The History of Compatibility
 
Introduction
System Compatible
Peripheral Compatible
Built-in Compatibility
A Brief History of Incompatibility
Related Links

By Leonard Herman
Designed By Katie Bush

When the PlayStation 2 was released to the largest fanfare in US video gaming history, many mainstream publications jumped on the heavily padded public relations bandwagon and published articles saying the PS2 was the first backward compatible video game system. This simply isn't true. Several systems have been compatible with their predecessors. In fact, other consoles have been compatible with their competitors.

Before we examine these different systems, first we have to define the word "compatible." For our purposes, compatibility applies to systems that have their own unique library but that could also handle software designed for another system. By that definition, the Sega CDX and Sega Nomad are not backward compatible systems. Although they play Sega Genesis games (Sega CD games are considered to be Genesis games), the Genesis games are the only software they play.

Compatibility generally falls into three groups:

  • System compatible: The consoles that fall within this group have been manufactured by one company and have the ability to play games designed for a competing system.
  • Peripheral compatible: Consoles within this group are compatible with an earlier system marketed by the same manufacturer. The earlier software can play only on the newer console via a peripheral device.
  • Built-in compatibility: These consoles have the ability to accept games designed for an earlier system by the same manufacturer without the need of a peripheral device.
Incompatibility seems to be taken for granted in the video gaming industry, and it seems as if video games are the only form of electronic entertainment that is so incompatible. A later section, A Brief History of Incompatibility, reveals that this simply isn't true. For now, we'll start by looking at system compatibility.
 
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