Chris F Posted August 14, 2003 Report Share Posted August 14, 2003 http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=stor..._microsoft_dc_4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
merlot Posted August 14, 2003 Report Share Posted August 14, 2003 Interesting... I wonder if Nvidia will try for the next Nintendo console. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark E Posted August 14, 2003 Report Share Posted August 14, 2003 I thought ATI and Nintendo had already inked a deal to do the new Nintendo console, unless I heard wrong... I'm pretty sure they have though. Which leads to all sorts of rampant speculation . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
secretvampire Posted August 14, 2003 Report Share Posted August 14, 2003 I thought ATI and Nintendo had already inked a deal to do the new Nintendo console, unless I heard wrong... I'm pretty sure they have though. I remember hearing this as well. What does the current PS2 use for its graphics chipset? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris F Posted August 14, 2003 Author Report Share Posted August 14, 2003 What does the current PS2 use for its graphics chipset? Proprietary hardware I believe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beer Monkey Posted August 14, 2003 Report Share Posted August 14, 2003 I hope they are able to accurately and legally emulate all of the current Nvidia features including the microcode. If not, there will be no backwards compatibility with the current XBox. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buck Posted August 14, 2003 Report Share Posted August 14, 2003 I hope they are able to accurately and legally emulate all of the current Nvidia features including the microcode. If not, there will be no backwards compatibility with the current XBox. I hope they are able to as well, Michael. However, I believe Microsoft knows the importance of backwards compatibility, at least I hope they do :wink: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Calvin Posted August 14, 2003 Report Share Posted August 14, 2003 I believe Microsoft knows the importance of backwards compatibility, at least I hope they do They had better, if they know what is good for them... I can't see MS not doing so, though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
merlot Posted August 14, 2003 Report Share Posted August 14, 2003 I hope they are able to accurately and legally emulate all of the current Nvidia features including the microcode. If not, there will be no backwards compatibility with the current XBox. Does the Xbox use some form of DirectX? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whooter Posted August 14, 2003 Report Share Posted August 14, 2003 Does the Xbox use some form of DirectX? Yes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beer Monkey Posted August 14, 2003 Report Share Posted August 14, 2003 I personally met four weeks ago with one of Microsoft's DirectX evangelists. We discussed this a bit...yes, there is the DirectX API, but due to the nature that XBox apps are allowed to run in Ring Zero and include Nvidia microcode means that it's not as simple as using a new DirectX or wrapper with an ATI chipset. Incompatibilities can occur, and emulation may be needed for compatibility. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
merlot Posted August 14, 2003 Report Share Posted August 14, 2003 ... but due to the nature that XBox apps are allowed to run in Ring Zero and include Nvidia microcode In other words, accessing the hardware directly, rather going through an API, such as Direct X? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beer Monkey Posted August 15, 2003 Report Share Posted August 15, 2003 Based on my understanding, yes. To be fair, the person I was speaking with did not work in an XBox capacity on a regular basis. He largely worked on extolling the virtues of DirectX to PC developers who use OpenGL. He did seem to have some unique insight, though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baiter Posted August 15, 2003 Report Share Posted August 15, 2003 Well, to my knowledge the playstation is the only console to ever offer reverse compatibility with a completely new system, so I'm not holding my breath. I'll buy the new system anyway. As for the hardware compatability, the power of the components in the next xbox will likely be 10x what's in the current version all the way around. Given this minor detail, it seems highly feasible to write a software wrapper to solve any reverse incompatibility issues, it's more a matter of cost, then anything else. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robot Monkey Posted August 15, 2003 Report Share Posted August 15, 2003 As for the hardware compatability, the power of the components in the next xbox will likely be 10x what's in the current version all the way around. Probably a dumb question, but what is this based on? -j Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adamsappel Posted August 15, 2003 Report Share Posted August 15, 2003 As for the hardware compatability, the power of the components in the next xbox will likely be 10x what's in the current version all the way around. Probably a dumb question, but what is this based on? -j Wishful thinking. If the next-gen of systems are not backwards-compatible, I won't be buying them. I have little complaint about the hardware specs of the current consoles, and I did not spend thousands of dollars on software just to have to start from scratch. I expect Sony, Nintendo and Microsoft to continue making software for the current generation of consoles for some time as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beer Monkey Posted August 15, 2003 Report Share Posted August 15, 2003 I'll be very surprised if it's not backwards compatible. I suspect they'll work through the issues. Backwards compability is, in my opinion, a major selling point. Well, to my knowledge the playstation is the only console to ever offer reverse compatibility with a completely new system, so I'm not holding my breath. I'll buy the new system anyway. Atari 7800, Gameboy Color. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Romier S Posted August 15, 2003 Report Share Posted August 15, 2003 If the next-gen of systems are not backwards-compatible, I won't be buying them A tad irrational dont you think Allen? Did you plan to suddenly sell your current consoles for whats to come? If so then I really gotta repeat your own words to you... Wishful thinking. Backwards compatibility was almost unheard of (minus a few old school offerings) before Sony implented it with the Playstation 2. Considering the proprietary nature of Sony's hardware no doubt this was part of thier design from somewhat early in development. I'd love to see backward compatibility for the next round of consoles and I'm sure the logistics of that will be taken into account (and no doubt the effort will be made!) but all things considered I can't see cutting myself off from whats to come when in all honesty not excluding this feature in no way diminishes the money you have invested this generation (that is of course unless you plan to to get rid of your current consoles in which case the ball is squarely in your court as to whether or not you lose that you lose that investment). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adamsappel Posted August 15, 2003 Report Share Posted August 15, 2003 I don't think it's irrational at all to expect Sony et al to offer *at least* what was available in the previous generation. Would anyone buy Xbox2 if it didn't have online capabilities? Or especially the GameCube sequel? The PS2 set a standard of backwards compatibility, and I'm sure the PS3 will have it even if it's just an extra PS2 drive installed, and MS and Nintendo better follow suit if they expect to make inroads. Backwards compatibility means you keep your installed base, otherwise you're starting over. I expect the next-gen will offer improvements to current games, be it loading times or better graphics like the PS2 could "smooth" PS1 games. It's an incentive to buy the new model. I have no intention of selling my current consoles, though many people do that to afford the new stuff. Remember, we're hardcore gamers here. We don't see many reasons *not* to buy the next console. I'll be getting all three, provided they offer this one thing. Sure it's wishful thinking on my part, but by the time the next-gens are out I'll probably have hundreds of current games, and I demand (with my potential dollars) to play them in the future consoles. Actually, if we could load our current games into the new console's harddrive. I'd be happy with that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelley Posted August 15, 2003 Report Share Posted August 15, 2003 I'm not 100% sure on this, but I'm willing to bet MS owns the custom extensions in the XGPU. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Romier S Posted August 15, 2003 Report Share Posted August 15, 2003 I don't think it's irrational at all to expect Sony et al to offer *at least* what was available in the previous generation Well sure I can understand that however with the radical changes that were rumored with the PS3 no one can say whether thats going to be given a not. I'm with you on wanting this backward compatility. Few can argue how damn nice Vagrant Story looks with the smooth texture option set to on on the PS2 :wink: However its just seemed brash to say "IM NOT BUYING!" before even finding out what kind of technical hurdles current console manufacturers are going to have to deal with in 2005-2006. but by the time the next-gens are out I'll probably have hundreds of current games, and I demand (with my potential dollars) to play them in the future consoles Well yes the best way to speak is with your buying dollar and you certainly can demand for said feature. What you demand and what you get may be two very different things however . Or they may not be. If all is right in the world we'll be able to play all of our current games on the next gen systems. If anything I've learned to expect nothing when it comes to videogames and want everything Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graeme Posted August 15, 2003 Report Share Posted August 15, 2003 Would anyone buy Xbox2 if it didn't have online capabilities? Or especially the GameCube sequel? Backwards compatibility is a nice feature simply because it allows you to play your older games without having to have the old system set up. It has no effect whatsoever on that generation of games. Leaving out an online feature, most certainly would. For most of us here I would think it would be a bit of a non-issue since many of use will be keeping the older systems no matter what. With that said though, I think it would be a great thing for the XBox to include backwards compatibility, simply to help it's push of the XBL community. Some online games for the PC still get played for years after their expiration date. It is very possibly that after someone is done a session of Halo 3, that they'll want to check their friends list and jump into a game of Tetris Worlds, or Worms 3D (we can hope). This is made much more possible if they can play both games on the same system. Plus it will be nice when the console is new, there are only a handful of games to play, and not everyone has been able to upgrade yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
merlot Posted August 15, 2003 Report Share Posted August 15, 2003 I'm willing to bet Xbox2 will certainly have backwards compatibility. MS has always been a company which uses the best idea's in whatever market they are trying to own. Backwards compatibility is a great idea, so MS will use it. I'm not so sure about Nintendo, as they march to their own beat. Backwards compatibility or not, I'll still buy the next generation of consoles (hell, maybe even Sony's this go around). I keep all my consoles, so playing old games isn't much of a concern. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark E Posted August 15, 2003 Report Share Posted August 15, 2003 I hope it's backwards compatible, but we'll just have to see. I'm chomping at the bit to get onto Live! with everybody, but I have pharmacy licensing exams coming up in May and I literally have to spend the year studying. Unless I send people review questions to ask over the voice communicator, Live will not facilitate my passing . I have realized with this generation that I don't have to throw out my old systems to make way for the new, which is nice. That's why my SNES escaped death and my Cube isn't going anywhere. My purchases for next-gen will seriously follow the following pattern: whichever system has the latest Resident Evil game, followed by the rest of them . One label I will never dodge is Resident Evil whore. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baiter Posted August 16, 2003 Report Share Posted August 16, 2003 As for the hardware compatability, the power of the components in the next xbox will likely be 10x what's in the current version all the way around. Probably a dumb question, but what is this based on? -j Pure speculation. Actually it's more of a guesstimate based on the current xbox. If they intend to launch the next generation in about 2 years time they're going to need to settle in on the hardware ASAP. Once that is done they still have a year to design and build the box and another year to develop the software for it. This means that all the original chosen hardware will be reasonably priced as it'll 2 years old by then. Todays top of the line stuff is about 10x what the current xbox has. If memory serves me correctly this is the approximate timeline and hardware selection process that occured 4 the 1st gen xbox. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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