OOPS! Mass Effect 2 not SDTV Friendly.

http://videogames.yahoo.com/events/playback/playback-103/1389206

Basically, the text is hard to read on an SDTV set, but looks fine on HDTV and BioWare has said that they don't plan on fixing it. The varticle (video article - hey, I made a new word!) stated that from a study that 46% of American households have HDTV. That leaves over half with SDTV.

HOWEVER, that study means nothing unless they do a study that shows how many of those 54% of SDTV owners actually have an Xbox 360 or PS3. I wouldn't be surprised if over 80% console owners also had an HDTV.

 

I wouldn't throw around numbers like that, I wouldn't be surprised if it was about even.

But since Bioware said they don't plan on fixing it, maybe you're right and Bioware has made that calculation (that gamers own HDTV's in high proportions).

 

I am no expert but this is why I said "I wouldn't be surprised if..." I didn't say "It is..". Either way, my point is that the stats they posed were useless really without the other half of the equation, i.e. consoles. That's like saying 52% of the US population is women, therefore half of gamers are women.

 

And, well, this is why I don't worship Bioware. I want to love them unconditionally, but sometimes I just get the feeling that they just don't care about me. Reminds me of a girl I knew...

 

I can't remember the last time I had a great experience with SD text

 

I can remember a time when there weren't any alternatives

 

I feel your pain, I may have the PC version of Mass Effect 2 but I've played plenty of xbox games on my crappy SDTV where certain text was really hard to read. Or ones where you are at a disadvantage in multiplayer because it's harder to spot people in games like CoD where everything is shades of the same grays and earth tones and there's so much dust and smoke and bloom, having a higher quality TV really makes a difference more than it should.

 

You know how some console gamers pick on PC development for being difficult because they have to work with many different hardware configurations, whereas consoles only have one? Console developers now also have to work with SDTVs, HDTVs, consoles with a hard drive or not, etc.

 

well if you own an xbox, then you most likely pay for Xbox LIVE, meaning you must have some sort of disposable income to pay for your hobby. HDTVs are dirt cheap, a 27" 720p costs $200-300, and 32" are in the $400 area. it's about time you upgraded...

there are even some great deals out there, and a HDTV greatly enhances your experience. i dont think i would ever play an xbox on SDTV, xbox has bad enough gfx as it is, playing @ 640x480 isn't going to make things any better -_-

 

$300 = 6+ years of xbox live/a whole new xbox/at least a years worth of games/etc...

Just because we can afford an xbox doesn't mean we can afford to spend that much money again.

It's like saying that if you have a $600 computer, surely you can afford to spend $600 on upgrades to be able to play the newest games!

 

A 1080p computer monitor goes for $180 now by the way.

And most games this generation do not even support 480i (so you get it downscaled from 720p). It's not like ME2 is an exception.

 

/lol

This can't be THAT big of a deal for console users as reading isn't usually their thing anyways.

Most of the ones I know keep button mashing through all the "worthless" portions even when it doesn't help move it along. (anything that doesn't have blood or explosions)

And people say console games aren't targetted marketing...

 

If it's even possible to be racist against console gamers, Kernel Panic, you are one racist dude.

Playing a game on a console does not define who you are. I don't know what the Xbox did to your mother, but jeez man, cool it.

 

You keep using that word, I don't think it means what you think it means.

 

anyways, a HDTV is not there to say "hey i have it...im not part of the SD conservative group nao!", it's just in the experience. a 23" 1080p can be had for under $200 (i got an ASUS VH236H 23" 1080p monitor for $140 -_-) and that VASTLY beats any SDTV (unless you are using a projector setup, then i understand...or a humongous SD DLP for that matter). i mean, unless you are a 6 year old who has his console setup in his room (and doesn't have to means to get money to use on a new TV), then you should really be going out and buying a HDTV/HD-capable LCD. Trust me, you'll LOVE it.

 

Well, if everyone got LCD HDTV,s we save electricity and people would benefit from more detailed pictures

Sadly, I don't think America works that way.

I haven't even touched new consoles since I don't even like looking at CRT's anymore, they make my eyes hurt, and I don't feel like getting a new TV just for playing PS2 games on.

 

When you can get a pretty nice gaming rig that'll play all the latest games for $700-800 (Compal KHLB2, Asus G51Vx both come in that range), it makes me smile a little bit, being primarily a PC gamer, that console gaming doesn't really have the "cheaper" argument any more .

$200 for a decent TV, $200 for a console, and you've gotta have a computer anyway to browse the internet... so let's say you get a cheap $400 one. Cost is the same as an $800 gaming rig.

And games cost about the same on each (PC gets deals off Steam/D2D/Impulse, consoles get to trade in games and buy used games). Console online play is subscription, while on PC presumably you already have an Internet connection. PC games also get more mods, if you're into that sort of thing, and your $800 PC can also do work stuff faster (web browsing, music listening, word processing, etc.) than a cheap $400 one.

Of course, I do enjoy strategy games, so I will be a PC gamer for as long as they keep releasing games for PC.

 

Wow... just wow...

Comparing my poking a little fun at the whine-fest over a design choice that actually makes console gamers have to match resolutions for once to centuries of hatred and suffering...

Which system you use to game is a choice, button-mashing through text is a choice. Your race is not a choice.

Which gaming platform you use is ultimately a non-factor in life. It's fun to poke a little fun on both sides of the fence, but shouldn't go past that point.

Lithus, grow up.
For your own good please go look up what racist means and pull head from rear orifice.

 

See, I knew I should have used "prejudiced", but I just didn't think it had the same punch - the same connotation of the deep seated hatred that you have towards consoles.

 

When I read the racist-towards-console-gamers-bit, I nearly spit out my soda. Too funny.

Anyways, you did make a conscience choice in buying an HD gaming console for use on a non HDTV. You should be happy enough that you can get a decent enough gaming experience out of that setup. It's like the PC gaming market. All PC games have a recommended spec to play on. I am sure there are people who buy PC games to play on their PCs that don't meet this recommended spec. These same people understand (well should anyhow) that they will have to turn off/down options in order to get it more playable.

Bottom line, if you want the best experience, you will meet the recommended spec which in this case is gaming on an HDTV. Otherwise you really have no room to complain.

 

You should come to the quick realization that you're arguing about gaming hardware and trying to use the word "hate", "prejudiced" and "deep seated" in that context, which is quite silly.

The current generation is a step up and all the games are being produced at 720p or higher resolutions. SDTV belongs with the previous generation (PS2, Gamecube and Xbox).

 

Here, let me put my post into context, for all of you who require a /s tag.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=459065&page=2

Trust me, I clearly understand that it is not possible to be "racist" towards console gamers. That's precisely why I prefaced that sentence with "If it's even possible to be" and ended the post with "I don't know what the Xbox did to your mother". So for all of you that I offended by using that word, this is a facetious apology. I'm not really sorry.

 

jeezus...i hate pc gamers who think they are suddenly elitists or someth...A) it's freaking video games and B) where does it say that to be a true gamer, you need to be a "PC gamer"?

first off, ive owned a 360 (3 seperate new ones) since launch date. i played the hell outta it and it was quite possible the best thing ive ever experienced in my gaming life. i lived in china, and most (if not all) people played pc games (DoTA, WoW, TF2 etc.). so once i moved from america, i promised myself that when i get a new laptop it sure as hell should be able to play games. then i got a gaming laptop. when i started playing pc games, i instantly knew that this is the most superior medium to playing games, due to mouse accuracy/precision, graphics and most importantly (IMO), the online community.

last christmas, i got a ps3 and temporary stopped playing pc games. my steam rating used to be 10, now it's like 0 lol. anyways, i love the ps3. as a console that i got for 350USD w/ Killzone 2, Infamous...i think that is one freaking awesome deal. the graphics are great imo, i sit far enough back and i bet my that the sound coming out of my home theater system > most people's speakers, headphones (w/ x-fi or not) etc. i have klipsch promedia for my pc and an onkyo HT-S7200 for my 50" plasma and if im buying a non-FPS game, i most def. buy it for my 360/ps3 for the sound/big screen etc. if you have the that kind of setup, console gaming is a FREAKING GREAT experience. i know you can easily plug a pc into the AV receiver but i use my pc for chatting with my friends on steam WHILE i game on my consoles these days.

anyways, consoles have their own place. while the pc is superior, that doesn't void that fact that console gaming is still a great alternative. playing Uncharted 2 in a dark room on a plasma with great 7.1 Surround is def. NOT a bad experience.

i facepalm at this...
A) i go to a 25,000USD/year private high school with 16 year olds who drive BMWs, Merc., Caddies etc...i'll personally pay you $1000 if you can find one PC gamer in 10th grade (besides me). on MW2 launch day, basically every boy in 10th grade went to buy MW2...for their 360 -_- ive yet to find one pc gamer, and trust me, these guys are rich as holy freaking hell.
B) i dont know how good you are at gaming, but im sure if you've seen the THOUSANDS of montagers (who usually use a 360/ps3 for games like halo 3/MW2 etc.) and they would put up a fair fight against a pc gamer. certainly not all of them, i mean i have a 1.72KD in killzone 2 while my noob friend barely struggles to keep a 0.7. there are people who are good and people who are bad. i certainly play better with a mouse though, which is why i even still play PC games. these days, the MLG is centered around console players, and those guys are seriously good.

here is a channel that belongs to one of my good friends from china, he plays MW2 on the PS3 and imo...he's pretty dam good. def. not the best, but he is my good friend who i play with occasionally. it's very competitive to play an FPS against him and he isn't low-skilled.

 

Alright, this too has degraded into a console/PC flamewar. Thread closed.