Progressive Scan - Xbox and GC

[007]

Hey folks.

Am i right in thinking that if I want to play my Gamecube through progressive scan, there are only a certain amount of games that support it?

I've just got a new TV, and all the leads I need for my Xbox and GC. Now I only need to find the games. Is it only US games that support it too? I know my US/Can Metroid Prime does...

Oh, and If I want to play my xbox through progressive scan, what's the shindig there?

Cheers.

[hankwangford]

Gamecube: Bingo. It should say on the back of the box if it supports prog scan or not, and although I'm not sure if PAL games have it in, I would think not as to start prog scan on GC games you have to hold down the B button on bootup; a feature replaced by the 60hz switches I believe. Cube can do up to 480p and no higher. I would not rate the chances of a PAL Cube being able to output any kind of component signal though.

Xbox: Different kettle of fish. Pratically everything (PAL games are NO exception) supports 480p - Hitman 2 is the ONLY game on the XB I've played that doesn't have the support. What you will need to be doing is to have your Xbox in NTSC mode (if you have a PAL box, you have no hope of doing it unless its chipped. If it's chipped, you'll need ConfigMagic or the Engima Switchdisc installed), and that will replace the PAL60 option in the actual Xbox dashboard with display choices of 480p, 720p, and 1080i.

I am guessing that your new TV, if it's a CRT, will only have 480p, but if you're getting a plasma or something like that, then you'll be able to whack it up to 720 - and for the games that support 720, prepare to have your mind blown...

In non-progressive scan mode, component cables roughly output the same quality as RGB, maybe a bit lower.

[007]

Hey dude. Cheers for the help.

It's this TV here. http://digitaldirectuk.com/products_...roduct_id=2613

I'm not sure about 480p, I think it is, aswell as 480i. What's the difference?

I've got a set of componant cables for each, should I stick with RGB for one of them? I was always under the impression componant made the picture a little more crisp than RGB. I've also got the official Xbox RGB cable too.

So, if I want progressive scan on my xbox. I have to have it chipped? In that case, I won't be able to play PAL Live games in Progressive Scan, or PAL Games in Progressive Scan either?

Cheers again, sorry if i'm a bit confuzzled.

[Papercut]

GameCube answers:

NTSC games (jpn/us) nearly all support prog scan. This will work on a PAL GameCube if you have a v1.06b or v1.06B Freeloader.

PAL games nearly all do not support prog scan. PAL GameCubes running PAL games do not support prog scan. A handful of PAL games will run in prog scan mode on an NTSC GameCube with a Freeloader, but not many. Godzilla: Destry All Monsters is one.

Xbox answers:

Some early PAL Xboxs unofficially supported prog scan, later ones disable prog scan. Most pal games will run in prog scan though. The trick: mod your PAL Xbox and change the region with config magic, or run your games on a native NTSC machine.

Most Xbox games support prog scan, but you might find glitches with some PAL titles.

480p - prog scan
480i - interlaced (normal TV type video).

In theory a component video cable is higher quality than RGB, in practice there is very little difference, so stick with whichever you have. Component is only really useful as modern TVs tend to support prog scan for component video sources only.

[hankwangford]

Hey! That's my TV except 4 inches bigger! Good TV it is too

What Papercut said for all other questions.

480p is the same resolution as 480i, but obviously progressively scans thusly giving the image a clearer and sharper look.

[Hitcher]

For Xbox progressive scan -

Chipped PAL Xbox,
Video mode changed to NTSC using Enigmah Video Mode Disc,
Hi-Def cable plugged in,
Video options now have 480p, 720p, 1080i available.

Nearly all PAL games run in 480p in NTSC video mode and it has on effect on Live because once done you can switch off the chip.

Check out www.hdtvarcade.com for a list of compatible games for all consoles.

[007]

Righty hoe, this is ace. I'm like almost there now. My machine is an early machine. How would I go about checking if it had the option? So instead of where it would say PAL60 or whatever, it would say 480i, 480p etc? And I want to be using 480p for progressive scan. Yeah?

Right, i've got all that now. But if I was to get my machine modded. I wouldn't be able to play Live games, or PAL games in Progressive Scan would I? That's the only thing I don't quite understand. As I'd have to have the switch on to change it to NTSC region. And if I changed it to that, I wouldn't be able to play Pal games again. *I think*

[007]

For Xbox progressive scan -

Chipped PAL Xbox,
Video mode changed to NTSC using Enigmah Video Mode Disc,
Hi-Def cable plugged in,
Video options now have 480p, 720p, 1080i available.

Nearly all PAL games run in 480p in NTSC video mode and it has on effect on Live because once done you can switch off the chip.

Check out www.hdtvarcade.com for a list of compatible games for all consoles.

Right, got you. Turn the machine on. with the chip on. Change video mode to NTSC. Turn the chip off. (Restart the machine at this point?) Go into the menu, turn 480p on. (Restart again with Live game inserted?)

Now, will I need to do this everytime I want to play a live game?

[dazza_cole]

Play PAL games in NTSC mode?

Doesn't this cause any issues with the speed (due to 50/60hz)..or is it only a problem if the game doesn't support PAL60?

[hankwangford]

Right, i've got all that now. But if I was to get my machine modded. I wouldn't be able to play Live games, or PAL games in Progressive Scan would I? That's the only thing I don't quite understand. As I'd have to have the switch on to change it to NTSC region. And if I changed it to that, I wouldn't be able to play Pal games again. *I think*

I don't want to say this like an arse, but I like saying it, so...

OH YES YOU ****ING WOULD!

As long as the security region isn't changed (Region 4 in the UK IIRC), any game will run in NTSC video mode. In ConfigMagic, the EEPROM shows something like the following line:

NTSC, Region 4

Which means that NTSC is the video mode and Region 4 (Europe) is the security mode.

[007]

Aha. Ace.

Once i've changed it, will it stay like that forever, or do I do it each time I boot up?

Once i've changed it, put the game in, reset, and hey presto?

[Hitcher]

Yep, once changed you've got a PAL region Xbox that outputs an NTSC signal.

You can also make the dashboard 480p by pressing and holding L+R+Left Thumbstick In+Right Thumbstick In.

[007]

Quality. So you can notice the difference of having it on and off? Is there much difference?

RIght, i'm well sorted now. Just got one Q left. When I get my Japanese Blue Xbox delivered. There's no way I could take that on Live and still play PAL games in Pro Scan, is there?

*contacts Yod@*

[Hitcher]

I've got the 28" model of your Tosh and believe me the difference is amazing.

If you're sending it to Yod@ ask him if he'd set the region to PAL and the videomode to NTSC for you and it'll be fine on Live playing PAL games in prog scan.

[007]

Oh man. That'll be ace. Consider that. DONE. Can't wait to get me blue box. I can get rid of this ****ty black one then.

Yod@ just said that there's a dash update that gives you the update to choose 480i and the likes from the xbox dashoard. So maybe I won't need to send it to him?

Man, I can't wait to see the difference.