Kotaku
Speaking with Albert Penello, group marketing manager for the Xbox 360, at CES this week, we touched on the future of the Xbox past. The most recent update to the list of original Xbox games that are playable on the Xbox 360, bringing the total to 465 last gen titles, could very well be the last, according to Penello. "I don't know if we have plans to do any more releases," Penello said "It feels like we kind of hit the point of diminishing returns there. I know with the Xbox Originals, there are still things happening there, but in terms of a lot of engineering work around bringing out new titles, I think they're winding that down."
He pointed out that Microsoft's promise to focus on the "top selling" original Xbox titles has been, from a corporate standpoint, delivered upon. "For the most part, we've crossed off games that people want to play," he said, adding that "There's always going to be a notable exception here or there."
Penello noted that, outside of Halo 2, internal data points to low numbers of backward compatible games being played on Live, with BC updates "not being downloaded that much anymore."
While some of the more fondly remembered Xbox games, like Otogi and The Chronicles of Riddick, haven't made the list yet, Penello tells us not to hold our breath. "At this point the stuff that's left is work per title, every title now is almost a one-off. Right now we have to think, are we really going to do 300 one-off titles? I know it's not exactly the answer everyone wants to hear, but I feel like it's time."
Watch for more from our interview with Penello later.
Comments
"Penello noted that, outside of Halo 2, internal data points to low numbers of backward compatible games being played on Live, with BC updates "not being downloaded that much anymore."
Because as we all know, the only game worth playing is the game that features on-line multi-player.
That's too bad. Otogi and Otogi 2 were the last two games I was pulling for. Oh well.
Could you asK him if at least they are going to fix the glitches on the BC of Marvel Vs Campom 2 ???
I wants RedVSBlues on my XboxsLives. That's it.
Crap...I wanted to try Otogi...
Hey, M$! How about making all the SNK games I foolishly purchased instead of just downloading the roms, backwards compatible?
"For the most part, we've crossed off games that people want to play..."
Yes, like all those Cabela hunting games, the plethora of old sports titles, and cow plop like Catwoman, Pitfall: the Lost Expedition, and Trivial Pursuit Unhinged. :P
Does this mean the BC Ninjas are being downsized?
That's a shame. They probably covered all the popular titles by now, though.
Where's my Beyond Good and Evil?!
That doesn't make sense; if they wanna keep adding downloadable Xbox Originals, they're gonna have to keep doing BC updates, seeing as how the Xbox Originals games run on the same emulator as BC games.
Why is it so hard for M$ to do backwards compat? I haven't had any trouble playing any of the PS1 or PS2 games on my PS3.... Oh well at least KOTOR works on my 360.....
Oddworld: Stranger's Wrath needs to be in that list before the end or I'm gonna wind Penello down and teach him how to hold HIS breath. :(
better not wind down before mech assault!
Its winding down, but we will see more updates still. Every game that gets added to the Xbox originals will either already be BC or will be made BC because they both use the same emulation program.
Really I think most 360 owners would like to see Xbox BC support dropped. Wanna know why? The reason friends lists cant go over 100 is because original xbox games only supported up to 100 friends. Same thing with an integrated clan service and a lot of other features people would like.
I was still hoping for Strangers Wrath and the Warriors to go BC...I suppose now all hope is lost.
Still a few straglers, but I've generally been satisfied with Xbox BC.
@SithNinja:
sorry for double posting here...
I believe the reason its hard is because there was some problem with the chipset of the original Xbox and something made it not compatible with the 360 which is why it had to do Software BC. On top of that, they have to write a new emulator for practically every game.
@SithNinja:
How old is that PS3? Because depending on the version, the reason your PS3 works so well is because it HAS a PS2 built in because they didn't get the software ready in time.
@dv8godd: AGREED. That's one of the best games on Xbox and one of the main ones I've been waiting for (still have mah Xbox, but it r broked). Beyond Good and Evil I can do without, since it's on other consoles, too (though I have the Xbox one, so I can't say for sure how solid the other versions are).
as most used xbox games sold at <$5 in ebgames, I wonder why people want to waste their precious little xbox360 HD space and download XB origins.
@nutmaniv:
Its got to do with the liscensing for the graphics system if I remember correctly. The original Xbox used Nvidia technology and would have had to liscense it for use in the 360 as well. The BC bypasses that.
@iameleveneight:
The 80GB has 98% BC. Thats more than the 360 will ever have.
It would be nice if they added the original Splinter Cell on there before they call it quits, but overall I'm satisfied. Thanks, MS!
@duderdude2:
I LOUDLY second that: WHERE'S OUR BEYOND GOOD AND EVIL???!!!
@Okari: Yeah, but if you average it out with the 0% of the 40G that's like... 49% BC. And that's crap, I tells you, crap!
Just doing it before somebody else does.
@Okari:
But when Microsoft says they are playable they are when Sony says it. It's quite frankly "oh yeah half assed" or "yeah the menus don't work".
Still waiting on the two Capcom Classics Collections to be made BC but I guess they'd rather cash in on those titles one at a time...
@Okari: If you count games that will load... yes, but not if you actually plan on finishing the game or having sound / fmv. You know, minor things like that.
@Okari: And theres a huge reason why it has 95% BC. Although it uses some software BC it still has some hardware left inside of the PS2, its not full hardware BC but does have some. The 360 uses FULL software BC. Thats why the 40gb PS3 will never support old PS2 games because it has none of the hardware at all and Sony will never do full software emulation for 1000+ games. I think its damn good that Microsoft even did it.
LAME.
Hows about making a mini xbox 1 like the slim ps2? Not all of us live in cavernous mansions with enough room to hold every damn giant console out there.
So no SVC Chaos? :(
Disappointing, but at least what IS emulated is emulated well.
Alls I needs is Gauntlet: Dark Legacy and I could pack my original X-box aways. DAMN YOUS!!! (shakes fist)
@obijuan71:
Amen! I'm tired of of these messed up "BC" games like MvC2 and KoF 2002/2003 (where one plays sort-of and the other not-at-all.)
If they want more playing the BC games, advertise the fact that you can a bit more. As of now there are still plenty of good games that are not on the BC list. Hell, I still say if they would go back and add achievements to the Xbox1 games (say 500 a pop, maybe 1000 for the really good ones) that you would see a slew of people buying & playing the games again.
@dishwasher: Agreed. Although I would settle for an Xbox Original title for MechAssault as well. I still have my disc in hopes that one day I can pink-button with my Kit Fox again.
Bummer, was still waiting for Silent hill 2 to join the BC roster.
Well I do applaud them for their efforts with the BC. Considering that when they originally announced back at E3 05 that the 360 would be compatible with the top selling Xbox games only. They're doing a lot more than they had originally bargained.
Still, it would be nice to play some Voodoo Vince, Riddick, Otogi, and BG&E in 720p glory.
@P.N.03: like he said those are 1 off games. Meaning they work because of work that was done for a top tier title. They didnt mean to make it work it just does which means it probably didnt use much if any of the xbox's custom feature set.
There are some games I wish were on there but..i find even when a title i really wanted to play is put on the list, i play for maybe 20 min and then leave it alone.
What i do is leave the xbox cables connected and just put the xbox away. The cables are hidden behind the tv stand and my tv has plenty of component inputs...which doesnt really matter anyways since i use hdmi for my ps3 and 360.
@Okari: The 40GB has none... that's more than... well, it's not much at all really is it. Especially when you consider that it's the only version currently available in the UK.
Too many new and current gen titles beating down on our wallets for me to worry about obscure titles of the past. Forward march!
@ShaggE:
Marvel vs Capcom 2 says hi....
my favorite 3 Xbox games still need to be on there: Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay, Oddworld: Stranger's Wrath, and Midnight Club 3: DUB Edition Remix. I'm asking for 3 measly titles Microsoft - make the repayment for downed Xbox Live a backwards compatibility update consisting of all original Xbox games, which i think would make ALL Xbox owners happy instead of a free Xbox Live Arcade game.
@Guild_Navigator: Yeah, I loved Otogi. I'd probably buy a PS3 if it got Otogi 3, since Microsoft/Sega/FromSW don't seem to be in any hurry to put one out for 360. It was the first game I got with my XB1, and when I realized it wouldn't work on the 360 I almost wanted to cry.
Also, I miss my random crappy XB1 fighting games like SVC:Chaos. Damn, I may just have to buy another XB1 at some point ;)
@Capt-Fury-: Ah, haven't tried that one. Just going by what I have tried.
Good thing I'm an MK guy, since both Deception and Armageddon run perfectly :D (although some of the unlockable videos in Deception flicker like strobe lights... so heads up to any epileptic MK fans :P)
OTOGI!!!!! They had better not pass on Otogi 3. That game would give them mileage in Japan.....I am quite upset that there has been no mention of a next-gen version.
it kinda sucks when you check the list and see that Marvel vs Capcom 2 is on the list so you find it cheap ($50 I couldnt find it any cheaper) and you get all excited to play it again to find out your characters look like pixel barf...it kinda rains on the parade. I just wish they would fix what they started.
Prince of persia 1 (backward compatible with minor issues)
Prince of persia 2 (not)
Prince of persia 3 (not)
/also, psi-ops is not BC either
Now that these brainwashed fanboys will pay $10-15, why allow them to use their old discs? Good move... may as well milk your loyal customers for all they're worth.
Wait, isn't that why consumers resented Sony in 2006? Ooops.