Don’t Be an Apologist, Backwards Compatibility Matters

GR's DeShaun Zollicoffer writes:

When someone complains about the PS4’s lack of backwards compatibility they’re instantly met with comments like, “Keep your PS3 — it isn’t going to self-destruct. When was the last time you played a PS2 game on your PS3?” or “We don’t need another $600 console.” I’m tired of reading comments like these. So I’m going to deconstruct them and tell you why backwards compatibility matters.

[konnerbllb]

No it doesn't. Keep your old system and stop trying to hold back next gen.

If it's backwards compatible it's only going to take from the current budget and leave a less powerful system because of it.

[SOD_Delta]

I disagree. Having B/C allows me to get rid of my PS3. I don't want a clutter of consoles lying around. That's why I hope Gaikai proves to be successful at bringing every PS game to their service.

I look forward to seeing more about Gaikai at E3.

[A2X_]

It also means a more expensive console. Nobody wants that.

I'll gladly keep my ps3.

[Information Minister]

Of course BC matters. It's far more convenient to have just one machine capable of playing your entire collection of classic Playstation games and it also means that machine will be easy to replace in case of hardware failure, ensuring you'll never find yourself unable to play some of your favorite games.

The way I see it, there's no reason why the PS4 can't be compatible with the PS1 and PS2.

Gaikai is no replacement for BC if it means you have to pay for games you already own and you can only choose from a limited selection of classics.

[dedicatedtogamers]

BC is a fairly modern feature in consoles. Sure, the GameBoy line has had BC for forever, but PS2 was the first console where BC was a main feature. Saturn didnt play SEGA CD games, nor did Dreamcast play Saturn games. The Wii was Nintendo's first BC console. NES, SNES, N64, and Gamecube were all non-BC. It goes to show that gamers who complain and demand BC are either young in age or relatively new to gaming, because the majority of platforms aren't BC.

For heavens sakes! PS1 launched almost 20 yeqrs ago. 20 YEARS!! Bawwww, I'm mad at Nintendo and I won't buy a 3DS because it wont play my old Virtual Boy carts. Waaaa! They're both 3d and they both use cartridges. What's the deal?

[SOD_Delta]

People sure do like to over exaggerate. B/C is a very convenient feature to have. I understand why PS4 can't achieve B/C. That doesn't mean I wouldn't like to have it.

[guitarded77]

I've said it before... I will gladly pay an extra $100 for OPTIONAL backward compatibility. $100 for access to all my previous games is worth the price, and I need the space and outlets in my rig.

[starchild]

The problem for me is, my PS3 is broken and shows artifacts in many games. So now I have to buy a new PS3 if I want to be able to play my PS3 games, even though the PS4 is right around the corner.

I also am never going to keep more than about 2 consoles hooked up to my tv. And if the PS3 is just sitting in a closet somewhere it will almost never get used.

Backwards compatibility in the PS4 would be really nice. I hope the gaikai stuff allows for reasonable backwards compatibility.

[ShinMaster]

Buy a PS4 to play PS4 games.

I guarantee that these people will b*tch about the pricing if they go through with it.

Also, in case you got rid of your PS3 or it imploded from the PS4's presence, you can find one for about $150 used at a GameStop and even cheaper in a couple years.

[Jobesy]

Dammit, why won't my BR player play VHS tapes! Why won't my stereo system play 8 track! Fix it Sony, don't force me to rebuy all my porn tapes and Diana Ross 8 tracks!

/s if you couldn't tell

@Logic below, your key word in your statement is "need". Gaming can be an expensive hobby, and if they "need" to sell their PS3 for a PS4 then they clearly cannot afford it in the first place. Personally, I always sell my old system and put the cash towards the new one, but thats because I don't care for bc and I don't move on to a new gen of games until I've played all I wanted to on the old gen.

[Xyle]

You are incredibly narrow minded. If you do recall most stereos had a variety of compatibility. CDs cassette tapes, vinyl...
Even some DVDs had VHS as well.
Backwards compatibility is important to people who still enjoy the classics. But no sony wants to resell these games that you already know on their network even though you already may own the game. Maybe some losers have no problem cluttering up their living rooms with consoles (unless you have a man cave which is ok haha)

[blackmagic]

@Jobesy
Actually, my blu-ray player plays all my DVDs, all my CDs, plays virtually any movie/music/pictures off a USB stick, plays virtually any movie/music/pictures off of PCs/laptops/tablets/phones wirelessly, plays any movies/music/pictures off any storage device attached to my wired network and streams movies and music from atleast a half dozen online services.

[LOGICWINS]

Why can't people comprehend that many people need to sell their old consoles to help them fund new ones?

[zebramocha]

Unlike the ps2 the ps3 is still a capable system if Sony does support it with retail games.

[Outside_ofthe_Box]

Why can't people comprehend that the PS4 and PS3 have extremely different architectures?

[MrBeatdown]

A PS3 will get you around $130 max at GameStop right now, and that's with a $50 bonus deal going on right now. Never mind how much prices will drop in ten months, especially with people trading them in, and Sony likely dropping the price.

If that's really making or breaking it for someone, maybe they shouldn't be buying a new, expensive console to begin with.

[wolokowoh]

By not including B/C the new console is somewhat cheaper making the money from the trade in at least partially cancelled out right there. You include it and a good bit of the money from the trade in is just going toward the inclusion of that feature. I never sell my old stuff and I am considered poor by our government. I just patiently save and get the console a year or two after release.

[Dead_Cell]

Kaz says "Get a second Job".

[DigitalRaptor]

@ Mr Beatdown

Yep. Just that.

Get a job or just wait for christ's sake. Ask for cash for your birthday and christmas instead of presents, and there you go. I waited for 2.5 years after PS3 came out, and not only did it have a richer library for it, but it was cheaper. And I appreciated it more for that patience I gave myself. Self-entitled people need to think of a company that needs to release a console that is both affordable and reliable.

Native backwards compatibility was never going to make the cut.

[Sharingan_no_Kakashi]

I know being able to play all your games on one system is great... but honestly it's not as big a deal as everyone says. If the ps4 is better for not having Bc then by all means keep it. Not having it means having a platform that's easier to develop for, it'll be less expensive and hey guess what.... you'll still have your ps3 if the urge strikes.

[MysticStrummer]

Doesn't matter to me. I keep a few games from each generation just to have them, but I never play them even when my console has BC.

There are apologists, people who genuinely don't care, and people who don't care but whine about it anyway. I'd bet the middle group is the majority.

[rainslacker]

How does being able to play your old games on a new system hold back next gen?

[GalacticEmpire]

Nobody is saying it doesn't matter at all, most people just tend to exaggerate it's importance. Calling anyone who offers an alternative solution to backwards compatibility an "apologist" is clearly jumping to an offensive conclusion.

[Donnieboi]

I have an idea, but will it work (?). Let me know if it's technologically sound:

Maybe Sony could create an attachment that will let you play old games. It could feature the ibm cell and emotion engine chips of the past. It is entirely possible since the ps4 will have an auxiliary port for high speed data transfer that the new ps4 eye camera will plug into (so it's possible also for an external device for backwards compatibility to be plugged into that same port for high speed data transfer so old games run smoothly (since plugging in a usb port is just not fast enough speed).

The actual game discs themselves could still be placed in your ps4's disc drive (since its confirmed that ps4 will utilize dvd's and of course blu rays (dvd is what ps2 used, blu ray for ps3 and ps4). And finally, all of your psn games from ps3 could be stores in your ps4 harddrive, but of course that device would need to be plugged in in order to utilize ps3's IBM cell technology.

I know they wanna use Gaikai too, but theres no way they can give that away for free. Renting data centers for cloud is very expensive. So, at least a device like the one I'm imagining, would be able to let owners of ps2 and ps3 game DISCS play their old disc collection without paying for cloud (so u can also save money and play old games offline). And since the ps3 tech is there, let people redownload old ps3 psn digital games yet store them dormantly on ps4's harddrive.

And since it would have no disc drive of it's own, it can stay as a relatively sleak and small external attachment (the discs of old games would be placed in ps4 as the external drive takes over to emulate a ps2 & ps3 while utilizing it's emotion engine/cell chips).

Just an idea that I hope Sony is already considering.

[tubers]

I don't think it's gonna happen since it could undermine Gaikai services (online) ("play your PS1/2/3 games").

The same train of thought why they had when Sony decided not to release a UMD clip on accessory for the VITA (to push with digital sales and services as they've hinted with the PSP Go).

[jjb1981]

It matters only to those that complain about it...

[e-p-ayeaH]

touche you pretty much said everything for better or worse playing the older games on a newer system always had its importance.

[Minato-Namikaze]

Havent touched a ps2 game (Not counting HD versions) since 2006. BC is really only good for the 1st 12-18 months of the system. After that there are gonna be plenty of ps4 games to keep people busy. Until i finish all my ps3 games (30 game backlog right now) i'll keep it, even when i buy a ps4

[majiebeast]

It matters but if it increases the price of the ps4 its not worth it.

[tubers]

I think a good option is to offer a PS4 model that has a PS3 chip in it but is just a bit wee more expensive than the standard PS4 model.

I don't really see it happening though as it would undermine Gaikai services.

[ThichQuangDuck]

It is more due to the fact that we didn't truly have backwards compatibility this generation when they promised it both microsoft and sony. Why should we expect it a generation later? Many will keep their past consoles depending on what games they still value. I wish they would transfer services and come out with a way to download your ps3, ps2, ps1 disc catalog.

[HyperBear]

I really hope Gaikai and Sony can find a way to do B/C between PS3 to PS4, that doesn't involve having the customers pay again for the title they already have and just want the ease of playing it on one system, instead of having to have both systems always hooked up.

I understand Gaikai are working primarily on cloud gaming and PS Cloud, and B/C won't be a feature when the PS4 launches. But maybe come E3 2014 and around Holiday 2014, Sony can announce a B/C program/cloud-utility, where you insert your PS3 disc into the PS4, and the data gets sent to the cloud and back again to be playable on the PS4.

[Dungus]

I want to play new games. If backwards compatibility was a real, important issue (and not just something for boring people to constantly complain about), I'd have taken the issue up years ago with Nintendo over my Super Nintendo not being able to play my NES games.

Are all the people crying over backwards compatibility willing to pay extra to have the new PS4 architecture be able to read all their old games? Think about it, you might as well be asking the Xbox 720 to be able to play PS3 games. Sony are moving forward and creating something new. Let's all move on and get excited for the new generation.

[matrixman92]

im just getting everything I want done on ps3 done before 4 comes out, then I can sell it. If anything exclusive to ps3 comes out after 4...oh well

[from the beach]

Keep the old console if you really want to play its games.

BC tends to be rubbish anyway.

[clintagious650]

Yes it does BC does matter but are ppl willing to cough up MORE MONEY for it? Yes but thats like what %10. Why add it if ppl dont want to buy it? We seen it early on in the ps3's launch that MAJORITY of the ppl will not spend $600 just for BC. I myself would love BC but I will not spend $700 just so i can have BC. Same reason I stopped paying for xbl because I feel playing games I buy for $60 should give me free online multiplayer & cross chat isnt worth paying for either, I dont care what anyone says.

Bottom line is if u want BC then stick with the ps3 & dont buy a ps4. Its simple as that. Im buying my ps4 to play ps4 games not ps3 games, ill leave that for my ps3 to play ps3 games.

[e-p-ayeaH]

Digital psn games is what make me worry i rightfully pay for i didn't rented them.

[EverydayGuy]

I would like Sony offer another SKU that offer BC, because they always talk about heritage. What is the point of talking about your heritage if gamers from another generation will never experience past generations.

If Sony does not offer an add-on or another SKU, there are always emulators.

[LessThan2Tflops]

If I buy a new pc not only can It still play all my old games, they'll look better! Why can't a console be like that?

[tubers]

Because they find it very profitable with "Gaikai/PSN services", HD Classics, PS+ (cloud saving), XBL, etc..

They have to gimp the newer consoles by building around those profitable service/software.

[HappyWithOneBubble]

It don't matter to me. If I want to play PS3 games I hook up my PS3. I like keeping my older console for a while anyway. When I got a PS3 I kept my PS2 for 3 more years.

[Rhezin]

for f!cks sake backwards compatibility should be no sweat by now, what if people don't have enough money for a ps4 at launch and want to sell their ps3 for credit/money towards PS4? Ever think of that? I know I would have before I heard about this non-compatibility BS. Looks like I'll HAVE to keep my ps3 if I want to replay ALL these amazing games this gen. And no I'm not rebuying them like a slag..

[smashcrashbash]

I think the real problem is that people think that the company has an obligation to give you BC. They don't.If they would prefer to divide their profits between PS3 and PS4 and continue letting the PS3 be sold instead of risking it being ignored for a new system that is a solid business decision.It has been done many times over the years.People are always crying that they spent so much money on a console and they deserve BC. But companies have left technology behind before.Nintendo left the N64 behind to make the Gamecube after I spent so much money on it.

Not that I don't understand. BC would have been even more gravy on the already juicy PS4 steak but you have to remember that the PS3 only just recently started to turn a profit for Sony. For them to make the PS4 BC would mean a whole bunch of unsold PS3s and losses.Besides it isn't as if they aren't giving us any other options and just simply leaving us out in the cold. How is it any different then Nintendo selling you N64 games on the Wii instead of making the games compatible? There is always the possibility that a company would decide to go in a different direction and leave the past behind with a new product. That's business.

Besides what's with people clamoring for Sony to have BC and be a multimedia device. When they were doing these things with the PS3 I thought it was a 'waste of time and money' and now suddenly it is taboo not to do it? Before you claim that you want it,would you pay more for them to do it? If it takes more money to make the PS4 BC would you pay the money? Or b***h about how expensive the PS4 is? I am guessing the latter. Nintendo dropped the N64 without so much as a sorry or anything and moved on to the Gamcube after I paid so much for it and I never heard as much griping over it as I am hearing about the PS4.

[SephirothX21]

Another reason why PC is the best platform for games. Though PS4 would not be as powerful if it had a cell processor to support bc because it would raise the cost and make the architecture more complicated. Sony made the right choice.

[ceedubya9]

It isn't mandatory, but I do like having that option. Less console clutter sitting around is a lot better. At least by knowing this early, I'll know to hold on to my PS3 when I get a PS4 if I want to play my ps3 games. If nothing else, I have an extra BR player.
Hopefully, the next Xbox will offer BC. Be nice if at least one of these consoles did.

[CaulkSlap]

Personally I'd pay $1000 for a Mega Playstation with every chip if it upscaled and smoothed out older games. But that's obviously not feasible for market and based on what happened with PS3, neither is any hardware level B/C at all. They tried to do exactly what you people want and it was a big factor in driving the cost up. It would add at least an extra $100 right on top of the PS4 cost just to allow it to play PS3 games. Doesn't even make sense to have a premium version because that means far more engineering and reworking the entire guts.

Disc based games just require the console you bought them for. This is why I love the PSOne classics on PSN. I
already own half the games I bought, but I really like having a smoothed out version available on any of my PS systems.

[dedicatedtogamers]

See, THIS is the future of BC (even though Sony is still ironing it out). With PSN games, I can play my PS1 games on PS3, Vita, or PSP.

[SolidDuck]

It doesn't matter. I can only think of 2 original Xbox games that I put into my 360 in six years of owning it. Backwards compatibly really doesn't matter.

[SDF Repellent]

To you it doesn't matter, for alot of folks, especially this generation, the ability to carry over their gamerscores, achievements.trophies, and digital purchased games is very important.

Unfortunately, because of the cell and Nvidia GPU of the PS3, it is a very difficult task for Sony to implement this transition but I do hope they can find a way as I want to be able to replay all my Uncharted 1 - 4 all in one setting on a single system.

[Tyre]

U are the only one here that is making sense, BC matters.
Shit is way different than last gen. We have Achievements&Trophies/digi tal purchase and i want that shit to matter!
We might as well throw away all our games in the garbage bin if all those games do not work anymore on the new consoles.
I'm sure Microsoft will have BC on the next xbox, because it most likely will include PowerPC cores.
I want to be able to finish achievements on my new Xbox.....sure as hell that they will carry over.
It wouldn't make any sense, if the games won't work on the new console.
Shit is different from last gen transition, people should realize that.
Think about all the multiplayer games.
They weren't there last gen, i also remember people still playing Halo 2 way into this gen, that was awesome.
Microsoft also said that they wouldn't make the same mistakes in the nextgen.
So i'm kinda expecting BC in the next Xbox.

[Indo]

If you all don't want your PS3's, I'll take it off your hands. Free of charge :)

[clintagious650]

Heres how I look at it. If BC is so important then why werent there any complaints of dvd owners not being able to play vhs movies ppl had? CD players not being able to play records ppl had. Ipods not being able to play my cd's. My bbq grill cant fry chicken. My hair clipper cant cut paper like my scissors lol.

[Dead_Cell]

I have a fool-proof method of retaining your ability to play any and all of your glorious PS3 games even after the release of the soon to be glorious Playstation 4.

1) Unplug PS4
2) Plug in PS3

Now if you follow the above steps I assure you that you will still be able to play your beloved games of a generation gone by.

Should you wish to contact me for further advice feel free to drop me an E-mail on [email protected] k

[Cyrax4]

If you need to sell your console to buy a new one, then you're poor and shouldn't be playing video games.

Get off your ass, go to college, and get a job like the rest of us.

I buy a new console to play new games.

[dcbronco]

I think BC is very important. I like being able to give away an old condole to a niece or nephew. But in the case of the PS4 I understand it. From what I've heard is is extremely hard to get the Cell any smaller because of heat issues. Then it seems that it can't be placed on a single die with the GPU for the same reasons. If that is the case, it dies add too much cost and isn't worth it to add the chips to the PS4.

[AceofStaves]

BC mattered more to me in earlier gens. The ability to play PS1 games on the PS2 at launch was a defining factor in my decision to purchase the PS2 at launch. It was a feature that was one of the reasons I bought a PS3 at launch.

To be honest, though, I only played 2 PS2 games on my PS3 since launch, and I didn't finish either of them on that console. I've purchased digital versions of PS1 titles, and I've gotten some of the PS2 HD re-releases, and those are what I use when I hanker for retro gaming on PS3. Otherwise, I play my PS1 and PS2 libraries on my PS2.

People can moan about the importance of BC, but the initially sluggish sales of the PS3 proved that price, rather than features, mattered most to consumers. Once Sony removed the 'inner PS2' from the PS3, and lowered the price of the PS3, its sales picked up. If BC was so crucial to gamers, the PS3 would have had a more successful launch window. Sony learned a lesson from consumers' tepid response to the higher-priced console and have carried that over to the PS4. I don't fault them for that. It's the reality of the business.

Would BC be a great feature for PS4? Yes, but not including it makes sound business sense, particularly if the Gaikai service proves to be successful. It seems that gamers want to have things both ways - a cheap next-gen console with full BC. But as the Stones sang, "you can't always get what you want."

[Dms2012]

One has to wonder if there will be this much rationalizing if the next Xbox doesn't support BC out of the box. Somehow I do not think so.

[MasterA]

You can't compare PS2 games to PS3 games. PS3 games are more 'alive' in the sense that they are more connected(online play, leader boards) and can grow(add-ons, DLC packs). Not having BC means fragmentation not only amongst the user base but also in your playtime and data. Seriously I'm not even sure to buy PS3 games anymore. Console makers HAVE TO fix the data portability issue now, before advances on the PC side become more viable.

[madjedi]

It's only relevant for the first 6-18 months, then people are too busy with next gen games to care about it.

Why do people think it's mandatory to trade your current console in towards the next one, you had 7-8 yrs to save for the next gen consoles. Even $5 a week would have enough saved up in 2 yrs.

You have 8-9 months, to save up, and as another guy put it you won't get much for a ps3 when you eventually trade it in.