Author Topic: Fantasy Rumour: Rev backwards compatibility with Sega (Read 12462 times)

couchmonkey · « **on:** June 17, 2005, 10:08:21 AM »

In a current article on IGN (can't post a link, sorry) they talked with a bunch of developers about next-gen systems. Yuji Naka commented that it would be neat if the Revolution were backwards compatible with Sega games as well.

Now there's nothing even remotely official about that, but it would be very cool. As a videogame fan that never owned a Sega system, this feature would probably convince me to buy a Revolution regardless of everything else. I hope Nintendo and Sega have actually talked about this.

Anyway, that's my fanboyish fantasy of the day.

joedick · « **Reply #1 on:** June 17, 2005, 10:19:52 AM »

Yeah, I was thinking about that I as I was looking at a preview for Sonic Gems. Access to the Nintendo and Sega libraries would be pretty huge...

jasonditz · « **Reply #2 on:** June 17, 2005, 10:31:18 AM »

Probably have to be limited to Master System, Genesis, and maybe (?) 32X. I can't see Nintendo spending the time to create emulators for the convoluted hardware Sega's CD-based systems tended to use.

Pale · « **Reply #3 on:** June 17, 2005, 11:17:49 AM »

Quote
Originally posted by: jasonditz
Probably have to be limited to Master System, Genesis, and maybe (?) 32X. I can't see Nintendo spending the time to create emulators for the convoluted hardware Sega's CD-based systems tended to use.

But can you see Sega doing it?

With the already announced possibility of firmware updates, there is nothing stopping sega from creating one even after the Rev launches. If downloadable retro games proves to be a profitable venture, they may just decide it's worth the time and money.

Sega would be nice, but I'm still waiting for gameboy support.

Classic gameboy support would be nice considering the Micro may not play the old games, plus they are hard to find. Also, assuming the Rev is going to be 'alive' into the next gameboy's life, they could add GBA downloads in the future.

stevey · « **Reply #4 on:** June 17, 2005, 11:55:34 AM »

please nintendo and sega please do this it would be so cool to play old sega game. You know the good one.

Ian Sane · « **Reply #5 on:** June 17, 2005, 12:00:00 PM »

There are two ways to do it.

The first requires emulators for the Sega consoles. I don't see Nintendo willing to do that kind of work so it's up to Sega to make them and Nintendo has to play ball. You never know with them.

The second requires Sega to pick and choose what they want and then port them to the NES or SNES. These seems like a bunch of unneeded hassle and the results would probably be pretty crappy. That would only happen if Nintendo doesn't play ball or if Sega doesn't do this until after the Rev has launched and there's no way to upload a new emulator to the console.

I would prefer and expect option one though either way I would be concerned of the results. Apparently the Genesis emulator that was used for Sega Smash Pack for the Dreamcast was the sh!ts. Sonic Mega Collection wasn't too bad though. Still if we had two different companies working on the difference emulators there could be an inconsistency in quality. Nintendo is going to set a certain standard and Sega has to match it.

Plus there's some money issues. What about third party games on Sega consoles? If Sega makes the emulator and third parties release games that use it shouldn't Sega get a cut? I doubt Nintendo would like that. Even if they limited it to Sega's games they would only need to use Nintendo's download service. Everyone else has to use the service and Nintendo's emulators. So in that case it would make sense for Sega to have a lower fee for just using the service. This would also freak Nintendo out. They don't like sharing money. For Nintendo it's easier if they have complete control of everything.

If you really think about why limit it Nintendo and Sega? Why not get MAME involved and then third parties can distribute classic arcade games as well? Damn, I think I just gave Sony and MS a great idea.

nolimit19 · « **Reply #6 on:** June 17, 2005, 01:16:03 PM »

MEGA--TON

jasonditz · « **Reply #7 on:** June 17, 2005, 01:23:59 PM »

Actually, an interesting (and spiteful) thing to do would be to get a third-party made Playstation emulator as an optional download.

stevey · « **Reply #8 on:** June 17, 2005, 03:12:07 PM »

"The first requires emulators for the Sega consoles. "

That done on sega web site somewear I'm to lazy to link Sega is for japan selling rom of old game. Well it more like renting them but sill for 1.25 or ""sega buck"" you can get all the game for a day so emulators for the consoles is already done.

Pale · « **Reply #9 on:** June 17, 2005, 03:40:45 PM »

Ian, your sonic mega collection comment brings up a very good point.

They already have an emulator that runs on GCN hardware... If the Rev is as similar as everyone says it is, they are set.. right?

Djunknown · « **Reply #10 on:** June 17, 2005, 05:14:54 PM »

Getting the chance to play legalized emulated games is nice, but no doubt the gaming press and rival fanboys will spin it as Nintendo living in the past instead of delivering photo-realistic graphics in super-surround sound.

Quote
For Nintendo it's easier if they have complete control of everything.

While Nintendo has started to make some internal changes starting with the DS, I don't expect them to stop being control freaks anytime soon.

Quote
Plus there's some money issues. What about third party games on Sega consoles?

One could ask the same thing about 3rd party games on Nintendo consoles? For the time being, it'd be a hassle to track down all those licences, at least legally. Some of those companies maybe out of business (or bought out), so does it become public domain? Abandonware becomes a sticky issue...

Now to add my pipe dream to the mix: SNK puts up all their Neo-Geo games on the Rev. 'Nuff said. Ippon!

nickmitch · « **Reply #11 on:** June 17, 2005, 05:43:25 PM »

Couldn't Sega put the emulators on a game disk so that you could just play the downladed games?

BlackGriffen · « **Reply #12 on:** June 17, 2005, 08:24:27 PM »

Funny you should mention porting SEGA games because there's a Sonic the Hedgehog ROM floating around the net that is supposed to work with SNES emulators. I haven't tried it, myself, because if I want to play Sonic I'll fire up my Genesis or GameCube (I have the game for both). I don't know what the origin of the ROM is, but I would suspect one of the following: a leaked port SEGA made to hedge its bets, a fan done port (changing the Genesis ROM in whatever ways necessary), or a fan done rip-off (built up from scratch using only the sprites from the Genesis version). Of the preceding, honestly, the first would be the biggest surprise to me.

So it is possible, but certainly more trouble than it's worth, as Ian noted. Especially since multiple searches on Google indicate that there are emulators for every system SEGA ever made, including GameGear, SegaCD, and the 32x (Genesis addon). And all of them were made without the detailed technical knowledge that engineers at SEGA would have at their disposal. Many of them are also open source, so SEGA could even piggy back their effort.

That said, even though it would be nice for SEGA to do this, they would likely also bring their emulators and such to the other consoles to maximize their own profits. Since all the next gen consoles will be PowerPC based, it should take a minimal effort on SEGA's part. I wouldn't, therefor, count on it becoming a Rev advantage, if it's done at all.

BlackGriffen

BlackGriffen · « **Reply #13 on:** June 17, 2005, 08:26:26 PM »

Quote
Originally posted by: TVman
Couldn't Sega put the emulators on a game disk so that you could just play the downladed games?

Even easier - make the emulators freely downloadable 'games'.

BG

BlackNMild2k1 · « **Reply #14 on:** June 17, 2005, 08:32:41 PM »

Quote
Originally posted by: BlackGriffen
Quote
Originally posted by: TVman
Couldn't Sega put the emulators on a game disk so that you could just play the downladed games?

Even easier - make the emulators freely downloadable 'games'.

BG

Now there is someone who is thinking on their toes.

nemo_83 · « **Reply #15 on:** June 17, 2005, 09:29:33 PM »

I would download Altered Beast, Sonic and Knuckles, Knights, and Panzer.

This would be awesome. Could it be possible, the DreamCast will even get a chance to live again?

What about NeoGeo or even WonderSwan games too?! Nintendo could make a killing liscencing this out to third parties. It won't be long before Namco, Capcom, Square, Konami, Tecmo, and more will allow their games to be included in the download service.

KDR_11k · « **Reply #16 on:** June 17, 2005, 10:02:26 PM »

Knowing Sega they'll put the emulator on XBox Live and offer much more stuff to XBox users while the games on the Rev outdo their XBox counterparts 5:1.

Savior · « **Reply #17 on:** June 17, 2005, 10:23:06 PM »

Theres no Saturn Emulator made yet. Which is a shame. Id kill for some Nights, or some Panzeer Dragoon.

Master System, Genesis, and Maybe 32X would be fine though. Love to get me some Zillion, and Alex Kidd. Oh and Some SHinobi? Wow.

BlackNMild2k1 · « **Reply #18 on:** June 18, 2005, 03:28:01 AM »

Isn't it possible for Nintendo to patent the idea of a "virtual console" that eulates other console so that they atleast have a limited time to make this idea their own for a limited time? That way Sony and MS would have to wait till Nintendo was known for this Retro Gaming before they could copy the idea?

Flames_of_chaos · « **Reply #19 on:** June 18, 2005, 05:29:53 AM »

Well Ian your forgetting the fact that Rev's firmware is upgradable so Sega can just make the emulator in the form of firmware. Or sega can hand the emulator to Nintendo with the stimpulation that it will be included with the future firmware upgrades.

KDR_11k · « **Reply #20 on:** June 18, 2005, 07:09:14 AM »

Black: Only if their implementation differs from traditional emulation in a non-obvious way. Just putting a new name on it won't do the job. Consoles emulating consoles isn't a new concept, modded XBoxes do that, for example.

But still, this being Sega I'd expect a worst case scenario.

BlackGriffen · « **Reply #21 on:** June 18, 2005, 07:57:07 AM »

Quote
Originally posted by: Savior
Theres no Saturn Emulator made yet. Which is a shame. Id kill for some Nights, or some Panzeer Dragoon.

Master System, Genesis, and Maybe 32X would be fine though. Love to get me some Zillion, and Alex Kidd. Oh and Some SHinobi? Wow.

Use the Google, Savior.

At least, there are several links that claim to go to Saturn emulators.

BlackGriffen

jasonditz · « **Reply #22 on:** June 18, 2005, 10:43:00 AM »

Go to google and you'll see links that claim to be PS3 emulators too... most of them are virii

stevey · « **Reply #23 on:** June 18, 2005, 11:21:23 AM »

I hope you not using them and download game for free!

That is the most evilist thing anyone can do! Music is ok to, tv show only if you cant buy them/old, movie are wroge, and game you downloading game go to hell think of 150+ poeple working day and night for over a year with no beaks being fired

BlackNMild2k1 · « **Reply #24 on:** June 18, 2005, 12:01:26 PM »

Quote
Originally posted by: KDR_11k
Black: Only if their implementation differs from traditional emulation in a non-obvious way. Just putting a new name on it won't do the job. Consoles emulating consoles isn't a new concept, modded XBoxes do that, for example.

But still, this being Sega I'd expect a worst case scenario.

But they don't do it legally, and no other 'console' has done it legally so maybe there is a way for Nintendo to atleast make the feature time-exclusive.

News:

Author Topic: Fantasy Rumour: Rev backwards compatibility with Sega (Read 12462 times)