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General discussion

PS3 Play Call of Duty in 1080i? I don't get it!

Mar 4, 2007 2:16AM PST

OK..I use to consider myself as a guy who had a nice set of hair. But lately I have pulled so much out of my head, a transplant might be in order!

I posted a couple of weeks ago about a blu ray question that I have since rectified. I watched Flyboys (the movie) using the PS3 player and the audio and video (played in 1080i format) was outstanding.

I am miffed at this one. I bought Call of Duty 3 for the PS3. The back of the game says that it supports 3 video formats: 480p, 720p and 1080i. (My TV only plays 480p and 1080i - no 720p) When I push the info button on my remote to see which video format is playing on Call of Duty, the TV tells me that it is in 480p. I cannot figure out how to get the game to play in 1080i!

I have checked all of the programming on the PS3 and it appears that I have it correct. Keep in mind that the movie I watched above played in 1080i format above perfectly. I have not changed the settings any differently from the movie to the game.

I am not using the HDMI output - But I am using the A/V Link out into the RED BLUE GREEN of my TV. The movie was in 1080i - The game is not.

Are my PS3 settings for the movie to be the same for the game? This might be where I am making my mistake(?)Maybe you can only get the game(s)to play in HD by using the HDMI out which is not an option for me. HELP! THANKS!


WHAT AM I DOING WRONG?

Discussion is locked

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Response to my own post above.....
Mar 4, 2007 2:32AM PST

I just found this question/post on the activision.com web site under Call of Duty 3. Can anyone verify this?

1080i resolution not working

Question
My TV only supports a 1080i HD resolution and the game keeps going back to 480p. Shouldn't the game run in 1080i?

Answer
Please be advised that a limited number of Call of Duty 3 game packages contain a misprint regarding support for 1080i resolution ? it should state that Call of Duty 3 supports 720p. Future game packaging has been updated to reflect support for 720p resolution.

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the ps3 downconverts
Mar 4, 2007 8:01AM PST

Most of the PS3 games are 720p, and Sony decided, in their infinite wisdom, to downconvert the games to 480p on TVs that only support 1080i. Hopefully this will be fixed with a future firmware update, but as it stands it is just another of Sony's many blunders...

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They didn't "decide" that
Mar 4, 2007 8:06AM PST

They just chose not to include a scaler chip so they wouldn't lose more money than they already are on the hardware. I'll be the first to admit that Sony has made a lot of boneheaded mistakes on both the hardware and PR side of things but they aren't so stupid that they'd decide to downconvert 720p instead of upconvert it, it's just a hardware issue that will more than likely be fixed in a software update before the end of the year. As for CoD 3, the back of the box is a misprint there's no 1080i support.

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They "decided" to cut corners
Mar 4, 2007 8:15AM PST

Not including a scalar chip (or software support) for upconversion is a pretty big deal. And yes, I'd say they're pretty stupid for making that decision. Not everybody has the latest and greatest HDTV, and Sony is alienating a large group of consumers. Hopefully they'll remedy the situation soon.

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360
Mar 4, 2007 10:52PM PST

Even the 360 has a scalar chip. I guess the PS3 is not "future proof" afterall.

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Nor is the 360 losing $200 on every console sold
Mar 5, 2007 1:38AM PST

I think if I were Sony i'd probably want to save the money by skipping the scaler chip as well, I know they're alienating a big market but good lord people do you honestly think they won't fix it with a software update?

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updates
Mar 5, 2007 1:42AM PST

Well sure they could update the firmware in their vidcard to support 1080i, but its just a sloppy way to go about upconversion instead of having a dedicated scalar chip handling the load.

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How the hell is that sloppy?
Mar 5, 2007 2:17AM PST

If the end is the same who cares what the means are? So what if it's upconverted through software instead of hardware, it looks exactly the same!

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not always
Mar 5, 2007 2:29AM PST

Upconversion of a signal can introduce unwanted artifacts to a picture during the interpolating calculation that the scaling chip or software performs. The image is at the mercy of the quality of the chip or software that does the calculations.

The case of any piece of electronics with a scaling chip will perform a uniform way is just not true.

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O and ya know what the 360 doesn't have?
Mar 5, 2007 2:29AM PST

Free online play, built in Wi-Fi, and a high def movie player (and no paying $200 for an annoying add-on with no HDMI output for a soon to be obsolete technology doesn't count). Don't confuse me for a fanboy, in time I will own a PSwii60.

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360
Mar 5, 2007 2:37AM PST

I would much rather have a quality online service like XBL and pay $50 for a year than a free first generation one from Sony that doesn't even support a universal friends list.

The hi-def movie player is no biggie for me or alot of people because many of us do not want to invest in either Blu-ray or HD-DVD yet. I will wait till the standalone players (which are superior to players in consoles) get down to about $300 and a clear format winner is crowned. I agree that the HD-DVD add-on for the 360 is a waste of $200. No HDMI and basically no features on it makes it a no-buy.

The integrated Wi-Fi card is nice but I have mine wired to my router which is better than wireless anyway. I don't disagree that the PS3 wins on features, but the game selection, forcing the consumer into investing in BR, price tag, and more of a slant towards Japanese gamers makes it something I will not buy.

Oh and it doesn't have Halo.

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or...
Mar 20, 2007 4:22AM PDT

Halo2, the soon to be Halo3, Gears of War, TCR6 Vegas!