No Looking Back: Why Console Generation 8 is in Danger - All Age Gaming

Tyler from AAG writes "Videogames have come a long way as an artform and a means of entertainment in these past short years. Major countries have started legally treating them as protected forms of expression similar to literature and film. Popular culture has begun to embrace the gaming community’s own plethora of jokes and inside language. And above all, in these very recent years the storytelling of gaming has evolved by leaps and bounds, breaking down the myths of the hobby being nothing but shallow entertainment. But, there is one appalling trend that has gone overlooked at best and encouraged at worst. Gaming’s past, or at least a vital part of it, is being destroyed."

[Kurt Russell]

I still have my old consoles... so all this recieves is a shrug.

[The_KELRaTH]

I still have an Atari 800 :)

[Mocat]

i still have phillips videopac

[Flatbattery]

It's seems with the constant evolution and experimentation of computer hardware components, better results are achieved if backwards compatibility is dropped. While it's not entirely ideal for many gamers and I can also imagine not a decision taken lightly by the manufacturers, cost and performance being a crucial balancing act, my old consoles aren't suddenly going to cease to exist because something new comes along.

[SpinalRemains138]

Never understood the importance of BC myself.

I buy new consoles to play new games. When one buys a new car or a new television, do they feel the need to relive days of old by using the old? No. So why the need to play old games on your new system?

I think BC is exactly like x Game Chat. It is something which has become infinitely more important in the minds of some, simply because of its availability or lack thereof.

BC is something which is purely convenient, but far from necessary. 2¢

[aliengmr]

It adds value. Yes, in terms of practicality it may not be as useful as some other features, but, its far more than just convenient. Simply knowing its there adds value, not only to the system but older titles as well.

[cpayne93]

If my ps3 was backwards compatible, I would have bought some ps2 games since I didn't own that system. If you didn't own a system, it adds a lot of value to make the console two in one.

[Tyre]

Good Article!