G-pinions

With only twelve days to go before launch, Microsoft has interrupted their busy schedule of whipping Rare programmers to speed up development of Perfect Dark Zero, to release the list of backwards compatible software. I know many people have been waiting with breaths held for this most elusive of lists, turning blue as they mutter silent prayers for their games to carry over to the next gen console. And, as I continue to dance around while revealing no actual facts, I will say this: a ton of games are being supported. Rough estimates pegged about three games being immediately playable right out of the box - Fable and the two Halos. Optimists believed as many as five games would be supported - Ninja Gaiden and Knights of the Old Republic - joining the already confirmed. But not even the most wide-eyed, MS worshipping soothsayers could have guessed that Microsoft would support a full 213 titles. I could only think of 189 Xbox titles off-hand, so a number 24 notches higher literally made me squeal "Oh sweet lord, papa found the laundry." Needless to say, I am impressed.

For all my fretting and fussing about Microsoft's apparent attempt to wedge their entire head inside their rectum, they finally got one thing right in their first stab at making a profit in this industry - offering backwards compatibility for the one game I most desired: Grabbed by the Ghoulies. There were some tense moments leading up to the announcements. Would MS have enough time to create an emulator for a title that sold almost 10,000 copies in its first three years on the market? A classic that will forever live in the hearts and minds of gamers everywhere? A historic first entry in what is sure to be an epic catalog of Rare software for MS's systems? A family friendly game with a title so sophomoric and, to some ears, offensive that kids around the world bought an Oxford English Dictionary to discover just why people were giggling?

I, for one, am eternally grateful to MS for allowing this gem to live for the next five years.

However, games like Psychonuats and Panzer Dragoon Saga did not make the list. BMX XXX, however, did. A baffling list, to say the least that, will force football lovers to buy Madden 360 since Madden '06 is not compatible. Ah, the ability to print your own money. How lovely that must be.

It seems as though every game will require its own emulation code. Right now, MS is saying anyone will be able to download the appropriate code from Xbox Live, using only the Silver Package which, thankfully, is free. As of now they are giving away the code, but I wouldn't be surprised if they charge a couple hundred Marketplace Points in the future. Only time will tell. Considering how many games are on this list, I expect most of the relevant titles to crossover within the next six months. Here's my theory: the idea of backwards compatibility sounds very enticing. You look at your collection and think "Of course I'll play these games forever." But then reality sets in. Right now you haven't tasted next gen stuff yet and can't imagine a world without Warrior Within. But when a next generation Prince of Persia comes out you'll never want to go back to the obsolete, though admittedly hardcore and definitely extreme, WW. Once people get a taste of next gen goodness, complaints about Conker and Splinter Cell not being supported will fall to the wayside, and MS will be happy to cease work on bringing old crap to their shiny new system.

Shadoon will live forever.