Since the advent of the Wii, it’s been constantly criticized for the lack of formal HD. Of course, with some third party component cables, it can play at a measly 480p, but nothing truly impressive. Well, some shrewd hackers found a workaround for this “issue”, provided you’re willing to complete a few sketchy steps. Above is the video for the HD version of Super Smash Bros. Brawl.

As a note of caution, we here at Ripten don’t advocate piracy in any way, any steps taken to modify your console are of your own risk, blah, blah blah. With a Dolphin emulator for the Wii, and a legal backup of Wii games, YouTuber renebarahona managed to emulate Wii games to their full HD extent. Want more? Hit the jump for videos of Mario Kart, Resident Evil Umbrella Chronicles, and Tatsunoko vs. Capcom in HD. There’s even more at his/her YouTube channel.

Source: Kotaku

It sucks the fun out of Tetris. Called “Tetoris“, this version of the classic puzzle renders it mind-numbing and completely dull. In a game where it takes 30 seconds for one block to get to the bottom, good luck completing only one row. It’s faster to build a tower up and fail than it is to get any points. And of course, because it’s so dull and rubbish, it is awesome. I challenge all Riptenites to complete just one row. If you manage it, you might want to think about how much free time you have.

Via BoingBoing.
Image: Rock, Paper, Shotgun.

After all this hullabaloo about how the PlayStation 3 is the only “true” HD console, here comes the release of FarCry 2 to slap Sony’s PR in the balls. In addition to people complaining about the messed-up widescreen and mandatory 3.5GB install, the PS3 version falls short of its Xbox 360 counterpart by only supporting 720p while the 360 version supports full 1080p.

I noticed this myself by looking at the back of the case for the game, a photo of which I’ve conveniently provided for you:

Obviously, it’s just the developer’s fault for being lazy and stupid and not because the PS3 isn’t living up to what it was promised to be — the only true HD console. After all, we know for a fact that developers love putting out gimped versions of the games they’ve worked so hard to create, simply to prove a point or because Microsoft paid them to.

I’m sure the PS3 version, despite these differences, plays just as well as the 360 version and will no doubt be an enjoyable experience for those of you without options. If you had a choice, however, go with the 360 or PC edition just to be safe. Word.

UPDATE: Some articles about FarCry 2’s resolution have been brought to my attention, but upon reviewing them, I do not believe they present new information that directly contradicts my statements. The articles mentioning the native resolution of the game, on PS3 and 360, as being 720p are only talking about the native resolution, and I made no mention of native resolutions. It is irrelevant.

Yes, both consoles run the game at 720p native resolution. The 360 can upscale it to 1080p, but the PS3 does not do so naturally, and the box implys that it does not do it at all. While it may be possible to “trick” your PS3 into outputting in 1080p, the game itself does not readily support it. Many PS3 games that I have seen clearly show that they support 1080p, either natively or upscaled, on the back of the box — FarCry 2 is not one of them.

I find it odd that if the PS3 could support 1080p on all games that it is not mentioned on the game’s case. Requiring customers to resort to some backdoor trick to achieve what is supposed to be built in to the console and that other games (on both 360 and PS3) more clearly support — it’s ridiculous.

I explicitly said that the game likely plays just as well. Sony has clearly done its job convincing their fanbase that the PS3 is obviously superior, which leaves me wondering they wouldn’t help advertise that on the games themselves.

UPDATE 2: It is also worth noting that in a recent IGN Insider head-to-head comparison of the game, the reviewer had the following to say regarding the differences:

“The only real differences are the PS3’s occasional framerate hitches and the dropping of some sound effects during hectic gunfights. These issues don’t really hurt the experience in any major way, but will be a minor irritation for some. If you’re at all interested in shooters, Far Cry 2 is an experience you will enjoy on any console. If you have the luxury of choice, the 360 version runs just a little bit more smoothly.”

OVERALL:
1st = PC
2nd = 360
3rd = PS3

Translation: gimped?

After reporting on the native rendering resolution of the Haze demo, some questioned my reasoning that the final game would sport the same resolution. This is despite there seldom being an example of a game’s resolution differing from its demo. In visiting Free Radical’s studio near Nottingham, creative lead Derek Littlewood confirmed our suspicions.

When I mentioned our story, Derek told me that the final game does indeed render at 1024by576, contrary to what is said by Ubisoft on the Playstation Blog; “From some other comments I read, I wanted to clarify that the game runs at 720p resolution.” Of course, Haze will output at 720p since the Playstation 3 can upscale, but this is not reflective of the game’s native resolution. Derek exclusively told us why they made the decision to render at a lower than HD resolution:

We prioritise a nice smooth framerate over a different res. Personally, I don’t really buy the whole thing. People did the same with Call of Duty, they did the same with Halo, and they say with those games ‘It’s not running at true HD!’ And it’s like, I don’t care. If the game looks good and it runs smoothly, those are the important things to me.

In asking whether the resolution was decided towards the end of development, Derek replied:

Yes. Well, as you develop an engine you’re aiming for a certain thing, but as all the pieces slot into place, you end up realising what sort of resolution you can run it at and that’s where we ended up with for Haze.

If you were to move forward with our next games, then as we optimise the engine we might be going, ‘Oh yeah, we’ll step things up and change things.’ But then different games we work on might have different requirements, so things may change there again. It’s all about how you use the resources you’ve got. But I don’t understand why people care whether there’s 20 pixels, 50 pixels, or 100 pixels more…

Naturally, I said that it’s not only a 100 pixel difference. 720p is over 300,000 pixels more than 576p:

Well, I always say, judge it [Haze] by the whole experience. Sit down with it and enjoy it. If people come away from that saying ‘Yeah, the resolution was a bit lower than I was expecting’ then I hope people wouldn’t, because it has other things it does really well.

For even more Haze goodness, our friends at PS3Attitude are holding a Haze week, starting tomorrow.

It’s fun to compare consoles, especially when the comparison involves one of the biggest games of this generation. Grand Theft Auto IV has been littered with websites giving their opinions on which version looks best. Surprisingly, most had no inkling of each version’s native resolution.

Eurogamer are the first to speculate that GTA IV on the PS3 runs at 630p. When in fact, it doesn’t… It runs at 640p.

Yes, GTA IV on the PS3 is sub-HD. And if it couldn’t be any more ironic (the traditionally Playstation series runs at a lower resolution) it has the same resolution as Halo 3 on the Xbox 360 – perhaps the first game to receive the sub-HD back-lash.

The man who spilt the news? The now infamous Quaz51 of Beyond3d technical forums. PS3 GTA IV runs at 640p with 0xAA, in comparison to the Xbox 360 version at 720p with 2xAA.

Eurogamer, who base almost all their multi-platform comparisons on Quaz51’s findings, were using opinions from B3D’s technical wizard before he had received a reliable PS3 screenshot. In receipt of a high-res shot, Quaz51 had this to say:

Good news [...] it’s 1152×640p (and no AA) exactly like Halo 3, Perfect Dark [Zero] or Dark Sector PS3.

The resolution itself is unsurprising, but the side by side comparisons carried out by numerous websites tell a more complex story. For example, in IGN’s head to head, the PS3’s Anti-Aliasing is cited as being the better of the two versions, even though the Xbox 360 has 2xAA. This could be due to the upscaling and post-processing effects smoothing the edges on the PS3.

In their review, IGN continues to state that due to the PS3’s mandatory install there is less loading and less pop-in than on the Xbox 360:

For those wanting to know which version looks better, the edge goes to the PS3. The textures and framerate are comparable, but the PS3 has far less pop-in. The 360 has richer colors, but the PS3 has better anti-aliasing making it look a little cleaner. Because GTA IV can preload onto the PS3 hard drive, the in-game loads are faster. Don’t worry Xbox owners, the load times are rarely more than 30 seconds and don’t occur very often.

In another nod to differences between the two versions, EGM mentions that the “PS3 version looks slightly more vibrant and sharp.” You’d think the Xbox 360’s higher resolution would facilitate the sharper look.

Native resolution, thus, appears to have less of an impact than we might have first thought. At least, you are more likely to notice indirect differences, than the lower resolution itself. For example, upscaling on the PS3 appears to have some positive graphical results, which may explain why some websites say it looks better. Eurogamer’s Rich Leadbetter hypothesises:

It’s worth noting that due to the post-processing effects the game employs (there’s a serious amount of stuff being done to the raw frame), the PS3’s lower resolution serves to mask a lot of the nasty after effects.

For example, look at the dithering on the signs in the background on those shots. A bit ugly on Xbox 360, but smoothed and blurred away on PS3, presenting a generally nicer look.

In the end, what really matters is that both versions run extremely well and at an almost locked framerate. There are certainly differences on paper, but many will find it difficult to notice them in the game:

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Which version of GTA IV should you buy? Due to the game’s impressive multiplayer – buy the version where your friends reside, because you could potentially spend hundreds of hours duking it out online.

Pixel counters at the ready!  There’s been some debate over the final rendering resolution of Metal Gear Solid 4.  Screenshot pixel counting has been hazy, so the first sign of a possible resolution is found in the launch of the Metal Gear Online Beta.  The Beta has now begun in Europe (yes it’s up, go and play!) and the results are in.

Over at Beyond3d technical forums, resident video game investigator Quaz51 (who also happens to be Eurogamer’s source in their console face-offs), has now proved his suspicions right.  MGO renders natively at 1024by768.

This resolution is not 768p as you might suspect, since 1024by768 is not a 16/9 isomorphic resolution.  Instead, it’s equivalent resolution (contains the same number of pixels) is 1182by665 – or 665p.  It is thus accurate to say MGO renders natively at 665p.

Why this resolution? Rendering at this resolution can aid in post-processing effects, help with tiling through the RSX graphics chip, and also has the advantage of natively supporting 4/3 Standard Definition TV’s.  In addition, MGO has been confirmed to run at 30 frames per second.

There have been many “sub-HD” games this generation, from Halo 3 to Call of Duty 4.  To most the differences will be negligible and won’t detract from the gameplay experience.  Moreover, with MGO offering a higher resolution than the above two games along with 2xAA (gets rid of teh jaggies), you’ll be hard pressed to tell the difference.

It’s still uncertain whether this will be the final native resolution of MGS4. For now, go and enjoy the Beta!

Street Fighter fans out there may have been distracted by all the recent Street Fighter 4 info, but Capcom doesn’t want you to forget about its upcoming HD re-creation of the classic Super Street Fighter II. They’ve released a couple new screens and some info about a beta stress test coming your way.

Planned as a downloadable title for the Xbox 360 and PS3, HD Remix is based off the original Super Street Fighter II game code while updating the visuals with brand-new, 1080p artwork. It will also feature online play.

To get the kinks worked out, Capcom is planning a beta test. Xbox Live Gold members will be able to access the beta by purchasing Commando 3 on Xbox Live Arcade, due out this spring. PSN users are out of luck, I guess. The beta will only allow play on one stage and include the characters Ken and Ryu. It will last for eight weeks.

If that sounds spartan to you, you’re not alone. Hopefully the test will serve its purpose and they’ll get the online play running smoothly.

The full release, arriving later this year, looks to be much more feature-rich. Aside from the original game, there will also be a “rebalanced” mode that makes changes to all the characters, an option to play in 4:3 or 16:9 aspect ratios, and a remixed soundtrack to augment the inclusion of the original.

Source: Gamespot

The Internet and mailbox movie delivery super-service known as Netflix, having seen a “clear signal from the industry” has decided to stop purchasing HD-DVDs and will exclusively support Blu-Ray.

Netflix plans to phase out their remaining stock of HD-DVDs by the end of the year. Ted Sarandos, chief content officer for Netflix, had this to say about the situation:

“The prolonged period of competition between two formats has prevented clear communication to the consumer regarding the richness of the high-def experience versus standard definition. We’re now at the point where the industry can pursue the migration to a single format, bring clarity to the consumer and accelerate the adoption of high-def. Going forward, we expect that all of the studios will publish in the Blu-ray format and that the price points of high-def DVD players will come down significantly. These factors could well lead to another decade of disc-based movie watching as the consumer’s preferred means.”

Even though only a very small percentage of people even rent hi-def movies in the first place, a majority of those rentals are Blu-Ray. Personally, I don’t think this is really that clear of an indicator that Blu-Ray is better, or even preferred over HD-DVD.

What I think is going on is that all of these PS3 owners are sitting around with nothing to do since most of their games suck. They figure they need to get some use out of their overpriced gadget, so they rent a movie or two. Here, look at this ad while I put on my flame-retardant thong.

Okay, I don’t seriously think that, but I do think that more of this is happening than the studios realize. The masses haven’t decided on Blu-Ray. Blu-Ray just invaded your home when you bought that game console. You’ve supported Blu-Ray without actually pledging your support for Blu-Ray.

I honestly don’t care who wins the HD format war. I think both sides are trying too hard to shove the “next generation” down our throats, and I’m content to just watch DVDs until they start showing movies directly to my brain.

Source: Netflix

Firstly, it should be said that like Gamersyde’s video comparison and the screenshots taken by the PS3forums, is that these screenshots have been captured using a Component connection.

It’s no secret that the PS3 was made to be an HDMI console, and many of its graphical features can only be used with this connection – such as Super White and RGB Full. Thus, when you plug your PS3 in with an HDMI cable, you’ll see a sharper image, fuller colours and a stronger contrast.

The following uncompressed HD screenshots were made by Dot50Cal of the Beyond3d forums, who also provided Gamersyde with the video comparison.

With that out of the way we can present to you the first HD image comparison of the Devil May Cry 4 demo, with the PS3 version first. Please click on the images to enlarge them:

There aren’t many differences between these two. You might be mistaken into thinking that the Xbox 360’s textures are of a higher resolution. This is untrue. By altering the sharpness settings for the PS3 you will be able to exactly replicate the Xbox 360 image.

The texture resolutions are the same on both consoles. The lack of RGB Full on the PS3 images, which widens the colour spectrum, also impacts the visible sharpness of the textures in these images.

By looking at these screenshots we can begin to see something odd on the PS3 version. Some sort of motion blur, which should not be mistake for lower-resolution textures. This can be seen by pausing your HDTV screen and looking at the slightly blurred image.

Further research, thanks to Quaz51 of Beyond3d Forums (the man who brought you 600p COD4), shows that the PS3 version of DMC4 has a persistence effect (blend frame + frame -1) that blurs the image. No such persistent effect is on the Xbox 360 version.

This motion blur on the PS3 version can be seen in stark realisation when looking at a moving enemy in each console version:

Quite a difference, but don’t be fooled. This is only the blur on the PS3 version, which a still capture shows off, unlike you who will be able to see the sharp textures. The Xbox 360 image is also slightly over-sharp, but this can act to make the texture resolutions look to be of a higher resolution.

It’s also significant to point out that unlike what is expressed on the PSforums, both versions have 2xAA (gets rid of “jaggies” on the edges of objects), but there are more times you’ll notice an edge without AA on the Xbox 360 than on the PS3.

Conclusion? Capcom has created a hell of a multi-platform engine, rivaling Ubisoft Montreal’s Assassin’s Creed engine, and Infinity Ward’s Call of Duty 4 engine.

There isn’t much difference between these two console versions of Devil May Cry 4, except an added motion blur effect on the PS3 version, which is either to improve AA or to give the action an even more heart pumping effect.

What’s most important is that both versions are 60fps, which will keep up with the non-stop action of this latest action title. Dan Landis gives his impressions of the demo here at Ripten.

Update: From further research it may be the case that the blurred frames on the PS3 version does indeed aid in AA, which the Xbox 360 version may not need.

Update 2: The reason there are less visible jagged edges on the PS3 version is that it smoothes them out by blending frames (what I’ve called “motion blur” here), whereas the Xbox 360 version has no need to blend frames, as it has “real” 2xAA.

It has further transpired that without the blending of frames, the PS3 would have no AA at all.  This method of Anti-aliasing is not new or uncommon, but it can have disadvantages, as shown in the above still images.

Credit: Dot50Cal and Quaz51 of Beyond3d Forums.

Can we blame them? They brought us 3 gems last week – a Super Stardust HD demo and upgrade, The Club demo and a new PSN game, Snakeball.

The Australian Store has already been updated, and reports from the French Playstation forum suggests that the same meager offerings are on their way to Europe also.

*Update* – A French Sony representative lets us know that last week was their week off and so they had nothing set up for this week, which is perfectly fine. Therefore, this weeks European update is only what they had hanging around, making our title a tad unkind.

European Store Update:

Downloadable Content
Folklore – Fear in the Night Pack (AU$3.45) [4 additional side quests, 1 additional folk, 1 additional costume for Ellen]

Media
Devil May Cry 4 – “Final trailer” (Free, 212 MB)

US Playstation Store Update:

Games/Demos:
-NFL Tour ‘09 Network demo

Downloadable Content:
-NFS: ProStreet – numerous unlockables – between $1.99 and $2.99 each

Rock Band:
Individual Songs – $.99 each unless noted otherwise:
-“Attack” – 30 Seconds to Mars
-“The Kill” – 30 Seconds to Mars
-“Dirty Little Secret” – All-American Rejects
-“Move Along” – All-American Rejects
-“Song With a Mission” – The Sounds
-“Limelight” – Rush – $1.99
-“Hard to Handle” – The Black Crowes – $1.99
-“Gimme Three Steps” – Lynyrd Skynyrd – $1.99

Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock
-Die Fantastischen Vier – “Ernten Was Wir Säen” – $2.49
-Trust – “Antisocial” – $2.49
-Extremoduro – “So Payaso” – $2.49
-Warner/Reprise Track Pack – $6.25
–Linkin Park – “No More Sorrow”
–Mastodon – “Sleeping Giant”
–The Used – “Pretty Handsome Awkward”

Trailers:
-Gran Turismo 5 Prologue Japanese Launch