Original Xbox Support and Microsoft's Bad Precedent

Critical Gamer writes: April 15th is around the corner and that means the end of online play in original Xbox games. Plan your last minute parties accordingly, but also take a few minutes to consider whether Microsoft isn't going about this all wrong. The reasons for the move have been made clear: features on Xbox 360 are limited in order to maintain support for older games. What isn't clear is why other alternatives haven't been considered.

As a consumer, I understand that video games are a business, time is money, etc. A solution that allows for both new Xbox 360 features and continued original Xbox support would require paying a team of programmers and designers. It could pull resources away from the next Xbox 360 update, taking away from the development of new and potentially profitable features. I understand this, and that is why I approach my argument against this move firstly as a consumer talking about a business.

[scruffy_bear]

It's a shame that MS is doing this

[mjolliffe]

Real shame...

[dangert12]

while it is a shame that ms are doing this i don't own a original xbox nor would i still be playing it online so if there doing it to make the 360 features etc better lets see it and i think they should't off let all xbox one titles run through xbox live on the 360 and give the people still using the original xbox 6-12 mnths free gold membership

[Greywulf]

...

[champ21]

This is why i love PC gaming.

I can play my decade old games even today, with no fear of anyone taking it away.

CS, warcraft 3.

No online charges, Ultimate Backward compatibility & cheaper games.

PC gaming rocks ;-)

[AridSpider]

Oh please, EA does the SAME stuff still to this day with every game they release with online capabilities - shut down the server after awhile or when the next version comes out. People still buy EA online enabled games and get on with it.

[darthv72]

They could remove being able to play original xbox games all together. Losing out on the online portion will hurt those that still play the originals. I myself still play the originals but just not online.

I am miffed about a subject that has gone unspoken since the 360 came out. Anyone who had purchased a game(s) through the original xbox arcade is not able to get that same game free for the 360. I had purchased joust and smash tv before the 360. I was surprised that, even though the game is tied to my gamertag, i was not able to download the same game for the 360.

I can turn on my original xbox and pop in the arcade disc, sign in and play my arcade games I purchased. Chances are with the cancelation of the original service I wont be able to do that anymore. MS should have offered users who upgraded from xbox to 360 either points to spend on the games previously purchased or linked the two services together so people could download the 360 versions of the games previously purchased.

Sorry for the rant.

[Nishka Fa Fa La Boo]

I bet the people complaining don't even play ordinal Xbox games online. The only people complaining are the ones that don't want xbox 360 live to excel.

[IdleLeeSiuLung]

I'm all for AGAINST removal of features, but the Xbox Originals is way past it's life. Support for the original Xbox lasted almost 5-years past it's discontinuation is almost as long as a new console cycle. Not only that, but you are also removing features to improve and introduce new ones. With that said it is also a service, and as a service it get's upgraded from time to time. Basically you are discontinuing support for the minority for the benefit of the majority! In my book, that is a good thing.

On the subject of downloadable games not available in the future, that is the way the industry works. Frequently in software, you must purchase an extended digital download plan so you can download it again in the future. The fact that you are able to re-download it repeatedly is a bonus already. Now, try re-downloading an MP3 purchased from amazon.com....

Besides, this is no different than buying a Dreamcast console only to find out you can't play your Saturn games. If you don't expect that with physical goods why do you expect that with digital?

If you want to play your old games, better start stock up on backup consoles.

It would be nice to have future support, but it is doubtful and there is little to no incentive to allow you to re-download your game.

The only platform that has maintained backwards compatibility for the most part is PC! The only platform you can expect that for the future.

[Darkstorn]

I really liked the original Xbox. Oh well, no more late Mechassault nights...or Halo 2 or Crimson Skies ones for that matter.

[Pidgeridoo]

Yea I agree with you Scruffy! Really is a huge pity that MS is doing this!

[Cubes]

It really is shocking that they can get away with this. Between companies switching off servers and MS doing this, the value placed on online multiplayer is gradually diminishing.

[Jim Crikey]

It doesn't even make good business sense. Amputating features from games available to buy from the marketplace?

[scruffy_bear]

MS said original Xbox games have held back the future development of xbox Live

[Jockie]

They're not the only culprits mind, EA have a terrible habit of switching off support for their sports games year by year, Mercenaries 2 was another casualty and it's a lot younger than most of these games.

[scruffy_bear]

The shutting down of servers is real pain

[El_Colombiano]

MERCS 2 IS DEAD ONLINE!? How can you Platinum it?

[respn]

Do any of you people complaining here actually play games on Xbox1? I doubt it. That would be like complaining that X-Band was shut down for the SNES back in 1998. You have to get rid of anything holding up progress.

[champ21]

I still play alot of CS and Warcraft 3.

Id be really pissed if those were taken away. Luckily on the PC platform no one controls the user in such a way that support is just taken away like that.

And yea i still play older console gamer with emulators. Since its not possible to get those consoles anywhere now.

@kratos spartan

no need to be butthurt over my comment.

I was just saying BC is important. Some of us like our older games. Scroll a few posts down. someone just mentioned they still like to play halo 2.

My point is console gamers should be asking for freedom to play their older games. Its not fair a company can decide to take away support at any time.

[Kratos Spartan]

champ you play those on the Xbox? No. This article is about MS shutting off online support for the Xbox. Why you are bringing up the PC is beyond me. We get it, you like to skeet all over the PC. Now get over yourself.

[mcnablejr]

even if it is a dying breed.

[Kratos Spartan]

nah not butthurt(?) You see, you should have worded your post like that in the first place. It would have been more respectable to begin with. Nothing wrong with gaming on the PC. And I agree, it's not fair, but the saying with the cake and eating it, well you know. And as for the butthurt comment, I see you have some growing to do. No need for stuff like that.

[kaveti6616]

Halo 2 is my favorite online multiplayer game. Damn you, Microsoft.

[Blaze929]

favorite online multiplayer game huh?

http://www.bungie.net/Stats...

[AridSpider]

ROFL wow, I think someone just got pwned. Why do I have a good feeling dude doesnt even play halo 2?

[kaveti6616]

Really, Blaze?

What makes you think Kaveti6616 is my Halo 2 tag?

In truth, I played Halo 2 with my friend every day on his Xbox 360 when he got it. His account name was spelled Hhhhhaabaaaa or something like that. When Halo 3 came out he got it and stopped playing Halo 2. So I got a 360 as well and played Halo 3 with him for three years or so.

Why don't you check my player stats on Halo 3?

Stupid 360 fanboys questioning me, today.

[RedVsBlue]

& Sony does not do that much of a better job with BC why are people condemning just Microsoft ?

[kaveti6616]

There's no reason to bring up Sony in this comment section. Fanboys often go, "But look, X company did it, too." I don't care what Sony did, at least not here, because I'm focusing on something that Microsoft did wrong.

There's no reason to defend Microsoft by bringing up the faults of another company. If Microsoft is doing something stupid, then Microsoft deserves criticism.

[Mr_Bun]

Probably because Sony still sells/supports the PS2.

[tda-danny]

Well played Mr. Bun!

[Kushan]

Yeah but do Sony still support the PS2's online features?

[PotNoodle]

Yeah, they do. It is the third party companies who have been shutting down their PS2 servers, socom on the PS2 still runs, but only if you made an account before a certain date, otherwise you can't make a new one.

There are a few others too, but not many, since no one plays them anymore.

[eagle21]

What other products does the xbox division even have that would constitute dropping this support for just online?

*crickets*

Meanwhile, Sony and Nintendo are each supporting four hardware consoles: Sony (PS3, PSP, PSP Go!, and ps2) and Nintendo (Wii, DS, DSi, Dsi XL). Step your game up MS.

[Kushan]

I think the crickets are because nobody actually knows what the hell you're asking? They're dropping support for Xbox1 online simply because the platform is TIED TOGETHER with the 360's online services.
But since you asked, 4 platforms? OK

Xbox 360, Games for Windows LIVE, Zune HD and soon Windows Mobile 7 (and to a smaller extent, WM6.5 but nobody cares about that). There's your 4 platforms right there, all tied together into your Gamertag. Obviously, when Xbox Live first came out, it was purely a gaming service, now it has evolved beyond that and the Xbox simply can't keep up. Not that many people play Xbox1 titles online these days, far bigger servers have been shut down by other companies in the past without all this fanboy pissing. Go moan at EA instead.

[TheNocturnus]

Geez, move on people, Xbox came out 10 years ago. Who the F*ck still plays that dinosaur? Yeah it sure was nice back then but seriously, go buy a 360 and STFU.

[dazzalfc]

Does this mean we can slag off Microsoft for removing features now? If so, i think i'll write a letter to Amazon, demanding a partial refund!!!11!

Sorry, couldn't resist. This generation would be perfectly fine if all the 'die hard fanboys' of any console would just fcuk off. But i find it hilarious that console x can be guilty as sin for removing a feature used by less than 1% of owners, yet its fine that console y can remove features as they see fit.

On topic, its a shame that this happens. But if it means the service can imprive further, then so be it. A small sacrifice for a greater good

[spektical]

champ21 - 2 hours ago

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1.4 -
This is why i love PC gaming.

I can play my decade old games even today, with no fear of anyone taking it away.

CS, warcraft 3.

No online charges, Ultimate Backward compatibility & cheaper games.

PC gaming rocks ;-)

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are you sure? i cant play aoe, aoe2 online with random people. Nor can i play return to castle wolfenstien online.... i fail to see your point

[champ21]

Yea lets whine about the handful of games that dont work, nvm the thousands that do work, even at that i am sure there is a way to make older games work.

Overall if people want BC then PC is the way to go.

[Gamer7l]

I tried to play Crimson Skies online a few different times a couple years ago (still have my original copy), and I could never find ONE SINGLE MATCH. Same goes for MechAssault Lone Wolf. I'm sure by now, it's even more of a ghost town in those lobbies. Halo 2 is the ONLY Xbox game any substantial number of people still play on LIVE....and it's a pathetically small #.