HDTV information resource - HD TV plasma television

Just as HDTV has blown the lid off of the standard TV viewing experience, so too has it changed forever the world of gaming. The clarity of the graphics, character features and life-like quality of play with HDTV games is hard to describe in words.

As some network and cable broadcasters have been slow to jump into the HDTV revolution, so too has one of the major gaming giants: Nintendo Currently Nintendo does not support HD gaming technology and despite the rest of the market's embrace, does not show signs of changing its mind anytime soon. Perhaps this explains whey the former video game front runner is currently third in the market.

Currently, the best selling console system in the U.S. is the Sony Playstaion, followed by Microsoft's X box. Both Microsoft and Sony have committed themselves to the HDTV format, with plans to introduce new HDTV ready consoles in 2006. HDTV consoles, coupled with HDTV games, broadcast on an HDTV television translates into one of the most exciting developments the gaming world has ever seen.

To encourage sales, Microsoft and Samsung have already teamed up in a clever cross promotional scheme and are displaying their Xbox 360 games on HDTV's in over 25,000 retail outlets.

While the gaming systems are "catching up" there are already a good number of available HDTV video games on the market. Electronic Arts, one of the largest game developers is already working on their first games for the new consoles: Madden N.F.L 06', Need for Speed Most Wanted, Tiger Woods PGA Tour 06' and the Godfather.

As Nintendo is left in the dust, both the Playstation 3 and Xbox 360 are built and intended for HD displays. In fact, the Playstation 3 is even able to take advantage of its dual HDMI outputs, allowing it to run on two HD displays simultaneously.

In truth, by the end of 2006, we should all be able to watch TV, play movies and play video games in High Definition. The future is looking brighter already.

All games that appear on Microsoft’s Xbox 360 video game system support high-definition resolutions up to 720 progressive scan and 1080 interlace.

With games on the original Xbox, developers had the option to support HD graphics, but Xbox 360 demands that all games feature high-definition options.

Xbox 360 works perfectly on standard-definition TVs (the resolution for standard def is 480 interlace), so you do not need a TV that supports high definition to use the Xbox 360 system.

The high-definition support for Xbox 360 is dynamic, so even if a game is designed with 720p in mind, but your TV only supports 480p or 1080i, Xbox 360 runs the game in the best resolution your TV offers (up to 720p and 1080i).

Xbox 360 Component HD AV Cable comes standard with the Xbox 360 system (not the Xbox 360 Core System) and is sold separately as well.

If you're using the Xbox 360 VGA HD AV Cable to connect your Xbox 360 console to a computer monitor or TV monitor with a VGA connection, you'll have the opportunity to select from the following resolutions:

• 640 x 480
• 848 x 480
• 1024 x 768
• 1280 x 720 (equivalent to 720p)
• 1280 x 768
• 1280 x 1024
• 1360 x 768

Xbox 360 will employ the best resolution your TV or monitor can display, whether you’re using a standard definition TV (480i), an HDTV with only one progressive scan option, an HDTV with every available option (up to 720p and 1080i), or even a computer monitor.

Sony's PS3 comes with a built-in Blu-ray drive, which is capable of holding many times more data than standard DVDs and is in the running for the next-generation DVD standard (along with the Toshiba-backed HD-DVD format). The PS3 is capable of playing back Blu-ray movies and Blu-ray audio discs.

PS3 supports 16:9 output, but the console sports dual HDMI outputs which can be used separately, or simultaneously to generate separate portions of the image, giving you the potential for 32:9 panoramic video (that's two 16:9 images side-by-side). For more standard display options, the PS3 also offers composite, s-video, and component outputs.

PS3 offers 1080p support (by way of HDMI 1.3), as well as compatibility with lower resolutions.

One of the best selling franchises in gaming is Star Wars. Star Wars Battlefront II is a great and versatile game. Knights of the old republic is considered to be a gaming classic. For fans of the movies and the galaxy far, far away, nothing comes closer to living the adventure than playing the video games on Xbox or PS2.

Star Wars Movies

• Star Wars Episode I - The Phantom Menace : US Gross = $431,088,301
• Star Wars Episode II - Attack of the Clones : US Gross = $310,676,740
• Star Wars Episode III - Revenge of the Sith : US Gross = $380,270,577
• Star Wars Episode IV - A New Hope : US Gross = $460,998,007
• Star Wars Episode V - Empire Strikes Back : US Gross = $290,475,067
• Star Wars Episode VI - Return of the Jedi : US Gross = $309,306,177

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HDTV Guide for the XBOX