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for the record, the original xbox has some HD games... http://www.hdtvarcade.com/hdtvforum/index.php?auto com=custom&page=xboxa

Yup, there are quite a few games that do 720p, and a handful that do 1080i.

Check out the "HD Game Database" at this site for a good list: http://www.hdtvarcade.com/

The list gives the resolutions supported, and whether widescreen (16:9) is supported. It includes 480p as an "HD" resolution, so the 720p games may seem a bit sparse, but there are quite a few.

I have an HDTV and my Gamecube Games look fantastic on it. Also with the Wii 480p and 16:9 is (at least for Nintendo 1st party) the standard.

The issue was that the Gamecube used a non-standard digital port for component cables and only sold them online (not at retail). So eventually they removed the 2nd port from the Gamecubes that were being manufactured (sometime in Late 2003) due to 'very few people buying the cables'. Despite this they still program their games to do 480p, so if you were fortunate enough to have an old enough Gamecube, and bout the cables online before they were discontinued (like me) you can still enjoy the new releases in progressive scan.

Even though the Wii isn't puishing HD, Nintendo is offering the Component cables (online only again! ARGH!) and their standard is both 480p and 16:9.

Don't cry bullshit until you know the facts.

http://www.hdtvarcade.com/hdtvforum/index.php?auto com=custom&page=ps2gi

It might not have crazy high texture detail, it might not have insane amounts of polygons but GT4 on the PS2 is using the video out chip @ 1920x1080i resolution.

According to the HDTV arcade, Dragons Lair 3D is available for the XBOX in 720P and 1080i:

http://www.hdtvarcade.com/hdtvforum/index.php?auto com=custom&page=xboxd

here is a list of games that run in 480p and YES 720p and GASP 1080i for xbox.
http://www.hdtvarcade.com/xboxlist.htm

my point is that the original xbox was capable of HD output. there wasnt much in the way of content, but it was possible and was done to some extent during the current generation.

as the other AC pointed out... the ps2 output gran turismo in 720p and 1080i as well. there are several ps2 games that ran in 480p, but considering that 480p doesnt count... ill let that part of the argument rest.

as for my comment about them cutting the generation in half, sega realized they were in a sinking ship and kickstarted the next generation. microsoft saw that they were in a sinking ship and did the same. your years are off for console releases. where are you getting your numbers? europe? australia? im referring to dates of FIRST production in their home region.

as i pointed out, the article isnt about the ps3. its about the fact that sony is the only company able to supply homeowners with media that is available in true HD. true HD meaning able to support ALL standard HDTVs entering the market. [excluding the handful of special purpose HDTVs that run at resolutions higher than 1080p and are not being mass-produced.] remember, you can not go to the movie rental store and buy ANY movies from the major studios that will play in 1080p. when you are able to do that, THEN you will see true HD at home.

and yes, its true that sony hd tvs do not show the "true definition of HD" thats because there isn't any true HD content beyond 1080i to show on them, yet. the guy is like if youve got a 720p/1080i HDTV, youve already got content... and we've got you covered... BUT if you went out and bought the biggest and best right now at 1080p, sony has you covered as well. they have to cover the bases; how would HDTV owners feel if HD media only supported up to 480p? theyd feel like they were cheated and wouldnt buy subpar media. sony has to cover all their bases

Look here. And here. There are only five 1080i games released for the Xbox, and all of them are simplistic.

What you're seeing is simply 480p upscaled. A little better than NTSC, agreed, but a far cry from "true high-definition". The extra detail you're seeing is likely just the larger screen making it easier on your eyes.

http://www.hdtvarcade.com/xboxlist.htm ~M

I also agree that the progressive scan games look a whole lot better. I notice it more on a big TV than on a small TV. Unfortunately my big TV presumes that any progressive signal is in widescreen format so some of my games get stretched. I'm used to it now for Mario games but some racing games look too weird. And I'm playing RE4 in non-progressive mode (however it still looks damn good).

So, my hope for the future is that more games support 16:9 format. I know I'm in the minority but I'm keeping hope alive! :)

These sites might be handy for anyone reading this.

First let's look here

Next let's look here

I count 4 games.

Wow. 4.

Not exactly a huge list, is it? Capable of and reality of are two different things. I think I'll stick with the PC where petty much every game made in the last few years can do high resolutions.

I might consider (...) getting a console when and if they have direct output to HDTV (if they already do, please let me know

Then see games supporting 16:9 screen format and higher (HDTV) resolutions here: HDTVArcade

Basically the HDTV games are in the XBox platform, while progressive scan (480p) are also in the Cube and the PS2.

You can visually check what HDTV does to a game in this comparison. Still not a computer CRT, but quite improved compared to your old 19".

Most Xbox games support 480p and 5.1 sound.

Here's a list: http://www.hdtvarcade.com/xboxlist.htm

Oh, and I just got done playing Xbox in my high definition home theater. So, uh, yeah.

You must buy the HD A/V kit for the xbox to even get 480p. You have to order the component cables for the gamecube directly from nintendo to get 480p but the ps2 component cables are available everywhere.

I wouldn't say its quite worth it yet to get an HDTV just for gaming. Although a lot of games are starting to support 16:9 mode which is nice. Tony Hawk Underground, SSX3, Ratchet & Clank: Going Commando and Rogue Squadron III are all recent games that support 480p and 16:9 mode. I'm sure the next generation of consoles will have much more HDTV support. Most games look just fine stretched to 16:9 if they are native 4:3 though. I play all the games stretched and on most you can't really tell except during cut scenes.

4:3 programming doesn't have to have black bars on the side if you are worried about burn in. The sony/zenith directv HD receivers have a very good panorama mode that stretches the edges of the screen and you can barely tell its 4:3 stretched to 16:9. My sony HDTV also has wide zoom and zoom modes but it distorts the picture much more than panorama mode. I have been gaming on my big screen rear projection Sony HDTV for nearly 3 years and I have had nothing burn in.

Most game review sites do not list if a game supports HDTV or 16:9. I wish they would have a side bar on reviews listing which features it supports. However there are some websites that track which games support 480p and higher along with which have a 16:9 mode:

HdtvArcade
HdtvPub
HDGames (the best one in IMO)

Greg