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X-Box and HDTV (1 Viewer)

Mike X

Stunt Coordinator
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Nov 6, 2002
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I am an XBox owner shopping for my first HDTV. What functions/features do I want on the TV to get the most out of HD videogaming? Does the Box output in 480, 720p or 1080i?
 

Joel Mack

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Jun 29, 1999
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Does the Box output in 480, 720p or 1080i?
It's capable of all three, but it's up to the software to actually provide that resolution. So far, very few games provide more than 480p (and some ("The Thing" for example) don't even do that).
 

Bob McElfresh

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May 22, 1999
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I saw on another site a list of "If I had only know this first (before buying my HDTV)" and they mentioned that 720p is important for gamers.

So I ran down to Magnolia and sure enough, many of the current models dont even accept 720p.

But when did 720P become the next-big-thing for gamers? Most of my XBox games only support 480. Is there a system that standardized on 720 or is this just hedging the bets for the future?
 

Jason Seaver

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Jun 30, 1997
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I think it's just a case of there being many more games that output 720p, relatively speaking, than 1080i (which I think is limited to Dragon's Lair). Sure, there aren't many 720p games, but there is a non-trivial amount.
 

Carlo_M

Senior HTF Member
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Oct 31, 1997
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Wonder how good the downconversion is from 720p to 1080i...

And yeah, most every set right now doesn't support 720p natively, it downconverts it.

Of course you could always buy a front projector (those new-gen DLPs look yummy!). :D
 

Brian-W

Screenwriter
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Feb 8, 1999
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And yeah, most every set right now doesn't support 720p natively, it downconverts it.
Actually, most sets won't even down convert. It just won't display at all.

Only projectors can sync to different scan rates with little trouble.
 

Mike X

Stunt Coordinator
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Nov 6, 2002
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50
so...perhaps this is a question for the Display forum, but are there any RPTV's that are capable of both 720p and 1080i?
 

JoanPablo_T

Stunt Coordinator
Joined
Mar 21, 2001
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173
So I have a question! :)

If the game is 720p, and the HDTV is only 1080i. And the XBox dasboard is set to 720p no and 1080i yes-what does the XBox output?

480p or is it converted to 1080i?

I am guessing 480p, but the majority of developers must know that most displays don't do 720p, why make games like that then?

jp
 

Allen_Appel

Second Unit
Joined
Dec 13, 2002
Messages
418
I think the conversion is dependent on your TV. If it can upconvert to 1080i it will, otherwise it would just display the 480p. 480p is native for the vast majority of Xbox games (The Thing, Hitman 2 and Kung-Fu Chaos are 480i exceptions), but 480i and 480p are always offered, and 720p is just another setting for some games (THPS4 is one), offered for those who have it available (it's probably easier to program than 1080i).
 

JoanPablo_T

Stunt Coordinator
Joined
Mar 21, 2001
Messages
173
Allen,
that sounds correct, the only issue is, the dashboard is set to 720P-NO. So the XBox won't send out 720P. And in my scenerio, the TV will not even display it, no conversion. I will simply get a blank screen. Thanks for reply though! :)

JP
 

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