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E3 09: Microsoft is pulling the plug on Xbox Originals photo

Xbox Originals, the overpriced, but extremely useful (if you have a large enough hard drive) service that allows original Xbox titles to be downloaded and played on an Xbox 360, is on life support. As reported by IGN, Microsoft has "finished its portfolio" of games, so to speak.

After one additional unannounced Xbox game becomes an Original, the service will not be updated further. Perhaps this has to do with the newly-announced "Games on Demand" service, which provides full retail Xbox 360 titles for download?

Or maybe they simply ran out of quick and easy ports, and all that's left are games that require too much effort to be worth investing in? Either way, there are a countless number of great Xbox titles that aren't A)  backward compatible and B) available as an Original. For this, we are sad.


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41 comments | showing # 1 to 41

BrainLazy's Avatar
BrainLazy at 06/03/2009 11:03
I'd say it's because they charge too much for Xbox Originals. Maybe if they lowered the price to $5, you would see more people buying them.

Or if you want to sell them at $15 = Add achievements and Xbox Live support. Do a true port, not just using the emulation.
Hammersmith's Avatar
Hammersmith at 06/03/2009 11:05
I really wish they had made Psi-Ops backwards compatible. And the 2nd and 3rd PoP games.
Havoc Fang's Avatar
Havoc Fang at 06/03/2009 11:05
I hope the last one is one of the Oddworld games. One of the most painful things back when I had a PS2 was knowing that Oddworld was Xbox only. I'd buy it.
Eques-Ardor's Avatar
Eques-Ardor at 06/03/2009 11:05
It better be Beyond Good and Evil they're working on. >:[
SuitcoatAvenger's Avatar
SuitcoatAvenger at 06/03/2009 11:06
So no hope for Psi-Ops or Def Jam: Fight for New York, then? THANKS MICROSOFT.

Look, realistically, this was a pretty good idea that was fucked from the runway. Too pricey, and titles nobody wants to pay fifteen bucks for (Zapper? Really, Microsoft?)
Char Aznable's Avatar
Char Aznable at 06/03/2009 11:08
The size of these downloads was always prohibitive for me, considering my 20gb hard drive. That, and Jade Empire and Psychonauts were the only ones that appealed to me. Sucks for people who were into this, though.
Black Nexus's Avatar
Black Nexus at 06/03/2009 11:08
They aren't really selling, I guess that's why there no ps2 stuff on psn, it is kinda easier to walk into gamestops mountain of used pile and find some of this stuff.

But still this is sad, especially considering everything but the wii is suffering from backwards compatability issues in some form or another.
Conan-san's Avatar
Conan-san at 06/03/2009 11:10
I'd have to say having to keep the XBOX on to download a whole dvd (What, they couln't have compressed it?) of game doesn't strike me as appealing as well. Not if I have to pay before hand to do so.
Conan-san's Avatar
Conan-san at 06/03/2009 11:10
I'd have to say having to keep the XBOX on to download a whole dvd (What, they couln't have compressed it?) of game doesn't strike me as appealing as well. Not if I have to pay before hand to do so.
Qraze's Avatar
Qraze at 06/03/2009 11:11
gamestop won this battle.
Jon B's Avatar
Jon B at 06/03/2009 11:12
Franky, I think that it can't compete with the PSN store in terms of content like this, because a lot of the PSN store content is either rare or hideously expensive for a solid copy.
Plus there was only so many good xbox games. Most of them are on the system with back-compat anyway.
flabzilla's Avatar
flabzilla at 06/03/2009 11:16
I was never really able to take advantage of this with the 20GB HDD :(
tttt30's Avatar
tttt30 at 06/03/2009 11:16
I was so waiting for a copy of KOTOR 1 and 2 to show up before the Old Republic game shows up. guess it wont happen.
BluDesign's Avatar
BluDesign at 06/03/2009 11:19
What's the deal there's? It only takes an hour or two to download most of those xbox games. You're telling me you can't find a way to kill a few hours on your xbox?
Silverback 55's Avatar
Silverback 55 at 06/03/2009 11:26
If the price had been 10 bucks, I would have used it more. The only ones I bought were Psychonauts and Stubbs the Zombie.
GoS-CPT-Stewart's Avatar
GoS-CPT-Stewart at 06/03/2009 11:27
@Conan-san

There's an option in the 360's system settings to allow you to continue downloading after the 360 is turned off.
Kris S's Avatar
Kris S at 06/03/2009 11:34
I used it once while a little under the influence and kind of regretted it the next day, the problem being it's just too expensive compared to Gamestation or even Solid-Gold (little shout out to my local games shop!)
Not really a great loss, I just hope what replaces it will be better
covah's Avatar
covah at 06/03/2009 11:46
meh
hpv's Avatar
hpv at 06/03/2009 11:49
A "countless" number? Name five. I couldn't name five (non-sports) games on xbox that I'd want to play at all, much less go back to in 2009.
Chastain86's Avatar
Chastain86 at 06/03/2009 12:06
I can't name five, but I can name two that aren't BC that I did love on the original Xbox: Lucasarts' Gladius and Rockstar's The Warriors.
moocow21's Avatar
moocow21 at 06/03/2009 12:07
Hopefully KOTOR is the last unnannounced one. If there is one Original I'd be willing to shell out $15 for, it'd be that.
aerofan11's Avatar
aerofan11 at 06/03/2009 12:09
@hpv - What? Halo 1&2, Jade Empire, Knights of the Old Republic 1&2, Conker remake, Chronicles of Riddick. Those are the best exclusives I can think of, but there were a lot more.
Los255's Avatar
Los255 at 06/03/2009 12:11
Well, I'm glad I got to play Ninja Gaiden Black, cause it literally was the only Xbox game I was dying to play.
HarassmentPanda's Avatar
HarassmentPanda at 06/03/2009 12:22
I couldn't wrap my head around paying $15 for a game that's $2 at GameStop (*cough* Crimson Skies *cough*) nor can I understand why MS thinks my 20 GB HDD is sufficient for downloading much of anything. Please drop the damn price on the larger HDDs already!
Professor Pew's Avatar
Professor Pew at 06/03/2009 12:32
What HarassmentPanda said. Word for word.
RonBurgandy2010's Avatar
RonBurgandy2010 at 06/03/2009 12:34
QUICK, PICK UP PSYCHONAUTS WHILE YOU STILL CAN!!!
Holyetheline's Avatar
Holyetheline at 06/03/2009 13:05
They need Achievements.
brainderailment's Avatar
brainderailment at 06/03/2009 13:19
Yeah, gamestop actually is the better choice here. Since I've got the 360, I've only bought 4 or 5 Xbox games and they were all under 10 bucks. I think I even got Psychonauts for $3 at GameCrazy.
Solgrim's Avatar
Solgrim at 06/03/2009 13:53
Well maybe they will start patching the older games for Backwards Compatibility now. I doubt it.
pedrovay2003's Avatar
pedrovay2003 at 06/03/2009 14:18
It's about time --- This was one of the worst things to come out of this generation.
Char Aznable's Avatar
Char Aznable at 06/03/2009 14:53
Really, Pedrovay? Was it that much of an offense? Of all the things from this generation to complain about, this is where you're taking a stand?
akathatoneguy's Avatar
akathatoneguy at 06/03/2009 15:25
*sigh*...Gladius. I see myself either having to buy an original Xbox or re-buy a PS2 in the future.
joe asylo's Avatar
joe asylo at 06/03/2009 15:48
so that mean theres no plan to bring conker to the line up?
man that suck
Kyousuke Nanbu's Avatar
Kyousuke Nanbu at 06/03/2009 15:50
Overpriced, shitty selection, I'm not surprised at all, honestly who the hell is in charge of choosing this shit?

Then there's the fact that a fair chunk of them can be found for much cheaper at a store.
Chronic Logic's Avatar
Chronic Logic at 06/03/2009 15:51
I can go to gamestop and buy a second hand copy of an old xbox game for 5 bux or even less. That's why this service is dead.
Ace Flibble's Avatar
Ace Flibble at 06/03/2009 16:17
So we'll never get Dead Or Alive Xtreme Beach Volleyball playable on 360 then after all. Sad panda.

But really, Xbox Originals was a bad idea to begin with, as has been Microsoft's entire stance on backwards compatibility. The original Xbox had a lot of decent games and more don't work on the 360 than do. It's really very annoying, I've still got my Xbox plugged in thanks tot he 360's limited compatibility.
zeroword's Avatar
zeroword at 06/03/2009 17:14
I will now work on getting other versions of my multiplatform Xbox games.
I still wanted the other two Prince of Persia games and The Warriors. Should the Xbox 720 come out, I can't be sure I will be able to play my Psychonauts on that either can I?
Woogity's Avatar
Woogity at 06/03/2009 17:47
I never downloaded any of these because my hard drive is only 20gb, and just one game would max it out after everything else I have on there.
Projectexodus's Avatar
Projectexodus at 06/03/2009 20:51
Sad, considering it allowed me to experience Psychonauts. Hopefully the last game will be Beyond Good & Evil.
Necros's Avatar
Necros at 06/03/2009 20:59
That's a bit of a shame. I personally would rather own the hard copies of any of those games, but it was a good option for buying some of the less common games that they put up there. The biggest mistake was the same mistake Nintendo has made with the VC: not just flooding the service with tons of quality games, and instead picking and choosing some really odd choices. Ah well...
Mxyzptlk's Avatar
Mxyzptlk at 07/17/2009 15:43
You failed me, MS. You were supposed to get support for The Warriors before you gave up the ghost@
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