Top Spin 2 will definitely be on my BUY LIST!

Final Fantasy XI is such an odd choice; I don't think they're going to be able to do much with it graphically since it will have to be tied down to the limitations of the PS2 version, much like the PC version. It may be higher resolution with more effects, but overall it'll still be rooted to the lowest common version. This, of course, information from my friend who hasn't done a single thing other than play this damn game for the last 1.5 years, it's pretty creepy.

I think they need to have a unique MMORPG on the new Xbox. Xbox had Phantasy Star, which was identical to its Dreamcast version and now the Xbox 360 is getting a PS2 MMORPG. What the hell happened to True Fantasy Online?

How is selective backwards compatabily even possible? Are they going to re-release the best selling titles to fit xbox 360?
If you put in a game that isn't a best seller does a screen pop up and say "fuck you" ?

It's done through emulation, so they'll just program the software to only run certain games. I don't think they're re-releasing games at all. Just only building in support for certain ones.

Incredibly lame.

Especially in the face the PS3 being backwards compatible with the PS2 and PSone, and the Revolution being backwards compatible with the Gamecube and able to download every Nintnendo made NES, SNES, and N64 game.

Bad bad move by Microsoft. I can't believe they didn't put backwards compatibility high on the priority list when PS and Nintendo are doing it.

Says who? Do you really think the 360 is going to be powerful enough to emulate a 3 year old piece of cutting edge hardware? It's much more likely that they'll do something like re-write the .xbe's and have them available for download.

That's just what I've been reading from the threads here. Stuff people where posting form gaming sites said it was emulation. I thought it sounded fishy too, but I could see it working if they just program it for a few big games.

I think people are overreacting, personally.

http://news.com.com/A+gaggle+of+new+...53.html?tag=nl

Interesting. It's still a big deal to me, but it's all a moot point for me if it still has the same mostly FPS, Sports and Driving game line-up as the X-box. In that case I'll just keep my X-box until I finish the games I want to play on it, and sell it toward a PS3 or Revolution.

But I'm not giving up hope yet with the RPG's from the former Final Fantasy guy giving me a little hope things will be better (for my gaming tastes) with the 360.

I'm reserving judgement for the list of games that will work. It could be tens, it could be hundreds. Also, Microsoft could incorporate a feature into Xbox Live that would increase the number of games it supports with a software update, so it may be a incremental thing.

Yeah, I'm reserving judgement too, but not totally since the other two have full, no hassle backwards compatibility right out of the box.

I remember reading how Microsoft would need to emulate the nVidia card or drivers or something in order to let old games work on the new system. This would cost them money for royalties. To keep that cost at a minimum, they are obviously only going to do it a few games at a time to see if it is even necessary, instead of including it on every console and paying those fees upfront.

But why bother. People don't want it just to play a handful of games, they want it so they can dump the old system all together.

It is a half assed attempt by MS.

Exactly. I'm sure there's the odd fellow here or there that just wants to keep playing Halo, but most want to free up space and money by selling a console and replacing it with a next gen one that can play all their current games.

I agree with the unique MMORPG and I'm pretty confidant there will be something in the pipeline.

However if FFXI follows the Everquest model then they will bring out new expansion packs which will have graphical and even engine updates. They will only be available on pc and 360, and while ps2 owners will still be able to play the game, they won't be able to go into the new areas. At least that's how it could potentially work.

It's funny, it's not like Gunvalkyrie, and PDO etc. are necessarily better games than Halo, but I find them so goddamn hard and frustrating that I usually can't play for more than an hour or so at a time. So I'd like to be able to pull them out every now and then just so I can swear at them some more . Halo I've finished on every difficulty level now (well except easy) so I'm mostly over it.

Is Wi-Fi internet built into the Xbox360 or is that an add on as well? That was a $100 add on for the original Xbox and I thought for sure it would support Wi-Fi right out of the box this time.

A reasonable comparison would be the Bleem discs you could get for the Dreamcast (to play MGS, Tekken 3 etc.). These even had some graphical upgrades I understand although I never did buy one. The difference from PS1 -> DC is similar to XBox -> 360. Well actually, on paper the difference is much greater between xb -> 360, but leveraging the parallel capabilities of the 360 may be difficult for the typical tasks involved with emulation.

I have to say it's a bit depressing looking at the 360 game preorder page at EB.com and seeing 59.99 everywhere. I knew it was bound to happen eventually but it just means I'll be a bit more picky about the games I buy right away.

Yep it is a shame. games have hovered around $50 for 15+ years with an odd cartridge here or there costing more. All of a sudden MS is in the business and $50 doesn't cut it. Bill Gates must be putting in that 37th wing to his house.

I don't like the game prices either, but it's an interesting strategy if it's a set price. They could charge $59.99 until the other 2 consoles are released. And the hardcore gaming, early adopters will happily pay it.

I believe the Wi-Fi pack is sold seperately. I'm betting it will be in the $30-$50 range.

Well I for one refuse to pay over $50 for a game. I have no problem playing this generation of gaming until the next generation games drop in price.

Same here. There's very few games I'll even pay $50 for, just the rare game I'm dying to play, like the new Zelda.

Anything else I wait to find for $35 or under, and a lot even until $20 and under.

$60 simply puts a game totally out of my price range, even for something like the new Zelda.

Thanks, I was wondering about that.

As far as the game prices. I remember paying $59.99 for several N64 games years ago so I don't think it will be that big of an issue for the good releases. Granted I would be very careful about the games I spend that kind of money on. If its not a top notch title there is no way I spend $60. The majority of the games for all systems are mediocre or worse and those are going to be a hard sell at $60. This should at least encourage publishers to focus on quality more this generation.

Also, EB throws random prices up there when they aren't sure. DS games were listed at $49.99 at first. $59.99 may not be the price for every game.

One advantage MS may have with the Xbox360 is to sell it at $299.99 and the games at $59.99 up until the PS3 comes out and then drop the console and game prices when it launches to take some of the steam out of the PS3.