Microsoft Makes Xbox Games Downloadable for the Xbox 360

In a press release, Microsoft announces that original Xbox titles will now be downloadable for the Xbox 360 on the Xbox Live Marketplace. This new feature, along with a few others, will be made availble as part of the fifth anniversary celebration of Xbox Live.

Xbox Live started life on the original Xbox in 2002 and migrated to the Xbox 360 in 2005. With the help of multiplayer hits like the Halo series, Xbox Live expanded into the ultimate online gaming community meet up. The Xbox Live service has more than eight million members worldwide currently engaging in online activities. Microsoft plans to expand the service to cell phones, Windows and other non-gaming platforms.

The original Xbox launched in 2001 and was Microsoft's first attempt at developing a videogame console. Despite just four years of support (relatively short for a videogame console), the Xbox manage to churn out hundreds of games. The most noticeable games are Halo, Ninja Gaiden and Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic.

Provided you have a hard drive, the Xbox 360 is already backward compatible with most Xbox games. Now with "Xbox Originals", you can download Xbox games directly to the hard drive on the Xbox 360; no need to insert a disc.

Microsoft is the last of the big three gaming giants to allow games for older generations of consoles to be downloaded onto their new system. Nintendo has the "Virtual Console" for the Nintendo Wii while Sony has the "PS one Classics" for the Playstation 3 and PSP.

On the other hand, Microsoft is the first to allow the preceding generation of games to be downloaded. You can't download Gamecube games on the Nintendo Wii or Playstation 2 games on the Playstation 3. You can download Xbox games on the Xbox 360.

Four games have been announced so far, with more to follow. These four titles are Fable, Halo, Psychonauts and Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge. The games will cost 1,200 Microsoft Points each to download. Here's a brief rundown on each game:

Fable is a solid Action-RPG from the renowned game designer, Peter Molyneux. It received an average ratio of 84.9% at gamerankings.com and a metascore of 85 at metacritic.com.

Halo is the flag ship title for the original Xbox. It was the highest rated game on the system at an average ratio of 95.5% at gamerankings.com and a metascore of 97 at metacritic.com.

Psychonauts is an underrated platformer that hasn't been play by many. It scored an average ratio of 90.2% at gamerankings.com and a metascore of 88 at metacritic.com.

Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge is a great flight game that got an average ratio of 89.7% at gamerankings.com and a metascore of 88 at metacritic.com.
In addition to downloadable Xbox games, Microsoft will be giving away 500 free Microsoft Points for all active members of Xbox Live. Furthermore, one Xbox LIVE Arcade game (Korea will get Hexic 2 while the rest of the world will get Carcassonne) will be free to download for a limited time from November 15th to the 16th.

A system update on December 4th will add the ability to play downloaded Xbox games on the Xbox 360.

Source:
Press Release, "As Xbox LIVE Turns Five, Microsoft Announces Next Wave of Social Fun." Microsoft PressPass.