Some HD gaming questions

[Joker T]

I know you need the cables for each console I have a few questions.

-When you have the Hi-def cable pluged in to a console can you only play high-def games?

-Do you need to activate Hi-def?

-Does it look signifigantly better?

[s1lence]

Ok, quick answers

1. No the games dont need to be HD

2. Yes you do on the ps2, the xbox has feature to select the res, the gamecube has a different cable.

3. Yes it looks alot better.

[demen999]

When you have the Hi-def cable pluged in to a console can you only play high-def games?
Nope, you can play all of the games for that console.

-Do you need to activate Hi-def?
Only for the xbox dashboard, and socom 2 that I know of.

-Does it look signifigantly better?
Depending the game. Some look super jaggy that it looks worse.

[Joker T]

Thanks

[mario2butts]

1. All three current-gen consoles will output SD (480i) and ED/HD resolutions (480p and up) via the component video cable, so no you don't have to switch to composite or s- video to play SD games. However, be aware that some HDTVs are (stupidly) designed so that the component video connection can only accept certain resolutions. I know that some of Samsung's older DLPs have one input that only takes 480i/480p and one that only takes 480p/720p/1080i.

2. On Xbox, when using the component video cable, you can turn 480p, 720p, and 1080i "on" or "off" so that when you play a game it will run in the highest resolution that it supports that is also turned "on" from the dashboard. On Gamecube, you have to hold down the B button while the system boots and, if the game suports 480p (no Gamecube games support higher resolutions than this) then you will get a screen that says "Enable progressive scan? y/n" and you select yes. I don't have any ED/HD PS2 games so I can't help you on that, but I've heard it depends on the game; that is, some require a button combination at startup while others have you set it at the options menu, but I can't confirm this

3. Oh my god, yes. I haven't played any 720p/1080i capable games yet, but the 480p games I've played look astounding! Some argue that higher resolutions reveal the "jaggies" and pixelation of some games, and this is sometimes true, but I prefer this over blurriness and lack of clarity.

One thing to watch out for is aspect ratios. Most games are in 4:3 while others suport 16:9 "widescreen". If you're using a widescreen HDTV, be aware that It may not let you view 4:3 games undistorted with black bars on the sides, instead strecthing them to fill the screen. My set does this and it drives me nuts. Conversely, playing a game in 16:9 on a 4:3 TV may make you lose resolution as the TV must "letterbox" the picture, though some 4:3 TVs have a "widescreen" or "16:9" mode which compresses the picture vertically rather than scaling it down.

A good place to find listings of ED/HD compatible games is www.hdtvarcade.com. Many games that support ED/HD don't say so on the case!

[Nez]

Number one is a maybe.
If your using a vga addapter 480i games will not display correctly.

[Joker T]

Say I wanted to use my XBOX as a DVD player would the DVDs play in progressive scan. Not a problem if they don't but just curious :)

[Half Japanese]

Say I wanted to use my XBOX as a DVD player would the DVDs play in progressive scan. Not a problem if they don't but just curious :)

I'm not sure, but I don't believe that the Xbox plays DVDs in progressive scan, at least that's what I've always heard. I mean, the picture's not that bad, but it's not the same as a decent DVD player either.

[mario2butts]

Xbox doesn't output DVDs in 480p (progressive), just 480i (interlaced, SD). Same with older PS2s. I believe PS2s model SCPH 5000 and up will output DVDs in 480p though. So just say "no" to using your consoles as DVD players ;)

[Joker T]

Okay like I said it's fine if they don't I have a progressive scan Dvd player anyway. Thanks for all the help guys