Xploder HDTV Game Player For PS2 Makes Games HiDef >

	2006/07/31 9:42:07: Posted by DM
	Fire has released the packshot and official details for what they call the PS2 HDTV Game Player. Apparently, this package allows PS2 users to play any PS2 game in full HDTV resolution. How this can possibly work is anyone's guess, but we suspect the mechanics are similar to how the Xbox360 displays Xbox games in HDTV resolution. One thing to note, the Xploder VGA cable is required. Click read more for the full press info, and click the link for the packshot. PRESS RELEASE In response to the announcements that both the XBOX 360 and Playstation 3 will utilise High Definition formats for next generation game development; It has been confirmed that Xploder will launch the HDTV Game Player to allow millions of Playstation 2 owners to upgrade their PS2 consoles, so that they can experience their favourite PS2 games in true High Definition quality via their HDTV sets. PS2 lovers can now experience their games with enhanced image quality - standard PS2 games can be played in High Definition using the Xploder HDTV Game Player. You can also exploit the true capabilities of your HDTV set RIGHT NOW and benefit from crystal clear picture quality on all your PS2 games. The Xploder HDTV Player is designed to allow you to make the most of your existing kit by providing everything needed to connect the PS2 to your HDTV. Available for both PAL and NTSC PS2 consoles, the Xploder HDTV Player allows you to: Select a HD 720p or 1080i setting to give a clearer, crisper picture quality for all PS2 games. Play games in Enhanced Definition (ED) TV 480p mode; a higher resolution for improved image quality. Choose from a variety of superior VGA options.* Driven by proprietary Xploder software, you simply put the disc in the PS2 console and use the simple on-screen interface to select the optimum configuration for your system (HD, ED or VGA modes) from the options menu. The details are automatically saved to your memory card, so there’s no need to reconfigure the settings every time you use your console. The supplied high-quality RGB component cable connects the PS2 directly in your HDTV to ensure superior image quality. Requires VGA Cable (available separately from www.xploder.net) >Link
	Labeled With  playstation 2 sony fire Comments [14]  | Rate this article: -- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10  | Avg. rating of 3.0

this sux king kong dong. it's way too late in the game. sony needs to stop beating a dead horse. just let it go, just like you'll have to with the game leadership spot :)

This isn't being developed by sony (is it?) which leads me to ask the same question as everybody else...

How the HELL does this thing work?!?

I assume the VGA cable is only required for the VGA modes? Why else would it require the VGA adapter and supply a component cable. If this is real then I'll be happy because there are a few PS2 games I still play (final fantasy X).

That's a very big if. The PS2 hardware isn't capable of outputting 720p and the GT4 devs must have done quite a bit of fiddling about to get 1080i done. I call bullshit but I'll be happy if it's real.

how this would work is simple. it would refresh only the SCREEN resolution, so basically this unit up-converts the low low resolution of the ps2 into high resolution which really would not be a good thing. first a lot of games will suffer stretching and distortion and second with the higher resolution, it will be easier to see the visual flaws of the games.

also about GT4 running at 1080i, only the cars were rendered in 1080i while the rest of the game ran at normal resolutions. it is not a true 1080i game.

1) It's nothing like the 360. The 360 can produce HD resolutions on its own without having to up-convert from 320x200.

2) It'll be damn butt-ugly. It's the PS2! Looks worse than dreamcast, needs RF or composite video connections to look decent, and even on an SDTV it looks disgusting with component cables.

This isnt entirely usless.

If you run the N64 emulator for example, you can choose higher resolutions than the game designers intended. The games actually do look better at higher resolutions. The only bad part are textures that look mushy and scaling sprite based games.

I disagree admiral. I play my PS2 on a 720p 32" LCD HDtv in progressive scan mode and the games look good. It isn't 360 good of course, but it is still pretty sharp. To say the games look worse than Dreamcast is ludicrous.

I already play my PS2 on the HDTV and it's not all that impressive. It gets especially ugly when you try playing PS1 games. My advice is play your old games on an old TV.

OptX: What he means is that the dreamcast with VGA cable looks much nicer than the PS2 in most games because the picture is much sharper.

Only a few PS2 games support progressive scan and no European ones do because Sony are cunts.

This unit more than likely uses the same hardware thats in an upconverting DVD player, like a line doubler. What it does is take the standard PS2 480i signal and up convert it to 480p,720i,720p etc..

Its not going to be anything like the 360's emulation of XB games, those are actually ran to include anti-aliasing as well as being output up to 1080i.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR ALL GAMERS!!!!

Before you consider wasting your money on this product, consider these facts:

1. If you do not yet have an HDTV, but you are going to be getting one, you need to realize that almost all of the new models of HDTV upconvert lower resolution signals to High Definition, regardless of the source! It would literally be a useless waste of money for you to buy this Playstation 2 product.

2. If you already have an HDTV, there is an excellent chance that the HDTV you already own upconverts lower resolution signals to High Definition, especially, if you bought your HDTV in the last year or so.

3. Please remember that the Xbox 360 doesn't just upconvert resolution; most HDTV's on the market can already to that. The Xbox 360 can also add features like Anti-Aliasing and other graphic features. Although we do not know for sure how compatible the PS3 will be with PS2 games, it makes sense that the PS3 would be able to do similar things with PS2 games that the Xbox 360 does with Xbox games. This, once again, proves that it is not a good idea to waste money on this Playstation 2 product.

im 100% with u

I disagree that this is a waste of money, it will in fact output a progressive scan signal for interlaced games, which means that you will have a much better picture on an HDTV. I don't understand why people are comparing this to an Xbox 360, it is not even in the same league of processing power.

If you still play your PS2 and have an HDTV this is a great investment (if it works as they say). Progressive scan is worlds better then interlaced on an HDTV, there is no comparison.

So the main reason to get this is to make interlaced games progressive scan (480i to 480p) pretty much doubling clarity of the picture.

Upconverting (480p to 720p) will do little to nothing for picture quality.