How bad does Circuit City want your money? So much so that the retailer is willing to “instal” backward compatibility on your Xbox 360. Reader Brad snapped a photo of this sign at Circuit City in Newport Beach, California, which reads:

Want to play your original xbox games on your new Xbox 360?Backward compatibility on the Xbox 360 is done through software*

Let Circuit City install it for you
For just $28.99

What are the benefits to playing original Xbox games on my Xbox 360 console?

• Every game* will be playable in high definition.
• Every original Xbox game* will be upscaled to 720p and 1080i, and will take advantage of Xbox 360’s anti-aliasing capabilities, delivering a picture that is clear and crisper than anything available on Xbox.

*Refer to the original Xbox games list to ensure compatibility on the Xbox 360.

Not sure where to start with this scam to fleece unsuspecting customers, but “Fuck you Circuit City” will do for now. This unscrupulous retailer is trying to convince customers, who sadly do not know better, that this is a service they need—much like extended warranties and aftercare. Backward compatibility isn’t even something that Circuit City can really install! I guess they can, but it updates over Xbox Live. And if you don’t have an internet connection, Microsoft will happily send you the backward compatibility software, which users can easily install themselves.

Circuit City is using asterisks to cover their false promises, luring customers and failing to point out a distinct point: Xbox games playing on an Xbox 360 look the same on an analog TV. An HD TV is necessary to give Xbox games that next-gen look. And customers smart enough to know this and refer to Microsoft’s BC list are definitely smart enough not to fall for Circuit City’s scam. Open season on the other shoppers, though. Brian Ashcraft