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The Xbox Going Backwards and Forwards
Eurogamer has a good deal of news from Microsoft talking about this generation's interactions with the 360 and vice verse. Firstly, Robbie Bach wanted to be sure to get across that the first-gen Xbox is still a viable platform, and they hope to continue to develop games for it through next year. Secondly, 360 backwards compatibility is finally getting nailed down, with a list of backwards compatible games likely available in two weeks or so. Peter Moore wanted to make clear that the list is just the beginning; more would be added after the console's launch. Finally, J. Allard released details about the optional HD's contents, which is set to include some media and games. From the article: "You'll also get a load of wallpapers, and a video showing how Xbox 360s are put together. Allard didn't say whether that'll be the same video that's been doing the rounds for a few weeks now, or a completely new one. Perhaps most excitingly, the hard drive will also feature Hexic, the addictive puzzler created by Alexy Pajitnov - yes, him who did Tetris. Allard explained that the basic concept is to show off what the 360 can do, and to get people taking advantage of all the extra content on offer. "
http://www.gamespot.com/news/6135302.html
Although I don't have an X-Box and don't plan on getting an X-Box 360 out of principle (that MS is bad for consumers, and the marketplace in its current form. I have read a few articles about J. Allard and interviews with him, and I get the idea that he is an alright guy that is one of the few people in MS that has the power and courage to change MS culture (even if most influence resides in the X-Box division). Of course in this interview he still uses exec-speak occasionally and has to tow the company line to not upset HIS bosses.
My favorite and laughable quotes are: "I hope that Sony's nervous right now"
Regarding 360 Hacks: "With 360, we said, 'Let's assume we can't stop it. How are we going to manage it?'... What can we do with connectivity to try to put a really big speed bump in place and, most importantly, protect the gamers from the hackers making it a crappy experience with them? Because that's my biggest nightmare."
Regarding the differences between gaming on PCs and on consoles: "On my console, I sit around the couch. There's usually some beer on the table. There's usually other people on the couch. It's a big-screen TV and it's usually action where there's a lot less precision required and I'm less bummed out if my army's wiped out because I just press restart and start again. "
Regarding developers complaining about DVDs limited capacity: "That's why games look better year over year. It's primarily because hardware comes in hot and developers, use the deficiency of the schedule not just to learn about hardware but also cut a couple of corners. "
Regarding the X-Box 360 not being a big enough departure from the original X-Box: "And if you go too far and you say, 'I'm going to change the category out completely and we're going to give you a wacky controller. And we're going to give you wacky games that you don't really understand, and we're going to market it or price it in a wacky way, I think that would have been very much a failing.'"
Regarding the approachability of the Revolution controller: "It's the same reason behind our DVD remote. At the press conference, I could have done my whole demo on the DVD remote."