Entertainment / Video Games / Backwards compatibility: This refers to the ability of new technology to run software designed for an earlier iteration of hardware. For example, the playstation 2 is able to run all games designed for the previous generation playstation, and the Nintendo DS is able to run games designed and distributed for the Game Boy Advance. The subject has recently become a hot topic of debate as both the playstation 3 and the Xbox 360 handle this functionality in somewhat unpredictable ways. The Xbox 360 is able to run a wide selection of games designed for the original Xbox, but not all of them. A list of compatible games can be found here on Microsoft's Xbox site. Different versions of the playstation 3 hardware handle this functionality differently. Early units, such as the original 60GB playstation 3 are able to run all playstation and playstation 2 games. The cheapest unit, the 40GB playstation 3 can run all original playstation titles, but no playstation 2 games. Meanwhile, the 80GB playstation 3 can run all playstation games, and a broad selection of playstation 2 games, though not all of them. Sony has tool on their website that allows you to check if specific games will work, and cut though some of the confusion.
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Backwards Adverb Synonyms: rearwards or rearward, in reverse, regressively, retrogressively, backward, withershins or widdershins, anticlockwise, counter-clockwise
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Entertainment / Video Games / Backwards compatibility: This refers to the ability of new technology to run software designed for an earlier iteration of hardware. For example, the playstation 2 is able to run all games designed for the previous generation MORE
Technology / Computers / Backward Compatibility: The purposeful design of software and hardware to work with previous versions of the same application or device. MORE