Videogame Alchemy Achieved! Xbox 2 Backward Compatibility and Universal Emulation?
Transitive Software explains the magic of "hardware visualization"
A Silicon Valley start-up company, Transitive Software, has recently made mention of its Quick Transit “hardware visualisation” software (a posh term for ‘emulator’) which will apparently make Xbox 2 backward compatibility perfectly plausible. In an interview with wired.com, Bob Weiderhold, CEO of Transitive, specifically cited the next Microsoft console as an example of Quick Transit’s functionality.
It had been thought that Xbox 2 backward-compatibility would be too complicated to justify: the current system uses an Intel CPU and Nvidia graphics, whilst the next uses an IBM Power PC CPU and ATi graphics – with no obvious way to make a seamless cross-over, without serious changes to the games’ binary and source codes. However, with this software based revelation: there is now no reason why Xbox fans couldn’t enjoy some ‘old skool’ Halo on their next Microsoft machine.
Indeed, whilst displaying Quake III running smoothly on an Apple Powerbook, Weiderhold went on to say, “One of the key breakthroughs is performance, you can’t tell the difference between a translated application and a native application.” And explaining how Quick Transit actually operates, lead engineer Frank Weidel made the following useful analogy: “It’s like a translator versus an interpreter, instead of working on every chunk of code, Quick Transit translates a sentence, or a paragraph, at a time. That’s how we get the performance.”
It is an impressive development with a multitude of potential uses. If it becomes theoretically possible to put any software on any platform, then for starters, the gaming emulation scene is about to be blown wide open. On the wider computer technology scene, there will also be very important repercussions for the way that hardware manufacturers compete and interact.
As IT analyst Jim Turley rather neatly put it: “a universal emulator is computer science’s equivalent of alchemy’s quest to turn base metal into gold. Many have tried; all have failed.” Until now, that is. Expect more Quick Transit related news in the near future.
It had been thought that Xbox 2 backward-compatibility would be too complicated to justify: the current system uses an Intel CPU and Nvidia graphics, whilst the next uses an IBM Power PC CPU and ATi graphics – with no obvious way to make a seamless cross-over, without serious changes to the games’ binary and source codes. However, with this software based revelation: there is now no reason why Xbox fans couldn’t enjoy some ‘old skool’ Halo on their next Microsoft machine.
Indeed, whilst displaying Quake III running smoothly on an Apple Powerbook, Weiderhold went on to say, “One of the key breakthroughs is performance, you can’t tell the difference between a translated application and a native application.” And explaining how Quick Transit actually operates, lead engineer Frank Weidel made the following useful analogy: “It’s like a translator versus an interpreter, instead of working on every chunk of code, Quick Transit translates a sentence, or a paragraph, at a time. That’s how we get the performance.”
It is an impressive development with a multitude of potential uses. If it becomes theoretically possible to put any software on any platform, then for starters, the gaming emulation scene is about to be blown wide open. On the wider computer technology scene, there will also be very important repercussions for the way that hardware manufacturers compete and interact.
As IT analyst Jim Turley rather neatly put it: “a universal emulator is computer science’s equivalent of alchemy’s quest to turn base metal into gold. Many have tried; all have failed.” Until now, that is. Expect more Quick Transit related news in the near future.
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Comments
Joji 14 Sep 2004 13:12
1/7
Emulation via MS is okay then, but doing it yourself is illegal and vexing the wrath of MS. If this goes through it will solve some stuff, but the hardcore will always have that drive to take their Xbox apart, tinker with it and use it for their individual needs. Some people will always want to know how things tick, and what can be improved upon.
Be it old school games, or Xbox games on Xbox 2, it's cool to see someone is looking into the issue for the Xbox brand.
Be it old school games, or Xbox games on Xbox 2, it's cool to see someone is looking into the issue for the Xbox brand.
Kaxxx 14 Sep 2004 13:19
2/7
Very interesting read. If their claims are founded then it will certainly be an interesting future for all videogaming. As for XB2 running XB games than that can only be good news. Backward compatibility is a big selling point these days.
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ohms 14 Sep 2004 13:26
3/7
Potentially this could also mean, PS3 running XBOX games, and XBOX running PS2 games.
(Seeing as both systems have had their copy protection bypassed.)
(Seeing as both systems have had their copy protection bypassed.)
Ditto 14 Sep 2004 16:17
4/7
I think that this is a dangerous area. I find the ide of universal emulation on a Microsoft console scary.
MS could encorage, even indirectly, piracy of Sony and Nintendo software in order to give it a lead in the market. It has the financial resources to beat either or both in court.
This technology has the potential to wreck software and hardware manufacturers and could give Microsoft a position of dominance should it allow this technology to develop into a product unchecked.
MS could encorage, even indirectly, piracy of Sony and Nintendo software in order to give it a lead in the market. It has the financial resources to beat either or both in court.
This technology has the potential to wreck software and hardware manufacturers and could give Microsoft a position of dominance should it allow this technology to develop into a product unchecked.
NiktheGreek 14 Sep 2004 18:42
5/7
Hopefully, Xbox 2 won't actually quite have the power to emulate the opposition's newest hardware. A scary day for all if it does. I think that rather than encouraging it though, Microsoft simply wouldn't clamp down on anyone doing it unofficially.
This isn't the first time it's happened - the Dreamcast is capable of good Playstation emulation, playing Metal Gear Solid, Tekken 3 and Gran Turismo 2 nicely. A pissdrop in the ocean compared to the potential issues of universal emulation, but the Bleem people did plan more packages - Final Fantasy 9, WWF Smackdown and Ridge Racer 4 were all apparently in the works.
Here's something - it's said that only Nintendo makes a profit on it's consoles. Sony and Microsoft lose money on each system sold, using the "razor and blades" economic philosophy. If Sony was having it's games hit with extra sales generated by emulation potential on other systems, it could bizarrely work in their favour. Of course, there's then the problem of how to get developers on your side when nobody's bought your system. Hmm, tricky...
The more worrying issue at hand is that of the dreaded "single format", a universal set-top box that plays games. No format wars, just an odd ubiquity, almost like DVD players.
Another issue here is that developers will have a bloody easy time of ports and retro collections, the latter of which have been in rather large supply as of late. Do we need more? Probably not. Will we get more? Megaman Anniversary Collection 2 looks likely, now including the previously un-ported Megaman: Unnecessary Franchise Cash-In!
This isn't the first time it's happened - the Dreamcast is capable of good Playstation emulation, playing Metal Gear Solid, Tekken 3 and Gran Turismo 2 nicely. A pissdrop in the ocean compared to the potential issues of universal emulation, but the Bleem people did plan more packages - Final Fantasy 9, WWF Smackdown and Ridge Racer 4 were all apparently in the works.
Here's something - it's said that only Nintendo makes a profit on it's consoles. Sony and Microsoft lose money on each system sold, using the "razor and blades" economic philosophy. If Sony was having it's games hit with extra sales generated by emulation potential on other systems, it could bizarrely work in their favour. Of course, there's then the problem of how to get developers on your side when nobody's bought your system. Hmm, tricky...
The more worrying issue at hand is that of the dreaded "single format", a universal set-top box that plays games. No format wars, just an odd ubiquity, almost like DVD players.
Another issue here is that developers will have a bloody easy time of ports and retro collections, the latter of which have been in rather large supply as of late. Do we need more? Probably not. Will we get more? Megaman Anniversary Collection 2 looks likely, now including the previously un-ported Megaman: Unnecessary Franchise Cash-In!
ohms 14 Sep 2004 21:27
6/7
>MS could encorage, even indirectly, piracy of Sony and Nintendo software in order to give it a lead in the market.
don't know if they would do that, but it has to be said, a lot of people I know who bought XBOX found the emulation on it as a BIG selling point. It can run SNES, MAME, N64 and Neo Geo emulators very well for the most part, no other current gen console can do that.
I saw Goldeneye running split screen 4-Player on a mates XBOX, and was very impressed.
Kaxxx 15 Sep 2004 06:46
7/7
It could end up as a huge selling point for M$. Lets not forget that huge sales of the PS and PS2 were due to piracy potential and its only within the last few weeks in the UK that it has become illegal to get them chipped. Sony made huge ground by turning a blind eye to piracy. So whats the potential than with emulation? I personally think it is a plus.