Xbox 2 to sport Three 64-bit IBM chips, ATI R500

[Jarandco]

Originally Posted by Tezcatlipoca

And backwards compatibility with XBox1....Doubtful, I think.

I thought that was likely due to MS recently buying a company which makes emulators, so that old xbox games could be played on the new hardware in an emulator.?!?

[Tezcatlipoca]

Interesting

Where'd you hear that?

I think XBox2 would certainly have the power to emulate XBox 1, but I'm sure I remember reading something about how there would be licensing/patent issues 'cos of e.g. XBox1's NVidia GPU etc?

I do think it would be best if XBox2 is backwards compatible.

Guess we'll just have to wait & see.

[Zorilla]

Originally Posted by Tezcatlipoca

Interesting

Where'd you hear that?

I think XBox2 would certainly have the power to emulate XBox 1, but I'm sure I remember reading something about how there would be licensing/patent issues 'cos of e.g. XBox1's NVidia GPU etc?

I do think it would be best if XBox2 is backwards compatible.

Guess we'll just have to wait & see.

I'm not a software engineer, but from the little I know, the Nvidia chips just convert the in-game commands into graphics using hardware processing - As hardware evolves (and CPU power increases), you can usually convert the commands to graphics using software routines (ie emulation). Similar to the way DVD players needed MPEG2 hardware decoder in the early days, and now most PC's can perform the same function using s/w routines.
(These s/w routines just bypass the need for special hardware).

Also, knowing M$, I'm sure that NVidia signed over any (and all) rights, giving M$ free reign to do whatever they want in the future!

I really hope that it's backwards compatible - Sony was the first console manufacturer to do this, and look where it got them!! (I know backwards compatibility is only a small part of the Sony package, but I'm sure that they don't want to give Sony a perceived advantage on the next gen console, by not having it)

[Tezcatlipoca]

I do hope it's backwards compatible.

I've just done a Google, & found another article which suggests it could be unlikely

(still all speculation, though! )

http://curmudgeongamer.com/article.p...40322202148324


A petition to M$ to make it backwards compatible: http://www.petitiononline.com/xbox2/petition.html

(sign it! )

The "Background" section is quite interesting, & the links are also worth checking out

[Tezcatlipoca]

Agh!

"No Backward Compatibility in XBOX2"

Originally Posted by gamesindustry.biz

Rob Fahey 16:15 21/06/2004

Because two boxes under the TV are as good as one, apparently

Sources close to Microsoft's senior Xbox executives have confirmed that the company does not intend to make its next-generation console, which is set to be launched by late 2005, backwards compatible with existing Xbox software.

Speculation about the backwards compatibility functionality has been rife since it emerged that Xbox 2 - codenamed Xenon - will have radically different hardware to the original system, with a non-x86 processor, no hard drive and an ATI, rather than NVIDIA, graphics chipset, all of which would make running Xbox titles on the platform very difficult.

It was widely believed, however, that Microsoft had retained a team of hardware emulation experts to work on the problem - although concerns over the viability of such an endeavour were voiced by some experts, especially regarding the company's ability to emulate the functions of the graphics unit in the Xbox without violating NVIDIA's intellectual property rights.

GamesIndustry.biz has now learned that Microsoft does not plan to provide any backwards compatibility in the next-generation Xenon platform - and indeed, that senior executives at the company don't believe backwards compatibility to be an important feature for consoles.......

(big snip)

[Zorilla]

Originally Posted by Tezcatlipoca

Agh!

"No Backward Compatibility in XBOX2"

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAgh!!!!!!!!!!!!! indeed!

I can see both sides in this, but it seems very strange that M$ introduce the Xbox Live Arcade to lure people back into old games, at the same time as saying backwards compatibility is not that important!

[Ricky G]

A little gutted but to be honest not overly upset. I was an avid Playstation gamer and bought a PS2. I can't honestly say I bothered ever using the PS2 to play my old Playstation games.

My main concern is the lack of hardrive

[Brainbug71]

URGHHHHHHHHHH............

No hard Drive _ more money for the m$ **** by selling memory storage devices.

Like Bill really needs it eh.!!!

[yorkiex]

hi guys as you can tell im new to this forum. When i read this thread i had to reply. First of is about the backward compatibility as it was said near the begining of the tread why not its not that microsoft cannt afford it and that it cannt be done. But look at all the emulators for the pc theres 1 for every console out there inc. the PS2 and xbox. If they dont make it backwards compatable I think it would just be pure lazyness by microsoft. And all this b*****ks about not having an HDD it hasnt been confermed yet so whats the point in beliveing somthing some other web site has printed. As far as i know the only thing that has been confermed from microsoft so far is the ATI chip will be a customized radeon chip, It will be using the XNA programing lang (or what ever it is called) Which will allow them to develop xbox, xbox 2 and pc games side by side so they can release the games at the same time so pc users can play xbox and xbox 2 players online with each other and it will have support for live gaming and yes it will be flippin powerful.
And just to answer the question How can xbox and xbox 2 users play againsed Pc users? well for the ppl who dont know yet microsoft will be releasing the xbox live sevice to pc users (dont ask when as i dont know )

[Mantrid]

Welcome Yorkiex!

I for one am not worried about backwards compatibility. If I want to play existing Xbox games then I'll use my Xbox - that's what it's for isn't it?

I'm not really worried about the lack of hard drive either. I'm assuming there will be some sort of solid state storage inside the system instead.

[Bifta]

Originally Posted by yorkiex

And just to answer the question How can xbox and xbox 2 users play againsed Pc users? well for the ppl who dont know yet microsoft will be releasing the xbox live sevice to pc users (dont ask when as i dont know )

If they make XBL free to PC users then it might stand a chance, if not, we're able to play just about any game online for free and I doubt XBL will get a look in.

[Zorilla]

Bit more propaganda/speculation!

http://www.myxbox.co.uk/shownews.asp...turn=index.asp

[EDIT]
********MOST DETAILED AND RELIABLE STUFF I'VE READ SO FAR*****

[yorkiex]

Originally Posted by Bifta
If they make XBL free to PC users then it might stand a chance, if not, we're able to play just about any game online for free and I doubt XBL will get a look in.

Come on you really think microsoft will give it free to pc users you wish

[grindkid25]

this is a bit pointless, as most pc games are free online anyway, only really apart MMORPG, like EVE Online, Matrix Online ect....

[Zorilla]

Re: Xbox 2 and Hard drive

I think I can see why the Xbox 2 may not have a default Hard drive!

Taking into account that M$ has already announced that there will be an upgrade to the existing Xbox, that will enable it to connect to a XP Media Edition PC. And the fact that M$ are a major player in the new DLNA (link here:Digital Living Network Alliance). I believe that they are hoping that the Xbox 2 will not need a hard drive (as standard) as it will be able to access the hard drive (or any other storage device) already in the home! Why fit a hard disk to a games console, if the customer already has another hard disk in the home (with excess capacity).

Now I know this will not be good news for everyone (hence the suggestion that there will be an optional hard disk, or memory storage cards), but if you take the time to look through the DLNA web-site, the vision for the home in the next year or so looks rather good to me!!