Forwards Compatible is a weekly roundtable discussion about thoughtful and interesting topics involving videogames. Each week a spearhead topic will be put forth and several Gametopius writers, as well as other contributors, will give their thoughts.

Jeff Grubb; Managing Editor

There have been a few, huge game changing shifts throughout the history of gaming, but the Earth-shattering, face-melting, brain-punching change that would result from Microsoft purchasing EA is nearly unfathomable. There are simply too many things to consider. What is that? You didn't hear the news? Well, looks like Microsoft would like to purchase EA. Sure, Microsoft denied this when asked about it, but since when has that ever stopped something from being true?

The purpose of this Forwards Compatible is for us to put our brain power together to help figure out exactly what a world would be like if Microsoft owned EA. It is such a jarring concept. However, I do know where to start.

Forwards Compatible is a weekly roundtable discussion about thoughtful and interesting topics involving videogames. Each week a spearhead topic will be put forth and several Gametopius writers, as well as other contributors, will give their thoughts.

Jeff Grubb - Managing Editor, Gametopius

I couldn't possibly count the number of games I have beaten. The number is too great. However, the number of games that I have played and never came close to beating dwarfs that number. That would be fine if the unbeaten games only included terrible titles like Bubsy 3D or Blasto, but it doesn't. My "unbeaten" games category includes titles like Bioshock, Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, and Dead Space. Games I had every intention of playing until completion, but stopped playing for no good reason. The issue is complicated by games like Oblivion and Fallout 3. Between those two games I have played close to 200 hours (please, don't judge me), but I don't really know if I have beaten them by the developer's definition.

Perhaps the biggest change though is how much the videogame industry has expanded. Millions of people have been introduced to gaming throughout the past ten years, and the medium's growing popularity is showing no signs of slowing down. Videogames are no longer just a hobby for the geeky and antisocial, but rather a full-fledged national pastime.

Forwards Compatible is a weekly roundtable discussion about thoughtful and interesting topics involving videogames.  Each week a spearhead topic will be put forth and several Gametopius writers, as well as other contributors, will give their thoughts.

Jeff Grubb

Managing Editor, Gametopius.com

I've never been one for Japanese RPGs. I agree with the common complaint that all JRPGs are either Final Fantasy or Dragon Quest, but is that fair? JRPGs do suffer from a certain degree of stagnation, but don't all genres? The tiny details that separate one JRPG from another doesn't seem like that much, there must be more to it than what I am seeing.