Topic: Is progressive scan worth it?

[popkorn1]

This whole progressive scan HDTV thing confuses me like mad.  Hopefully someone here can shed some light on it for me.  Here's my situation.

I have a 32" Progressive Scan HDTV, which supposedly upgrades all interlaced video to progressive.. right?  So there are no scanlines.  So my main question is, if my TV is already upgrading all video to progressive scan, why would I need to spend 30 bones on component cables for GameCube and actually start the game in "progressive scan mode"??  I thought the TV would already upgrade ANY image given to it?  So.. wouldn't it be progressive scan automatically, no matter what connection I used?

Hopefully I'm making some sense, even though I may be really off base.  So that's one question.. and my other - right now I've got my GC connected to the HDTV through s-video (didn't purchase the component cables yet) .. how big would the difference be if I had compenent cables with "progressive scan" mode rather than my current s-video setup?  Much better?  Slighly noticable?  On a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being "omg wtf!?1! what a pleasant change!1!!" - and 1 being "..cool, it looks the same, glad I spent 30 bucks for this instead of that new kidney I needed."

THANK YOU!

[jmoe316]

I am not a techie so i can't really answer your q's. But there is one thing i know and that there isn't a lot of progressive scan cube games out there. I think most, if not all first party titles run in progressive scan but it's just not an option with most third party titles out there. But I could be wrong, maybe the current titles out there now are getting progressive scan but several months ago it was a rare feature in a third party title.

[mouse_clicker]

The 1st party titles are the ones that would look the best with progressive scan, though, so that's a plus. Most 3rd parties don't put a lot of work into graphics, especially on multiplatform games, whereas 1st and 2nd parties generally do put a lot of time and effort into making their games look good.

[manunited4eva22]

No, it does not do it properly when you just "upgrade the signal". It is common to see this, but you will still be able to tell a difference when you upgrade to the actual component cable. Besides, you will get better color quality with the component cable, so you WILL see a nice upgrade.

[popkorn1]

Awesome.. I know that there aren't too many progressive scan games out there - but I've been waiting to play Metroid Prime again and what better reason than to experience it on my new HDTV.  The first party games is all I need - after all, that's why I bought a Nintendo!

I'm curious to see how it will look - I just loaded up Metroid Prime now connected through s-video and honestly I couldn't imagine it looking more crisp, so... that's why I'm a little hesitent to fork over the dough for component cables!  I'm more than likely going to do it.  I bought the good TV, I might as well get the cables to utilize it to its max potential.

[mouse_clicker]

From what I understand, component cables alone don't make the game look much better than S-video cables. However, progressive scan is much better. It won't automatically run in progressive scan, though. While the Gamecube is booting up, press and hold B. A screen will appear asking if you want to run the game in progressive scan (if the game supports it). Select yes and enjoy.

[joshnickerson]

One question on my mind is when you press B to go into progressive scan mode, does it only stay in that mode until the Cube is turned off, or does it stay in ps mode until you manually go back in and change it back?
Another question, would the Cube recognize which games you want in progressive scan mode and which ones you don't?

[Trippy Pancakes]

popkorn1,

Hopefully, someone will correct me if I'm wrong here but here's my experience.  My move was from using composite on an old TV to component on a newer TV.   I think you indicated that your TV has a line doubler.   So, you've already improved on the picture a great deal (no vertical shaking anymore).   Like the others have said, your moving from s-video to component cables would improve your color quality (more vibrant colors and less bleeding, I think).

In my own experience, upgrading to an HDTV and using component cables made a huge difference (very very noticeable).  Extremely vibrant colors, clear and no vertical shakes from interlacing.    You do have to tell the gamecube to display in progressive scan mode - and it's possible to have the gamecube transmitting the normal (non progressive, by not pressing B at boot up) signal through the component cables.  Sometimes I run the games in progressive; other times not.  To be honest, I can't tell one bit of difference in the two (both ways using component cables, mind you).   Don't know if this is due to the line doubler or not or simply that the gamecube really isn't taking advantage of the higher vertical resolutions of HDTV.   For instance, Metroid Prime looks exactly the same either way.  I thought that at least the game would appear smoother due to the effective frame rate doubling, but I can't tell a difference there either.

But in your case, you already have s-video and your TV has a line doubler.  So, I'm guessing that the only difference you will get with upgrading to component is improved colors (and possibly a little clearer ?).

[KDR_11k]

I guess progressive scan is what you NTSC guys get instead of 60Hz mode? I wonder whether a PAL Cube can do progressive scan...

Well, any game supporting the display mode has the instructions in the manual: Hold B when the game starts running. It will ask you whether to use the mode and if you choose "yes" it will automatically ask on bootup if a game with that mode is inserted until you select "no" once. Then you need to do the B thing again. If the mode changing thing won't appear on startup your game doesn't support it (all of my games except SoA support 60Hz, so I guess it's the same for NTSC Prog Scan games...).

[popkorn1]

Thanks for all of your replies, it's definitely giving me a better feel on this whole thing.  Trippy Pancakes (love the name..lol), I think you said exactly what I was thinking it would be like.  The setup I have now looks so crisp already, I can't see it getting any sharper - but like you said, the component cables will probably get me more vibrant colors.  

Can anybody else verify what Trippy Pancakes said? .... "Sometimes I run the games in progressive; other times not. To be honest, I can't tell one bit of difference in the two (both ways using component cables, mind you)."

I figured it would be that way - any other input on it?

Oh, one more question.. right now I don't have the component cables, but just for giggles I tried holding B on startup to see if it would ask for progressives can mode - and it didn't.  Do I need the cables for that to work?  I was using a wavebird, not sure if that makes a difference.  Finally, would I hold it while actually turning on the system, or after the "GameCube" screen?

Thanks again, everyone..

[KDR_11k]

It needs to be pressed once the GC's bootup screen disappears and the game starts loading. Look into the games manual, if you need the official wording. If it's not in the manual, chances are your game doesn't support progressive scan. Try another one.

[Trippy Pancakes]

>>  Oh, one more question.. right now I don't have the component cables, but just for giggles I tried holding B on startup to see if it would ask for progressives can mode - and it didn't. Do I need the cables for that to work?

I don't think I ever tried to enable progressive before I purchased the component cables, but I think you do need to have the cable before it will let you do that.  Also, even though you do have to initially hold B down at boot up to enable progressive scan, games will often prompt you from then on (with a "Do you wish to enable progressive scan ?" prompt at boot up).

If you have the dough, you might as well get those cables.  Otherwise you may always wonder if you're missing out.

[Rhoq]

It will only work with games the support Progressive Scan. If it's not mentioned on the box or in the instruction booklet, pressing "B" will not enable Progressive Scan if the game doesn't support that option.

[Piposan]

Ok I need some inputs here.
I recieved the component cables this morning and I've tested it. I don't know if it's just me, but it seems that S video is still better. I used both the s video and the  component input together and I've been comparing them. The colors on the component seem a bit darker then they are on the S video and I'm actually liking the S video better. Maybe I have to get use to it. Am i missing something or is it just me?  

[bostwick202]

Okay, people I am going to straiten you out on Progressive Scan and HDTV.

First, If you don't have a HDTV, progressive scan technology will do nothing for you, Period. So don't even try
Second, If you have a HDTV, great, but you NEED COMPONENT VIDEO CABLES TO GET ANYTHING OUT OF IT.
Next, If you have an HDTV and component video cables, you need to find products/games that support it and and you need to activate it. Otherwise, it will do nothing for you.
Last, If you lack a HDTV, getting component video cables  WILL NOT DO ANYTHING FOR YOU. (Your TV probably won't have one anyways.) In that case, S-Video is the best way for you to go.

      That's pretty much the skinny on Progressive Scan.

[mouse_clicker]

My TV isn't an HDTV but it does have component inputs. I'm using AV right now, but I plan to switch to S-Video. I'm not going to use component because I've heard the difference between S-video and component is miniscule unless you have progressive scan.

[KnowsNothing]

I use AV now, or even that old RF or whatever that you plug into the cable thingie like on the Genesis.  Now, don't you fell better about what YOU have?

Haha.  Really, picture quality really means nothing to me.  As log as it's good enough for me to actaully play the games (without any difficulty), I'm fine.

[CardBoardBox]

wow i like your new lingo Knows....its...very original  log and fell...hehehe..olaph

[Jdub03]

I have a question for those of you who have the s-video cables.  What company makes the best cables. I hate getting cheap accessories.

[popkorn1]

Well, I ordered the component cables just so I can get the max use out of my HDTV, whether there's a difference or not.  Hopefully they'll get here by the end of the week, so I'll post here again and let you know the differences, just in case any of you are in the same position that I am in.

Also, about how I was holding B before to see if it would prompt me for progressive scan without the component cables - I was doing that with Metroid Prime, so it was a proscan game.  I just think it needs component cables to even prompt for progressive scan.  Can anybody confirm this?

[Piposan]

Monster Cable does some pretty good s video cable.  

[J]

if you dont have pro-scan cables, holding down 'b' wont bring up the prompt.

when i first got the cables, i didnt notice a difference, then i went back to AV and S video, and i see the difference...