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[ginger ninja]

I remember all these rumors about hardware based BC addon for ps3, even patent fillings. If they never did it when they were in the desperate third place position for much of last gen, I highly doubt they will do it now.

 

[Loakum]

BC isn't that important in the age of remasters hd editions..

 

[Black Mantis]

You (we) are not the majority. I have intentions to play many missed ones on the PS360 as well... but here I am 3 years later of saying that, and still have yet to. And I have a stack of un-played PS3/4 games sitting there. I eventually will get to them, I still have the last gen systems... but this is not a "must have to sell the masses" feature.

Most buy the new systems to play the newest and best shit. BC is a hardcore niche feature, otherwise both Sony and MSFT would not have abandoned it last gen (they had the data to make those decisions), and the beginning of this gen.

The PS Now, and MSFT's current BC plans are just to get people used to the ecosystem of a service based platform of the future, like mobile.

Never said we're the majority, just responding to a post that shits on the feature and labelling those of us who want it as psychologically obsessed hoarders.

If we lived in a world where Sega announced VF6, SFV wasn't console exclusive, maybe the poster I quoted could well be right. Afterall, I can catch up with Dragon's Age story on youtube or some wiki. But lets not pretend that there aren't some scenarios where this feature isn't a godsend to some and dismiss people for wanting it, whether they number in the dozens, hundreds, or thousands.

 

[Black Mantis]

BC isn't that important in the age of remasters hd editions..

Yeah, currently playing RDR's Nightmare mode on the remaster.

 

[DeepEnigma]

Never said we're the majority, just responding to a post that shits on the feature and labelling those of us who want it as psychologically obsessed hoarders.

If we lived in a world where Sega announced VF6, SFV wasn't console exclusive, maybe the poster I quoted could well be right. Afterall, I can catch up with Dragon's Age story on youtube or some wiki. But lets not pretend that there aren't some scenarios where this feature isn't a godsend to some and dismiss people for wanting it, whether they number in the dozens, hundreds, or thousands.

I am in complete agreement with you, but I also agree with him where the majority that claim they want it, fall in line to mostly the psychological "collecting the shiny things" that the modern consumer culture has been shaped to. I too have been guilty of this from time to time.

He should have been more descriptive, but I also read it in a way where he is not obtuse to the select few percentile that will use this feature for their personal gain.

Yeah, currently playing RDR's Nightmare mode on the remaster.

Thank you for reminding me. I still have yet to play that mode, and purchased it right when it came out, lol. Need to boot it back up.

 

[amnesiac]

Man disc based PS2 BC would be awesome. But you know they'd rather just charge $15 for a small amount of digital PS2 games.

 

[SlipperyFishes]

Backwards compatibility is pointless 2 years into a cycle. It's nice when the game pool is low but at this point ... Just get the classic system if you want to play an old game.

Until your console breaks, and its prohibitive to make repairs. That you can use one console to access two consoles worth of games is going to be an incredible thing for an Xbox.

 

[PdotMichael]

There is nothing to counter though.

 

[Warablo]

Psychological reasons and keeping the ecosystem together is a big plus in my book. Especially for a console gamer who doesn't have a gaming PC.

If I want to play CoJ: Gunslinger or Splinter Cell: Blacklist I can, plus developers can still continue to earn money. I don't feel locked out of content I did purchase or could purchase while extending the library of games one could play.

This is the next step if they want to be a digital steam console.

 

[Hyun Sai]

Nothing to counter. Not enough people care for it to matter 2 years after launch.

 

[odhiex]

BC isn't that important in the age of remasters hd editions..

Yeah, currently playing RDR's Nightmare mode on the remaster.

Maybe you guys trying to be sarcastic here but I might re-buy the RDR remaster with nice graphic improvements.

Yes BC is a nice feature for every system, but personally it doesn't matter much since I only plays the old games occasionaly.

 

[Castef]

Does PS4 have to "counter" it?

 

[Panajev2001a]

PS2 backwards compatibility (especially disc-based) would have such a niche audience that it wouldn't even register on Sony's monthly balance sheet.

People do not buy current-gen consoles 2 years into a generation to play previous-gen games. It's either there at launch or it's not there at all.

They would, not in droves, but they would if available... and they should especially if they have never played them. There are some greatly enjoyable movies from 1930's that should be watched nowadays and they deserve it.

 

[PdotMichael]

Who doesn't have a medium-big PSX-PS2 collection?

They can do it relatively easy. But there is no BC. It means that they don't value the customer.

lol, without Sony that feature wouldn't even be a thing in the console world. They were the first ones who introduced that feature with the PS2 and were the first ones who realized that is one of the barely used features on a console.

Nintendo also killed backwards compatibility all the time. No GCN for Wii U for no reasons, no GBA for DSi. And everyone survived it.

They would, not in droves, but they would if available... and they should especially if they have never played them. There are some greatly enjoyable movies from 1930's that should be watched nowadays and they deserve it.

And the 1930's movies get re-released on newer formats all the time and aren't forcing BD-players or netflix Boxes to have support for VHS or Laserdics.

 

[Black Mantis]

I am in complete agreement with you, but I also agree with him where the majority that claim they want it, fall in line to mostly the psychological "collecting the shiny things" that the modern consumer culture has been shaped to. I too have been guilty of this from time to time.

He should have been more descriptive, but I also read it in a way where he is not obtuse to the select few percentile that will use this feature for their personal gain.



Thank you for reminding me. I still have yet to play that mode, and purchased it right when it came out, lol. Need to boot it back up.

Yeah, no doubt a lot of us have been guilty of it. I've found it easier since deciding to go all digital this gen, have to be a lot more critical about what I buy, as I'll be stuck with it!

Really hope RDR makes the initial list...

 

[Panajev2001a]

Does PS4 have to "counter" it?

IMHO yes, PS1 and PS2 are a great legacy. If they do not make HD remasters of the key titles or port the PS3 remastered versions of those titles, please port the ICO/SotC HD collection, then BC becomes a great way to honour them.

 

[Monty Mole]

For me, biggest benefit of 360 BC had nothing to do with playing disc based games. It's so I can access my huge library of XBLA games again, many of which are the types of games you will want to keep returning to.

 

[Peltz]

I would buy a ps2 that output hdmi. Of course, such a device would never be made.

Never say never. We've recently gotten HDMI mods for N64 and NES.

 

[RetroDLC]

Unrestricted disc based PS1 and PS2 BC on PS4 with streaming abilities would be a major benefit, especially to retro gamers (like me), but it would never a contender against 360 BC, which itself can only appeal so far with its restricted library.

 

[MatrixMan.EXE]

Sure it would be nice, but why does Sony need to counter XB1's 360 BC? It makes for nice PR, sure, but the amount of people who still care about playing 360 games is smaller than you think. Sure, BC is highly request on enthusiast boards like GAF, but outside of that? It's a minor.

 

[poodaddy]

I'm really hoping that digital backwards compatibility makes its way to PS4 at some point. As far as on disc, I'm all digital now so I really don't care about that. I kinda do think we'll get digital bc at some point, I have no reason to think this mind you; I just kinda do.

 

[ZombiePlatypus]

Disc based PS1 through PS3 BC would be GOAT.

I'd buy a PS4 tomorrow if it had it. As it currently stands, I honestly don't see myself getting a PS4 till at least a year from now at the very earliest. If that even. Access to my library is a massive incentive for me, and Sony really dropped the ball in that area.

 

[Mexen]

I think in terms of moving units, BC works best for a system's immediate predecessor.

 

[eye cum negotiator]

I really dont understands peoples obsession with BC. Lets not pretend we dont have backlogs of current games we will likely never play. Now lets add a feature to multiply that "backlog" of games we will never ever play again.

I start to think BC is a feature people want to have for psychological reasons and not practical ones.

Pretty much, man. I couldn't give 2 shits about it since I have the original hardware and would rather play on that, but I am at least hoping for BC to be region free.

 

[illmatic22]

I think yeah, it might get the same amount of buzz among hardcore gamers and enthusiast message boards, but ultimately I don't think Xbox360 BC is something Sony has to counter.

And we're done here.

 

[Guymelef]

BC will save XBO, for sure.

 

[Stereogatari]

If PS2 is an orange, PS3 a Banana, then Ps4 is a grapefruit.

Non are really compatible as far as I know. If they could have done it i think they already would have.

I don't about PS3, but PS1 and PS2 can be easily done considering the PS4's hardware specs.

 

[dgrdsv]

The complete lack of BC on PS4 is good enough to counter XB1's 360 BC.

 

[PdotMichael]

huh? I thought the mass market is waiting for the day that hey can play Halo 3 again!

 

[Ludens]

Good luck on finding good PS2 titles for cheap.
XOne backward comp works because you can find all those titles for cheap everywhere, PS2 disc games, at least good ones like MGS, ICO, FFX, DQ8 etc are very hard to find for good prices, they usually are expensive because today are collector's items. Backward compatibility for PS2 would be good, Sony can keep selling those titles on PSN like they do for PS1 games.

If Sony want to do a great thing, they can add Vita backward compatibility, the library is huge, pretty much all releases are digital already, they only need to emulate touch controls with DS4.

 

[CelticVegas]

I think BC is more like a "it's here and we can use it" deal than a "i will use it everyday" thing. I mean, someone maybe will play 2 or 3 games with BC and then never use it anymore. If it was on PS4, i will play KH2 and Yakuza 4 5 that i have on my PS3. Then i will never use it anymore.

 

[televator]

It would be cool. I would use it frequently, but it's not going to happen. XBONE BC isn't exactly worrying Sony enough...

 

[Lemonte]

if I had a ton of digital ps3 games I would care about bc.

 

[Kenai]

I'll likely be picking up an Xbone instead of a PS4 this holiday season because of it, but it's far more important to do this type of thing at the beginning of a gen to transition your current console users to the new system. without losing out on the library. Releasing it now is just appealing to retro gamers who want a more convenient system that can play multiple gens of games without needing to switch to different consoles. A definite plus for me, but certainly not a mainstream gotta have it thing.

As it stands, PS4 will probably have to worry more about XB1's good Black Friday/Cyber Monday deals, and even then maybe not. Since that's only gonna affect NA.

Even so, I'd LOVE a PS4 with PS2 BC, even if I know better than to think we are getting one.

 

[Krusenstern]

Even a powerful computer struggles with the Ps2 emulators. What makes you think the Ps4 will fare better?

This keeps coming up everytime. People always forget that PCSX2 is reverse engineered, and only by aproximation too. They don't own any of the original documentation of the PS2's inner workings, unlike Sony.
Sony has the source materials to create proper emulation on weaker hardware. The PS3 already supported emulation (to a smaller degree). PS4 should be able to do the same.

 

[Doctor_Thomas]

Backwards compatibility is one of those things that, at the start of the gen, makes sense while people are getting new libraries and games are still being released on last gen devices.... this late in the gen it's all a bit pointless and I honestly think that unless there's a simple solution, it's a waste of resources.

People make a big deal of backwards compatibility, but the majority of people, really, don't care one way or the other.

 

[Fdkn]

they don't have to counter anything lol.

If they add ps2 support and when they do it, it will be according to their own plans.

 

[omonimo]

It will never happens. That's the problem. Past generation they need to improve their imagine and things like those could happen; but now? They sell enough and surely will not invest some money to give free stuff to the others. Sad but that's the true.

 

[Spiritwalker]

Even a powerful computer struggles with the Ps2 emulators.

not really lol

 

[gai_shain]

I really dont understands peoples obsession with BC. Lets not pretend we dont have backlogs of current games we will likely never play. Now lets add a feature to multiply that "backlog" of games we will never ever play again.

I start to think BC is a feature people want to have for psychological reasons and not practical ones.

I dont understand why you wouldnt want it, even though its different on pc I play old games on there alot and I couldnt imagine just not being able to play only from a certain point on forward.

 

[omonimo]

not really lol

You talk like ps2 emulation on PC it's flawless. It needs of a good CPU and some game not work at all from what I remember.

 

[PdotMichael]

I dont understand why you wouldnt want it, even though its different on pc I play old games on there alot and I couldnt imagine just not being able to play only from a certain point on forward.

There are more consoles without backward compatibility than with that feature. Somehow console gamers survived it.

 

[Shin-chan]

Why does every decision by these companies need to be a response to actions taken by another? If BC comes to PS4 it will have been in the works for years before MS announced that it was coming to Xbox.

And the same for 360 BC - it was likely in the works before the failure of the Xbox 1 to capture the current 360 user base. I have a feeling it will be part of this unification strategy of Windows 10 if MS ever pulls their fingers out their arses and actually does something about this.

If Sony announces it it's because they got it working in a market ready state, not because they suddenly need to stop people talking about how great Microsoft is for giving it to them.

 

[Acquiescence]

Backwards compatibility isn't a game changer, so there isn't really anything to "counter" on Sony's part. BC is a nice addition, and it would be very much appreciated if the PS4 did receive a firmware update in the near future that allowed Classics support and/or disc-based emulation, but it's not going to turn the tide of the console war this gen. The hardcore demographic tends to place more importance on BC than is realistic when it comes to the purchasing habits of mainstream consumers.

 

[Dunkley]

I mean, I think it'd be cool if Sony offered you to use your disks as a form of validating your access to the BC versions much like the 360 does (since it actually doesn't play them off the disk which makes a lot of my friends who have scratched disks really happy), but I don't think Sony needs or wants to focus on that at all right now as even PS3 backwards compatibility, let alone PS2 backwards compatibility, would not have near as much impact as 360 BC as a huge percentage of people's last gen experiences prior to the PS4 was the Xbox 360.

So I don't think Sony needs to counter it, as weird as it sounds, 360 BC is far more relevant to players in general than PS3 BC is. Install base difference and thus on which platform the majority of players hung out on last gen makes the key difference here beyond the fact that emulating Cell for PS3 BC sounds impossible, so it's far more feasible for Microsoft to capitalize on BC than it is for Sony.

 

[PdotMichael]

I mean, I think it'd be cool if Sony offered you to use your disks as a form of validating your access to the BC versions much like the 360 does (since it actually doesn't play them off the disk which makes a lot of my friends who have scratched disks really happy), but I don't think Sony needs or wants to focus on that at all right now as even PS3 backwards compatibility, let alone PS2 backwards compatibility, would not have near as much impact as 360 BC as a huge percentage of people's last gen experiences prior to the PS4 was the Xbox 360.

So I don't think Sony needs to counter it, as weird as it sounds, 360 BC is far more relevant to players in general than PS3 BC is. Install base difference and thus on which platform the majority of players hung out on last gen makes the key difference here beyond the fact that emulating Cell for PS3 BC sounds impossible, so it's far more feasible for Microsoft to capitalize on BC than it is for Sony.

What kind of install base difference in favour of the Xbox 360?

 

[Sephiroth_VII]

I would buy a ps2 that output hdmi. Of course, such a device would never be made.

You have heard of the launch PS3, right?

 

[jesu]

I don't think B/C is a big deal, it's nice but...

 

[s_mirage]

I've gone back to 2008 it seems.

Try running MGS3 in software mode. AFAIK it requires something like a 6700k to lock 60fps at all times.

Sony does have a big advantage since they have access to all documentation, but it's still not a trivial task, and I'm not sure it would be worth it for them. It would be a handy feature though.

 

[Signet Son]

I really dont understands peoples obsession with BC. Lets not pretend we dont have backlogs of current games we will likely never play. Now lets add a feature to multiply that "backlog" of games we will never ever play again.

I start to think BC is a feature people want to have for psychological reasons and not practical ones.

I'm going to to use it quite a bit actually. Having Skyrim alone makes it worth it. Still love and play that game. Now that Xbox One owners also get 2 free 360 every month just sweetens the deal. But for now, Skyrim, Mass Effect and Bioshock will make it well worth it. I wouldn't call it an obsession, but having a way to go back and play all these older gems is nice...especially when it's all in one convenient place.