PS2 games for HDTV - Progressive mode?

[simplygriff]

I just got a 43" Smasung DLP HDTV and I'm wanting some stellar looking games for it. I know the PS2 isn't the graphics wiz the xbox or Gamecube is but I only have component cables for the PS2 so that's what I've got to work with. I know God of War offers a progressive mode, what else? Am I remembering correctly that GTA: SA has a progressive mode? I'm also looking for stuff that offers 5.1 surround too. Help me out!
-G

[Kyle]

True Crime: Streets of LA Has Progressive mode....

[simplygriff]

Just found this site.

http://www.hdtvpub.com/productdb/games/index.cfm?search=&Platform=PS2&r480p=yes&r169=yes&OrderBy=resolution&daStartRow=1&showRows=25&searched=do

Edit: Just realized that's not a very complete link. It doesn't have God of War, GTA, SSX Tricky, or a few others I know support 480p.
-G

[rodeojones903]

Use this site griff

http://www.hdtvarcade.com/


There is no PS2 game that actually has DD 5.1 in game, but there a few that use it for cut scenes.

[simplygriff]

Thanks rodeo. That's a high quality link ya got there!
-G

[fivecardstud]

Thanks rodeo. That's a high quality link ya got there!
-G

aaaaaaah i see what you did there.

Anyway, i think you'll be blown away the first time you switch from 480i to 480p - I know I was!

I'd highly recommend Soul Calibur 2 for PS2, in 480p it looks even better than the arcade version.

[simplygriff]

Thanks rodeo. That's a high quality link ya got there!
-G

aaaaaaah i see what you did there.

Anyway, i think you'll be blown away the first time you switch from 480i to 480p - I know I was!

I'd highly recommend Soul Calibur 2 for PS2, in 480p it looks even better than the arcade version.

What'd I do? ??? :P

Alright so I need a little help since I'm new to the whole HD thing.

My TV has a pair of component inputs set up for 480p/720p/1080i. I tried to plug the PS2 into one of these and got a check signal error. So I put the PS2 into a component input marked 480i/480p and got picture. I guess my question is am I getting the best picture I can with what I have to work with? Is the progressive mode set solely by the game being played? I've only been testing this with God of War and I know I had to go set it to progressive mode. Is that how it's done? Each game sets the display mode?

Also when I set the PS2 menu to be 16:9 it still had letterbox bars so I set it to full screen. Is that what you guys do?

I appreciate any help! :D
-G

[rodeojones903]

On a DLP, only one of your component inputs will accept a 480i signal. This is standard TV and the resolution that a PS2 plays in during the menu screens and non progressive scan games. That is why it would not recongize your signal. Keep your ps2 hooked up in the component input with 480i/480p, since 480p is the resolution of progressive scan (enhanced definition).

When you are in the menu, just leave it in full screen mode. If a game supports widescreen it will change to it, or ask you if you want to display it in widescreen when you activate progressive scan (holding triangle and x when a game boots up).

[simplygriff]

Thanks for the advice. I thought that's what I needed to do but I just wanted to make sure.

I didn't know about the Triangle and X thing though. Can you explain that further? So I hold that while booting a progressive mode enabled game and it would boot into prog.?

How do DVD's work as the PS2 will act as my DVD player too? Do I have to have a prog. mode enabled movie? Do they default to prog. mode or do I have to have a special DVD? or what?

Thanks so much for your help rodeo. :D
-G

[rodeojones903]

np griff. :D


Yeah, to actually get the games to run in pro scan, as the system is booting up with the game inside it hold down triangle and x till a menu pops up asking you if you are wanting to play the game in progressive scan. If the game supports widescreen is usually asks if you would like to turn that on too in the same menu.

I have never used my ps2 as a dvd player so Ive never done this, but the way you get movies to run in pro scan from what I've heard, is you stop the movie while its playing and bring up the ps2's dvd menu (press triangle i think) and from there you can turn on progressive scan.

[simplygriff]

Alright I think I got it. I knew you could do that with a gamecube but didn't know about the PS2. :D

One last thing. Does a DVD have to support progressive mode or is that something that all DVD's do? Because I couldn't get my LOST DVD to switch. But that could be because it's a TV show to start with.
-G

[rodeojones903]

It really has nothing to do with the dvd, only the player. So every dvd supports progressive scan if you have a pro scan dvd player. :D Lost probably doesnt support widescreen though.

If I may give a small hint of advice though. Replace your dvd player. A ps2 is not that great of a player for that nice of a TV :D . I highly recommend oppo's upconvert unit. It gets higher benchmark tests than upconvert players that cost $1000. It supports all divx formats, PAL/NTSC, and is easily hacked with the remote to be region free.

www.oppodigital.com

[simplygriff]

Nice Suggestion. that looks like a really nice DVD player for $200.

Actually Lost is in Widescreen. :D

Thanks for all your help rodeo. Now I just gotta get the time to put my ish together.
-G

[fivecardstud]

hey griff... do you play gamecube?? I'd recommend getting the component cables for it to try on your new TV. I just got some for my HD tv a couple weeks ago and the progressive scan games look amazing!

Plus, nintendo has way more games supporting 480p than PS2.

As far as PS2 goes, try Soul Calibur 2 or Primal... both look great.

[simplygriff]

Yeah, I got a cube. Where did you get yours fivecard? I've been looking and can only find them on eBay for around $40-50. After buying the TV I can't afford those right now. :D

-G

[fivecardstud]

yeah i waited a year after i got my tv to get the cables too, but now that I have them i feel like i wasted a year of gaming on crappy graphics!

I got them from nintendo's site for around $40 shipped. It hurt, but the pretty colors eased the pain.

Some folks have found them used at gamestop/eb and they are under $10. The trick is finding them though.

[simplygriff]

Whoa! Really! I never thought a local game shop would even have them.

Nintendo has them on back order til Jan. 06 :OMG:

eBay may be the only way to go for the near future.

Thanks for the info. I'd love to finish Metroid Prime in Progressive mode. What resolution is it? 480p or higher?
-G

[fivecardstud]

480P but it looks wicked awesome... I played mx unleased on XBOX in 1080i, and Gran Turismo 4 on PS2 in 1080i and both look nowhere near as good as Metroid Prime.

I think its not just the resolution, but how the graphics are used that makes the biggest difference, and Metroid is a great example.

That sucks that nintendo is backordered, I just got mine a month ago! And for finding them used, your store would have had to have gotten some in from someone who bought them from ebay or nintendo and then ditched their whole system for the pittance that those stores give you. Rare, to be sure.

Gamecrazy has a system where you can order a used game from their stores and they will search the entire chain to find it. Might give them a try to see if it works for accessories.

[simplygriff]

Yeah it would be extremely rare to find such an item. Can't hurt to look though unless I end up buying some other new gameat the game store... :lol:

I'd try the gamecrazy thing but I don't have one here... :(

I'll just breakdown and get one off ebay in the near future. Or maybe I can get my wife to pick one up for me. Our wedding anniversary is coming up. :lol:
-G

[simplygriff]

Ok...kinda odd...

I picked up Soul Calibur II for PS2 yesterday. It looks amazing but there isn't an option for Progressive mode. But I think it's already in 480p. I'm not sure how this could be though. Any ideas?

I could be doing stuff all wrong. My wife just helped me figure out how to run DVD's in prog. mode. (it helps to read the f'n manual :roll: ) Could having DVD's set to prog mode also allow games to default to 480p?

Thanks in advance guys!
-G

[fivecardstud]

hold down triangle and x when you boot the game and an option screen should come up asking if you want to change to progressive.

If you do, the screen should flash (mine even says 480P in the corner) and the same dialogue box should look all sexy. Hit yes and you are off to the races!

In the options menu, make sure to turn the game on to widescreen mode!

[simplygriff]

Well I'll tell you, if it looks a whole lot better I may wet myself cause it already looks much better than the Gamecube version (man I gotta get a set of those component cables) and that's just with it running on PS2 component cables.

I'll try that when I get home. Thanks fivecard.
-G

[simplygriff]

Alright so I think I got this whole progreeisve mode thing down. One thing I'm noticing though is that it seems like there are more jaggies in games now in 480p. Is it just the limitations of the PS2 or is there something that can be done to reduce it. It's really noticable on say God of War on the opening menu screen where Kratos' head is on the side of the screen. Any thoughts oh holiest of HD wizards. :P
-G

[fivecardstud]

nope... thats the pure processing power of the PS2!

Analog TV's blur up the jaggies a bit for us, but when its all crystal-clear you can see a lot more of the flaws, at least that is my understanding.

Now with next-gen systems... this is where the major graphical difference is going to be. I'm thinking that most next-gen buyers won't notice a HUGE ps1 to ps2 difference in graphics on analog/sdtv's, but on digital/hdtv's the difference should be impressive.

Too solve this problems, I have PS2 cables going into both my HDTV and analog TV in different rooms, so I can move the system easily back and forth. Some games just look better on a regular tv.

[simplygriff]

I figured as much. Thanks for the insight fivecard. I guess the easiest thing I could do would be something similar to what you do and just use the connections from my PSOne. That are on my analog TV. I also have a second PS2 hooked up to a VGA monitor for my arcade machine through an adapter and composite cables. That is very blurry. I really need to pick up some extra component cables for that set up.
-G

[Zoglog]

Honestly, most ps2 games look like ass on HDTV since the only game to semi support an hdtv resolution is GT4.
Progressive Scan is better than 480i but it's not nearly the jump you see when you go 720p. but even the Xbox is limited in which games support 720p.

[fivecardstud]

I really need to pick up some extra component cables for that set up.
-G

if you can snipe ebgames after the morning update, sometimes used component cables are available.... only 99 cents!!!!

http://www.ebgames.com/ebx/product/190826.asp

so far, i have been unsuccessful... :(

[simplygriff]

DAAYYMMMMNNNNN!!! :D

Thanks for the info.
-G