I was just wondering, this is the first generation where all the major consoles are going to be at least partly backwards compatible with previous generation consoles.
I've argued about this with Tsubaki before, as he finds that backwards compatibility is totally unnecessary and adds nothing of value, whereas I feel totally the opposite. Considering how much space consoles take up, and how expensive game libraries can be to build up, it's reassuring to know that your library is never going to be obsolete. I know that my PSX and PS2 games are going to be playable for the next twenty years or so (I'm confident that the PS3's firmware updates will eventually cover most of those 'problem' games that don't currently play on it), so I have no fear about what I'm going to do with them once my PS2 inevitably gives up the ghost. Unfortunately, my massive Saturn and DC libraries may one day be rendered unplayable, save in emulated form, once those two consoles die.
So, how important a factor is backwards compatibility for you guys? Is it something that should be standard in consoles from now on, or is it just a nice bonus feature? Or even completely unnecessary?
I've argued about this with Tsubaki before, as he finds that backwards compatibility is totally unnecessary and adds nothing of value, whereas I feel totally the opposite. Considering how much space consoles take up, and how expensive game libraries can be to build up, it's reassuring to know that your library is never going to be obsolete. I know that my PSX and PS2 games are going to be playable for the next twenty years or so (I'm confident that the PS3's firmware updates will eventually cover most of those 'problem' games that don't currently play on it), so I have no fear about what I'm going to do with them once my PS2 inevitably gives up the ghost. Unfortunately, my massive Saturn and DC libraries may one day be rendered unplayable, save in emulated form, once those two consoles die.
So, how important a factor is backwards compatibility for you guys? Is it something that should be standard in consoles from now on, or is it just a nice bonus feature? Or even completely unnecessary?