Author Topic: Iwata confirms backward compatibility on Nintendo's next console?  (Read 5572 times)

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Offline Rhoq

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I ran across this over at www.GameCubeNetwork.com - this is an excerpt from, supposedly, an interview (translation courtesy of Babble Fish) from Japan's Famitsu magazine with Satoru Iwata. If the translation is accurate (and the interview is legitimate), Iwata officially states that Nintendo's next game console will in fact be backward compatible with the Game Cube. I hope this is true...


Famitsu: What can you tell us about the Gamecube 2?

Satoru Iwata: It will be able to use the gamers already created in the previous generation. And it is something that will work. Side performances and graphics, one reached today a kind of limit with a quality which is already close to realism and it will be difficult to still much better do. The role of Nintendo is thus to study other ways in order to improve the experience of the player.
PEACE--->Rhoq

Offline Bill Aurion

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Iwata confirms backward compatibility on Nintendo's next console?
« Reply #1 on: May 22, 2003, 06:02:17 AM »
I can only hope it's not a mistranslation.  Not that I will sell my Cube, but when I go travelling it's one less console I need to lug around
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Offline jarob

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RE: Iwata confirms backward compatibility on Nintendo's next console?
« Reply #2 on: May 22, 2003, 06:03:15 AM »
Great news.  But not unexpected.  They had to make it backward compatible.

Offline Termin8Anakin

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RE: Iwata confirms backward compatibility on Nintendo's next console?
« Reply #3 on: May 22, 2003, 06:06:59 AM »
yeah, it's all cds and dvds now.
they have no excuse.
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Offline Fammy2000

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RE: Iwata confirms backward compatibility on Nintendo's next console?
« Reply #4 on: May 22, 2003, 07:31:46 AM »
yes they do have an excuse. you either have to emulate the old system or include the old hardware (PS2->PS, GBA->GBC). The latter being the more realistic option. That adds cost to the new device.

I'm not saying don't do it, but it's not trivial. I don't see how CD's/DVD's makes it any easier? GBA is cartridge based and works without any miracles.
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Offline Ian Sane

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Iwata confirms backward compatibility on Nintendo's next console?
« Reply #5 on: May 22, 2003, 07:37:37 AM »
"And it is something that will work."

Well I should hope so.  I always hate those fancy consoles that don't work.

Backwards compatibility is kind of expected these days what with the two leading game systems featuring it.  The only reason the Gamecube doesn't have it is because of the change of media from cartridge to disc.  Besides I'm pretty certain that both Sony and Microsoft will have it so Nintendo better have it.

Offline The Omen

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Iwata confirms backward compatibility on Nintendo's next console?
« Reply #6 on: May 22, 2003, 08:07:31 AM »
Another good reason to include it is they're cutting the GC lifespan by a year or 2...that would make it a little easier to swallow for gamers.
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Offline AERO

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Iwata confirms backward compatibility on Nintendo's next console?
« Reply #7 on: May 22, 2003, 08:08:48 AM »
Yeah, what he said. The type of format its written on doesn't matter as much as the programming language and all that jazz.

PS3 will probably be compatible with ps2 but probably not the psx. If xbox2 uses direct x again and most likely will backwords compatibility is a no brainer. Although considering again the format could be a small hurdle. Will Gamcube still be using those 1.5 gig disks by the next console?  

Offline joshnickerson

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Iwata confirms backward compatibility on Nintendo's next console?
« Reply #8 on: May 22, 2003, 09:18:59 AM »
Obviously Nintendo took a look at sales numbers and saw that PSX games are still selling rather well.

Offline jarob

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Iwata confirms backward compatibility on Nintendo's next console?
« Reply #9 on: May 22, 2003, 10:08:31 AM »
They are going to use the PowerPC cpu and I would bet anything the next generation video chip from ATi.  So why would they have to add new hardware?  PC's have upgraded from the lowly 8088 to todays Pentium 4's.  Software written on the 8088 still runs on the Pentiums.   It should be built in the hardware they are going to use anyway.  And with a die size shrinkage...

Offline DRJ

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Iwata confirms backward compatibility on Nintendo's next console?
« Reply #10 on: May 22, 2003, 10:45:36 AM »
I dont have a playstation, but I must say that whenever I go to the store there are tons are ps1 games available for pretty cheap. So sony gets to keep making some money for games from older systems for years and years. If GC2 is not compatable with GCN then they will lose lots of money in the long run.  
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Offline Fammy2000

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RE: Iwata confirms backward compatibility on Nintendo's next console?
« Reply #11 on: May 22, 2003, 10:59:59 AM »
We've yet to see how backwards compatibility works in the console world in terms of sales. How many of you have purchsed PS1 games since PS2 came out? How many GB/GBC games since GBA came out? It may or may not be worth the added cost to the console. I like how all of your "know" that it has to be in there or it's doom/lost profits for Nintendo.

I think the backwards compatibility argument works for people who didn't own the previous console. I didn't have a PS1 so I will get more enjoyment out of old PS1 games. Everyone else has been there and done that (and has the original console). All you gain is less clutter under your TV.

Also, PS1 and Game Boy were by far the leaders in their categories for their generation. Of course new games released for those systems would still sell somewhat. Do you think Dreamcast games would still sell if the XBox could play them?

I'm not complaining if it is, but if it's not, I still have my GameCube.
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Offline Mannypon

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RE: Iwata confirms backward compatibility on Nintendo's next console?
« Reply #12 on: May 22, 2003, 11:14:14 AM »
backwards compatibility is the only way to go.  For the consumers who already own a gamecube it'll make them feel as if there money went well spent since they can still use their games and play them without the hassle of changing systems.  I think its also important to have becuase for nintendo's next generation system, they have to meet and one up every option the other systems are goin to have.  There cant be any openings where the average gamer/fanboy can lock onto and b*tch and mown about like "gamecube discs are too small, they dont have a hard drive... xbox is way better blah blah blah"  I think for the gamecube to compete in the mainstreme they are goin to have to level the feild and let it come down to the games, better advertising and diversifing thier lineup is another thing they have to do.

Offline NWR_Lindy

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Iwata confirms backward compatibility on Nintendo's next console?
« Reply #13 on: May 22, 2003, 12:06:43 PM »
The deal with backwards compatibility is that it adds perceived value to the console.  Being able to play all your old games on the new console is a great selling point, because it lets people beat those old games that maybe they didn't get to beat in the previous system's lifetime.  I know that part of the reason I bought my PS2 back in the day was because it would replace my PS1 outright.  You walk into the store, bring in your PS1 and trade it in on a PS2, and then play your old PS1 games when you feel like it.  It's great.  Not to bash Nintendo, but I don't get a charge out of having to have my NES, SNES and N64 hooked up just to play the games on those systems.  I like to keep the games, not the hardware.

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Offline Perfect Cell

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Iwata confirms backward compatibility on Nintendo's next console?
« Reply #14 on: May 22, 2003, 12:32:59 PM »
Well would that mean that there would be 2 different drives? like the Panasonic DVD-GC system? I dont understand how it works, but i dont think a Drive that could read DVD movies can read GCN Mini disks

Offline mouse_clicker

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Iwata confirms backward compatibility on Nintendo's next console?
« Reply #15 on: May 22, 2003, 12:35:34 PM »
I assume they would just switch lasers. I'm not an expert on console mechanics, so I don't know if that's quite possible, but having two disc drives seems cumbersome.
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Offline Ninja X

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Iwata confirms backward compatibility on Nintendo's next console?
« Reply #16 on: May 22, 2003, 01:25:46 PM »
Will be nice to play GCN games on the next console.  As for Sony PS3 backward compatibility...isn't the Sony PS3 utilizing a new type of DVD?  How would it play PS2 games?  

Then again...the PS2 uses DVDs and it still plays CDs...
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Offline AdvancedGamer

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Iwata confirms backward compatibility on Nintendo's next console?
« Reply #17 on: May 22, 2003, 01:33:06 PM »
The Question is: will it be compatible with the Game Boy Player??????????????
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Offline jarob

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RE: Iwata confirms backward compatibility on Nintendo's next console?
« Reply #18 on: May 22, 2003, 03:04:30 PM »
Well the DVD player in my computer can read CD-ROMS.  It really is not a big deal to make GameCube2 play current GameCube games.

Offline Bill Aurion

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Iwata confirms backward compatibility on Nintendo's next console?
« Reply #19 on: May 22, 2003, 03:05:52 PM »
As I put in another topic, I believe that Ninty's next system WILL be compatiable with the GB player.  However, I guess it all depends on the size/shape of it.
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Offline swimguy228

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Iwata confirms backward compatibility on Nintendo's next console?
« Reply #20 on: May 22, 2003, 04:43:34 PM »
Quote

Originally posted by: Perfect Cell
Well would that mean that there would be 2 different drives? like the Panasonic DVD-GC system? I dont understand how it works, but i dont think a Drive that could read DVD movies can read GCN Mini disks


The Panasonic Q only has one disc drive. Like mouse_clicker said, it just switches lasers or configures a single one to only travel the radius of the GC disc. Also, the motor spins in the opposite direction because the GC discs are read in the opposite direction. I know all of this because I'm lucky to own one.
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Offline KrazyJ1098

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RE: Iwata confirms backward compatibility on Nintendo's next console?
« Reply #21 on: May 22, 2003, 07:19:22 PM »
the ps2 acts just like a dvd player, it has 2 different lasers for reading CD's and DVD's.
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Offline deminisma

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RE: Iwata confirms backward compatibility on Nintendo's next console?
« Reply #22 on: May 22, 2003, 08:51:12 PM »
It is that bigger difference for consoles. The PC you're using contains the same basic hardware from 20 years ago. Consoles change very radically.