Aspect ratio on 480i/p content question

Wolfpup

Wolfpup

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I just got my component cables for the Playstation 2. It does look even better than S-Video so far, but I've got a question about aspect ratios on 480i/p content.

On the 360, when you select 720p, it's just automatically the correct widescreen aspect ratio.

On the Playstation 2, when selecting widescreen (whether 480i or p), it basically distorts everything, and then I can use the TV's "full" zoom mode to make it look right and (almost) full screen (about 3/4 an inch on both sides are still black bars).

Is that how it's supposed to work? I was expecting the TV to just switch modes and start doing widescreen like with 720p content (or at least like on the 360).

Will the Wii work like this? Where it's not really quite "full" widescreen and I'm having to use my TV's zoom features?

At any rate, my Sony KDL-32s2010 is *EXCELLENT* on 480i and p content. Really happy that it handles it apparently just as good as a good SD CRT. That is, unless it's not handling widescreen right!
 
Unlike 720p, the 480p standard comes in both wide and fullscreen. Not all PS2 games support widescreen. You can set your PS2 to widescreen mode, which will change the browser and maybe some games. Other games have widescreen support hidden in their options menus.
 
All PS2 games (widescreen or not) run at 640x480 which is a non wide-screen ratio. So therefore when you select widescreen in game it is simply making the picture look right in widescreen while not changing the resolution at all. The game is scrunching a widescreen picture into a non-widescreen resolution and the TV is streching it to widescreen.

I believe the Wii will run at 848x480 when in widescreen mode, so it will be a widescreen resolution.
 
When I had a PS2, the widescreen settings always made it look like crap, while the normal mode output via component cables looked great on my widescreen TV.

I think the PS2 betrays its age a bit, as it was put out well before widescreen TVs were the "in" thing.
 
[quote name='PenguinMaster']All PS2 games (widescreen or not) run at 640x480 which is a non wide-screen ratio. So therefore when you select widescreen in game it is simply making the picture look right in widescreen while not changing the resolution at all. The game is scrunching a widescreen picture into a non-widescreen resolution and the TV is streching it to widescreen.

I believe the Wii will run at 848x480 when in widescreen mode, so it will be a widescreen resolution.[/QUOTE]

Thanks for the explanation! I was worried my TV was broken :) I'm glad to hear the Wii will support a true widescreen resolution-should make games look better still.

[quote name='daroga']When I had a PS2, the widescreen settings always made it look like crap, while the normal mode output via component cables looked great on my widescreen TV.

I think the PS2 betrays its age a bit, as it was put out well before widescreen TVs were the "in" thing.[/QUOTE]

On mine (Sony KDL 32-s2010) the two widescreen games I've tried so far (Final Fantasy 12, Gun) actually both look fantastic once I figured out the aspect ratio bit. I know FF12 would look better still if it were really HD, but it looks better than I've ever seen the PS2 look. I think FF12 actually defaults to 16:9, but I'm not sure if that's because I have the dashboard set like that, or if it just does that automatically when using component cables.

I'm REALLY glad my TV handles SD stuff great. Means I'm all set for Wii, and can still enjoy my old games! (I was scared after all the horror stories of input lag, blurry SD, etc.)
 
[quote name='Puppy']I know FF12 would look better still if it were really HD, but it looks better than I've ever seen the PS2 look. [/QUOTE]

Just to clarify, only 2 PS2 games are HD (Gran Turismo 4 & I forget the other one), 480p is ED not HD.
 
[quote name='PenguinMaster']Just to clarify, only 2 PS2 games are HD (Gran Turismo 4 & I forget the other one), 480p is ED not HD.[/QUOTE]

Tourist Trophy is the other one I think.
 
[quote name='PenguinMaster']Just to clarify, only 2 PS2 games are HD (Gran Turismo 4 & I forget the other one), 480p is ED not HD.[/QUOTE]

FF12 is only 480i, not p even, but it still looks great! So far I'm not noticing a big difference between i and p, which is good I guess. I did shut off FF12's "flicker filter". I'm not sure what it does, but the game does look a tiny bit sharper with it off (I'm guessing it's something to do with CRTs?)
 
[quote name='Puppy']FF12 is only 480i, not p even, but it still looks great! So far I'm not noticing a big difference between i and p, which is good I guess. I did shut off FF12's "flicker filter". I'm not sure what it does, but the game does look a tiny bit sharper with it off (I'm guessing it's something to do with CRTs?)[/QUOTE]

Things like "flicker filter" in FF12 and "softening" in God of War really only help the picture when you have a really crappy connection anyway. It makes it look a bit better using a composite or RF connection, but makes it look worse on anything better. I've never really seen the point of options like that.
 
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