View Full Version : Gamecube Component - Why does it look so bad?
ManciGames
04-03-2005, 07:15 PM
So, I've had my Gamecube hooked up to an HDTV for a couple of years. I've always noticed that some games look kinda bad on it, but never really thought much of it. Until now...
P.N. 03 and Resident Evil look absolutely horrible. The Metroid cinemas looked pretty bad too, but the game itself looked fine.
I've got an XBOX hooked up to the same TV and it looks great. Has anyone else had this issue? I tried the search function, but didn't find any matches.
Is it my TV or is this a Gamecube issue?
norkusa
04-03-2005, 07:26 PM
Aren't you supposed to configure the GC for composite after you attach the cable for the first time? Like hold down the "A" button for a few seconds while powering it up? Did you do that?
ManciGames
04-03-2005, 08:04 PM
Aren't you supposed to configure the GC for composite after you attach the cable for the first time? Like hold down the "A" button for a few seconds while powering it up? Did you do that?
Yeah, I did that. Now everytime I turn on a composite compatible game, it asks if I want to display in Progressive Scan mode. I've tried answering "Yes" and "No". There is definitely a difference between the two, but it's like "Yes" is just a higher rez version of the fuzziness, if you get what I mean.
GaijinPunch
04-03-2005, 08:05 PM
I've not paid enough attention, but I've always though progressive mode doesn't look near as good as DC's VGA mode, when they're technically supposed to be the same spec.
NeoSNightmarE
04-03-2005, 08:46 PM
hmm. i was gonna ask about the start up config. im stumped. hope u figure it out tho.
Dahne
04-03-2005, 08:48 PM
Maybe you should play it in warm chocolate puddin'.
ManciGames
04-03-2005, 09:02 PM
Maybe you should play it in warm chocolate puddin'.
Hey, we got all the way to the 5th reply before we ate puddin'!
dan2357
04-03-2005, 10:03 PM
how do you have the systems hooked up to the tv?
Do you have 2 seperate composite inputs on the tv, or are you using a splitter(selector).
Have you tryed switching the xbox, and the gamecube hook ups around, see if the problem moves to the other system .
Have you tryed hooking up the cube non composite, with the regular yellow rca cable, to rule out bad cable or bad digital port on cube?
frodo2968
04-03-2005, 10:18 PM
Right, check out your hookups.
zmweasel
04-03-2005, 10:26 PM
All of you mean to say *component* video, not composite video, which invariably sucks.
-- Z.
mattmcgrath25
04-03-2005, 10:26 PM
You are getting the terms "composite" and "component" mixed up. Check out this video primer (http://atarilabs.com/meat/2000/1201_videoprimer.shtml).
You are most likely trying to talk about component video. Composite is techincally just one step up from RF in video quality (i.e. it sucks).
[Edit - Damn you ZM!]
ManciGames
04-03-2005, 11:09 PM
You are getting the terms "composite" and "component" mixed up. Check out this video primer (http://atarilabs.com/meat/2000/1201_videoprimer.shtml).
You are most likely trying to talk about component video. Composite is techincally just one step up from RF in video quality (i.e. it sucks).
[Edit - Damn you ZM!]
Thanks guys. I've updated the subject header with the correct term for future searches' sake!
Anthony1
04-04-2005, 02:00 AM
It's your HDTV.
Because GameCube games that are actually 480p look stunning on every HDTV that I've seen them on. I have 3 different HDTV's in my house, and everytime I've played a Cube game in 480p on any of them, they've all looked fantastic.
So either it's your particular HDTV, or something is wrong along the pathway of the video signal to your HDTV.
One thing you have to make sure, is that you have the component cable hooked up to the "wideband" "progressive scan" component inputs on the back of your TV. Most HDTV's have one or two "wideband" component inputs and a couple of normal 480i component connections. If you are connecting it to the 480i connections, then you aren't getting the true 480p signal.
Bottom line is something is wrong, because the few GameCube games that are in 480p look fantastic.
ManciGames
04-04-2005, 12:26 PM
Bottom line is something is wrong, because the few GameCube games that are in 480p look fantastic.
Thanks for all of the tips everyone. I've double-checked the component cables (official Nintendo brand), the connections, hooked it up via the switchbox and directly, and it hasn't improved.
To be more specific, I can see vertical lines plain as day in the games I have problems with.
One thing we haven't mentioned... Can Resident Evil 4 or P.N. 03 output in 480p? My TV is a pretty early model and I have had trouble with analog TV signals, so this could be the same thing. Anyone know?
I believe you have to hold the A button to turn on 480p in the games that support it. Check the manual for the game and it should say. Here's info from Nintendo's site:
http://www.nintendo.com/consumer/systems/nintendogamecube/component.jsp
ManciGames
04-04-2005, 01:44 PM
Well, this site says R.E. 4 does support 480p:
http://www.hdtvarcade.com/gamecubelist.htm
But, I can't find anything on the box or instructions that says that it does...
Bluteg
04-04-2005, 02:56 PM
Yeah I just got RE4 the other day and its says nothing of Progressive Scan commpatibility. Can anyon confirm that it does or does not because I haven't got my new TV with PS yet?
If it doesn't have the progressive scan logo on the back of the box, you're out of luck.
howdoin
04-04-2005, 03:44 PM
RE4 does support Progressive Scan but it's not "true" as it is not displaying widesreen... in progressive scan it displays a widescreen mode in a 4:3 window (with black bands on top and bottom of the screen).
ManciGames
04-04-2005, 03:57 PM
RE4 does support Progressive Scan but it's not "true" as it is not displaying widesreen... in progressive scan it displays a widescreen mode in a 4:3 window (with black bands on top and bottom of the screen).
Hmmm... I'll bet this has something to do with why it's looking funky. Any idea if P.N. 03 is the same?
wberdan
04-04-2005, 06:44 PM
does it almost look like the image is breaking up?
i output mine to a seperate progressive decoder, and it breaks up once in a rare while, which creates a fuzzy image with noticable horizontal lines for a little bit.
try running the gamercube in 480i and have your tv do the progressive scan
willie
Anthony1
04-04-2005, 11:39 PM
RE4 does support Progressive Scan but it's not "true" as it is not displaying widesreen... in progressive scan it displays a widescreen mode in a 4:3 window (with black bands on top and bottom of the screen).
Resident Evil 4 is definitely 480p, but the game is letterboxed, even on 16:9 widescreen TV's. But that does not mean that it isn't a "true" progressive scan game.
I think what you are thinking of is games that are 720p and 1080i. 720p and 1080i games by default should be in the native 16:9 anamorphic ratio. But games that are 480p don't have to be in any particular aspect ratio. They can be 4:3, 16:9 or whatever.
Here is what I suggest you try doing: Go to Ebay and get a VGA to component cable. Do a search for one, and you should be able to get one for about $20. Then connect the end of the Cube component cable to the component end of the cable, and connect the VGA end to a PC monitor. Make sure that before you do this that you have changed the resolution on the monitor to 640 x 480.
Now when doing this, you are going to have to know exactly what you need to do to get the progressive scan mode up and running. Because the computer screen is going to be totally blank until it actually recieves the progressive scan signal. But once you see the picture, then that would be true 480p from the Cube, and it should look absolutely fantastic. If that game looks fantastic on the PC monitor, but looks like crap on your HDTV, then you know that for whatever reason Cube 480p looks like crap on that particular HDTV for some reason.
Again, I have 3 different HDTV's, all very different from each other, and on each one a game like Metroid Prime looks absolutely amazing.