Xbox Live is being discontinued for the original Xbox and games on 04/15/2010

[Mehall]

I was completely unaware that XBL was even still being provided for the original Xbox. After all, if you liked the Xbox, I don't see any reason why you wouldn't have bought a 360 by now.

That's right, because eeeeeeeeeeeveryone can afford to buy a new 360 at the drop of a hat. /sarcasm

These things aren't as cheap as most (wealthy) gamers seem to think. Especially if you're not from America. Everyone else pays extra, except Japan.

Err...correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't the Xbox more expensive when first released than the 360 is now? If you can't trade in your Xbox and all non-backwards compatible games then cover the rest of the $200, probably about $50-$100 with your own cash, you must be in the wrong profession.

I'm certainly nowhere near "rich," but I still managed to buy my 360 arcade system back when they were $250. All the while paying rent, utilities, etc etc.

Eerm... You think you're going to get 100-150 for your XBox and games?

I picked up a preowned original XBox Crystal last year out of GAME, the largest games retailer in the UK, for just £9.98

You're lucky if you get half that back for trading in, assuming you can find a shop to take the trade-in. Most either don't take them, as they can't sell them, or already have too many sitting that they're trying to sell.

 

[Virgil]

Wow, that really sucks, but it's to be expected with a closed system dependent on matchmaking and/or manufacturer architecture support. Hopefully gamers who are exclusively on consoles will learn/have learned that paying more for games while getting less is what they signed up for

The major reason behind the change is that supporting the original Xbox and Xbox Live games meant that the current Xbox Live had to stick with all the previous limitations. For example, the 100-user limit on Xbox 360 friend's list sizes is caused by needing to support the original Xbox Live games. Either they need to stop supporting those older games, or they have to stick with those limitations. That's just the most well-known limitation - I'm sure there are others as well.

I would guess that at this point the number of people playing these old games on Xbox Live is low enough that they're willing to accept them being unhappy in order to make all their other customers more happy. They wouldn't be doing it otherwise, because the people playing those games are still paying for Xbox Live. I doubt it was an easy decision.

 

[HyenaThePirate]

Wait hold on..
Who the hell is still playing their ORIGINAL XBOX?
Man, I chucked that big ass thing out the same day I got my 360, I gave it to some homeless people so they too could pass the time with a little entertainment.

This sounds like so much crying over spilt milk. Honestly, there is no reason to still be playing those old Xbox games. Come into the future already. Whatever you were loving from back then, there is a counterpart that exists now on PS3 or Xbox 360 or even the Wii, so really, people need to stop fighting the future and just move on.

 

[Mr. GameBrain]

Wait hold on..
Who the hell is still playing their ORIGINAL XBOX?
Man, I chucked that big ass thing out the same day I got my 360, I gave it to some homeless people so they too could pass the time with a little entertainment.

This sounds like so much crying over spilt milk. Honestly, there is no reason to still be playing those old Xbox games. Come into the future already. Whatever you were loving from back then, there is a counterpart that exists now on PS3 or Xbox 360 or even the Wii, so really, people need to stop fighting the future and just move on.

Hey buddy, when you can make a good xbox emulator, then I'll dry up my tears.

Till then, the only way to play xbox games, is by either having an xbox and buying them, having a hacked xbox and pirating them, or using the xbox games on the terrible emulator on the 360, (most of the library is unsupported, and most of the ones that do work have issues).

And there is NO current equivalent of Panzer Dragoon Orta. :,(

(I wouldn't mind about this so much, if it wasn't for the incomplete emulator. I mean, my PS3 can play PS2 games, (there are alot of PS2 classics), my wii can play GC games, (which are arguably better), no problems there, but the 360 can't even play Marvel VS Capcom 2 properly, (thats a 2D game, that came out on the Dreamcast before it came out on the PS2/Xbox)

If Microsoft wants to upgrade Xbox Live, why don't they just seperate 360's service completely from the Xbox version.
(Thats probably technically impossible, but it would be nice if Microsoft could then allow the old xbox to be supported by the hardcore fans, (and maybe then I could then play PSO on the private servers then...))

 

[CommyGingerbreadMan]

Not really surprising. As a holder of an old Xbox I can say this honestly was gonna come up eventually, I can put in any game of mine and connect to multiplayer and find NO ONE. Every once in a while a guy or 3 pops up, but other then that it's barren.

Besides I can't condemn them for something I would do as a business. And neither should anyone because if it's costing you $ a year to support a minority when you could support the majority better, your gonna cut it. You wouldn't throw some gold back if it meant you could put copper in your pockets.

 

[HyenaThePirate]

Hey buddy, when you can make a good xbox emulator, then I'll dry up my tears.

Till then, the only way to play xbox games, is by either having an xbox and buying them, having a hacked xbox and pirating them, or using the xbox games on the terrible emulator on the 360, (most of the library is unsupported, and most of the ones that do work have issues).

And there is NO current equivalent of Panzer Dragoon Orta. :,(

(I wouldn't mind about this so much, if it wasn't for the incomplete emulator. I mean, my PS3 can play PS2 games, (there are alot of PS2 classics), my wii can play GC games, (which are arguably better), no problems there, but the 360 can't even play Marvel VS Capcom 2 properly, (thats a 2D game, that came out on the Dreamcast before it came out on the PS2/Xbox)

If Microsoft wants to upgrade Xbox Live, why don't they just seperate 360's service completely from the Xbox version.
(Thats probably technically impossible, but it would be nice if Microsoft could then allow the old xbox to be supported by the hardcore fans, (and maybe then I could then play PSO on the private servers then...))

1. Really, Panzer Dragoon Orta? You're really still playing that? There are no new 360 games you can sink hours and hours and hours of time into? Seriously?

Really, I never understand this obsession of people to keep playing games that are virtually 10 years old. They had their time, yes, some of them were grand, sure, but beyond a handful of really interesting titles like Psychonauts and Shenmue II, I moved on to the Xbox 360 and never looked back.

2. The PS3, unless you were one of the people who flew out to buy one when it first released, doesn't have backwards compatibility either. Which is actually something of an issue because there was a MUCH larger library of games that still would be decent enough to play, especially if you are an RPG lover. Thing is, there arent many alternatives for role players on the PS3 which adds to the problem. But then again, Sony is still beating the Ps2 horse to death, still making the console and selling it rather well. I don't think ANYONE is buying an old Xbox, and I think even less people are digging back into Xbox's library for their gaming. Beyond Halo and Halo 2, both of which work great on the 360 as does Psychonauts and Shenmue II, I see absolutely no reason to revisit the Xbox original or it's library. Add to that Xbox is starting to release some of those older 'classics' on xbox live which run fairly decently for being as old as they are, I personally have no problem with seeing the Xbox Live Geriatric edition come to an end.

Time to embrace the future my friend. By remaining some sort of Video Game console Ludite, you'll just be missing out on the exciting and decidedly BETTER games that are out now that people are playing online. Why wait for another 5 years to play Left 4 Dead 2 after everyone has had their fill and moved on to something else?

 

[Gxas]

Hopefully gamers who are exclusively on consoles will learn/have learned that paying more for games while getting less is what they signed up for

I don't get what you're saying here. Could you explain a bit? I believe it was a PC-elitist jab at console gaming, but I'm not quite sure.

 

[carpathic]

Meh..I don't even pay for Gold. I could care less about XBL for the original xbox

 

[Thaius]

It's sad, but we all knew it had to happen eventually: it's the only piece of the original Xbox still alive. Eventually the thing had to be left to rest in peace: still sad, but understandable. Farewell, my friend.

 

[Mr. GameBrain]

Time to embrace the future my friend. By remaining some sort of Video Game console Ludite, you'll just be missing out on the exciting and decidedly BETTER games that are out now that people are playing online. Why wait for another 5 years to play Left 4 Dead 2 after everyone has had their fill and moved on to something else?

Because I'm a poor University Student! XD

Besides, why pay £40-50 for a brand new 360 game, which might not even be any good, when you can buy 7-10 great xbox games off ebay for the same price?

 

[MetallicaRulez0]

Oh Halo 2. We had a magical run. I'll miss you with every fiber of my being. So long, old friend.

 

[Contextualizer]

I don't understand, would you have them continue to run it out of pocket? Just for you?

They aren't running it out of pocket? Isn't this exactly why XBL users pay a subscription fee?

 

[Hiphophippo]

I don't understand, would you have them continue to run it out of pocket? Just for you?

They aren't running it out of pocket? Isn't this exactly why XBL users pay a subscription fee?

Not really, no. Xbox live is not some sort of meta-server where all game servers are located. Individual companies have to maintain their own servers. You're paying for live because you're gullible or willing. Possibly both.

 

[Contextualizer]

I don't understand, would you have them continue to run it out of pocket? Just for you?

They aren't running it out of pocket? Isn't this exactly why XBL users pay a subscription fee?

Not really, no. Xbox live is not some sort of meta-server where all game servers are located. Individual companies have to maintain their own servers. You're paying for live because you're gullible or willing. Possibly both.

Then the situation for Xbox Live users is even worse than I thought. That's a shame

 

[Trucken]

It sucks for the people still playing Xbox games on Live, that's for sure. Halo 2 apparently still has a pretty dedicated community, but in order to improve Live they have to go. The reason the friendlist is limited and why you can only have a party of eight people is because Microsoft didn't want to ruin it for the Halo 2 players. Now Microsoft wanted to improve Live again, and Halo 2 and all the other Xbox originals had to go. If you think about it it's the right thing to do. People want bigger friendlists and bigger partys, and should the minority stand in the way of the majority?

 

[L3m0n_L1m3]

What a shame. Maybe they'll fix the backwards compatibility for the 360 now.

Unlike on PS3, you can actually play some of the games. They are constantly adding more games to the list of games that are playable. Before you start writing an essay on how the PS3 DOES have backwards compatibility, look up where I live. It doesn't around here.

OT; It's a shame, but it had to happen sooner or later.

I didn't plan on saying anything about the PS3 backwards compatibility. It doesn't work for me either.

I know the 360 works for the most part, but it seems to work for games that aren't what I have.

 

[HyenaThePirate]

Time to embrace the future my friend. By remaining some sort of Video Game console Ludite, you'll just be missing out on the exciting and decidedly BETTER games that are out now that people are playing online. Why wait for another 5 years to play Left 4 Dead 2 after everyone has had their fill and moved on to something else?

Because I'm a poor University Student! XD

Besides, why pay £40-50 for a brand new 360 game, which might not even be any good, when you can buy 7-10 great xbox games off ebay for the same price?

Probably because there are ONLY 7-10 "great" xbox original games period.

Lets be honest.. the Xbox library wasn't exactly a vault of "awesome". What saved helped Xbox become a contender was a few mighty powerful killer apps and Xbox Live that garnered enough attention and devotion that it was able to survive. Unfortunately, 2 of those 7-10 games would be from the Halo franchise, and at least 3 are probably Bioware titles, so you can sort of see that the selection was limited. But in their defense, games like Panzer Dragoon Orta, Ninja Gaiden Black, Halo, Kotor, Forza, and Fable were strong enough titles to get Microsoft the much needed foothold they required, unlike the Dreamcast, which seemed content to put out little to nothing of lasting value, and 70% of that was crap that wouldnt stand the test of time as a franchise (except Shenmue.. GOD how I love(d) Shenmue.)

What it DID do however is give Xbox time to examine what gamers really like, and Microsoft figured out the formula for success pretty damn quick. While Sony was content with turning out tons of shovelware with the odd gem here and there, Xbox was being pretty darn selective in what it was willing to promote, publish, and develop. Eventually the 360 was born and the rest, as they say is history.

But now, it's time to step into the future. Xbox Live is still there and better than ever, and I'm sure you can find at least one Xbox game to burn away thousands of hours of your life you could be using to write a novel, explore the world you live in, or have sex with various people.

Put down the Big, bulky man-troller, son. Come with me and I shall show you wonders.. such wonders as you've never seen 'afore..

*extends hand*

EDIT: Damn that sounded creepy..