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[Ford Prefect]

What do I need to do to spiff up the visuals (progressive mode?)? For maximum quality will I need to purchase any cables other than the pack-in defaults? Basically, what do I need to do manually to get the benefits of a widescreen set. It's a relatively new model, so I assume that I'm good on the specification end of things.

And on a lesser note, same questions for Xbox and PS2 (I've been holding out on Colossus for this ).

 

[Kobun Heat]

You'll need a set of component cables, but they'll only work if your Cube has a digital out port -- newer models eliminated the feature.

The official component cable was never available outside of Nintendo's online store where it is currently backordered until late January.

A faster way is to get the official cable from an import place like NCS for about $40 -- the Japanese cable is identical to the US one.

Most GameCube games support progressive scan, which is turned on by holding down the B button as the game boots. Apparently. I don't have my cable yet so I haven't tried it personally.

Official Xbox and PS2 component video cables should be available wherever you buy games. You should be able to change video settings in each system's browser menu, but you may still have to adjust the video settings in the options menu for each game you play. Shadow, for example, has progressive scan and 16:9 options in its main menu.

 

[Ford Prefect]

Well that sucks balls... any good reason why I shouldn't go ahead with 3rd party cables? I have a launch system so Nintendo's cheap-ass tactics do not bother me in this case.

 

[Ghengis Cohen]

Play asia has the official gamecube component cables in stock.

 

[OpinionatedCyborg]

I bought Monster Cables for my Xbox, and they seem to do a decent job. If you still play your GC a lot, I'd suggest you spring for component cables. After beating RE4 on a normal TV, then trying to play it again on my HDTV, I've realized S-Video just doesn't cut it for some GC games -- they look like absolute shit without the right cables. So yeah, I'd go for third party component cables since they've got a pretty good reputation already.

 

[Sagitario]

I thought there weren't any 3rd party component cables because of the DAC on the cables...

 

[MadOdorMachine]

I thought there weren't any 3rd party component cables because of the DAC on the cables...

There aren't. The only component cables you can get are the ones made by Nintendo. They can also only be bought online.

 

[Sagitario]

After beating RE4 on a normal TV, then trying to play it again on my HDTV, I've realized S-Video just doesn't cut it for some GC games.

I've heard that RE4 looks awful in ProScan (I've component cables but not ProScan TV)... is this true?

 

[daemonic]

I've heard that RE4 looks awful in ProScan (I've component cables but not ProScan TV)... is this true?

looked pretty damn good to me.. I even played with the picture zoomed in and it still looked great.

 

[Ghengis Cohen]

I've heard that RE4 looks awful in ProScan (I've component cables but not ProScan TV)... is this true?

I have played it and it doesn't look terrible to me. I thought that was just part of the whole "superior" version argument/bullshit that was going around.

 

[OpinionatedCyborg]

I've heard that RE4 looks awful in ProScan (I've component cables but not ProScan TV)... is this true?

I'm not TV guy by any stretch of the imagination, so I have no clue what ProScan is (first time I've heard that term). All I can tell you is that I have a GC with S-Video hooked up to my HDTV. Every GC game I've tried out looks great... except Re4, which for whatever reason, looks way better on my 4-year-old Sony Trinitron. Playing RE4 in 4:3 or 16:9 makes no difference on my HDTV: it looks washed out, grainy, indistinct, and ugly either way.

If you guys can help me solve this -- outside of buying component cables for my GC -- I'd be in your debt.

 

[BenT]

I've heard that RE4 looks awful in ProScan (I've component cables but not ProScan TV)... is this true?

Nope. It looks better in it.

 

[Shompola]

RE4 looks worse on better/sharper tvs because of the pretty horrid dithering in the game. A tv with a softer look somewhat hides the dithering.

 

[ArcadeStickMonk]

Gamecube widescreen support is pretty lacking tough, with most of the supporting titles being those I don't care to play.

Thank god for F-Zero GX.

Full list here.

 

[Sagitario]

I'm not TV guy by any stretch of the imagination, so I have no clue what ProScan is (first time I've heard that term). All I can tell you is that I have a GC with S-Video hooked up to my HDTV. Every GC game I've tried out looks great... except Re4, which for whatever reason, looks way better on my 4-year-old Sony Trinitron. Playing RE4 in 4:3 or 16:9 makes no difference on my HDTV: it looks washed out, grainy, indistinct, and ugly either way.

If you guys can help me solve this -- outside of buying component cables for my GC -- I'd be in your debt.

Sorry... ProScan = short for Progressive Scan...

RE4 looks worse on better/sharper tvs because of the pretty horrid dithering in the game. A tv with a softer look somewhat hides the dithering.

I guess that makes sense...

 

[MadOdorMachine]

I'm not TV guy by any stretch of the imagination, so I have no clue what ProScan is (first time I've heard that term). All I can tell you is that I have a GC with S-Video hooked up to my HDTV. Every GC game I've tried out looks great... except Re4, which for whatever reason, looks way better on my 4-year-old Sony Trinitron. Playing RE4 in 4:3 or 16:9 makes no difference on my HDTV: it looks washed out, grainy, indistinct, and ugly either way.

If you guys can help me solve this -- outside of buying component cables for my GC -- I'd be in your debt.

ProScan = Progressive Scan (480p). If you have an HDTV, I would seriously reconsider trading in your s-video cables for component ones. That's probably the only way you'll fix your RE4 problem too.

 

[ArcadeStickMonk]

I've been holding out on Colossus for [480p]

IMO, you won't get shit from 480p in SotC. It's a pretty jaggy game all around and it's fantastic look is derived from art direction and animation, not base IQ.

It's definitely not a Night\Day difference for SotC, that's for sure.

 

[Kobun Heat]

I thought there weren't any 3rd party component cables because of the DAC on the cables...

I stand corrected. I saw a "GameCube cables" section on Monster and assumed that meant all types.

And yeah, I just tried out Eternal Darkness on the widescreen but using only composite cables and it looks like warmed-over ass. Can't wait for my component cables to get here.

 

[Ristamar]

Component is preferrable, of course, I always thought GC's S-Video looked pretty good on my 27" Sony.

 

[Ford Prefect]

IMO, you won't get shit from 480p in SotC. It's a pretty jaggy game all around and it's fantastic look is derived from art direction and animation, not base IQ.

It's definitely not a Night\Day difference for SotC, that's for sure.

It's not so much the sharper picture I was waiting for, but rather the size. 61 inches of colossi mayhem .

So... basically, I'm screwed with most games (right now, Metroid Prime 2) when it comes to widescreen? I have to settle for stretched proportions and whatnot?

And how's the availability for component cables when it comes to the PS2?

 

[bishoptl]

You should have absolutely no problems finding component cables for your PS2 - you can't throw a brick in Best Buy without hitting some. The Gamecube switch really pissed me off, I wish I'd known that before getting rid of my old one, then buying a new GC a year later. Asshats.

 

[Shompola]

component cables for ps2 should be easily found and very cheap. 10USD or so for a no name 3rd party cable that will do the work just fine. And sorry to say this, but you have to get used to stretching or play your games in 4:3 mode. It is painful at first, but you will eventually get used to a stretched screen. I personally think stretched mode looks worst in fighting games, and best in car racers. You can allways zoom in the picture slightly to make it look less stretched, it will only stretch the sides of the source, it will look alright in the middle. Your tv should have such a function, it is called smart zoom on my sony tv.

 

[Ford Prefect]

Thanks. Damn Nintendo... component cables backordered through Jan. suuuucks.

 

[Ristamar]

Thanks. Damn Nintendo... component cables backordered through Jan. suuuucks.

There's always eBay if you're willing to spend a little more to get them early.

 

[Ghengis Cohen]

Thanks. Damn Nintendo... component cables backordered through Jan. suuuucks.

play asia as I said before has them. i got them from there and I am quite pleased.

 

[Azure Dream]

The Gamecube switch really pissed me off, I wish I'd known that before getting rid of my old one, then buying a new GC a year later. Asshats.

I think Nintendo offers some kind of exchange if you need a version with the Digital Out, but that'd mean you're getting an older GCN back in exchange, and it might be too late for you to do that anyway, it might be limited to the first few months or something.

 

[Ristamar]

As far as I know, you can still make the exchange (if they have any component enabled models to offer).

http://www.nintendo.com/consumer/systems/nintendogamecube/component_faq.jsp

 

[Ford Prefect]

SHIT

I just realized that my launch system was ditched in favor of a less-faulty system a couple years ago -- one without the Digital A/V Output port

Thanks for posting that link about exchanging, I'll have to try that

 

[Ford Prefect]

UPDATE:

Took my cube to a local Gamestop and explained my situation to the manager. Dude was happy to exchange it for an older used system, no charge ; didn't even want any contact info.

I was not expecting to accomplish such a task at Gamestop and walk away without being robbed of $30, but it's nice to be surprised every once and a while.

Now to find some component cables...

 

[ChrisReid]

So... basically, I'm screwed with most games (right now, Metroid Prime 2) when it comes to widescreen? I have to settle for stretched proportions and whatnot?

No, you simply play with black/gray vertical bars on the left/right in 4:3 only games.

 

[dock]

So... basically, I'm screwed with most games (right now, Metroid Prime 2) when it comes to widescreen? I have to settle for stretched proportions and whatnot??

Metroid Prime (1+2) have the option of 'squashing' the picture horizontally, so you can basically make it widescreen mode (pretty much) in the picture settings.