HDTV Player for PS2 Blows away Media at GC06

[Zeus]

Unternational delegates blown away by Xploder HDTV Player

Representatives of the media, retail and distribution gathered at GC in Leipzig, Germany to experience for themselves the latest ground-breaking product from the Xploder team.

Greeted by two HD plasma screens showing a side-by-side comparison of the Xploder HDTV Player versus standard PS2 output, visitors were astounded by the instantly recognisable differences. They were left in no doubt of the visible improvements made by the product - crystal clear graphics, well-proportioned characters, crisp text within on-screen menus, detailed backgrounds, vivid colours and smooth character animation - resulting in dramatically enhanced gameplay.

From driving to fighting, role-play to strategy – almost all games including titles such as Formula One 06, the Godfather, GTA: Liberty City and classic beat-em-ups like Tekken 5 benefit from the improved HD image quality through the HDTV Player (compatible with 90% of all PS2 games). Simply choose your required settings, (480p, 720p, 1080i and numerous VGA modes) position the screen image in the required location and experience games as they were meant to be played.

Xploder HDTV Player is also capable of playing DVDs in High Definition and Enhanced Definition modes.

With consumers still anxious about committing to next generation movie formats, and concerns about the availability and pricing of the PS3, the HDTV Player is a cost-effective alternative for those who want to make the most of their existing HDTV system and current movie and game collections.

Why wait to play games and DVDs in HD? For just £29.99 / €49.99 / $49.99 you can experience HD quality now! Includes High Quality Component RGB Cable (with composite video adaptor).

[ujnhunter]

hrmm, seeing is believing i guess... i'd like to see some screen comparisons. it's probably just upconverted and anti-aliased. i wonder how much better that would make things?

[{{909}}]

so is this just a disk you boot ala action replay? be nice if they could do one for the other 2 consoles too, even better if it got hacked and built into the modchips bios' ;)

[Zeus]

hrmm, seeing is believing i guess... i'd like to see some screen comparisons. it's probably just upconverted and anti-aliased. i wonder how much better that would make things?

Exactly, shame they just talk and talk without the easiest proof of all - pictures!

[Osiris]

How the hell does this work?

It sounds like magic to me, too good to believe.

[Horrorwood]

hrmm, seeing is believing i guess... i'd like to see some screen comparisons. it's probably just upconverted and anti-aliased. i wonder how much better that would make things?

Theres no way a stock ps2 can upconvert and use AA while keeping performance the same.

[imforpbj]

Theres no way a stock ps2 can upconvert and use AA while keeping performance the same.

I'm not up on all the terms but it wouldnt make sense to force better graphics out of a console without sacrificing somthing like load times or controller response, or framerate for that matter.

[Robotron]

From what I have read (at http://gear.ign.com/articles/723/723551p1.html ) the
device just enables progressive scan.
So it is possible and it shouldn't affect gameplay.

There are already numerous 480p games on the PS2. I have always used
a component cable for my PS2 and some games will run in that mode, it's probably just disabled since most PS2 owners don't run their systems on an HDTV (and these are the people who are going to buy a PS3??).

[alchemyst]

I'm guessing this is a physical box right? i.e. between your PS2 and TV

[Steve-O 2006]

im guessign this $50 HDTV Connector is the same as the $12 HDTV Connector that RichsPSXParts is selling ;) - http://store.richspsxparts.com/pl2coca.html

[zeeman]

So this software basically "enables" the progressive scan for games. Well how about $#@% Sony just add this feature in their dashboard so we don't have to screw around "swapping" this then the actual game.

I already have my PS2 connected to my 30" LCD via "pro" component cables and I have everything enabled in the dashboard. However, the picture don't take up the whole screen. I still have black bars on the side and it looks terrible comparing it to Xbox or GameCube running through component cables.

I may have to look into this to improve the quality since crappy graphics really turns me off. That's why MGS3 is the last game I have completed on PS2 and since then haven't really played anything. I have so many games I want finish on it....

[et100]

This is just a press release from the PR department = which is just an advertisement.

You wouldn't believe anything the advertisement says, would you? :rolleyes:

[eretsua]

Unternational delegates blown away by Xploder HDTV PlayerGreeted by two HD plasma screens showing a side-by-side comparison of the Xploder HDTV Player versus standard PS2 output, visitors were astounded by the instantly recognisable differences.

does that mean that it was also hooked up with the standard composite cable? if so any remotely RGB-cable is such a significant product that even blind people can see the difference. ;)

seriously though, anyone have any photo's of the event and the comparisons? and preferably of the connections they've used on both the screens.

[DisizDream]

quoted from : http://www.xploder.net/products/148/Xploder-HDTV-Player.htm


Is the HDTV Player changing the code within games so that they display in HD?

No, the Xploder HDTV Player does not change the code within games. It enables progressive scan, so instead of outputting odd/even fields it outputs 448/512 lines to the CRT output.


Does the HDTV player use additional hardware?

The Xploder HDTV Player does not use any additional hardware in converting the signal; it is purely a software product. The disc does comes bundled with a PS2 component cable for the HDTV output, and a VGA Adaptor cable is available separately for those who wish to use a VGA connection.


Does using the software slow games down?

Games render at their native resolution - therefore Xploder HDTV Player does not take-up any additional processing power.


The PS2 hardware isn't capable of outputting 720p and 1080i

Contrary to popular belief, the PlayStation 2 can output 480p, 720p, 1080i modes via a Component cable. In addition the PS2 supports the following VESA modes (via VGA adaptor):
640 x 480 (60,72, 75, 85hz)
800 x 600 (56, 60, 72, 75,85hz)
1024 x 768 (60, 70, 75, 85hz)
1280 x 1024 (60, 75hz)


Will games suffer from stretching and distortion?

The 480p mode is recommended for optimum performance on most PS2 games. Some games may experience distortion in the higher resolution modes.


Doesn’t my HDTV already up-convert lower resolution signals to High Definition, regardless of the source?

Displaying interlaced video on progressive displays (LCD, Plasma) results in motion artefacts called “combing”, the Xploder HDTV avoids this by sending video frames in progressive mode (where possible).


Do the games have to be formatted in HD?

No, the games do not have to be formatted in HD to be used with the Xploder HDTV Player.


You can't increase the quality of the source.

Progressive mode sends twice the number of lines per frame (game permitting), so the resolution is increased vertically (interlaces games need 2 screen updates, or twice the amount of time to send the same video data).


There has been a lot of reference to up-converting/up-scaling and de-interlacing. Which of these best describes the HDTV Player?

Progressive mode and up-scaling best describe the method used by the Xploder HDTV Player.


Does the device interpolate (or add pixels).

The Xploder HDTV Player does not interpolate. It works by enabling progressive scan output, so instead of sending half the lines per frame it sends all of them. This has noticeable improvements in movement, especially on HDTV sets; artefacts such as combing are no long present. The software does not create extra lines (or interpolate).


Will this work with all PS2 games?

We have already successfully tested Xploder HDTV Player with hundreds of games, however there may ultimately be a small number of games that the Xploder HDTV is not compatible with due to circumstances outside of our control. Our comprehensive testing programme will continue as new games are released. Compatibility is around 90% of all PS titles.


How does the Enhanced DVD player for PS2 work?

Like the Games Player, it works by enabling progressive scan output, so instead of sending half the lines per frame it sends all of them. This has noticeable improvements in movement, especially on HDTV sets; artefacts such as combing are no long present. The software does not create extra lines (or interpolate).


Can I play DVDs in 720p and 1080i?

Yes, DVD movies can be played in 720p or 1080i modes. However for optimum playback on most TVs 480p mode is recommended.


Is there a loss in image quality on DVD playback?

No, there is no loss in image quality on DVD playback, in fact playback is visibly more crisp and significantly enhanced.