N5 backwards compatible with GC games

[OB1]

From Cube-Europe:

News: N5 Backwards Compatibility
Dec 25th 2003 16:54 by Ash

According to Iwata-San the N5 (Nintendo's codename for the next console) will be able to play GameCube games.

In an interview with Famitsu, the head of Nintendo Satoru Iwata has stated the N5 will have backwards compatibility.

"It will be able to use the games 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."

Well that's good news!

[Dark Jaguar]

That's what I was thinking, that systems have already reached a "good enough" level of graphical quality, in that one could show that quality in a movie theater without complaint (there's been worse, like Veggie Tales quality animation).

Anyway, Nintendo pretty much HAD to do this to keep up. After all, they were the first to use backwards compatibility, when the GBC was released and could (and pretty much HAD to) play all GB games.

[alien space marine]

I dont think people use backwards compatibility after a few years very often, The only PSX game I played on the ps2 was FFIX.

Having backwards compatibility is no big deal, Unless its a handheld like the Gameboy Color were Pokemon games were the most popular.

[OB1]

Video games definitely have a long way to go in terms of 3D graphics. Movie CG still isn't at 100% photorealism and games are way behind movies, so there's still plenty of room for improvement.

[Great Rumbler]

I've used the backwards compatibility on my PS2 a lot, mainly because my PSX broke, but I'm sure I would have sold it by now if it still did.

[OB1]

Backwards compatibilty is great! Especially when you have a bajillion consoles and very little shelf space.

[alien space marine]

I guess it depends who you ask, If you have a large horde of games you probaily wouldnt mind having backwards compability.

But why play Gt2 if you can play Gt3?

But to Casual gamers its not that significant as many will just keep their old console anyways or trade them all since the new console will have improved sequeils to the old games.

One thing I hope nintendo does is focus on online play and most of all get more 3rd parties to give them exclusive games.If nintendo wants to win also they got to stop spamming sequeils and start making some new original games.

[OB1]

[Great Rumbler]

:confused2

[Dark Jaguar]

Blasphemy! Being able to play all the old classics without having to buy a system one missed out on one generation is a HUGE plus! Who would play Mario World when Mario Sunshine is out? ME! Of course, that doesn't exactly count since it's currently out on GBA, but still.

[OB1]

It'd also be really cool if it could play Gameboy games without the need of an extra peripheral.

[big guy]

i play PSX games on my roommates ps2 all the time. lots of games i missed out on like chrono cross and vagrant story. and lately i've been replaying ff7. backwards compatibility is great.

and on gba, i picked up dragon warrior 3 after getting my gameboy advance and i don't believe i've never once played it on a GBC. once again, backwards compatibility is great.

[Dark Jaguar]

Yes it is, and consider that a lot of people didn't even get GBCs for whatever reason awaiting the GBA. They would have missed out on a number of GBC games like SMBDX and the Zelda Oracle games. Well, those are actually the best of those, and if you don't count remakes, well the Oracle games are the best things on that system. Still, the point stands.

[OB1]

Yes, and it would also be great if we could get some graphical improvements with GC games, kinda like what the PS2 does to PSX games. Maybe some extra anti-aliasing or something like that.

[A Black Falcon]

Anyway, Nintendo pretty much HAD to do this to keep up. After all, they were the first to use backwards compatibility, when the GBC was released and could (and pretty much HAD to) play all GB games.

No one commented on this obviously wrong statement of DJ's? Uh, forgotten such ancient systems as the Atari 7800 (were there others before it? Not sure)?

It'd also be really cool if it could play Gameboy games without the need of an extra peripheral.

I wouldn't want such a large cost built into the price.

Yes it is, and consider that a lot of people didn't even get GBCs for whatever reason awaiting the GBA. They would have missed out on a number of GBC games like SMBDX and the Zelda Oracle games. Well, those are actually the best of those, and if you don't count remakes, well the Oracle games are the best things on that system. Still, the point stands.

Those are the best three, for sure, but they're hardly the only three great GBC games...

Oh yeah, and this is good news. I defintiely expected it, but it's still good news.

[OB1]

If they included Gameboy support then it would definitely be cheaper than the extra $50 for an added peripheral.

[A Black Falcon]

True, but it'd still add quite a bit to the price...

And then consider this -- by the time the N5 is out the next GB will probably either be out or upcoming... that would affect this a lot.

[Dark Jaguar]

Ah, well considering I only know of Atari systems other than the 2600 as a side note to REALITY ITSELF, I barely know anything about them at all.

[A Black Falcon]

The 2600 was first, then the (incompatible) 5200, but the third Atari system, which "competed" with the NES, was the 7800 -- 5200+ power, 2600 compatibility. :)

[Dark Jaguar]

Ah...

Though if we REALLY want to get technical, the PC is the first backwards compatible one, in the sense that all, or most, new hardware plays old software made for old hardware.

[A Black Falcon]

Of course I thought of that, but I was maintaining the artificial distinction between consoles and PCs. :)