Topic: Virtual Console to look worse with Component Cables?

[Larrs528]

Hey all,

Some of you may have had this experience.... you break out the SNES and plug it in with S-Video cables, and are surprised to find that games look pretty bad. The clarity gained with better cables and a better screen reveal all the imperfections in games like Donkey Kong Country that look great on an old SD TV with co-axial cable. Those older screens and cables work the same as smearing vaseline over the picture, blurring out those jagged edges and making everything look smoother. So, are we going to find the same problem with our VC downloads? Am I going to be reserving a separate input on my TV to plug in standard RCA cables or an RF adapter to play my retro games or will nintendo somehow compensate for this?  

[JonLeung]

I have a GameCube with component cables and I use them on my 57" TV.

When playing the NES games in Animal Crossing, Metroid within Metroid Prime, or the Zelda games from the Zelda Collectors Edition disc, I don't notice a problem.  Sure, the pixels on the sprites are evident.  But that's part of the charm of retro games - and the pixels being brighter and sharper (and larger) don't take anything away from it, IMO.

I suppose it's possible for the Virtual Console to add effects to these games like some PC emulators do - adding TV scanlines, or anti-aliasing, etc.  But to keep things simple, they probably won't.

[Edfishy]

I personally prefer the jaggies on classic games, but I work with graphics all the time, so I guess I don't exactly speak for everyone.

I recently hooked up my old half-way working SNES to the family's 60" TV and surround sound system, and loved every moment of it.  The bass in the synthesized music coming from the SNES's sounds amazingly distinct, and very 80's. Unlike today's games, which largely consist of ambient noises instead of musical melodies.

I'll want the games to appear as pixely as possible, in all of its glory.  

[Larrs528]

That is a good comparison to make. I'm not trying to deny the pixelated/spritey nature of retro games... I also agree that's part of the charm. What I am saying is, developers who created those games never imagined them being displayed at 480p on an LCD. I just want the best, smoothest playing experience out of my games. Out of curiousity, did you ever try comparing how those NES animal crossing games looked on your screen using the standard RCA cables or an RF adapter (though I doubt you have one of those...). If it's not too much of a hassle, try doing an A/B comparison, and see which you enjoy better.

[segagamer12]

I played Mega Man X on my 64" HDTV and it looked great. Same with Street Fighetr 2 Turbo for Genesis. I don't think it will be a problem unless your too pickey.  

[Edfishy]

I've used both S-Video and RCA, and I can say with absolute certainty that I prefer the crispness of S-Video.

...

Although, I do wish I could turn on scanlines.

[Artimus]

I just have a 13" TV here are school...so whatevah. I have a regular CRT at home, but it's got component input. I use S-Video for my cube because I never found the cables, but I might switch with the Wii since it's made for that. Still 4:3 though.

[couchmonkey]

Hey, can anybody tell me if GameCube games can run in progressive scan on Wii if you have the component cables?

[GoldenPhoenix]

Quote
Originally posted by: couchmonkey
Hey, can anybody tell me if GameCube games can run in progressive scan on Wii if you have the component cables?

That is a great question, I want to know as well!

[ryancoke]

I've read that yes, cube games that support 480p will be displayed in prog-scan just as if they were being played on the cube. You'll need a Wii componant cable of course. I'm anxious to try Windwaker in prog-scan as I never did buy a componant cable for my Cube. My buddy had his hooked up to a 50inch Sony Wega in 480p and it looked amazing!

I noticed on my original playstation that when I switched from composite to S-video, the games were so much crisper but so much "jaggier".  In particular, the Syphon Filter Series looked much better with the composite cable.  I always wanted to see what Goldeneye looked like with S-video but I never did get an S-vid cable for my N64.  Anybody try it?  

[JonLeung]

Quote
Originally posted by: ryancoke
I always wanted to see what Goldeneye looked like with S-video but I never did get an S-vid cable for my N64.  Anybody try it?

I just read on NintendoWiiFanboy.com that Reggie would like to see GoldenEye on the Virtual Console.  It may require a lot of working around the rights (and as the site said, probably writing a few big cheques) but the demand is there that it would probably be worth it.  If so, then we may be able to see what GoldenEye looks like with component cables!  

EDIT: Looks like the latest news story on the front page about Reggie links to the MTV article where he mentions GoldenEye.  And now that I think about it, it might look kinda chunky, as many N64 games might already do because of age.  But it'd still be a clearer image.

[vudu]

Quote
Originally posted by: couchmonkey
Hey, can anybody tell me if GameCube games can run in progressive scan on Wii if you have the component cables?

Yes they can.  However, you still have to hold B or whatever button that is when starting up the game.  

[Entroper]

I loved the look of my SNES games on S-Video.  I had never seen the SNES look so pretty before.  

[AnyoneEB]

There is no reason why old games would look bad in progressive scan. I run emulators without enabling scanlines, and the games look fine. Although, Nintendo really should be using a scaling algorithm like scale2x or hq2x for the virtual console games because very few, if any, are outputting at a full 640x480. (I have not played VC yet, so I do not know for sure that they don't; it just sounds like they are not from this thread and other impressions.)

[Ceric]

Quote
Originally posted by: couchmonkey
Hey, can anybody tell me if GameCube games can run in progressive scan on Wii if you have the component cables?

From what I can tell Yes.

[couchmonkey]

Thanks for the infoes, everybody, now I know that I don't have to get any compontent cables for my Cube.