XBOX High Def Gaming
01-27-04 | 11:11 AM
#26
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From: Burbanka
Originally posted by Joshic
Unlike many DVD players, console systems do not send a widescreen flag to TV sets. So it's up to you to change the aspect ratio on your TV manually to widescreen for games that support widescreen. If you don't, the images will look horizontall squished. The reason why SC2 jumps into widescreen mode automatically is because it's a 720p game. Your TV recognizes the 720p signal and automatically goes into widescreen, because 720p is a widescreen format. When your TV receives a 480p signal from most other xbox games, it won't switch to widescreen (unless it receives the widescreen flag from the source), because 480p is a 4:3 AND 16:9 format, whereas 720p is always supposed to be in a 16:9 frame.
Unlike many DVD players, console systems do not send a widescreen flag to TV sets. So it's up to you to change the aspect ratio on your TV manually to widescreen for games that support widescreen. If you don't, the images will look horizontall squished. The reason why SC2 jumps into widescreen mode automatically is because it's a 720p game. Your TV recognizes the 720p signal and automatically goes into widescreen, because 720p is a widescreen format. When your TV receives a 480p signal from most other xbox games, it won't switch to widescreen (unless it receives the widescreen flag from the source), because 480p is a 4:3 AND 16:9 format, whereas 720p is always supposed to be in a 16:9 frame.
01-27-04 | 11:22 AM
#27
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Originally posted by warcp
At 720p, Soul Calibur is only 4:3. If you're getting it widescreen, it must be either in 480p or non-HD.
At 720p, Soul Calibur is only 4:3. If you're getting it widescreen, it must be either in 480p or non-HD.
01-27-04 | 11:27 AM
#28
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From: Burbanka
Originally posted by Grouch094820 & 5/17
What I don't get is all the 720p games, when so few HDTV televisions support 720p.
What I don't get is all the 720p games, when so few HDTV televisions support 720p.
Amped 2
Dragons Lair 3D
Enter the Matrix
ESPN BBall 2k4
Freedom Fighters
NBA 2K3
Soul Calibur 2
Street Hoops
Syberia
T3
Sims Bustin Out
Tony Hawk- last 2
True Crime
World Series Baseball 2k3
That ain't a big list- besides, they all do 480p as well. Dunno why they don't shoot for 1080 more- must be more difficult to create the games with such high res?
01-27-04 | 11:39 AM
#29
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Originally posted by Gromit
Sorry for the thread hijack...
Yeah, I have 2 non-HD DirecTiVo boxes. I pre-ordered the HD Tivo and found out about an offer from DirecTV to get a new dish (installed) and an HD DirecTV receiver for $99. The only catches: 1) you have been with DirecTV for 2 years and 2) they charge your credit card $450, but they credit your DirecTV account $350.
I got a Samsung SIR-TS160, which is at Best Buy for $600. This way I get everything wired for HD now and I can enjoy some HD programming (although without TiVo). Once the HD TiVo comes out, I plan to eBay the Samsung receiver and put the HD TiVo in with no "installation" headaches.
There's a huge thread here with all of the details. It's 25 pages long and it starts as a $399 deal. The short version: call customer retention at 800-600-8977. Just tell them you are interested in the $99 HD deal. That's all I did. I also got 6 months of Showtime for free. Some people are saying that they are required to sign up for the $10.99 HD package for 1 year. I signed up, but they didn't tell me it was required. The receiver will handle OTA HD broadcasts as well (which is nice since DirecTV doesn't do HD locals yet).
Back to the original topic...
I'm confused about widescreen games. I set my Xbox to 'widescreen' but when I play games, they still fill the entire screen. Soul Calibur 2 is the only game that seems to be in 16:9 mode. Is it because it's a 720p game?
Sorry for the thread hijack...
Yeah, I have 2 non-HD DirecTiVo boxes. I pre-ordered the HD Tivo and found out about an offer from DirecTV to get a new dish (installed) and an HD DirecTV receiver for $99. The only catches: 1) you have been with DirecTV for 2 years and 2) they charge your credit card $450, but they credit your DirecTV account $350.
I got a Samsung SIR-TS160, which is at Best Buy for $600. This way I get everything wired for HD now and I can enjoy some HD programming (although without TiVo). Once the HD TiVo comes out, I plan to eBay the Samsung receiver and put the HD TiVo in with no "installation" headaches.
There's a huge thread here with all of the details. It's 25 pages long and it starts as a $399 deal. The short version: call customer retention at 800-600-8977. Just tell them you are interested in the $99 HD deal. That's all I did. I also got 6 months of Showtime for free. Some people are saying that they are required to sign up for the $10.99 HD package for 1 year. I signed up, but they didn't tell me it was required. The receiver will handle OTA HD broadcasts as well (which is nice since DirecTV doesn't do HD locals yet).
Back to the original topic...
I'm confused about widescreen games. I set my Xbox to 'widescreen' but when I play games, they still fill the entire screen. Soul Calibur 2 is the only game that seems to be in 16:9 mode. Is it because it's a 720p game?
Now back to your regular scheduled programming...
01-27-04 | 11:47 AM
#30
DVD Talk Legend
Re: XBOX High Def Gaming
Originally posted by REL77
I was just wondering, on some Xbox games, it says HDTV on the back, and hten on some games it says HDTV and Widescreen... Are they games that dont say Widescreen but say 480p or HDTV, are they all Full Screen?
I was just wondering, on some Xbox games, it says HDTV on the back, and hten on some games it says HDTV and Widescreen... Are they games that dont say Widescreen but say 480p or HDTV, are they all Full Screen?
The info listed on the back of the case is wrong 90% of the time anyway. Here is the complete list of which games are widescreen, which are progressive scan, which are HD, etc.:
http://www.hdtvarcade.com/xboxlist.htm
01-27-04 | 01:37 PM
#31
DVD Talk Special Edition
One thing I don't understand...
A large number of games support resolutions of at least 480p, but very few of these offer a dedicated widescreen mode. I don't have any figures, but I would guess that a much higher percentage of E&HDTVs are 16:9 rather than 4:3.
The only thing I could think of is that it must be easier to just ramp the regular video signal up to higher resolutions, but it'd take more effort to test the wider aspect ratios. Still, it's like the 8 hot dogs per package and 6 hot dog buns per bag dillema.
All I've got is a standard TV, so I guess it doesn't really matter for me anyway.
A large number of games support resolutions of at least 480p, but very few of these offer a dedicated widescreen mode. I don't have any figures, but I would guess that a much higher percentage of E&HDTVs are 16:9 rather than 4:3.
The only thing I could think of is that it must be easier to just ramp the regular video signal up to higher resolutions, but it'd take more effort to test the wider aspect ratios. Still, it's like the 8 hot dogs per package and 6 hot dog buns per bag dillema.
All I've got is a standard TV, so I guess it doesn't really matter for me anyway.
01-27-04 | 02:57 PM
#32
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Originally posted by warcp
That ain't a big list- besides, they all do 480p as well. Dunno why they don't shoot for 1080 more- must be more difficult to create the games with such high res?
That ain't a big list- besides, they all do 480p as well. Dunno why they don't shoot for 1080 more- must be more difficult to create the games with such high res?
Luckily my TV (Samsung HLN467) has a native resolution of 720p. Now I just hope more games come out in HD and widescreen.
01-27-04 | 09:36 PM
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Originally posted by Gromit
I'm getting used to it as well with SD TV broadcasts. I think it's time to get a 16:9 set.
I'm getting used to it as well with SD TV broadcasts. I think it's time to get a 16:9 set.
01-29-04 | 07:06 AM
#34
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From: Atlanta, GA
Originally posted by MJKTool
Why get used to it though? You could always switch between the TV's inputs to watch 4:3 material with the screen filled. Thats what I do. My HighDef box has a set of component cables going to input 6 and a regular RF cable going to the RF input. So when I want to watch highdef material I just go to input 6. Otherwise I just leave it on the rf antenna input for regular tv watching without the annoying 4:3 windowbox.
Why get used to it though? You could always switch between the TV's inputs to watch 4:3 material with the screen filled. Thats what I do. My HighDef box has a set of component cables going to input 6 and a regular RF cable going to the RF input. So when I want to watch highdef material I just go to input 6. Otherwise I just leave it on the rf antenna input for regular tv watching without the annoying 4:3 windowbox.
01-29-04 | 08:53 AM
#35
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From: New York
Originally posted by Grouch094820 & 5/17
What I don't get is all the 720p games, when so few HDTV televisions support 720p.
What I don't get is all the 720p games, when so few HDTV televisions support 720p.
01-31-04 | 12:04 PM
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Originally posted by Gromit
That's pretty much my plan: DVI interface for HD content, S-Video for 480i SD content. I think I'm leaning towards just viewing the smaller screen (even SD digital TV looks SO much better), but my wife won't go for it so I'll have both options.
That's pretty much my plan: DVI interface for HD content, S-Video for 480i SD content. I think I'm leaning towards just viewing the smaller screen (even SD digital TV looks SO much better), but my wife won't go for it so I'll have both options.
Sometimes I will view SD 480i in the windowbox because, just like you said, it looks much clearer. I just wish these damn Sony tv wouldnt do this. At least have an easy option to remove the windowbox without having to go into the service menu.
HD does look amazing on this set, so I can forgive the annoyance.
