On Backwards Compatibility

Xbox Team — Tue, 04 Apr 2006 10:54:44 GMT

I finally got around to writing that article on backwards compatibility, with a little help from other...

re: On Backwards Compatibility

soco — Tue, 04 Apr 2006 12:00:20 GMT

thanks for the post! interesting, although rather identical to my tg16 emulator, despite being an ancient console :)

i'd be interested in knowing whether it uses dynamic recompilation or if it actually software emulates all of the instructions. further, does it use the additional cores for things such as the audio processing and shader translation?

re: On Backwards Compatibility

Paul Hill — Tue, 04 Apr 2006 14:13:23 GMT

Fantastic start! Will there be any more detail on the how stuff? Is it just brute force? Are you JITting on one core, CPU emulating on another and GPU emulating on the third? More please, this is fascinating!

re: On Backwards Compatibility

Big Daddy Shark — Tue, 04 Apr 2006 15:56:44 GMT

Thanks for the article. One question though, what is a TCR/TRC ?

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HaksawUK — Tue, 04 Apr 2006 15:58:15 GMT

An interesting read, I'm staying hopeful and patient that my favourate games will be emulated for my xbox 360.

I have a question, when you're in the decidion of what game to emulate and what games you're not going to emulate (or leave to a later time), what factors play on this decision? Do you tend to go for xbox live games, knowing that people who use xbox live on their xbox 360, cannot access their original Xbox for online play.

Or do you choose the easiest/game that shows some promise of 'easier' emulation?

Oh and could you give a hint at whats to come please, ;)

Thanks,
HaksawUK
England

re: On Backwards Compatibility

zzz — Tue, 04 Apr 2006 16:12:29 GMT

I do not see any issue in writing games fully in c#. The only real problem in backwards compat is what to do about possible hand optimized shader assembly. Of course you could mandate the use of HLSL ...

How about running Singularity on Xbox N together with DX10 compatible framework..

re: On Backwards Compatibility

jeffyjones — Tue, 04 Apr 2006 16:55:33 GMT

I'm still crossing my fingers that Munch's Oddysee will make the list. It's the only reason my old Xbox is still plugged in!

re: On Backwards Compatibility

Sinistar — Tue, 04 Apr 2006 17:38:16 GMT

That backhanded Sony comment was rich considering all the problems that have been encountered in the 360's BC. I think you guys need to worry about the users *you're* alienating before being concerned about Sony's approach.

I can certainly appreciate the difficulty in providing full emulation in software for an entire game console, but let's face facts - BC has a black eye right now. It'll heal over time, but for now, it's probably best not to throw punches at the competition regarding this topic.

Standard PR/marketing tactics, I know. But what I would really like to see here is the Xbox Team focusing on the Xbox and not on what the Joneses are doing. Any time you guys dig on the PS3, it just comes across as mildly infantile. Why not instead just keep telling us about the Xbox and stop mentioning what the competition is doing?

re: On Backwards Compatibility

Otherwhen — Tue, 04 Apr 2006 18:44:08 GMT

Thank you!!

It's great to see some 'official' information on BC - the first for a while.

What would also be great, and go a long way to staving off the hoards of angry gamers, is some indications on your release stategy. How often you would realistically like to be releasing updates, numbers of games, are you still intending to eventually support the whole library of Xbox games that kind of thing.

The last update from the BC team was a double edged sword - months of silence, then an update for three games - one slightly 'foxed'. Something at last but argh. You get the picture.

So, if we could have something on what you are planning and working towards so we are reassured that the commitment is still there, but that it's mired a bit in the technical implementation...

Thank's again!

re: On Backwards Compatibility

scrapple — Tue, 04 Apr 2006 18:50:25 GMT

Id like to see the following 2 games make the list:

1. NCAA Football 2006 or 2005
2. EA MVP Baseball 2005

Both of these games have huge fan base support...

now how about that poker on live and street fighter? whats the status?

re: On Backwards Compatibility

Konsolkongen — Tue, 04 Apr 2006 19:04:09 GMT

OutRun 2

Its the only great game on the xbox. Enough said...

re: On Backwards Compatibility

Spylon — Tue, 04 Apr 2006 21:11:37 GMT

I'll keep my fingers crossed that you guys succeed but if the Xbox 1 starts disappearing from shelves I might just go out an buy it.

Some Background On Backwards Compatibility

Gamerscore Blog — Tue, 04 Apr 2006 21:48:06 GMT

There are a couple of articles that have been posted today that are worth pointing out:
Larry Hryb...

re: On Backwards Compatibility

MarxMarvelous37 — Tue, 04 Apr 2006 21:49:49 GMT

I'm a CS graduate who works in the industry and the work you guys do *still* amazes me. Perhaps it would be easier to be "ignorant" to the process and just bitch at you guys for not making every single game work. ;)

re: On Backwards Compatibility

Greg O. — Tue, 04 Apr 2006 22:06:31 GMT

Way back when I first heard the rumors that Xbox(next) would be using a PowerPC, all I could think was that there was NO way software emulation would be possible. That, or we'd get performance about on par with VirtualPC for Mac!

And now I learn that you guys have to look at assembly code! I'm no whiz in programming, but I know that has to be tough. It really is too bad things couldn't have worked out better in the first generation to ensure correct IP (whatever, etc.) to have hardware emulation, but for the xbox to be 4 years old, and the PS2 6, I'm very impressed with what you guys have accomplished. I'm still very much dedicated to Halo 2, but I can slowly start to feel myself move away towards a more well rounded 360 game experience. Although the whole 60$ game thing is kind of a barrier :-)

Great article guys, despite the low number of comments, it's really great to get this kind of insight from the people who helped make it.

re: On Backwards Compatibility

Narayan — Wed, 05 Apr 2006 13:40:59 GMT

A very good read for anyone that thinks BC is a simple matter when you don't have the hardware manufacturers in the palm of your hand.

Kudos to you, say I, for managing this kind of quality and optimization for software titles designed to run on one-generation old hardware.

re: On Backwards Compatibility

masterman — Wed, 05 Apr 2006 22:25:44 GMT

i wish they would emulate street fighter anniversary collection so i can do some butt kicking on live thats the only reason why i bought live if i cant get this game working i guess i gotta look down hopefully thay can cause it doesnt seem very hard to emulate a small game like that but if they cant i understand atleast they are doing something

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masterman — Wed, 05 Apr 2006 22:25:59 GMT

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masterman — Wed, 05 Apr 2006 22:26:16 GMT

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masterman — Wed, 05 Apr 2006 22:26:37 GMT

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masterman — Wed, 05 Apr 2006 22:30:57 GMT

hopefully street fighter AC will be emulated

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jmel — Wed, 05 Apr 2006 22:35:37 GMT

Hey, I just was curious about something to xboxfan...

Is there a main emulator "engine" with seperate "profiles' written for individual games? Or are all the "tweaks" made to the core engine, and that affects all games by itself?

- Thanks.

re: On Backwards Compatibility

Andy — Wed, 05 Apr 2006 22:38:35 GMT

Why not just let all the games play, and have a list of compatible ones. Thats how just about every emulator works. How long are we going to have to wait for each of our favirate classics to be added to the list?

re: On Backwards Compatibility

Derek J. Nolan (DSmooth) — Wed, 05 Apr 2006 23:15:59 GMT

Was there ever the thought of, instead of emulating the XBox, to just recompile the .XBE's as native 360 code where the new executables would reside on the hard disk but access the remaining data from the disc? Would that have even been possible?

Derek

re: On Backwards Compatibility

erexx — Wed, 05 Apr 2006 23:18:53 GMT

So far the only ones offering any "excuses" is the Xbox Team.

"I hope Sony doesn't alienate gamers based on an excuse like technical requirements."

re: On Backwards Compatibility

Marcelo Abans — Wed, 05 Apr 2006 23:33:34 GMT

Why didn't microsoft share this information from the start. It would have taken a lot of the concerns out of the backwards compatability issue. Up until this article I just couldn't understand why MS would go this route rather than what sony did with PS2. Good to hear. No I won't feel so bad buying a xbox360.

re: On Backwards Compatibility

Number01 — Wed, 05 Apr 2006 23:33:47 GMT

First off let me talk about the PS3, I believe at launch the PS3 will have more backwards supported titles then the 360.

Wouldnt the 360 have had more games compatible if it chose an x86 processor then a Power PC or wouldnt at least the emulation have run smoother?

There is a huge problem with ghosting on Halo 2. I have often times played and parts of the map get stuck on the screen and I cant see anything or it makes it hard to snipe. Can you guys pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeease fix this? Also the map Backwash has a really low framerate on the 360 and you guys should test a game there so you know what Im talking about (it sometimes feels like bad lag when everyones got a good connection).

How about building a new Xbox 1 thats half the size as the original and has Xbox Live Silver and Gold and support for the 360 wireless controllers? If its going to be such a pain in the ass to emulate just make a smaller Xbox system like Sony does with their systems and sell people that. Or how about selling an Xbox 360 HDD that has the chips from the Xbox 1 built into them so that it improves the backwards compat?

Somehow I have a feeling that if you guys come out with a HDD you can do more then just provide larger storage but you can also improve loading times or emulation, and why isnt the 360 vision webcam wireless? I don't have a port for the webcam cause in the back is the Xbox 360 wireless adapter. Who thought of this product, you should tell them to cut the wire. I mean wireless would allow 4 people to use wireless webcams for some kinda game or 4 person chatting with 4 other people. I wouldnt care if the product was 100 dollars like other webcams that are wireless.

re: On Backwards Compatibility

Spin — Thu, 06 Apr 2006 00:11:44 GMT

I think this is a great explanation of the BC process. Hopefully enough people understand it but, from the small amount of comments I don't think they do so I have a feeling the same complaints will arise :( However, I appreciate it and say keep up the good work :)

re: On Backwards Compatibility

runtime — Thu, 06 Apr 2006 01:36:27 GMT

A great article, very insightful - the kind of minds you need to have to bear down on the problem of BC is seriously awe-insipiring; these folks are a rare breed!

It would be interesting to read a bit more about the time, how the many folks work there, how is it structured, who decides what gets worked on next (is that handed down from marketing or is it internal to the team)? Most importantly, how do they keep sane staring hours upon hours at screens of assembler?!

re: On Backwards Compatibility

TJ — Thu, 06 Apr 2006 01:57:05 GMT

wow...thats a lot of work for one person. i was wondering why the list wasn't updated that often. a blog for the games currently being worked on would be cool...

re: On Backwards Compatibility

Matt S — Thu, 06 Apr 2006 02:12:42 GMT

Nice article, I sold my Xbox when I got the 360, but I kept PGR2, MX vs ATV Unleashed and Stranger's Wrath, hoping they might be BC. Guys, at least Stranger's wrath needs to work, its a classic! That can be your next game to add to the list :D

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Zygote — Thu, 06 Apr 2006 02:25:25 GMT

I appreciate the difficulty involved with this process. I only hope that both the Brother's in Arms and Mechassault series find their way to the 360 sometime this year :)

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N&X Fan — Thu, 06 Apr 2006 02:42:09 GMT

Is there a technical reason that Capcom's 2D fighters haven't been emulated yet while complex 3D shooters like Halo have?

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N&X Fan — Thu, 06 Apr 2006 02:46:22 GMT

Is there a technical reason that Capcom's 2D fighters haven't been emulated yet while complex 3D shooters like Halo have? Marvel vs Capcom 2 and Capcom vs SNK 2 are mostly underappreciated by the core Xbox audience, but I think they are some of the best in the Xbox lineup. It'd be great to see them on the BC list.

re: On Backwards Compatibility

Shawn — Thu, 06 Apr 2006 03:09:54 GMT

Well wouldnt even worry about it because there will be hopefully so many games being developed for the 360 that it should be great. I think that making a emulator for the 360 would be to expensive for what its worth and plus halo 2 is the only game xbox is popular for and what every xbox is used for constantly so yea i wouldt do it. My opinion what ever

re: On Backwards Compatibility

Haza55 — Thu, 06 Apr 2006 03:47:17 GMT

Xbox emulation for the Xbox Team is a lot easier compared to free-lance coders. Because the Xbox Team has all the code for the kernel, all the drivers code and well they did(well most of them) work on the Xbox.

re: On Backwards Compatibility

Raikkonen — Thu, 06 Apr 2006 04:53:44 GMT

Im sure gald that forza motorsports works now on my 360.

Now just give the guys at free60.org a little hint on how to run XBMC on the 360. That way you guys dont create a monopoly by FORCING the users to use Window XP MCE!

Peace!

re: On Backwards Compatibility

Jim Ranney — Thu, 06 Apr 2006 05:16:18 GMT

Sence DICE has been bought out by the videogame industry distruction company known as EA I'd like to see Rallisport Challenge 2 and Midtown Madness 3 added to the BC list.

Especially sence Microsoft won't be releasing sequels to either one. Thanks.

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Jim Ranney — Thu, 06 Apr 2006 05:17:08 GMT

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atomnicdust — Thu, 06 Apr 2006 06:21:42 GMT

Quit it allready. I pay for an overpriced product to get minimal efficiency. You should have made the hardware play the games, like sony does. Stop coming out with lame excuses and saying this is cutting edge, we can emulate a few of our games..blah, blah. Cheap-asses quit crying because you gave the public a half finishined product. Instead of wasting your time trying to make these things work. You could have released the 360 at a later date once the BC list was at a healthier number, and issues with most games would have been resolved. Greed, it drives the gears of incompetence.

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TestP — Thu, 06 Apr 2006 06:38:49 GMT

I understand how hard it is to emulate a system; however it was part of M$ merchandise around xbox360, so someone has to deal with it :-|
Nevertheless, I look foward to see Soul Calibur II in the b.c. list.

cheers

re: On Backwards Compatibility

Curtis Hutchings — Thu, 06 Apr 2006 07:34:11 GMT

Like to see Panzer Dragon Orta, Battlefront, MX Unleashed series, Soul Calibur II, and DOA series make the Backward Compatibility list.

re: On Backwards Compatibility

Uxorious — Thu, 06 Apr 2006 13:49:49 GMT

When will the backward compatible games work with the vga cable? At present, no games work with the vga cable. Whenever I try an xbox game that is on the bc list my 360 tells me to change the screen resolution. But no resolution setting solves the problem. I hear it is to do with the update program requiring 50Hz. When will this be sorted.

re: On Backwards Compatibility

Jim Ranney — Thu, 06 Apr 2006 14:15:02 GMT

3 games that should be added to the BC list sence Microsoft won't make 360 versions of them......Rallisport Challenge 2, Midtown Madness 3, and the game that should have had a sequel on Xbox....Links 2004.

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The Reaper — Thu, 06 Apr 2006 16:52:41 GMT

xbox 360 did not live up to the hype and that half backward compatability is another downfall. Unfortunatly, PS3 will most likely dominate the 360, and possibly to the point that microsoft will not create another console. I like xbox 360, but it has nothing to say WOW! what a cool thing to have kinda feeling. I really would not have ever bought the 360 if I knew it sucked this bad. PS. games look exactly the same on a high def TV with xbox or 360. I HATE 360

re: On Backwards Compatibility

M Yussuf — Thu, 06 Apr 2006 17:47:56 GMT

Nice article. good read :)

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Travis Prebble — Thu, 06 Apr 2006 17:54:08 GMT

Sony has run into TRC limitations in the past that resulted in maybe 10-15 games not making it through their backwards compatibility changes.

At this time, the Xbox 360 is well over 1000 games short of fulfilling its BC promises. While this will certainly change over time, it's probably best not to make snide remarks about the competition in this area of functionality.

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BrianS — Thu, 06 Apr 2006 19:52:39 GMT

One thing I don't understand is...they should have the actual source code available to them. Microcoft is the company that writes the emulators for the 360. And before the game goes into production, it has to be certified (by Micrsoft). In order to do that, don't they need the code?

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mr slimmerthy — Thu, 06 Apr 2006 20:44:23 GMT

Emulation of xbox games seems to be quite a complex procedure. I guess the only way for it to be perfect would be to get external games testers who know the original versions of the game like the backs of their hands to play it through noting all the issues down, and as that would take a lot of time and money. I personally think that it'll never be perfect. when I first heard about it, I thought it would be easy to emulate. Just because the new console has the xbox label, it doesn't mean that it will have the same properties. I was hoping that steel battalion would be converted, but now I know that is just a dream. keep it up, we're all behind you!!

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JC — Thu, 06 Apr 2006 20:46:54 GMT

It's still kinda annoying that MS can't get the games to fully work , ninja gaiden worked perfect before and now the march update has robbed the gameof sound

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djjsin — Fri, 07 Apr 2006 01:09:48 GMT

Thats great and all, my problem is more with how Microsoft (mainly the marketing side) is talking about the Backwards Compatibility like it works perfectly, using it as a selling point for the system, then I bought the system, all these problems started to arise. All top games, Ninja Gaiden, Forza, Halo 2, Fable all had problems. I would have also thought that once the 360 was decided to be Backwards Compatible, then all future games from that point on, would be certified for the xbox 360 emulator and the xbox, and microsoft could work with a company at the time of development, to make sure it ran fine on the emulator.

I just feel really mislead in regards to this. Halo 2 is a perfect example. It STILL doesnt work right.

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MArc — Fri, 07 Apr 2006 17:24:53 GMT

Excellent read.

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Kryztoval — Fri, 07 Apr 2006 22:36:26 GMT

If this is a technical article I'll feel sorry to inform you that what is stated in the article is obvious to technical people. Which path is the PS3 Followin is going to be breathtaking to say the least (as breath taking as not having backwards compatibility). I sure was hoping to see backwards and fordware compatibility! Did i ever expect the xbox360 disc to contain both, xbox360 and xbox games versions, and let the console decide which one to play? yeah I did, and I felt impressed by the difficulty and expertise doing such a thing would demand, just to name a few: devising a way to let the original xbox read the game disc, and doing, a completely different way to allow the xbox 360 read the disc also, allowing shared content on the dvd for both systems, mixing textures and making availible the texture definitions, etc). I am still waiting for that to be posible... not having to pay twice for a game and being able to play it on both (sacrificing only the quality of the graphics) would have been something without precedents... and really challenging shall I reafirm.

And not including games but also not letting know people about what made this console great (online content, downloadable demos, backward compatibility kindof) is a hurtful fault in mexico. I assume you may get more sales if you could manage that, please do place the xbox360 comercials on market place!!! they rock.

.-Kryz

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colin mcrae — Fri, 07 Apr 2006 23:30:54 GMT

Thanks for all the technical background on the BC effort underway! Sounds crazy.

Now, how about MY RSC-2, please! Its a MSG game, its one heck of a game and it looks sharp as ever even on the OG box.

I am sure begging you doesn't help much, so let me know if bribes would work any better!

Just kidding, well sort of. Is there any time table (estimate even) when the next round of games will be added to the list. There is next round, right!

Thanks for all your mud, sweat and gears!

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Brad — Sat, 08 Apr 2006 01:21:26 GMT

Excellent article! It's very interesting to look at what all you guys (or girls) have to work through to bring these BC games to the public. Thank you for all of your hard work, and please pass on my compliments to the BC team for adding Black to the list!

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benpro — Sat, 08 Apr 2006 18:26:19 GMT

we need serious sam 1 & 2 emulation

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The Hedon — Sun, 09 Apr 2006 06:51:35 GMT

After reading that, it seems that debugging is a big issue, especially if they don't have the source code. I would then tend to think it should be easy to get all the MSG (Microsoft Game Studios) games onto the Xbox...such as all the XSN sports games, etc.

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SCS 85 — Mon, 10 Apr 2006 05:02:04 GMT

Good read. Damn, it seems like a very difficult task to emulate Xbox games on Xbox 360, I'm amazed they have over 200 BC games right now.

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Kilik — Mon, 10 Apr 2006 15:33:30 GMT

Why isn't the compability list the same for all regions (ie. a european version of a game is working, but not the american version and vice versa)?

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Phil Hess — Thu, 13 Apr 2006 06:03:52 GMT

Good stuff =). I know it's hard work and I'm hoping you are able to make some monumental strides. Not sure if this helps at all, but Cisco has made emulators for their routers and I believe that they look at designing the emulator based more on looking at the hardware rather than trying to decode the existing software. I'm not a developer and I'm sure you've thought about this, but it just seems more logical to focus more efforts on making a pure hardware emulator (via software) than attempting to work each title's issues individually. I maybe totally wrong, but sometimes it's the simple suggestions that make milestones =).

Just got my XBox today and getting ready to dig into it when I get home. Now that PGR3 is out, do you think the PGR2 developers might be able to help you guys on BC for it?

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Samus — Wed, 19 Apr 2006 04:59:18 GMT

In my opinion, some of the more popular games that should be checked for backwards compatibility include morrowind, and DDR. I also think that Nightcaster is a good game to look up on too!

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Maximo Piva — Fri, 21 Apr 2006 15:49:24 GMT

Instead of using an emulator, why not create some porting libraries and recompile the original xbox game source code, into the xbox 360 xdk. In this way you will have a native PPC application and also the original game developer can add extra features. You will only need to download the new executable from xbox live....

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Ipax85 — Fri, 21 Apr 2006 16:27:01 GMT

This article was great and there was more info about emulating than i would need... But i'd like to know more about games that will be or never be at BC.. Like Outrun2, Sega Gt Online & Taito Legends 1 & 2. ^^) *You rule*

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sasha — Sat, 22 Apr 2006 00:48:14 GMT

i still dont understand how to play old games on the xbox 360

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carlos torres — Tue, 25 Apr 2006 02:13:17 GMT

i hope to play doom gladius or warriors thats the only reason i got my xbox still plugged in

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Trevis Wright — Fri, 05 May 2006 23:23:53 GMT

Please, Please, Please can yall try your hardess to get NBA Ballers Phenom to play on the XBOX 360 for me. I'm begging you. Thanks

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Trevis Wright — Fri, 05 May 2006 23:24:26 GMT

Please, Please, Please can yall try your hardess to get NBA Ballers Phenom to play on the XBOX 360 for me. I'm begging you. Thanks

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Nick — Tue, 09 May 2006 10:25:36 GMT

Just recently i got Doom 3, Hitman 2 and RalliSport Challenge with hope that they worked on my 360 but they dident so i was just wondering if these games are going to be eventually playable and if there is a list of the games that are going to be put in.

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chris — Fri, 12 May 2006 13:47:57 GMT

i need to know the MEASUREMENTS!

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Gavin Horricks — Fri, 12 May 2006 18:38:49 GMT

An update on how things are going would be good.

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link0007 — Thu, 25 May 2006 11:05:39 GMT

ow I so hope that morrowind is backward compatible soon :(
and also, (this is a real n00b question, I know )if you emulate, why is it imposible to make the game believe that it's running on a normal Xbox, while using the full performance of the Xbox 360?

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Crunchy — Wed, 31 May 2006 20:15:22 GMT

A bit rich having a dig at Sony at the end there with regard to possibly alienating gamers with the excuse of technical requirements because the entire article above is one long excuse on that exact theme. There is absolutely no viable excuse for the lack of the backward compatibility we were promised when we bought the 360. The resources available to microsoft are massive beyond belief and if they had any respect for their customers they would be getting stuck into the BC issue with everything they have. The fact is Microsoft greed means no worthwhile BC because they fear it's impact on next gen sales. We're seeing the same thing on XBLA, nothing happening because of oure greed.

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Matt — Wed, 31 May 2006 23:29:13 GMT

Thanks for the insight guys. Would be great if Morrowind could be ported some day.

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Balls — Fri, 02 Jun 2006 23:02:27 GMT

No one is saying that implementing BC via software is trivial.

We (the xbox gaming community) just wants you (the Xbox Team) to understand that when BC is mentioned as a selling point, we expect you to deliver on your promise. Maybe it was another Marketing not having a clue what was going on, but when I hear B.C. I expect my games to work.

Would you be upset if it turns out that HD-DVD players can only play a subset of original DVDs after being told that HD

"I hope Sony doesn't alienate gamers based on an excuse like technical requirements."

I hope Xbox360 doesn't alienate gamers based on an excuse like software emulation is too hard.

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Marty Barrett — Tue, 06 Jun 2006 01:44:09 GMT

Well, I understand everything about the backwards compatibility, but the question that I wanted to ask is "why has there been a price drop on the xbox 360 yet? The price is fair, but from what I hear, there is going to be no price drop planned any time soon. The 360 is a great piece of technology, but it has been out for quite a while. I am not trying to criticize anything about the way the company works, (being that I would much rather have an xbox 360 than a PS3 or Nintendo Revolution and I have trusted Microsoft ever since the XBOX was announced) it was just a question that was bothering me. You may contact me at UrGirlfrndDigsMe@aol.com, please do.

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dan — Tue, 06 Jun 2006 05:04:33 GMT

couldnt you just use a flash firmware update and have one of the cores act as an emulator to make the games *think they are in an xbox?* by this i mean the games would play and whenever they used things such as graphics and networking, the core would have it work as it should in an xbox?

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Scott — Tue, 06 Jun 2006 07:10:38 GMT

They took the easy way out - looks like they are just putting a PS2 chipset inside the PS3.

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good info... — Tue, 06 Jun 2006 08:19:40 GMT

Having written a couple emulators myself, I knew this would be a difficult task. But yet, with MS walking away from the Xbox 180 so rapidly, they have little choice.

Still irked that Forza Motorsport is listed as working when the frame rate drops to less than 6fps driving down the Esses at Road Atlanta. Forza was no performance wonder on Xbox, but it didn't do this badly.

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Mike Rayl — Wed, 07 Jun 2006 20:43:12 GMT

I have the more expensive version of the 360 and bought a current BC disk from Microsoft. I put the disk in and downloaded what was on the disk. I've tried to play 'Fable', 'Forza Motorsports'. The are on the current list, but when I try to play them, an error message pops up "This game is not compatable with this system." Does anyone know what I am doing wrong?

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S. Johnson — Sun, 11 Jun 2006 16:39:16 GMT

Anyone know if Dead or Alive Ultimate is going to be BC with the 360? I noticed that DOA 3 is and can only assume that eventually this will be as well. Anyone got any info on this game yet?

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* Cobsta * — Fri, 04 Aug 2006 11:42:11 GMT

I regularly check the backwards compatibility list on the official XBOX site and I am constantly disappointed to see that none of the Burnout games have made it on there. Does anybody know if they will make it to the list?

re: On Backwards Compatibility

Daniel Brennan — Thu, 10 Aug 2006 20:19:04 GMT

Great article, and one that I can agree with based on my own experience with emulation and technology in general. I am especially familiar with the problem of figuring out code that I did not write. It is always much easier when I have the developer to speak with. This begs the question? Should it not be easier for games developed by Microsoft to be emulated? I do understand that there are sometimes engineering issues which seem to require the original hardware, but these are rare. I'll just use one example here. MS Links. As one of the best golf simulations that I have played, this is one game that I continue to enjoy on my original Xbox as well as my PC. It would be nice, however, if I could play it on the 360 with the 360 controller without going to the side room that I retired my Xbox 1 to. So what gives? Microsoft game, Microsoft developers, Microsoft emulation team, no emulation for Links. It does not make a lot of sense to me. Additionally, are there not guidelines that you could send to developers for the original xbox (I know there are hardly any left now) so that all new Xbox 1 games could be more efficiently emulated?

re: On Backwards Compatibility

Michael Nebel — Mon, 28 Aug 2006 18:02:02 GMT

I think that you guys are awesome. Keep up the good work. I am always check the backwards compatibility page to see whats new. (I can't wait for Midtown Madness 3) Again keep up the good work. (^_^)

re: On Backwards Compatibility

William — Tue, 29 Aug 2006 06:48:48 GMT

Anyone have a message on the 360 with Forza Motorsport saying"The disc you are using may be dirty or damaged". I had this problem with several used discs, one of which actually worked for a couple hours. I have downloaded the updates, and the game itself updated while I was on xbox live. Any comments would be greatly appreciated.

re: On Backwards Compatibility

Stacson Chinaka — Wed, 30 Aug 2006 20:58:12 GMT

My games wont work from xbox to 360

re: On Backwards Compatibility

michael — Sat, 02 Sep 2006 20:09:29 GMT

i think that any game rfom xbox would easley be put on the xbox 360 if one are to is put it would easley be put on others as well you just do'nt care about trying even so that all the that buy the consoles suplys for spend so much money you can do them that?if it was me i would make sure it worked one way or another.

re: On Backwards Compatibility

Jeremy — Sun, 03 Sep 2006 20:14:19 GMT

Please try to make americas army: rise of a solder compatible on the xbox 360

re: On Backwards Compatibility

tretre — Sat, 09 Sep 2006 07:20:32 GMT

Why in the name of the Great pumpkin is Morrowind not backward compatible!!!!!!!

re: On Backwards Compatibility

alexlexus — Sat, 16 Sep 2006 01:23:15 GMT

Will street fighter 3, capcom vs snk 2, and guilty gear xx reload be making it to the list? my xbox just broke and i can no longer play on live. this is really a bad time fore me sicen doa 4 is the only online fighter out.

re: On Backwards Compatibility

Brent — Mon, 18 Sep 2006 05:03:08 GMT

NCAA Football 07,06,05 PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!! NCAA Football for Xbox 360 is terrible and you guys know it! Make 07 Backwards compatible!!!!

re: On Backwards Compatibility

Richard — Thu, 21 Sep 2006 22:21:51 GMT

Morrowind? Please, please, please. So many people want to see this game made backwardly compatibile. It needn't even be the GOTY edition.... I miss that game soooo much.....

re: On Backwards Compatibility

BEN Pro — Wed, 04 Oct 2006 16:53:43 GMT

Please, please, make Soldier of Fortune 2 , Serious Sam 2 , Doom3 Resurrection of Evil and sufferring 2 backwards compatible

re: On Backwards Compatibility

Jon — Wed, 18 Oct 2006 00:37:31 GMT

The only reason i haven't got the Xbox 360 yet is space i cant create space without selling my old trusty Xbox and i cant do that unless i can keep playing Jet Set Radio Future and Shenmue Please put them on your to do list

Thanks

re: On Backwards Compatibility

Sam Strung — Wed, 18 Oct 2006 21:10:07 GMT

Soul Calibur 2 for the Xbox. That's all we want.

re: On Backwards Compatibility

lee — Mon, 23 Oct 2006 07:34:11 GMT

please make doom 3 resurrection of evil, unreal championship 2 the liandri conflict, the elder scrolls 3 morrowind game of the year edition, midnight club 3 dub edition remix, conker live and reloaded, the chronicles of rdddick escape from butcher bay, dead or alive ultimate 1&2, dead or alive xtreme beach volleyball, backwards compatible

re: On Backwards Compatibility

Pablo 360 — Sun, 29 Oct 2006 18:46:32 GMT

I would like that Microsoft finally get the backward compatibility with Mortal Kombat games, and Capcom games such Capcom vs Snk EO, Capcom Classic Collection or Street Fighter Aniversary Collection. ThankS

re: On Backwards Compatibility

White Wraith — Sun, 05 Nov 2006 00:06:30 GMT

Why do you people keep bitching? Their doing the best they can with the resources avalible. Since you people complain so much, you should try to do it yourself. Eventualy most of the games will be compatible, so keep your pants on!

re: On Backwards Compatibility

James — Sun, 05 Nov 2006 03:25:39 GMT

Snide remarks about the competition are not appreciated when Microsoft themselves can only port a few hundread titles out of thousands. At least when Sony released their second console (PS2) they kept their promise about BC. Microsoft has yet to live up to their word.

re: On Backwards Compatibility

iRey — Mon, 06 Nov 2006 19:31:11 GMT

Hey people, Dead or Alive Extreme 2 is hitting our lovely console soon.. I think it's about time Dead or Alive Extreme Beach Volleyball gets a Backwards Compatible patch.

Please.

re: On Backwards Compatibility

jjensen2000 — Sat, 25 Nov 2006 05:42:56 GMT

Of the five retailers that sell xbox 360 in this area, all without exception stated with absolute certainty that all the xbox series game titles would run on the xbox 360. I was one of those consumers that believed those statements and purchased the 360 along with 3 games that did not work. I think that the incorrect information offered at the retail level is a bigger issue that actually delivering on those promises of backwards compatability. Finding out after I have purchased this unit that the long list of playable games is not long, that even the games packaged with the unit are nonfunctional is most disappointing to say the least. However I have already spent the money, already opened the package, already talked to support, already been dissapointed, and there is no fix for that.

re: On Backwards Compatibility

jessie — Sun, 26 Nov 2006 09:42:54 GMT

can any please email me what normal compatible xbox can be play on xbox 360 i really need to now my email is xbox360_1988@yahoo.com.au please email if you know

re: On Backwards Compatibility

Ryan Hinman — Wed, 29 Nov 2006 01:22:30 GMT

I've been dieing for them to make The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind, Prince of Persia: The Two Thrones both backwards compatible. I've heard that The BC team is on vacation until januray and there won't be another update until march. anyone know any more info about this

Thanks

re: On Backwards Compatibility

Todd Casey — Sun, 17 Dec 2006 18:26:41 GMT

I love the Legacy of Kain series and am hoping you can put Legacy of Kain Defiance on your list

re: On Backwards Compatibility

Will K. — Sun, 24 Dec 2006 19:52:17 GMT

Yeah it may be hard but we're talking about Microsoft. Throw more programmers at the problem and get more games supported! There are way fewer titles on the compatibility list then there should be.

Pleaaaase include Godzilla Save The Earth! There is no Godzilla game for the 360!!

Morrowind definately too.

re: On Backwards Compatibility

allan pederson — Sat, 30 Dec 2006 05:33:13 GMT

dont care. I just want to be able to download the damn file with out having to have the geek squad looking over my shoulder..

re: On Backwards Compatibility

DFHT — Mon, 08 Jan 2007 16:19:47 GMT

Please convert Strangers wrath!

re: On Backwards Compatibility

Bloody Lancelot — Sat, 10 Feb 2007 13:28:40 GMT

Bloodrayne 1&2 !!! It's a must !!! And the Matrix Path of Neo too !!! Please create a patch for these games !!!

re: On Backwards Compatibility

Jeff B — Mon, 19 Feb 2007 16:40:39 GMT

Would love to see either of the Godzilla games, added to the list.

Thanks....

re: On Backwards Compatibility

Craig — Tue, 20 Feb 2007 07:38:45 GMT

Will they be making colin mcrae 5 compatible for the 360 , ive been waiting for ages and i still cant play it

re: On Backwards Compatibility

Josh — Sun, 25 Feb 2007 03:40:50 GMT

Please make sure Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind Backwards compatible, I have been waiting forever.

re: On Backwards Compatibility

Darryl — Sun, 11 Mar 2007 07:26:07 GMT

Exteremly disappointed with the Backwards compatibilty project to date.

re: On Backwards Compatibility

Nick — Mon, 19 Mar 2007 17:56:38 GMT

i would like to see Ncaa March Madness 2006 backward compatible i love that game and i don't like the the Ncaa games or college hoops at all

re: On Backwards Compatibility

hey — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 10:45:51 GMT

MAKE PATH OF NEO BC PLZZZ I BEG YOU!!! WWWAAAAAHHHH!!!! BOOOHOOOHOOO!!!! -_-............................

re: On Backwards Compatibility

Mike — Tue, 03 Apr 2007 09:28:31 GMT

PLEASE!!!, I would also like to see Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind backwards compatible ^_^

re: On Backwards Compatibility

Austin — Thu, 05 Apr 2007 04:58:42 GMT

I really hope they do Elder Scrolls 3 as well. Although I can see why it would take so long. It has a lot different engine then most games.

re: On Backwards Compatibility

omar — Sat, 07 Apr 2007 08:11:02 GMT

what the XBOX360 should hav is an intel dual core 2 duo

just like uR home pc or even the latest apple cpu's; not a power pc which apple hav rejected & hav come to relise that intel maybe the way to go.

so u guy's bring out the XBOX360 Elite but whats the point when u still hav2get an external HD-DVD player u know the PS3 can play HD-DVD's not2mention blu-ray come on guy's i never had a PS but im starting to think of switching2sony guy's seriously u got2get with the times or u just might lose some serious gamers

when will u guy's b making all the xbox shooter's & racer's backwards compatible like:

MIDNIGHT CLUB 3 DUB EDITION REMIX

V8 SUPERCARS 3 (TOCA RACE DRIVER 3)

re: On Backwards Compatibility

Jonathan — Sat, 07 Apr 2007 21:47:21 GMT

why is mercenaries playground of destruction not on te backwards compatability list?? barbie and buffy are on there are you kidding me

re: On Backwards Compatibility

economics — Fri, 13 Apr 2007 10:38:42 GMT

All you guys complaining that "xbox took the easy way out" by not just doing what playstation did and putting the original xbox chipset into the 360 have need to understand something called economics. If they were to put the chipset from the original xbox they would have to pay the manufacturers of said chipsets millions of dollars (because, like he explained, unlike the playstation they weren't built in house) this could have driven the cost of building the 360 up to a point where Microsoft wouldn't have built it at all.

Also, rather than focusing on the fact that the 360 doesn't play as many old games as the ps3, why don't you focus on the fact that all of the new games that have come out for the ps3 suck, while the 360 has a solid enjoyable line up.

re: On Backwards Compatibility

... — Mon, 16 Apr 2007 14:27:22 GMT

Stupore! Amo questo luogo!:)))))))

re: On Backwards Compatibility

Ryan — Thu, 19 Apr 2007 21:25:13 GMT

Since it has been a while since the last backward compatible update I was wondering if this project is still alive and when the next update will be. I think they should still try to get all games backward compatible. I still have a few that are not on the list and I can't decide to trade them in for a few bucks each or keep waiting. Maybe the next update will be in May at the same time they update xbox360 dashboard!!

re: On Backwards Compatibility

TuRk — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 04:28:06 GMT

Morrowinds Elder Scrolls should be backwards compatible by now if any game was going to be backwards compatible it was not only a game of the year both on pc launch and xbox launch but as a platinum hit for xbox as well. Get it together man because honestly i find some of the titles that are backwards compatible not only ludacris to waste time on but were not very good games at all. Hopefully you guys will come thru for the millions wating on this one game.

re: On Backwards Compatibility

BEN Pro — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 04:46:03 GMT

WE NEED EMULATION FOR: Soldier of fortune II double helix

Serious Sam 2

Doom III Resurrection of Evil

Painkiller

The Sufferring II

PLEASE PLEASE

re: On Backwards Compatibility

Kaddan — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 15:37:48 GMT

Intresting read! I hope they make shenmue 2 backwards compat for the 360, Im frigging dying to play this game as the first one is one of the best games ive every played even tho ive played most 360 games Non measure up to shenmue imo. I think it wud be a wise move to make shenmue 2 backwards compat for the 360. I know alot of people who have played n loved the first, and Not gotten the chance to play the second, as they either traded in or had their old xbox's sold rdy for the 360 release!

re: On Backwards Compatibility

BEN Pro — Wed, 02 May 2007 14:33:28 GMT

Please, please, make Soldier of Fortune 2 , Serious Sam 2 , Doom3 Resurrection of Evil and sufferring 2 backwards compatible

re: On Backwards Compatibility

Hak — Wed, 02 May 2007 17:48:02 GMT

Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind is a must see on the backwards compatibility list! I personally wouldnt mind seeing Shattered Union as well.

re: On Backwards Compatibility

Phil — Sat, 05 May 2007 18:18:57 GMT

TES III: Morrowind..... I've been waiting way too long for that.

re: On Backwards Compatibility

Laurence — Wed, 09 May 2007 16:51:51 GMT

Any news on when there will be a patch on the xbox 360 for Taito Legends ??

re: On Backwards Compatibility

Laurence — Wed, 09 May 2007 16:56:19 GMT

I know this is off the topic of Backwards Compatibility , but I'll like to see games the Resident Evil series on the xbox.