can barely find the time to finish off 1 title of current gen game (Ni no Kuni) before the next one (Dead Space 3) is coming to my door step.

So I definitely have no time for old games. My copy of MGS HD collection is still sitting prettily with the Steelbook and artbook untouched despite me thinking "Yeah, I'll play it one day". And that's HD collection. I haven't and can't be bothered touching old games like Silent Hill 2/3 again even though I did love them. I just can't stand the graphic anymore.

 

[PaulExcellent]

No, NHL '94 is pretty fucking rad. No sarcasm there.

I liked '93 better. lol

 

[Mr. Saturn]

Why don't you just keep the system you own the game on?

I hear people crying again that the next gen systems better be backwards compatible but apart from a few hardcore gamers, I don't know of many people who are still playing fifa 95 or rushing to get he from work to play pong.

Games evolve and so do gamers. Once I have played a game once I'm pretty much done. Show me the next game.

Does anyone seriously consider it an essential feature of their next gen console? Just leave your ps3 plugged in for a little longer. I'm sure by your 40th play through, you will have had your fill of uncharted.

Some people like backwards compatibility because old systems break down and plus it cuts down on clutter. It's simply more convenient to have 1 system that can play multiple types of games, like how the PS2 can play Ps2 and Ps1 games, that means you have one less system taking up space in your entertainment center. This of course is just a very simple example but I think it illustrates why backwards compatibility is important to some.

By the way just because people care about backwards compatibility doesn't mean they're going to be playing the same game 40 times in a row, I have no idea where you came up with that.

I suppose if you're a student and have a lot of time to play many games including old titles, then BC is an attractive proposition. But as someone who has to work from 9 to 5, I can barely find the time to finish off 1 title of current gen game (Ni no Kuni) before the next one (Dead Space 3) is coming to my door step.

So I definitely have no time for old games. My copy of MGS HD collection is still sitting prettily with the Steelbook and artbook untouched despite me thinking "Yeah, I'll play it one day". And that's HD collection. I haven't and can't be bothered touching old games like Silent Hill 2/3 even though I did love them. I just can't stand the graphic anymore.

Fair point, although I'm sure there are some people who work 9 to 5 jobs and play old games, different strokes for different folks and all that of course. I still think the OP calling backwards compatibility garbage is something that's very nonsensical.

 

[Vormund]

The idea that it's not worth replaying games you've beaten or that old games aren't worth playing is so ridiculous that I can only assume this is a troll thread.

Probably a "Sony can do no wrong" thread.

 

[Yagharek]

When I get a TV with 20 HDMI in ports and a receiver with 20 optical audio inputs, maybe ill share your same naive opinion.

Don't forget all the powerpoints you'll need to power them.

 

[BocoDragon]

Backfire: The Thread.

Seriously, BC is a very welcomed option.

Yeah. Like I can understand not caring, or saying "c'est la vie", but actively having contempt for BC?? Come on.

 

[the TMO]

PC master race ecc.

 

[PeakPointMatrix]

If it were up to you, we wouldn't have any valid reason to rewatch old movies.

 

[BocoDragon]

If it were up to you, we wouldn't have any valid reason to rewatch old movies.

Why would I watch The Good, The Bad and The Ugly when we have Transformers 4, 5 AND 6 coming soon???

 

[BadAss2961]

Some people like to revisit old games. You're covered with BC.

Convenience. TV's have but so many HDMI ports.

What do you do if/when your old system dies?

 

[Hanmik]

See, that makes no sense to me. Vita seems to be the exception to the rule - backwards compatibility on that system make the old games fucking SHINE. Unless, of course you personally just aren't into playing old PS1 games anymore. That of course is a different story.

I know the games are still good and all.. and they even look better.. But I have enough NEW games to keep me busy, and I always run out of space on my Vita.

 

[Kageshinzo]

Games evolve and so do gamers. Once I have played a game once I'm pretty much done. Show me the next game.

Not everyone is like you.

 

[zoukka]

Old consoles eventually break down.

And take space.

And need sockets.

And may or may not be compatible with your display of choice.

 

[Keasar]

I like having to plug in as few consoles as possible to keep as much available space open as possible.

And I really use the backwards compatibility on my Wii. It is the only way I can still play F-Zero GX.

 

[CoffeeJanitor]

No, OP. I keep all my consoles and you're wrong.

 

[Seik]

This is the real issue here. I don't want another Xbox 1 issue where they shut the OG servers down and with it goes all the content I purchased. If Sony does this I will literally never purchase digitally again.

Prepare yourself because the rumor says PS4 won't have Cell, this means that all PSN games probably won't work.

Well, at least maybe we'll keep the PS1 titles, but everything else I invested into will probably be locked on my soon to be dead PS3.

 

[NemesisPrime]

Why don't you just keep the system you own the game on?

I hear people crying again that the next gen systems better be backwards compatible but apart from a few hardcore gamers, I don't know of many people who are still playing fifa 95 or rushing to get he from work to play pong.

Games evolve and so do gamers. Once I have played a game once I'm pretty much done. Show me the next game.

Does anyone seriously consider it an essential feature of their next gen console? Just leave your ps3 plugged in for a little longer. I'm sure by your 40th play through, you will have had your fill of uncharted.

Some of my XBLA games I want to play in 10 years time. BC is a dream come true.... in fact all consoles should support it instead of trying to sell us HD "remakes" for some quick cash.

 

[BocoDragon]

Admittedly, I'm not that sympathetic to the 'consoles break down' argument. They shouldn't break down. And many won't. Breaking down is not a matter of time (within reason: <20 years)... it's a defect.

But sure, it happens....

 

[PG2G]

I'm pretty much in the same boat as the OP, but I wouldn't have made this thread because I know everyone is different.

In fact, as soon as next generation games are shown I will be done with current gen. Anything that comes after this spring is pretty much dead to me.

 

[kittens]

Also because 7 handhelds don't fit in my pockets

Oh yeah, handhelds are a totally different story. Playing 15 years worth of Nintendo handheld games on my GBA SP is heavenly. I don't know if there will ever be another point in history where that will be realistic, though.

 

[def sim]

Yep. It's a bit of a silly comparison but think about iPads or iPhones. Can you imagine if you bought the latest version only to find out your old apps don't work? That would suck.

It's not a silly comparison at all, digital distribution shouldn't be treated any differently for video games. Granted, it's different for consoles since emulation isn't easy, but it will be a huge boon for whichever company that can pull it off in the next gen.

 

[Lime]

That's incredibly shortsighted. Ever heard of video game preservation?

 

[fabricated backlash]

Why don't you just keep the system you own the game on?

I hear people crying again that the next gen systems better be backwards compatible but apart from a few hardcore gamers, I don't know of many people who are still playing fifa 95 or rushing to get he from work to play pong.

Games evolve and so do gamers. Once I have played a game once I'm pretty much done. Show me the next game.

Does anyone seriously consider it an essential feature of their next gen console? Just leave your ps3 plugged in for a little longer. I'm sure by your 40th play through, you will have had your fill of uncharted.

I consider it a crucial feature. I like playing through some classics from time to time, and popping out House of the Dead Overkill when friends come over is allways a blast. Same as with Mario Kart, Halo, or even a quick match of Timesplitters 2.

Then again, it is highly dependent on the Library. I wouldn't really care about a PS3 BC personally, but I absolutely understand anyone who is frustrated by the lack of BC on the PS4.

 

[DSix]

To this very day, I still regret having sold my SNES with 20+ games back in the 90s (just before the PS1).

Backward compatibility, the ability to play your precedent games is a must have feature. A good game stays a good game no matter how much time passed.
To me it would've pretty much saved the PS3, but its absence (in Europe) doomed it.

With that said, I don't even expect the PS4 to have PS3 BC, but I at least expect the return of PS2 BC (and next next-gen, PS3 BC).

 

[phosphor112]

My opinion is fact.

 

[DeaconKnowledge]

Yeah. Fuck the 50 games I paid 60 bucks a pop for.

 

[kittens]

To this very day, I still regret having sold my SNES with 20+ games back in the 90s (just before the PS1).

Backward compatibility, the ability to play your precedent games is a must have feature. A good game stays a good game no matter how much time passed.
To me it would've pretty much saved the PS3, but its absence (in Europe) doomed it.

Have you played Goldeneye recently?

Spoiler

You're like 40% right.

 

[Seik]

Admittedly, I'm not that sympathetic to the 'consoles break down' argument. They shouldn't break down. And many won't. Breaking down is not a matter of time (within reason: <20 years)... it's a defect.

But sure, it happens....

This only applies to retro consoles, NES/SNES/GEN etc.

Xbox360/PS3, and even the Wii (the first out of the three that died on me, Nintendo ffs.) seems to be very more...fragile. They kind of follow the trend of all these fucking stainless home appliances that are made to break sooner or later and being almost non-repairable instead of being built to last. This is fucking sad.

 

[android.cndy]

this is why i do pc. emulators ftw

 

[Ydahs]

I don't trust my PS3 in lasting another 3-4 years.

But it's not a deal breaker for me anyway. Happy with my WiiU's backwards compatibility but I'm not gonna reject buying a console just because it doesn't play older titles.

 

[peanutbutterlatte]

I was mad in the case of Sony because;

A - They had it working. It wasn't perfect, but they had it, and then they removed it. If it wasn't possible from the outset, fair enough.
B - They've started selling "PS2 Classics" which, as far as I can tell, run via PS2 data emulation which they promised was impossible.

 

[NinjaBoiX]

Old consoles eventually break down.

This, and who wants numerous consoles set up around the house?

 

[KingSnake]

You guys.

NHL 94 is where its at!

Well, NHL 98 was a little piece of gameplay art, IIRC.

 

[zoukka]

This, and who wants numerous consoles set up around the house?

True gamers.

 

[kittens]

B - They've started selling "PS2 Classics" which, as far as I can tell, run via PS2 data emulation which they promised was impossible.

Yeah, I'm afraid that shit's the future.

 

[archnemesis]

Have you played Goldeneye recently?

GoldenEye was never particularly good though. I get the impression it's mostly famous for attracting non-PC gamers to a new genre.

 

[def sim]

True gamers.

 

[encephalon]

BC is more and more necessary as video inputs change. It's hard to plug in old systems to HDTVs.

True gamers.

Just because you like games doesn't mean you have to like electronics cluttered all over the place.

 

[KDash31987]

This, and who wants numerous consoles set up around the house?

Spoiler

But I'm probably crazy, though.

 

[cookie-monster]

Why don't you just keep the system you own the game on?

I hear people crying again that the next gen systems better be backwards compatible but apart from a few hardcore gamers, I don't know of many people who are still playing fifa 95 or rushing to get he from work to play pong.

Games evolve and so do gamers. Once I have played a game once I'm pretty much done. Show me the next game.

Does anyone seriously consider it an essential feature of their next gen console? Just leave your ps3 plugged in for a little longer. I'm sure by your 40th play through, you will have had your fill of uncharted.

this explains why HD collections are popular here and how games like Deus Ex never make it into all-time top games.

 

[serplux]

Oh yeah, handhelds are a totally different story. Playing 15 years worth of Nintendo handheld games on my GBA SP is heavenly. I don't know if there will ever be another point in history where that will be realistic, though.

It could get close. We had the DS for 8 years, and will probably have the 3DS for 5-6. DS cartridges are also pretty small/fit in the same slot as the 3DS cart. The differing sizes of carts between the DS and GBA was a reason why GBA support was cut, which is not the case with the 3DS/DS BC; this could lead to the 3DS successor accepting DS carts, who knows.