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[ClovingWestbrook]

Just as the title says, how important is it that next gen systems are backwards compatible? How important is it that your purchases on Xbox Live, Playstation Network, and the Virtual Channel carry over to the new systems?

Would you rather the three major companies leave out BC and instead offer a more robust and powerful system?

Where do you stand?

 

[def sim]

It's very important.

 

[B.K.]

Very. I didn't even buy a PS3 until Sony announced they were discontinuing the 20 and 60 Gig systems and removing backwards compatibility.

 

[Oppo]

I want an optional BC add-on module that I can choose to buy or not. If it's a technical/hardware hurdle like PS2-PS3 was.

 

[Raptomex]

very. but i don't sell my consoles or games so i can play anything. but it's nice not having to hook up all systems with wires everywhere.

 

[BadWolf]

I usually only buy a new console after being finished with the previous one so not a big deal for me.

 

[ultron87]

My downloaded games better fucking work.

Disc games is less important, but still important (especially around launch).

 

[The Lamonster]

Extremely important. I only have room for two large systems and one small system in my setup, and I regularly play pre-current-gen games.

My OG Xbox is stored away in my basement, and the only game I'm missing out on 360 backwards compatibility is Shaolin Monks. And I'm still bitter about that.

 

[StealthGoblin]

Very.

 

[Franklinator]

It's the reason I decide to buy a console at launch. Knowing I can still play all of my older games is really important to me

 

[FHIZ]

It's not all too important to me, as I don't go back in my collecltion too much, but I'd like the feature to be there just in case.

 

[bryehn]

For my XBLA/PSN games: Very. Retail would be nice too.

 

[whitehawk]

I'll be playing games like Gears 3 for quite a while, and I'd rather not have 2 XBox systems hooked up. So yes, it is important.

 

[Younicorn]

VERY important.

I also wonder how Microsoft will handle their next console and achievement points from XBox 360 games?

I assume they'll stick with the 1,000 point model, and I don't think achievement points are going anywhere, but my mind wanders about how they'll be displayed?

When looking at someone's achievements, will the games on the next XBox be highlighted in a different color? Will they just carry the achievements over and not make changes to differentiate the consoles?

Weird thought, but something I often wonder...

 

[Skilletor]

Not important at all. It's a nice bonus, but I buy new tech to play new games.

 

[PastorOfMuppets]

Not a console gamer but I would have to imagine there would be an immense amount of nerd rage if stuff off PSN, XBL Arcade and Virtual Channel would cease to exist once you bought new systems. I mean, I think gamers this generation have taken a lot of shit from the industry - nickel and dime DLC packs, paying for multiplayer services, DRM schemes. If this went through, I'd just quit console gaming altogether (in reality, I quit console gaming in 1997 after two disappointing years with my Sega Saturn).

Edit: Although it would be hilarious if Microsoft reset everyone's achievement points back to zero ala Fight Club.

 

[Slermy]

If XBLA or PSN games are not compatible with the new systems, I will not buy them (or at least for a significant price drop).

 

[HylianTom]

Very much so. I relish the ability to go back and play the greats from years past, and I like options on how to do so.

For some weird reason, I am paranoid about my gaming hardware breaking, rendering me unable to play my old titles. There was a thread yesterday about a Dreamcast dying, and it sent shivers down my spine.

 

[ghibli99]

Depends on the system. It wasn't so important that the 360 was BC with the original Xbox, but the PS2 being BC with the PS1 was definitely a big deal. The GBA SP+ having GBC BC is important due to the backlight, etc.

For the current gen going into next, it doesn't really matter that much to me.

 

[ThatCrazyGuy]

I want the XBLA/PSN stuff to be BC. Discs would be a bonus.

 

[Palette Swap]

Absolutely critical. I'll probably move on to PC gaming only if my current gen digital purchases don't carry over.

 

[archnemesis]

It's quite important. I'd also like to see the region-locking removed.

 

[Raptomex]

I know once the Wii U comes out I will have to hook up my GCN. I'll be retiring my Wii. I love the GCN controller.

 

[dragonlife]

Very important.

 

[knitoe]

None. If I want to play old games, rather it be a remake which doesn't require BC. Longterm, save the cost, make the console more powerful or lower the launch price.

 

[Dragoon En Regalia]

I'd have to hold BC for online purchases over more of the budget spent on sheer performance, as I think we'll have enough of the latter in next-gen. Furthermore, having to keep, maintain, and configure older systems just to play my catalog of games would be burdensome and not very friendly for consumers. We're not even talking about "retro" systems yet, which will inevitably be the fated designation of the old PS2!

 

[DietRob]

It's fucking vital, just like it is with every generation and I don't want to have to repurchase stuff on DD or 'enhanced versions'.

 

[Malio]

I guarantee you I wouldn't have bought a Wii without GCN compatibility.

So yea, it's important.

 

[BruiserBear]

I think it will be more important than ever with the next consoles, because everyone has this profile that they're going to expect to continue with, including downloadable games they've bought. If any console maker decides to leave BC out of their next console I think there will be a severe backlash.

 

[Rösti]

As long as every product that has been available for purchase through a digital distribution platform on the former system is available on the new system as well, I'm content. However, if opportunities to transfer already purchased games from one system to another are given, it's a most welcomed feature. Packaged goods I don't really care about when it comes to backwards compatibility, unless there happens to be some limited edition containing otherwise unobtainable content (a level or a character for example), then I would appreciate if I could play that on the new console as well.

 

[Vaporizer]

Considering i have got shed loads of ps1, ps2, ps3 games and psn games, very important. My 60Gb ps3 is a prized possesion of mine. I want the ps4 to play all three generations of playstation games.

Sony you better have BC for the ps4

 

[besiktas1]

Not at all. I used to think so but its been 7 years and haven't touched a old game unless they provide it to me as a remake/hd.

 

[StoppedInTracks]

Important only for backlog. As I tend to not have any backlog it seems not that important. If the new systems are not BC then I just missed some games by not buying them on the last system. I guess it is fair since I would not have the time to finish them anyway.

 

[BakedPigeon]

Extremely important.

I'f I absolutely had to pack out the old Xbox to play some clean Halo CE then I would but damnit, I better be able to do it on the new console.

 

[Tain]

I don't really use PS3 or 360 backwards compatibility due to the lag. I'd imagine that I'd rather use the original hardware when possible, though Vita's PSP performance has impressed me, so anything's possible.

No BC wouldn't be a dealbreaker for me since I don't mind keeping older consoles.

Region locking is a much bigger deal than BC. Much.

 

[Metalmurphy]

Only if they improve the games somehow. Otherwise I'll just play them on the old device.

 

[Oreoleo]

I can say this: If they aren't backwards compatible it will set my purchase of either PS4/Xbox720 back 2 or 3 years.

 

[Muffdraul]

It was never important to me in the past, because I don't get rid of my old consoles or games.

But since I bought an HDTV (and eventually somehow forced my visual cortex to accept how shitty old 480 games look on a 1080p TV) it's become somewhat important to me. If I want to play an old game, I'd rather do it in the living room in my comfy chair as usual. As opposed to having to go into the bedroom where the old 27" WEGA Trinitron is, and play as I sit on the bed. Uncomfortable and generally sucky.

So yeah. I was pretty pissed off when my launch 60gb PS3 bricked and I couldn't replace it with a new one that had PS2 BC. Fuck you, Sony.

 

[Jack Scofield]

Not important at all. I don't spend $400 on a new console just so I can play the same games I'm playing now.

 

[Ramblin]

It's not important to me. If I want to play old games, I'd prefer to play them on old systems, or gussied up as a re-release.

 

[Anth0ny]

Really not important. It's nice, but I keep all my old consoles.

 

[SykoTech]

Very.

It's already annoying having to hook up the PS2 anytime I want to play a game on it rather than just using my PS3. It'll be a pain if it's that way with the PS3 as well once I get a PS4.

 

[Sapphire Dreams]

My downloaded games better fucking work.

Disc games is less important, but still important (especially around launch).

My thoughts exactly.

 

[SkyMasterson]

I can say this: If they aren't backwards compatible it will set my purchase of either PS4/Xbox720 back 2 or 3 years.

Same.

I know it's easy to say now, then succumb to the hype later, but I can say with 100% certainty that I will not touch a non-bc console. My backlog is big enough as is.

Plus, then I would be more inclined to get a Vita.

 

[Imbarkus]

So very important to me that I've been flipping out all over the internet at what a crappy job of it has been done this generation, particularly with the "PS2 Classics" thinly veiled attempt to make you double-buy content you may already own to re-obtain said backwards compatibility:


http://bitmob.com/articles/sony-2012-the-road-not-taken

In the case of Digital Distribution, the fact that we may be cut off from our downloads in the future (even on current gen systems that just have their networks shut down ala XBox Live 1) has me maintaining and updating a thread on the chances we get to score disk-based copies of that content:

http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=451940

 

[t26]

Not important. Never played any ps2 game on my ps3, never played any Xbox 1 game on Xbox 360, never played any GameCube game on my wii

 

[ii Stryker]

Backward compatibility is irrelevant. Keep you older system of you want to continue playing those games.

 

[ClovingWestbrook]

For those of you who don't mind if new consoles won't play your old consoles retail games, whatabout your digital purchases?

 

[MultiCore]

If the downloadable stuff is BC, than the rest of it should be.

I'm more concerned about the licensing terms expiring, and having to rebuy DLC if you want to play it on the new system. Like Shivering Isles for Oblivion, for instance.

I still have a BC PS3, and I have my original Xbox under my TV because the 360's BC sucks.

 

[Kai Dracon]

It's absolutely essential. I have a large digital library on both platforms, and a very large disc library for 360. The games are not old and moldy (lol) either so they're stuff I'm going to be playing and replaying for years to come.

Platform continuity is only becoming more vital as time goes by.