5.1 gaming on a ps2

[chadtower]

Okay, I just picked up a super cheap PS2 ($40!). I'm not really a big Sony fan but the one thing that has always intrigued me about this console is the potential for 5.1 gaming. I know little about the PS2 library. Roughly how much of it supports 5.1, and does it do it well at all? I have an excellent 5.1 setup but in order to get the PS2 in there I'll have to grab a selector that switches optical audio as the DirecTivo is currently residing in the optical port of my Receiver. Is it worth dropping $80 on a selector or are there just not enough games that support 5.1?

[Half Japanese]

This is by no means a complete listing, but it should get you started:

http://hdtvarcade.com/ps2list.htm

I think someone (perhaps ZMWeasel) stated earlier that he had been keeping his own lists of ps2 games that supported certain things...maybe you can ask him?

[chadtower]

This is by no means a complete listing, but it should get you started:

http://hdtvarcade.com/ps2list.htm

I think someone (perhaps ZMWeasel) stated earlier that he had been keeping his own lists of ps2 games that supported certain things...maybe you can ask him?

Hrm... that's geared for video signal, not audio. Only a couple of those have audio listed and only one has 5.1 listed. If there's only ONE ps2 game that supports 5.1 then the answer is obvious... I'll have to keep looking.

[SirDrexl]

If you want 3D sound, the only option is the XBox. Unlike the PS2, the XBox has special hardware for 5.1 sound, so just about every game supports it (although how well it supports it and how much it adds to the game varies). On the PS2, having 5.1 takes up too many CPU cycles that are better used for other things.

[chadtower]

If you want 3D sound, the only option is the XBox. Unlike the PS2, the XBox has special hardware for 5.1 sound, so just about every game supports it (although how well it supports it and how much it adds to the game varies). On the PS2, having 5.1 takes up too many CPU cycles that are better used for other things.

I'm not sure what you mean by 3D sound since we're talking about audio signals here, but I'm starting to see that you're right about the Xbox being the console for major sound quality. It seems that most of the PS2 games are in Pro Logic II which, while good, isn't 5.1. Of course it would be nice if my receiver actually HAD ProLogicII anyway but it's just regular ProLogic.

[Nature Boy]

If you want 3D sound, the only option is the XBox. Unlike the PS2, the XBox has special hardware for 5.1 sound, so just about every game supports it (although how well it supports it and how much it adds to the game varies). On the PS2, having 5.1 takes up too many CPU cycles that are better used for other things.

I'm not sure what you mean by 3D sound since we're talking about audio signals here, but I'm starting to see that you're right about the Xbox being the console for major sound quality. It seems that most of the PS2 games are in Pro Logic II which, while good, isn't 5.1. Of course it would be nice if my receiver actually HAD ProLogicII anyway but it's just regular ProLogic.

I've got my Xbox connected to 5.1 sound and it's cool but not overwhelmingly so. Mind you I enjoy 5.1 sound the most in movies - when it's loud and things are crashing all around you. In KOTOR (all that I've played really), the sound is, IMO, underwhelming (although it *is* neat to rotate the camera around during a conversation and hear it coming out of the appropriate speakers). I'm thinking of maybe giving Halo another run to see what it'll do.

[Gamereviewgod]

There are only about 3 or 4 games that support 5.1 throughout the entire game on the PS2. I know Sled Storm supported DTS Interactive and was fairly nice as did NHL 2002. As for just 5.1, I have no idea. It's not worth it for just the PS2. The X-Box on the other hand is spectacular.

Nature Boy: Halo is one of the greatest soundng video games ever. I've never heard better surround usage.

[chadtower]

I'm starting to think I should trade this PS2 for an Xbox.

[calthaer]

I'm glad someone brought this up, because I'd been considering getting an optical cable just for 5.1 on the PS2. I use a different cable coming from the PC, but...sounds like it's just not worth the money.

You'd never see me trading in my PS2, though...surround-sound or not, too many good games for it (and I don't have a PS1 at this point for all the PS1 games, which is the majority of my PS collection).

Why not do PC gaming? It seems like every PC game I play that's in 3D has rockin' surround-sound. Hearing enemies come up behind you, being able to turn just to where they are based on where you hear them, turning your head and having the sound of the babbling brook move from speaker to speaker, and that incredible BOOM that those gates for Battle.net make in Warcraft III...

Why get 5.1 and NOT hook a PC up to it? It almost seems like a waste to me, so few consoles and games really make use of it.

[chadtower]

Why get 5.1 and NOT hook a PC up to it? It almost seems like a waste to me, so few consoles and games really make use of it.

Uh, because the 5.1 setup is mounted in my living room and I'm not setting up a computer station there. I'd have to put it right smack in the middle of the room in order to get proper directionals from the wall mounted satellites.

This doesn't even take into account the fact that I work on a computer (software developer) for a living and when I'm not at work I don't want to go near one. The fastest PC I have at home that is suitable for gaming is a 533. I'm not going to get much out of that even if I wanted to have a PC gaming setup.

PC gaming isn't for me. I have way too many consoles and games and cabinets to jump into PC gaming too.

[sisko]

Some games its great, others its not. Kind of hit and miss here.

Also, not all games are compatible with 5.1. I know for a fact that Fantavision is not. Great game, but it sucks hard with no sound. Maybe this was just due to the fact that it was a launch title...

[chadtower]

Hrm... well, before when I was gaming with n64 at the latest, things like pro logic weren't an issue (yes I realize a few n64 titles have it). Now that there's a GC and a PS2 in there, I need to sort all of this stuff out and I fear that the routing through my tv to the receiver is stripping out pro logic signals. Does anyone know of a good home theater forum where I could ask more detailed technical questions?

[sisko]

Well, does your receiver have a Monitor Out (most do)? Just wire everything to your reciever, and then run on solitary (or more if you use svideo/component) cable from your reciever to one of your video input jacks.

1) there is less interference
2) you don't have to worry about the "stripping" thing (though I don't know if this is a n issue).

If you have too many systems, you can just use one of those cheapy Pelican System selectors and run that to your receiver. Not much degredation at all, and signals don't get stripped.

[chadtower]

Yeah, I'm going to have to reconfigure the whole damn thing now that there's modern systems in there. Before it was N64 and Genesis so stereo was all that mattered.

It will be a bit of a PIA because there is the DirecTivo via optical/svid, the DVD via coax (digital audio)/component, the VCR via rca/svid... and now the several game systems. BAH. Oh well. Looks like I'll have to drop $80 on one of the Pelican selectors.

[chadtower]

Here is what looks to be a more definitive list:

http://144.92.43.200/hdg/

[Nature Boy]

Yeah, I'm going to have to reconfigure the whole damn thing now that there's modern systems in there. Before it was N64 and Genesis so stereo was all that mattered.

It will be a bit of a PIA because there is the DirecTivo via optical/svid, the DVD via coax (digital audio)/component, the VCR via rca/svid... and now the several game systems. BAH. Oh well. Looks like I'll have to drop $80 on one of the Pelican selectors.

It's not that bad setting it up - that is, unless you have to move some *major* heavy furniture around or something :)

I personally try to keep things simple. I *could* have Component video for some things and S-video for others, but then I'd be changing the TV input and the Stereo input all the time and it's just not worth it IMO (let alone driving my wife nuts). I keep all my video to S-video and use my stereo as a main switchbox (with a small switchbox for the consoles). The sound takes care of itself based on the input (both DVD and Xbox are 5.1).

[Spartikcus]

I cant stand the Ps2 optical port, its really just a lie.
What it does increase the range and create a 3d surround sound "effect".
For example the game Jak II says it supports Dolby Digital Pro Logic II, pure bull! That game is stereo just like all the other games for Sony but it has technology that increases the sound range to make it feel like you are listening to surround sound.
If you have a decent receiver it should have a function that pumps stereo signals to the front and rear speakers, thats the way I play my Ps2 games and it still sounds pretty crappy,I love my system with my Xbox, Halo is incredible and so is Return to Castle Wolfenstein. You haven't played Wolfenstein till you've heard the bullets whizing by your head and the germans shouting from the rear, its mind blowing. @_@

[SirDrexl]

I'm not sure what you mean by 3D sound since we're talking about audio signals here, but I'm starting to see that you're right about the Xbox being the console for major sound quality.

What I meant by that was whether the game puts you in a 3D audio environment: like, if you can hear things all around you. While every game (and demo) I've played on XBox has 5.1 sound, there are some games that don't have that 3D audio environment, and just put reverb or something in the rear speakers. Aggressive Inline and Tony Hawk 3, for example, might as well be stereo. The XBox exclusives always have 3D sound, and the multiplatform games from the past couple of years have it, but there was a time when they were designing games for the PS2 that they didn't create a 3D sound engine for, and they didn't get it when ported to XBox.

[zmweasel]

This is by no means a complete listing, but it should get you started:

http://hdtvarcade.com/ps2list.htm

I think someone (perhaps ZMWeasel) stated earlier that he had been keeping his own lists of ps2 games that supported certain things...maybe you can ask him?

I was keeping track of surround-sound PS2 games at one point, but now I'm just tracking widescreen/prog-scan releases.

A few of EA's sports games (including SSX3) do DTS 5.1, and Vice City does DTS 4.0. No Dolby 5.1 PS2 games that I'm aware of.

-- Z.

[chadtower]

It's not that bad setting it up - that is, unless you have to move some *major* heavy furniture around or something :)

I personally try to keep things simple. I *could* have Component video for some things and S-video for others, but then I'd be changing the TV input and the Stereo input all the time and it's just not worth it IMO (let alone driving my wife nuts). I keep all my video to S-video and use my stereo as a main switchbox (with a small switchbox for the consoles). The sound takes care of itself based on the input (both DVD and Xbox are 5.1).

You're right, it really won't be that bad. Additional cabling isn't cheap, though, the Pelican box is the best I'll get reasonably at $80, and my entertainment center doesn't have convenient space for more than two consoles anyway so I have to find a way to munge in at least 3 (wouldn't make sense to have a ps2 and not use it, I just GOT the GC for my birthday, and my son adores his N64).

I went over to an excellent home theater forum yesterday where I learned that Rebel Strike has a Pro Logic 2 testing feature under the options. Using that I was able to confirm that the TV is in fact NOT stripping out the Pro Logic and is passing the pure signal along to the receiver. This helps at least in the short term and very possibly in the long term until I can drop another $150 or so to get all of the hardware/cabling I'll need to get it all in there at optimum quality.

[Nature Boy]

You're right, it really won't be that bad. Additional cabling isn't cheap, though, the Pelican box is the best I'll get reasonably at $80, and my entertainment center doesn't have convenient space for more than two consoles anyway so I have to find a way to munge in at least 3 (wouldn't make sense to have a ps2 and not use it, I just GOT the GC for my birthday, and my son adores his N64).

Yeah I'm lucky in that department. My brother in law counts woodworking amongst his hobbies and we got him to custom build us an entertainment unit. Fits four console, plus controllers, plus games absolutely *perfectly*.

One suggestion I have: at Zellers I bought a dish drying rack. Just a simple piece of white plastic that is basically a shelf. It's cheap, and it let me stack my C64 right on top of my Atari 800XL when I had them both on my desk.

If you've got the space you can also consider buying some simple brackets and making an extra shelf. Of course I have no idea if that would work for your entertainment unit but I thought it worth mentioning.

[chadtower]

Yeah I'm lucky in that department. My brother in law counts woodworking amongst his hobbies and we got him to custom build us an entertainment unit. Fits four console, plus controllers, plus games absolutely *perfectly*.

One suggestion I have: at Zellers I bought a dish drying rack. Just a simple piece of white plastic that is basically a shelf. It's cheap, and it let me stack my C64 right on top of my Atari 800XL when I had them both on my desk.

If you've got the space you can also consider buying some simple brackets and making an extra shelf. Of course I have no idea if that would work for your entertainment unit but I thought it worth mentioning.

I think we've pretty much outgrown the unit we have. It's solid oak, very nice, but the TV max size is like 30" and the components are actually on top of it rather than in it. I'm not going to be putting much effort into a new solution until we replace the TV and there are a LOT of house projects far ahead of that one...

[Nature Boy]

I think we've pretty much outgrown the unit we have. It's solid oak, very nice, but the TV max size is like 30" and the components are actually on top of it rather than in it. I'm not going to be putting much effort into a new solution until we replace the TV and there are a LOT of house projects far ahead of that one...

heh - I remember when a 30" TV was *big* :)

[chadtower]

heh - I remember when a 30" TV was *big* :)

I didn't mean screen size, I meant television size. That is a major limiting factor since quality TVs higher than 27" all have stupid big speakers on them that stick out an extra few inches... speakers I wouldn't use anyway since I have the surround setup.