Playstation first with 1080i

[ZeroDegreeK]

This makes things a little more interesting.



EA Canada has recently confirmed that it's upcomming title Sled Storm for the PS2 will in fact have support for those lucky enough to own High Definition Television sets.

So far, no developer has released a title on any system the supports what is considered "true" HD. Microsoft and Nintendo titles have so far supported the 480p standard which is considered Enhanced Definition but not HD.

Digital Television sets are able to display all formats from "Standard Definition" or the 480i picture we're all used to, all the way up to the 1080i 16:9 format considered to be the highest resolution of all the HD formats.



According to EA's press release for Sled Storm, it will feature 1080i 16:9 resolution support on HD sets. The announcement is a bit surprising since it was widely believed that the PS2 was not capable of any true HD display rates. Since the 1080i resolution will place a large load on the GPU, and the addition width of the 16:9 picture will compound the problem, frame rate will be a closely watched issue with this title.

Should EA be able to pull off true HD with no noticable hit to the frame rate, it would put to rest any rumors that the PS2 would be unable to compete against the Xbox in the HD market and would also give credibility to Sony's recent claims that the PS2 has many tricks(both hardare and software) that developers are only now being told about.

[AdminJoe]

sweet!
im not a fanboy of any system..
I have an xbox, ps2, and dreamcast, and whoever decided to take the reigns with 1080i games, so be it!!

[AdminJoe]

wait, this game is already out!!
what cables do i need to get?

[ZeroDegreeK]

I would assume you would need the PS2 component cables.

Have you seen this game out yet? I thought it got pushed back a couple of weeks. The original release date is today.

I am really anxious to see a game in 1080i. I guess I mean native 1080i and not upconverted with a scaler. I couldn't even imagine the detail.

I hope EA Big delivers. The press release is probably B.S. but I still have hope.

[lonestar]

I have this game right now. But I don't have my TV yet! :(
Panasonic says it's on backorder until March 22nd. I paid for it in full on February 27th. This wait sucks, and the worst part is there is nothing I can do about it. :(

[ZeroDegreeK]

The game isn't 1080i. It turns out the press release was wrong. What is referred to as HDTV support is really just support for 16:9, the game isn't even 480p. The 16:9 support isn't really a surprise either since EA Big has always done 16:9. How disappointing.

Lonestar, anticipation kills. I had to wait for my set for 3 mo. That was the longest 90 days of my life.

[dave420]

Ha Ha , Nothing like having your hope set for something..... I have owned a PS2 since day 1 ( I am now on my 3rd one :eek: Everythin that I ahve read about 1080i and the PS2 is that it cant do it.... I may be wrong.. I dont work for Sony or anything but I know my PS2... And If I am Wrong Let Me know.....

[AdminJoe]

Hmm,

Makes me hate EA a bit more, since they have screwed up all their sports games in the last 5 years. Id rather play my sega genesis nhl95-97 than the latest nhl incarnations on the ps2. Madden football still is nice, but im hoping they dont screw that series up as well.
NCAA2K2 for the ps2 is the best football game ever. I have been through 2 seasons in that game. I Love the recruiting aspect.

[iBiS]

to solve all your problems just buy an XBOX!!! woooohooooooo

[azeckoski]

Sorry guys, but the PS2 definitely does not support high resolutions. The video chipset does not have the capability to output anything better than 480p and even that is kinda iffy. The gamecube also has component outputs but again only supports 480p which adds some slowdown to games like rogue squadron. The Xbox supports high resolution output up to 1080i (that is to say that the chipset can do it) but so far I haven't seen any games that take advantage of it. I believe all Xbox games will run at 480p no problem and I play Halo that way all the time. I would really like to see a system that supports actual high resolution be default and downgrades it for standard TVs but so far, not so good.

I would recommend trying out all three systems on your particular set though. I have a Hitachi 53" 4:3 HDTV since I mostly play games and the 4:3 standard will probably be pervassive in the gaming market for some time (since all computer monitors are like that and guess what those guys use to write the games!) Anyway, between my brother and I we have 2 Xbox's, a Gamecude, and a PS2. They each have their strong points but for HDTV support I think the Xbox is really head and shoulders above the competition.
-AZ

[ZeroDegreeK]

Originally posted by azeckoski
Anyway, between my brother and I we have 2 Xbox's, a Gamecude, and a PS2. They each have their strong points but for HDTV support I think the Xbox is really head and shoulders above the competition.
-AZ

I used to think that also. I love my XBox. But why do you think it is head and shoulders above the competition when it comes to HDTV support? Just because it supports 480p? So does the GameCube. Hell, even the Dreamcast supports 480p, and the PS2 does also (with Linux).

The XBox only has a handfull of games that support 16:9. I think that is as important as 480p when it comes to HDTV support. I think it is sad that none of the consoles have embrased HDTV. Especially the XBox because HDTV support was one of the selling points before the console was released.

The only way one console will be head and shoulders above the rest is when they have games that support 1080i and 16:9. As it stands now, they are all the same when it comes to HDTV support.

[azeckoski]

I guess I think it is better because the hardware actually supports resolutions above 480p. Even if there aren't really any games that take advantage of it yet, it at least has the potential to have games in high resolutions.
Unfortunately, the PS2 and Gamecube do not have video subsystems that can produce a game resolution above 480p (except that I am pretty sure the PS2 can do 720x480 widescreen along with the 640x480 standard).

The max resolution of the Xbox video system is 1920x1080 (1080i effectively), whereas the max resolution output of the PS/2 is 1280x1024. This means, no 1080i support. The best you could hope for would be 720p/i except that realistically with frame buffers in use (which is pretty much always gonna be the case) the max is 640x480. So we are again back to 480p/i and that is where the PS/2 is stuck.

Unfortunately, Nintendo doesn't publish the official max resolution of the Gamecube but they do officially say that they have no plans to support HDTV standards above 640p which, if you ask me, is barely HDTV anyways since a really nice analog TV will support 480p. Anyways, most speculation is that the max resolution is pretty much 480p but that could just be speculation. Since there are no configuration options in the Gamecube itself (most are handled within the games) it is possible that it might support higher resolutions but based on the speed of the video subsystem and processor, the frame rates would probably not be up to spec.

Anyways, that's my opinion in a nutshell. If I had 2 or 3 TVs I would put em side by side but just based on looking at some of the top games from each system on my HDTV, so far the Xbox looks the best. Gamecube and PS/2 look nice but PS/2 has a lot of jaggies (especially in Tekken 4) that are quite visible on a 53" screen and I am getting a funny looking moire pattern in most Gamecube games, Super Monkey Ball is especially bad since there are a lot of stretched textures (not counting Rogue Squadron 2 running in 480p mode, which looks absolutely beautiful except for the minor frame rate issues during intense parts. That might have something to do with the analog cables though).
-AZ

[ska]

You're ALL wrong. The X-BOX clearly states that it's capability is 480I NOT 480P. It is NOT, I repeat NOT a progressive console. READ the actual literature on and in the box BEFORE you buy it! Geesh! You all talk about 1080i capability! It can't go past 480I!!!!!

[lonestar]

ok someone had to say this. This SKA guy is a goddamn plug. READ THE POSTS BEFORE YOU SPOURT YOUR IGNORANT TWO BIT GARBAGE. Jesus murphy.

[ska]

Hey Lonestar,

How am I a plug? Because I disagree with your misinformation? READ the information on the actual x-box hdtv component cables! It clearly says its dvd player supports only 480I, not 480P. How about thinking before writing? The games appear to support hdtv up to 1080I, but not the dvd player! Facts are facts, so get over it!

[lonestar]

NO ONE IS TALKING ABOUT THE DVD PLAYER. READ THE TOPICS! GAMES GAMES GAMES! WE ARE TALKING ABOUT GAMES. Misinformation, ha.

[dmunny]

Your all wrong!!! VCR's cant support 1080i!! Geez.. lolol

[ZeroDegreeK]

Originally posted by dmunny
Your all wrong!!! VCR's cant support 1080i!! Geez.. lolol

I guess the D-VHS VCRs are figments of my imagination.

[dave420]

Oh my god ZERO DEGREEK, I had a dream last night that there was a such thing as dvhs..., oh yeah thats right, they are real, its sitting in my living room right now.

[ZeroDegreeK]

Originally posted by dave420
Oh my god ZERO DEGREEK, I had a dream last night that there was a such thing as dvhs..., oh yeah thats right, they are real, its sitting in my living room right now.

That's funny. I had the same dream with the same outcome.

Get out of my head.

[HokieD]

Hey, the X-Box is in 16:9. I put my Sony 57" to the test and set it to FULL setting- not zoom. It plays every game he has in 16:9 format. Burnout, Amped, and 007!!! All you non-believers, meh! It looks awesome, too bad the games aren't that fun.

[ZeroDegreeK]

Not all XBox games support 16:9. If you set your set to 16:9 on the XBox dashboard and have 480p enabled, the XBox will stretch the image to fit your 16:9 screen. Unless the game supports 16:9, then you get the extra stuff on the sides.

[dmunny]

How would you be able to tell whether it was 16:9 native, or just stretched image? Do you have to flip it back and forth to test, or is there an easier way?

[HokieD]

First, my brother-in-law went into the Xbox setup menu and set to 16:9. Then, I switched to diff. TV modes to see if it was true 16:9. When I put it on normal (4:3 format with bars on edge) the image is very slim, letters tall, etc. When I used any of the 2 zooms part of the image is lost top/bottom. So, those games are definitely 16:9.

Will be renting more games over the next couple weeks, will update this thread with the outcome.

[ZeroDegreeK]

Originally posted by dmunny
How would you be able to tell whether it was 16:9 native, or just stretched image? Do you have to flip it back and forth to test, or is there an easier way?

Try the High Definition Game Database

http://144.92.220.70/hdg.asp

[ineptabouthdtv]

This might be a dumb question to all you experts.....but I'm a newbie and am doing my best to learn all this! Since it was "somewhat" brought up in this thread I'll ask here. My question is that I am in the process of purchasing an 50HX82 and currently own an x-box. You had mentioned that a GOOD regular DVD player is as good as a bad progressive scan......well, does anyone happen to know the quality of the dvd player for the x-box. I ask because there is only 2 component inputs - one of which will be occupied by the x-box, and I'm assuming the other will be occupied by whatever HD programming (which i'm still trying to get a "grasp" on) I subscribe to. So even if I did get a decent progressive scan DVD player.....I wouldn't have an input for it.....would I??? If what I'm reasoning here is right (which it may not be so PLEASE correct me if I'm wrong), what would be my best option? Thanks for all the help so far!!!

[tonov12]

Well it all kinda depends on your set. Some sets, like mine, have multiple inputs but only one supports 1080i. One supports 480p and the rest are standard component inputs that just support 480i. I was a little dissappointed when I had to sacrifice the 480p on the Xbox so I could use my progressive scan DVD. Just be sure you know what you are getting and that it suits the uses that you have intended. :)

[ineptabouthdtv]

I wasn't aware that there were "different" types of component inputs....but after checking both my component inputs support 1080i. What type of connection did you switch your x-box to? And how much of a difference do you notice? Thanks again!

[Julian]

Just to clarify this for everyone. Xbox is the only console on the maket as of today that has support for up to 1080i resolutions. Playstation can only support 480i not 480p resolutions. As of right now, the only games considered to be hd are NBA 2K3 and Lord of the rings. Dvd movies on Xbox are only 480i !!! In the future Microsoft has stated that they will offer more games with a native resolution of 720p to 1080i but how many remains unknown. ~~~~ONLY XBOX CAN SUPPORT HDTV QUALITY SIGNALS~~~~~ Hope this helps, Julian

[stevo8040]

Here is a list of current Xbox HDTV Games. Mind you it has to say on the back either 720p or 1080i. The games that say HDTV Compatible are really done in 480p(Lord of the Rings being one of them.)

720p Games

1. Street Hoops
2. Tony Hawk 4
3. NBA2k3
4. NHL2k3

1080i Games

1. Dragons Lair 3D (being released on 11/18) Buy this game if you have a HDTV it is supposed to be Jaw Dropping in 1080i!

You are going to see alot more games coming out in 720p and hopefully 1080i. If you do not have a T.V that takes the 720p input your SOL on getting Hi-Def on the 720p games