Backward Compatibility in Next-Gen Consoles?

jvm writes "A new article at Curmudgeon Gamer speculates on the prospects for backward compatibility in the upcoming generation of video game consoles. Sony's PlayStation 3 will reportedly play both PSOne and PlayStation 2 games, but how it will achieve this is unknown. Building from the facts we know and the rumored specifications, can we look forward to replaying Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker on the GameCube 2 and Halo on the Xbox 2?"

Comments

Backwards is good

[narratorDan]

At this point making consoles backwards compatible is a smart move for makers. Not only do you get to leverage your new exclusive games, but you also get to leverage your installed customer base.

When making any kind of puchase I look at everything from the cost of the new console to the cost of getting enough games for it that I do not get bored after a month. If the console choices do not support my old games I will look at other systems and compare them, if it does support my old games then the choice becomes more of an "upgrade" with minimal cost rather than a replacement with maximum cost.

In my personal opinion if the PS2 did not support the PS1 games then the XBox would have gained a greater share of the console market.

NarratorDan

Re:Backwards is good

[benchbri]

I, for one, don't see a point for backwards-compatability.

In my experience, there are two types of people that buy consoles: 1. "Hard-core" gamers, who have every system available, and save for wont of space, will not need backwards-compatability. And 2: The one-system, locked in, game-of-the-moment players. These are the guys that play the latest incarnation of Madden or Final Fantasy.

Since after the release of the PS2, PS1 game development effectivly stopped, gamers see buying a new console a necessity; the game-of-the-moment players will want the system of the moment (whatever their friends have, or whatever platform their favorite game will be on), and hardcore gamers will get it no matter what. Even if a gamer did want to play a PS1 game, they could pick one up at the mall for US$20, and save themselves >US$100.

Oh come on!

[M3wThr33]

Can we get beyond Sony's horrible naming convention?
The Xbox and GameCube successors are most likely NOT going to include numbers and addressing them as such is just a stamp to your ignorance of memories past.

In other news, since the next MS console is switching processors, gfx chips, losing the hard drive and dropping off the black and white buttons, it probably will not play the old games.