A story of one girl, her Charizard, and why backwards compatibility matters.

Before We Begin

    Before we begin I would like to give a few warnings to my readers. The following blog has a tragic ending, and includes subject matter including suicide. 

    There is an old theory known as Moore's Law. It states that essentially computer power can double every eighteen months. This would be of no surprise to gamers. After all, we are used to the speed at which new titles and consoles are released. Xbox has had eight versions since 2001, and Playstation has spawned a similar variety of consoles as technology has improved. During these releases we have also seen a number of games that have been in their time fan favourites. However, as the technologies have progressed. We have also seen generations of games, much like CDs to the music consumer, become discarded as new formats arrive. The issue of backwards compatibility was once a major selling point in the console war. Yet, now I wonder if it is seen as important to the current consumer. 

When I talk about Xbox 360

    Just like parents, and hipsters, many gamers find ourselves in possession of an outdated library of entertainment. Like boxes of old vinyls, these collections are consigned to storage. Only taken out and used on times when the nostalgia becomes too great. This year my wife threw me a surprise birthday party. It was a gaming themed event and included a set up of an old SEGA. I do not mind admitting that it was fun to break out classic Street Fighter. I have always had a soft spot for the older games. I was also a slightly money poor individual who enjoyed the buy ups at the end of a console's run. When Xbox One was on the horizon, I was going around enjoying the massive savings on 360 games at my local EB Games. My plan as a crafty consumer was to enjoy the hope of backwards compatibility once I then saved up for the Xbox One. Sadly this plan would not work the way I had hoped. On the plus side I was able to enjoy a number of games during that death knell of the 360. Fans of Red Dead Redemption I dare you to play the game GUN, and not enjoy what was RDR on a micro scale. On an aside if you have a chance you need to look this game up. It makes no sense. It has a cast of talent that is truly mind blowing including names such as Lance Henriksen, Brad Dourif, Thomas Jane, and Ron Perlman just to name a few. Honestly and noone I know played this game. Mind blowing. 

Yes, that is Kris Kristofferson aka Whilster

       This brings us to the focus of this article. On a Poke'mon fan page a young lass called Courtney shared the sixteen year journey that she began with her Poke'mon companion. Courtney would begin her journey in 2004. She would raise him from a Charmander all the way to being her first level 100 Poke'mon. Yet, when she finished Fire Red she did not stop her journey with her Charizard named Flames. 

    Courtney through the direct avenue of backwards compatibility was able to experience an emotionally meaningful, and arguably more satisfying gaming experience. In her post, Courtney, details how she would embark on a night sixteen year run with her Charizard. To put this in perspective Ash and Pikachu have graced our screens for some twenty four years. So, it is a respectable run, especially when Ash had a head start. Perhaps most amazingly was that this journey would also see her watch her companion go from pixels to a 3D presentation. This added for Courtney a deeper dimension to her gaming experience. "For the first time ever in Poke'mon Amie, I could pet him", it is worth mentioning this interaction was a big part of Poke'monGO. Courtney would go on to perfectly state the effect of this experience. "It was insane connecting to such a tangible part of my childhood". It is this exact kind of situation that was only possible because of backwards compatibility, deliberate or accidental, found in the Nintendo range. Courtney mused on this herself in her facebook reflection post, "I often wonder if Nintendo even considered this when designing their games. if it's just happenstance". Given the game philosophies of Nintendo I am sure that this was potentially discussed at least informally in the meetings over the years. Regardless this backwards compatibility has allowed for a deeper game experience for this player. An experience that may be worth consideration by other console companies.  

    

    In my own collection I still have my Xbox first gen, 360, and Xbox One. I have rarely traded in my games, and sadly much like a collection of vinyls they sit in boxed reverence. Only to be dragged out to lord over my son when he is old enough to be lectured about what gaming used to be. I am sure by then the ok boomer will have evolved into a new form of dismissal. It is important to note that these older games do not lose their value in many cases to gamers. In fact one could point to the recent success of remastering and releasing the Mass Effect series as an example that gamers are still happy to play the old games they love. 

    In a landscape dictated by the never ending march of technological innovation, it may seem idealistic to hope for the continuation of backwards compatibility as an element of gaming. However, we can still dream. I was, and still am, blown away looking at the example of Courtney and her Charizard. It is reminscent of a story from 2014. In a video by PBS Game/Show explored the idea that gaming can provide a spiritual experience. The real story came not from the video, but from the comments. A comment from user 00WARTHERAPY00. He detailed that when he was four years old his father purchased an Xbox first gen. A common game played by his father was Rally Sport Challenge. Sadly commentor's father passed away when he was only six years old. A decade later the son would dig out that Xbox and play Rally Sport Challenge. There he saw a ghost. The game would record the fastest lap and put that player's car into the game. The son saw his father's car racing against him. He had a connection to his father immortalised by that game. He would discuss trying hard to beat it until one day he did. However, not wanting to lose this connection he would always stop and let his father's record stand. In this way the son would keep this connection. Courtney in her facebook stated that 'if somehow in 50 years he's still around, and i'm on my death bed, you best believe he's getting left in the will to some nine year old girl who has worlds to explore'. I cannot help but state again that despite how self indulgent and wanky it might sound. That gaming needs these experiences, and backwards compatibility helps to ensure they happen. Losing it would be a loss to gaming. 

In the spirit of holding myself to account

        I was lucky to have been able to talk to Courtney when the post started to kick off, and I found her to be a passionate person. As well as a fan of comedy, who tried her hand at standup. I had planned to get her story out there, but sadly was not met with much enthusiasm from certain outlets. I will put this down to a mixture of lack of interest, and my pitching. Then the great plague hit and my life took a turn. As I dodged Corona, whilst becoming a father. I had planned to return to this story and give it its due. I feel like I failed her, by relying on other platforms instead of taking the initiative and making my own. If you wish to hear more of Courtney's story then it was covered fantastically here by Joshua Nelson over on Bleeding Cool ( https://bleedingcool.com/games/pokemon-home-homage-post-goes-viral/ ). It is an excellent interview, and you really get that passion for gaming that Courtney had. 

    With the creation of this blog I thought to reach out to Courtney again and further put her story out. It is however with sadness that I discovered that Courtney had taken her life in November of 2020. Courtney was comedian, a gamer, a Vet tech, and a proud dog mum. She was described by those close to her as an advocate for women, mental health and those suffering from endometriosis(something she herself suffered from). 

Courtney bringing her comedy

  I waited too long. Something I would not be doing again. Never ever take time for granted, and never rely on others to give you a platform. If you or anyone you know may be in need of Mental health support please speak with someone you trust, or a medical professional. As someone who deals with depression myself it is so important to me to help others, and ensure that we take care of ourselves as well. 

Resources
https://www.beyondblue.org.au/the-facts/depression/types-of-depression?gclid=CjwKCAjwo4mIBhBsEiwAKgzXOPFDVNuYXKNbScQ4WqrGiFlY9TIv1BJRwU_4qnaOzApThUws3D1EhBoC8hsQAvD_BwE

https://everymind.org.au/resources/suicide-prevention-resources

https://www.sprc.org/