PS3 Downscales 720 on Incapable TVs

[imdaly]

As final PlayStation 3 units continue to trickle into more and more hands, additional details about how the system works and what it can and can't do are hitting the web. The latest (rather major) tidbit is how the console treats the upscaling and downscaling of 720p titles on televisions that don't support that resolution -- specifically those that are only 1080i capable.

As it turns out, gamers who own older HD sets that feature only 480i, 480p, and 1080i resolution capabilities will have to settle for the display quality being downsized as the game boots in its 480p mode rather than upscaling the image from the more desirable 720p mode to the TV's 1080i. We tested this development on older HDTV sets with games designed for 720p but not 1080i -- Resistance: Fall of Man, NHL 2K7, Tiger Woods PGA Tour 07, and Need for Speed Carbon. Sure enough, the system downshifted all four titles to 480p rather than moving up to 1080i.

The PlayStation 3's competitor, Microsoft's Xbox 360, does upscale 720p games to 1080i if the set supports the latter resolution but not 720p.

IGN contacted Sony representatives for comment regarding this feature, but SCEA spokespeople have yet to return our phone calls as we went to press (we'll update this story when they do). It is not known yet if this is purely a software issue or a deeper technical problem and whether or not this lack of upscaling might be resolved on launch PS3 systems in future updates of the hardware via downloadable firmware patches.

For the laymen, 720p is a high-definition format that offers a complete 720-pixel line frame on the screen at 24 to 60 frames per second (progressive), while the 1080i signal is presented as two 540-pixel fields that when displayed back to back look like a complete image (interlaced). The difference being that a 720p picture offers quicker refresh rates while 1080i offers more detail with stationary imagery. The maximum resolution of the PlayStation 3 (and currently the maximum for HDTV standards) is 1080p, but few games support this resolution, and the PS3 doesn't currently upscale to that resolution from 480p, 720p or 1080i either.

Source:http://ps3.ign.com/articles/746/746282p1.html

So, Next-Gen gaming doesn't start until Sony says so...and you buy the HD cables...and you buy a newer HDTV?

Wow...

 

[tzar]

Wow,that's going to hurt them.

 

[GoldenAgeHero]

the dumb thing is people consioder hd next gen. which is pretty stupid.

 

[Boom]

I was in Wal-Mart today playing the PS3 they had on display. An employee told me that if I were to hook up a PS3 to a non-HD television, the graphics wouldn't surpass anything that the PS2 could handle.

I take it that's what this means?

 

[imdaly]

I was in Wal-Mart today playing the PS3 they had on display. An employee told me that if I were to hook up a PS3 to a non-HD television, the graphics wouldn't surpass anything that the PS2 could handle.

I take it that's what this means?

No, it means that even if you DO have an HDTV, if it's not a newer HDTV, chances are it doesn't support 720p, which means you'll get your picture downconverted to 480p - SD DVD quality.

So simply having A HDTV doesn't mean you're going to get a HD picture, if you don't have the right TV.

 

[tzar]

It's way too advance for what most of the population has in their home.

 

[The Bruce]

So it will look like jerk on a Standart tv set?

I'm sick of the "HD gen" crap!

Edit: How will I know if a TV I buy supports it?

 

[Electro UK]

Wait wait wait... I can't afford a HD TV, I'm just barely scrapping money for a PS3... and its going to be as good as a PS2 on normal TVs? Or shatting me right?

 

[Boom]

So it will look like jerk on a Standart tv set?

I'm sick of the "HD gen" crap!

Edit: How will I know if a TV I buy supports it?

See if the TV is 1080i capable.

 

[Mentok]

Wait wait wait... I can't afford a HD TV, I'm just barely scrapping money for a PS3... and its going to be as good as a PS2 on normal TVs? Or shatting me right?

Kinda seems that way...


HD RESISTANCE...

SD RESISTANCE...

 

[JTStarkiller]

Don't mean to sound stupid, but I just bought a Samsung 32" 720p LCD HDTV. Am I affected in this? One post made me think anything less than 720p is getting shafted, while another made me think less than 1080i gets shafted.

 

[Zenien]

If your TV is 720p you're fine.

 

[JTStarkiller]

Zenien, I love you.

 

[Zenien]

Now buy Metal Gear Solid 4.

 

[JTStarkiller]

If there's one reason I got a PS3, that's it.

 

[imdaly]

If there's one reason I got a PS3, that's it.

*waits for MGS4 to be officially announced for XBOX360, too.

 

[JTStarkiller]

On a related topic, does anyone know if MGS3 is 16:9 capable? MGS4 is gonna look so f***in sweet in HD.

 

[Fran]

ZENIEN CLEAR YOUR PM BOX!!!!

But yeah, Resistance looks really bad on my TV... BECAUSE SONY DIDN'T PACK IN COMPONENT CABLES!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Kritish]

ZENIEN CLEAR YOUR PM BOX!!!!

But yeah, Resistance looks really bad on my TV... BECAUSE SONY DIDN'T PACK IN COMPONENT CABLES!!!!!!!!!!

You'd think after paying $600 Sony wouldn't mind putting in some measly component cables.
My respect points for sony just went down ten more points.

 

[Fran]

I have a tiny-ass TV in my room for now, until I get my new HD one.

The PS3 is bigger than the TV. That's all I've gotta say.

 

[Havok83]

You'd think after paying $600 Sony wouldn't mind putting in some measly component cables.
My respect points for sony just went down ten more points.

probably would have been nice but you can pick those up for under 5 bucks so it shouldnt be that big of a deal

 

[AshtonFoster]

HD technology is crazy.

I've got a 42" LG Plasma...my xbox360 plays with 1080i resolution.
Then I find about 1080p....THEN 2 months later, the price of my TV drops from like £1699 to £1300 in sale....

Madness...Either way, if ya can afford a HD TV, get one!!!! Even my PC is hooked up to mine, so Im chillin on my bed with a wireless keyboard munching on some oreos and milk. Oooo yeah

What inputs does a TV need to use in conjection wit a PS3 anyways? Ive got a HDMI connection on my TV, but will the PS3 have other ways of connection?

 

[Kritish]

probably would have been nice but you can pick those up for under 5 bucks so it shouldnt be that big of a deal

It's not the cost, it's the fact that you have to go buy them after you get teh PS3.

 

[JTStarkiller]

I have another question that's semi-related, and I didn't feel it was necessary to start my own thread.

I've got my PS3 hooked up with an HDMI cable, and after I select a game (it mostly happens with the GT5 demo), the signal disappears and the HDMI input on my TV gets short bursts of snow. There are also short bursts of static sound. After this, the game begins to load.

It's not the worst thing in the world, but it's quite irritating. It didn't happen with the yellow composite cable on my parents' TV, and it DOES happen on both HDMI inputs on my TV.

Anyone have a similar problem or might have a suggestion?