Poll of the Day > Should next gen consoles be fully backwards compatible?

(+) Yeah! (+)

I think we can all pretty much agree that reasons like "it's too expensive" is a bit of an outdated excuse.

Hardware is getting cheaper by the day, claiming it would cost to much to implement the emotion engine (PS2) in future generations is a cop out and an excuse to sell overpriced digital copies in their online stores.

Also, I guess this topic seems a little targeted at Sony. Well, it sort of is. Not gonna lie.
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Eh itd be nice were the PS5 able to play PS4 games but its really no big deal for me. I keep 2 consoles on the living room TV anyways.
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For Sony or Microsoft, it would be possible. But it would be hard for Nintendo. With multiple discs & disc sizes (GameCube, Wii, and Wii U) and different types of cartridges (NES, SNES, N64, and Switch [though its more of a card], it would probably by a huge system and probably would cost a lot. For the other two, they are use disc, they could probably make a few slots. It would probably still be bigger, but still. Thats if they even have to use different disc slots. But it should only have to go back 1, maybe 2, tbh. More is really nice, but it doesnt really have to go back that far.

But I usually buy all the systems when I can, anyway. So, it probably wouldnt really matter, anyway.
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LinkPizza posted...

For Sony or Microsoft, it would be possible. But it would be hard for Nintendo. With multiple discs & disc sizes (GameCube, Wii, and Wii U) and different types of cartridges (NES, SNES, N64, and Switch [though its more of a card], it would probably by a huge system and probably would cost a lot. For the other two, they are use disc, they could probably make a few slots. It would probably still be bigger, but still. Thats if they even have to use different disc slots. But it should only have to go back 1, maybe 2, tbh. More is really nice, but it doesnt really have to go back that far.

But I usually buy all the systems when I can, anyway. So, it probably wouldnt really matter, anyway.

Yeah, well, as far back as discs go, as far as nintendo is concerned. Disc size isn't really that big a deal, seeing as how you can play gamecube games on the wii. The only way that would cause issue is if the discs were LARGER than normal. Because then data would likely be outside the readable area of the lens.
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It should always BC at least one generation unless they're changing the media (ie, disc vs cartridge)
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Clueless much? What hardware gets cheaper by the day? They would probably have to redesign and restore manufacturing for any PS2 chips. Software emulation is likely the best you'll get.

I could take it or leave it. Always keep my consoles so I don't 'need' it, so it would be price versus convenience.

definitely

even if I still have the old systems, I certainly don't have the space to have everything hooked up all at the same time. There are plenty of games I would be much more willing to play for the first time or replay if they were playable on the current gen system

I understand that hardware limitations will make Nintendo backwards compatibility impossible. I understand why PS2 and PS3 games are difficult to emulate properly on more conventional systems like the PS4. I understand that Microsoft puts a lot of work into what they do with backwards compatibility, and that even though they use a similar architecture for all of their systems, there are many outliers. However, given what the XBOne and PS4 are structured like, there is no reason why the XBTwo (or whatever) and the PS5 should not be backwards compatible.
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I wouldn't say it's a must no as I still have my old consoles that are still working for the most part. Would it be nice? Sure I'd love to have all in one box. I'll be honest though as much as I do enjoy playing my old games now and then I buy a new console for new games.
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Idk. Some stuff just doesn't translate well. Trying to play morrowind on an xbox one is annoying.
I agree with winter, I buy a new console to play new things, not stuff I've probably already played 3 times.
It's gotta be either really great or really nostalgic.
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We all buy new consoles to play new games don't we? I've never met a single person who bought an xbox one with the sole purpose in mind to play older games. But what's the harm in being able to play them alongside the new ones on the same hardware?

A lot of older games have aged like fine wine, and the older systems are dying out slowly. Eventually it will be hard to find a working PS2. Then what are we supposed to do with all of our classic games? Throw them in the trash? I certainly don't want to buy them again from an online store.

It's inconvenient to switch consoles around every time you feel like pulling out an old game. Maybe some people out there want to expose their children to the games they played when they were young. Maybe they're nostalgic for a different era in gaming.

There's many reasons to have backwards compatibility. There's only one reason not to. And including the emotion engine chip (or even redesigning it for that matter) wouldn't be nearly as expensive as developing all new hardware for the next generation.

Maybe there's just a lot of us out there who still own our old game collections (as opposed to trading them in for a few dollars off our next game) and want them to remain useful as the years go by.

Isn't technology supposed to make life more convenient? It seems to be doing the opposite as far as gaming is concerned.
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DrCidd posted...

We all buy new consoles to play new games don't we? I've never met a single person who bought an xbox one with the sole purpose in mind to play older games. But what's the harm in being able to play them alongside the new ones on the same hardware?

If that's aimed at me then I've already said BC would be great. It however isn't a must. Not sure who you're trying to convince with your post. Nobody is saying they don't want it.
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They should, if its at all reasonable to do so. A good example is the PS Vita. I had a PSP with two kinds of games: Disc based ones, and ones downloaded onto the memory card. If I were to use a Vita, I could play the PSP games that are on the card just fine, but it has no way to read discs. There could be some sort of system in place that would allow you to download digital versions of games you already own.

Obviously there are a lot of details that would need to be worked out, but if companies were to adopt a system like this going forward, it could work pretty well.
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LinkPizza posted...

For Sony or Microsoft, it would be possible. But it would be hard for Nintendo. With multiple discs & disc sizes (GameCube, Wii, and Wii U) and different types of cartridges (NES, SNES, N64, and Switch [though its more of a card], it would probably by a huge system and probably would cost a lot. For the other two, they are use disc, they could probably make a few slots. It would probably still be bigger, but still. Thats if they even have to use different disc slots. But it should only have to go back 1, maybe 2, tbh. More is really nice, but it doesnt really have to go back that far.

But I usually buy all the systems when I can, anyway. So, it probably wouldnt really matter, anyway.

Anyone that expects the next gen Nintendo console to have a NES cart slot a SNES cart slot and a N64 cart slot in addition to supporting Wii+Wii U and Gamecube is beyond stupid.

Sony and Microsoft can pull this off easier though PS3 has a very odd architecture on how games were made for it and that is why PS4 does not have BC with PS3. Though they could have easily done PS1 and PS2 support though...
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It's also not a matter of if it's possible it's a matter of why would they? BC means folk won't buy remasters or said games from their services.
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wwinterj25 posted...

It's also not a matter of if it's possible it's a matter of why would they? BC means folk won't buy remasters or said games from their services.

Can you imagine how many more people would buy the PS5 knowing it can play games from the previous 4 console generations?
Why do people give bethesda shit for selling skyrim 5 different times, but readily accept PS1/2 classics?
If I already own San Andreas for PS2, I shouldn't have to buy it from the PS store in order to play it on my PS4.

wwinterj25 posted...

If that's aimed at me then I've already said BC would be great.

It wasn't you, don't worry.
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Monopoman posted...

Anyone that expects the next gen Nintendo console to have a NES cart slot a SNES cart slot and a N64 cart slot in addition to supporting Wii+Wii U and Gamecube is beyond stupid.

I think the point was that should systems going forward be backwards compatible. Its obviously unreasonable to expect nintendo to do that... What they could do though is design their future systems to play Switch games. Hell they could design a new version of the switch to allow 3DS games
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DrCidd posted...

Can you imagine how many more people would buy the PS5 knowing it can play games from the previous 4 console generations?

Honestly BC won't dramatically increase the PS5 sales.

DrCidd posted...

Why do people give bethesda shit for selling skyrim 5 different times, but readily accept PS1/2 classics?

You'll notice Skyrim is being sold on different platforms though.

DrCidd posted...

If I already own San Andreas for PS2, I shouldn't have to buy it from the PS store in order to play it on my PS4.

... because you bought the game for the PS2. PS4 isn't the same platform. Same as PS5 won't be the same platform as PS4.
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They should just release PC OSes.
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No, I buy new consoles to play new games.

LinkPizza posted...

For Sony or Microsoft, it would be possible. But it would be hard for Nintendo. With multiple discs & disc sizes (GameCube, Wii, and Wii U) and different types of cartridges (NES, SNES, N64, and Switch [though its more of a card], it would probably by a huge system and probably would cost a lot. For the other two, they are use disc, they could probably make a few slots. It would probably still be bigger, but still. Thats if they even have to use different disc slots. But it should only have to go back 1, maybe 2, tbh. More is really nice, but it doesnt really have to go back that far.

But I usually buy all the systems when I can, anyway. So, it probably wouldnt really matter, anyway.

hacked ps4 can already play previous gen discs. it's clearly possible, sony just refuses to do it because of play shit now
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Why would anyone want to ever play ps3 again

Gradieus posted...

Why would anyone want to ever play ps3 again

Are you saying all PS3 games are bad? Just think about that for a moment.
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That's how I see it. You already have a console that plays these games. You're buying new hardware for new content. (Unless you got a Bone of course.) Like I said in my last post it's not like BC is a bad thing. But the truth is few make use of it and it's not worth the added cost. I mean look at the original PS3. Oh it had everything, for $600... Bone came with Kinect for $500.

I think from here on out it will probably be a more common feature just because it's easier. Same media format, simpler hardware to port to/from, similarity in controllers, etc.

BC is nice to have but not a necessity
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No, if you want to play old games, get old hardware.
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Yes, the next Nintendo consoles should fit NES, SNES, N64, GB, GBC, GBA, DS and 3DS games. Plus read GC Wii, and WiiU disks. Also play switch
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Especially with digital versions now, there is no reason not to have it so when you buy a game, you buy it for all platforms.

Sony did that to some degree with the portable system and ps3 etc. No real reason not to make it work for all future systems at this point.

It's yet another reason buying games on PC is usually my first choice (if there are options) since I know I'll always be able to play it...on one system. Heck I often rebuy games I own on systems on the PC when it comes out, just because it's easier to play on my pc, it's portable (a laptop) and online/multiplayer is free.
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Ogurisama posted...

Yes, the next Nintendo consoles should fit NES, SNES, N64, GB, GBC, GBA, DS and 3DS games. Plus read GC Wii, and WiiU disks. Also play switch

Honestly, minus nes, snes and n64, everything else is pretty reasonable to fit. So your argument only holds a little weight. Also, any standard cd drive can read gc, wii and wiiu discs. But I understand, you only came here with the intention of being a smartass. And that's okay.
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Gradieus posted...

Why would anyone want to ever play ps3 again

Fool ass. I've over 250 discs and I know a bunch that I'd play again someday.

I don't really understand the point of this topic. Of course people wouldn't mind a BC option if it's there. Beyond that, I don't think most people here are really qualified to speak on the hardware aspect/feasibility. There's more to it than just hardware being powerful enough and having "similar architecture" and a disc drive.

DrCidd posted...

Eventually it will be hard to find a working PS2. Then what are we supposed to do with all of our classic games? Throw them in the trash? I certainly don't want to buy them again from an online store.

It isn't even hard to find a working NES yet, a console that's 15 years older and was significantly outsold by the PS2. Granted, the PS2 probably has higher failure rates, but it'll be a long time before scarcity is an issue. Plus people would probably just make clone consoles, which already are popular for NES and others, even though we arguably don't really need them and they're a waste.

wolfy42 posted...

Heck I often rebuy games I own on systems on the PC when it comes out, just because it's easier to play on my pc, it's portable (a laptop) and online/multiplayer is free.

Ive actually gone the other way. Ive re-bought games I already had on PC for my switch...
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It should be FORWARDS compatible!

It's nice to have, but not something I'd want to pay extra for. If nothing else, I already have a PC that's backwards compatible with basically everything since Windows XP, so that covers a good chunk of my "playing older games" needs.

TheWorstPoster posted...

It should be FORWARDS compatible!

That wouldn't actually be impossible to pull off, with appropriate forethought and a long-term commitment. It would, however, be a terrible business decision for any company looking to sell consoles.

Oh wait, I kind of missed the point of the topic being full backwards compatibility, since I sort of left for a bit after reading all the posts and then came back and forgot what the first post said. But that's an even more absurd question, especially talking about Nintendo consoles.

They should just keep doing what they did with X1X. Better hardware, runs the same games.
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Chewster posted...

I don't really understand the point of this topic. Of course people wouldn't mind a BC option if it's there. Beyond that, I don't think most people here are really qualified to speak on the hardware aspect/feasibility. There's more to it than just hardware being powerful enough and having "similar architecture" and a disc drive.

DrCidd posted...

Eventually it will be hard to find a working PS2. Then what are we supposed to do with all of our classic games? Throw them in the trash? I certainly don't want to buy them again from an online store.

It isn't even hard to find a working NES yet, a console that's 15 years older and was significantly outsold by the PS2. Granted, the PS2 probably has higher failure rates, but it'll be a long time before scarcity is an issue. Plus people would probably just make clone consoles, which already are popular for NES and others, even though we arguably don't really need them and they're a waste.

Eventually the technology in a console becomes old enough to where anyone can make one without being threatened by the company that made it years ago.

https://bgr.com/2017/06/29/nes-classic-edition-alternative-for-nes-and-snes-games/

Here you can buy a console that plays both SNES and NES games, so in another 10-20 years I'm sure we will see a similar thing for PS2.
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yes. but they won't be able to sell us ps4 that re-release/ports to ps5 again. Like they did with ps3 to ps4. for example DMC collection for ps5 or kingdom hearts collection, uncharted collection, God of War 3 and such.
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