New Options For Xbox Backwards Compatibility?

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In news that may have implications for the hot topic of backwards compatibility in Microsoft's next console, Wired News today reports on a new software development that may solve that problem. California startup Transitive Software claims that its new QuickTransit allows nearly any major platform to effectively emulate nearly any other, with minimal performance hits.

QuickTransit (whose developers apparently prefer the term "hardware visualization," rather than the occasionally stigmatized "emulator) employs a new and unusually efficient means of translating software written for one platform to another, according to its creators. It's been demonstrated running Windows games on the Macintosh operating system, Linux applications on Windows, and with other mis-matchings of software, operating system, and processor.

News source: 1up.com

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#1 Krux on 13 Sep 2004 - 20:47

very interesting

#2 Soviet on 13 Sep 2004 - 21:00

I really hope the 2nd xbox is backwards compatible.

#3 altermind on 13 Sep 2004 - 21:06

this should be something to keep an eye on

#4 macrosslover on 13 Sep 2004 - 21:13

it's not too much of a big deal for me as i'm still going to keep my first xbox. i don't see it being that big of a deal for the next xbox either. let's think about it, xbox doesn't have a huge amount of exclusive titles that will warrant people buying an xbox 2 for xbox 1 software. the exclusives that xbox does have, like halo, kotor, and others, more than likely if a person really wanted those games then they already have an xbox system. i can't see people saying that's good xbox software, i'll wait till the xbox 2 comes out and buy it all then.

(4 replies) #5 Lanky on 13 Sep 2004 - 21:19

well if this means I can play xbox games on the pc.......

#5.1 robert112 on 13 Sep 2004 - 21:56

You can....... with the right stuff.

#5.2 rIaHc3 on 14 Sep 2004 - 01:24

No you cant. Emulation (currently) i belive takes at least to run OK 100 times the power of the machine being emulated. 800mhz (xbo

x 100 = 80000 mhz (80ghz). It been discussed before and yes it is possible because of Xbox being so much like a PC but currently its not possible.

Start overclocking buddy........

#5.3 obake on 14 Sep 2004 - 02:41

Yes, you can. It looks like ass due to visual effects, such as anti-aliasing not being in effect, and I'm sure the frame rate blows, but Xbox games have been successfully played on a PC. I believe it was Turok: Evolution that I saw screens of on a PC.

So, for all intents and purposes, you can't play Xbox games on a PC, but it is possible for them to run.

#5.4 pdog on 14 Sep 2004 - 02:42

the xboxes clockspeed is 733-750 mhz, not 800, and also, it can be emulated. Be sensible, think about what 80 ghz is!!!

#6 Shadow Dragon on 13 Sep 2004 - 21:32

I've been waiting for this for soo many years now, hope they do a good job on it

(1 reply) #7 Damien on 13 Sep 2004 - 21:49

If this virtualization software is as good as they say it should be quite interesting. Especially if you can load up pretty much any app on any OS. Good for everyone.

#7.1 shao on 14 Sep 2004 - 11:55

yeah.. good for everyone.
now we really can run mac OSX on the fastest desktop pc's... and they wont be produced by apple.

#8 thenay on 13 Sep 2004 - 21:59

I don't have an xbox however it wud be stupid if Xbox 2 isn't backwards compat.
PS3 will be backwards compat with PS1, and PS2 which is great to hear

Hopefully MS doesn't make the mistake cos it will hurt them I think

(4 replies) #9 grimreaper on 13 Sep 2004 - 22:29

i have ps2 but i refuse to play any ps1 games.

#9.1 Oxideous on 13 Sep 2004 - 23:05

Why? There are so many good PS1 games?

#9.2 deiong15 on 13 Sep 2004 - 23:32

i feel the same way. its hard to play a old ps1 game the graphics are just terrible. i tried to play gran turismo 1 and 2 teh other day and i gave up pretty fast it just wasnt interesting any longer. like todays gran t urismo 4 demo and need for speed feel and look. tried playing final fantasy 7 8 and 9 it was just harder to play because the graphics just didnt interest me any longer. i think its hard to go back and play games like that.

#9.3 ubelphenix on 14 Sep 2004 - 01:20

i still love to play ps1 games... i sometimes start playing final fantasy 7 - 8 and other rpgs, i would rather just have a ps1 than my ps2...

#9.4 shao on 14 Sep 2004 - 11:50

i think this is more a statement of how much a lot of games rely on great graphics these days instead of playability. A good game transcends generations of hardware, and will always be playable, these days it's hard to say such games exist very often.

equally it doesn't shed a good light on ps2's backwards compatibility of the ps1. For example if you look at ps1 emulation on pc's / macs you'll see they correct some of the flaws in ps1 rendering (texture interpolation, perspective correct, low resolution display, etc), and the games actually look pretty damn good. One of the benefits of emulation through software over compatibility through hardware.

Infact, the psp graphics to me look more like the low poly detail levels of the ps1, but with texture filtering / perspective correct.

#10 mcb on 13 Sep 2004 - 23:15

backwards comp. will make or break the next gen systems. why do you think nobody's ever put a dent in game boy's armor? because your old games arent entirely obselete, and there are 15-20 years of perfectly graet games

(1 reply) #11 dude007 on 13 Sep 2004 - 23:17

Any mention of how much this software will cost or system requirements? Is there possibility that PS can play xbox and visa versa.

#11.1 shao on 14 Sep 2004 - 11:53

i'm pretty sure QuickTransit will only effectively work on like for like hardware specs. Ie the same computing power, not necessarily the same platform.

the ps2 is not like for like with the xbox when it comes to computing power or capacity.

#12 pb186 on 13 Sep 2004 - 23:53

interesting indeed...

#13 Nose Nuggets on 14 Sep 2004 - 00:21

sweet! well screw all of you then. i will play every console game and mac game and linux game and friggin comadore 64 on my pc

#14 SlammedGST on 14 Sep 2004 - 01:21

its different than playing ps1 games because the xbox graphics look alot better so it won't be like playing horrible graphics, just not as good.

#15 trance on 14 Sep 2004 - 02:00

I've always found it humorous that in order for the PS2 to be backwards compatible, it uses the cpu from the controller as its brain for the "PS1". Just funny to me.

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