Stupid question about 4:3 HDTVs and progressive scan videogames (1 Viewer)

[CraigPilecky]

Ok this is probably a really dumb question. When your playing a progressive scan videogame on a 4:3 ratio HDTV in progressive scan is it full screen?

Also about Soul Calibur 2. Ive heard people say that in 720p mode its boxed down to a 4:3 size. On a 4:3 TV would it be full screen?

Thanks

 

[Tony_L]

I think almost every game has a fullscreen mode, regardless of whether it's running in progressive scan mode or not.

 

[Dean Martin]

It would depend on the game, yes most games are 4:3 when played on a 4:3 set but if you play a game that is 480p, 720p, 1080i and it is 16:9 ratio you would see that game with letterbox bars on your TV. It can vary from game to game. Take a look at the chart they have composed at the top of this forum and you can see which games are widescreen, etc.

 

[CraigPilecky]

So Soul Calibur 2 in 720p would have black bars on all 4 sides of the screen?

Hmm. Well I guess ill just have to see how they are when I pick up my tv this friday.

 

[Jay Mitchosky]

Moving to Hardware.

 

[Dean Martin]

I'm not sure since I haven't tried SC2. It is 4:3 at 720p so you would get a squished image on a 16:9 Tv. I know that Syberia has a similar display issue. Basically I disable 720p for this game and then play it at 1080i but there still is some black around the screen.

 

[CraigPilecky]

Ok one more question.

If for instance your playing SC2 in 720p on a widescreen, can you set the stretch feature on the TV to fill the entire screen? Or wouldn't that work?

Im asking because was going to get the 4:3 Sony KV36HS510 HDTV, but im planning to change my order to the 16:9 KV34HS510. So im trying to find out if there are any display issues I should be aware of.

 

[Dave F]

Soul Calibur will be windowboxed. If your tv can zoom in, that would maintain the aspect ratio. I don't know if any tv's can zoom in with a 720p mode though.
(Edit: I just realized that you meant zooming on a widescreen tv. This would distort your image. You'd probably be best off with the 480p 16:9 mode)

Soul Calibur 2 is an abberation though - I wouldn't let it influence your decision much (if at all), since it is the exception and not the rule.

-Dave