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[Dreamcazman]

Sounds like you have a similar Sony set to the one I've got. When I set my TV to either Normal, Full or whatever, it holds that setting no matter what the input signal is. This is good in a way as the TV doesn't always keep changing the aspect ratios if you don't want it to.

Once you set it to Full, it should hold it permanently unless you change it.

[Gmc]

I've noticed on Halo 2, it only actually looks slightly widescreen when your in the actual game, menu's still appear to be 4:3 ratio.

Also, on 4:3 mode, it has the level title at the bottom in black borders, this doesnt happen on 16:9 mode.

[Sykotek]

Well then my Xbox is definitely staying in 4:3 mode instead of 16:9, even though my MSdash is set to widescreen with all HDTV modes on. Level titles appear in temporary black bars at the top and bottom of the screen that then disappear.

Another reason I suspect this is that in addition to having to stretch my image to get widescreen, I am not experiencing any off the cut-off issues everyone else is seeing in widescreen mode.  

PLEASE HELP!  Could my MSDash be messed up?  I remember a while ago I did a hex edit on it to enable HDTV mode on it, could this be the problem?  Should I reinstall the MSDash off a slayer's disc?

One more thing, I also noticed that if I switch from 480p to 480i I notice absolutely no difference in the quality of the picture.  I should notice a difference, right?

[shinomen]

I have the same exact tv you have with the full zoom wide zoom options.  I'm experiencing the same thing you are.  I figured that maybe Halo 2 wasn't in widescreen.  I also have flashed my tsop.  I haven't tried any widescreen games since I've flashed the tsop but I know that before when I was using a normal modchip, widescreen was working for me.

[toadie84au]

well i dunno if this helps..but halo 2 on my pal box comes up in widescreen perfect..menus and in game..no stretching... simply 16:9 looks great..

[TB_88]

I got a 32" Widescreen TV 100hz... Enabled Widescreen option and PAL60. Running Advance Scart cable.

All widescreen games will fill the screen and when I get a 4:3 source I will have black bars.

I too get black bars in Halo2 only.

Does anyone know if Halo 2 is 4:3 only?

Is there a list wich games have widescreen and not? Maybe more games have the same prob? I hate to stretch thing if you don't have too.

[Dreamcazman]

I can see what some you you mean now in regards to cutting the sides of the screen off. This is also apparent in Mortal Kombat Deception and Guilty Gear XX. Also I think this only happens when in 480p mode. 480i is ok.

What the hell is going on here, are we getting some cheap arse 16:9 resolution?

[John Hoek]

I have a Philips 16:9 100hz tv

I set the tv on normal stretched setting; so 4x3 broadcasted programs fitt the whole screen.
When i resieve a 16:9 broadcast; my TV automaticly changes to real 16x9.
This I can see on my tv, by pressing 'videomode' button on my ir.

But xbox is always working in 4x3; even with widescreen on!
Yeh, the picture is automaticly stretched to full, but is is NOT a real 16x9 setting.
This i know for sure; because if i manually change my TV to real 16x9; it just zooms in; missing the upper and under view.

My belkieve is that Xbox not uses real 16x9; but a kind of stretched widescreen.  like a letterbox.

[dulow]

Yea same here you cant tell from the video but halo 2 looks washed out on my screen all other games look just fine bright and vivid....Take a look at my video

VIDEO OF MY TV CHECK IT OUT
(IF it does not play just right click and save target as)

[Mr Ed]

QUOTE (John Hoek @ Nov 14 2004, 01:47 PM)

I have a Philips 16:9 100hz tv I set the tv on normal stretched setting; so 4x3 broadcasted programs fitt the whole screen. When i resieve a 16:9 broadcast; my TV automaticly changes to real 16x9. This I can see on my tv, by pressing 'videomode' button on my ir. But xbox is always working in 4x3; even with widescreen on! Yeh, the picture is automaticly stretched to full, but is is NOT a real 16x9 setting. This i know for sure; because if i manually change my TV to real 16x9; it just zooms in; missing the upper and under view. My belkieve is that Xbox not uses real 16x9; but a kind of stretched widescreen.  like a letterbox.

Remember that a broadcast signal has more "information" about the format than a component video signal.  My HDTV can always pick the correct aspect ratio from a broadcast, but cannot do it automatically from my XBOX or DVD player.  That's simply because the broadcast signal contains information about the aspect ratio the TV can use to determine how best to display it.  This is of course only true for digital broadcasts.

[Dreamcazman]

I checked Halo 2 again last night and the game sorta runs in half 4:3 and half 16:9. I know this sounds weird, but after a little playing with my TV, I set it to Normal 4:3 mode and the OSD is perfectly proportioned, but the actual game (map, weapon etc) is stretched vertically. When I change the TV back to Full 16:9, the game is good, but the OSD is stretched horizontally.

Very weird...

[Sykotek]

MR Ed, that's probably it then.  I think my TV is seeing the 480 resolution and picking the 4:3 mode by default.  When I do set it to full, everything is properly proportioned, ie I have a nice round motion tracker and reticule, and I'll count my blessings as well since my HUD is perfect too.  

Makes sense.  Thank you.

[ChrisF]

QUOTE (Dreamcazman @ Nov 15 2004, 10:47 AM)

I checked Halo 2 again last night and the game sorta runs in half 4:3 and half 16:9. I know this sounds weird, but after a little playing with my TV, I set it to Normal 4:3 mode and the OSD is perfectly proportioned, but the actual game (map, weapon etc) is stretched vertically. When I change the TV back to Full 16:9, the game is good, but the OSD is stretched horizontally. Very weird...

Here's the deal:

1) The HUD is not widescreen.  It is just stretched so no big deal - the actual picture is widescreen.  This is very very common in games and likely no one would have noticed if not for issue #3 below.

2) Some people's displays don't correctly flag this game as 16:9.  It happens and you might need to toggle the format on your display itself.

3) 480p in this game zooms slightly in both 16:9 and 4:3.  Apparently Bungie has yet to figure this out for themselves but someone deffinitely coded it into the game.  This is why some people report having the HUD cutoff in 480p widescreen.  If you set the game to 480i widescreen the HUD is fine.  What happened was that the game was designed for 480i widescreen and for some reason with the 480p zoom it moves the HUD into the overscaned areas on some sets (if it's set very low you won't have a problem but for a lot of factory defaults it will cut the HUD slightly).  Why would 480p zoom?  Probably a last minute performance thing (cut off 5% on all edges and you end up with 19% less video area to render).  Unfortunately someone forgot about safe overscan and the HUD.  This can be seen clearly at AVS forum (480p is cropped on all edges) where a member used an LCD front projector set at zero overscan.  You can see the HUD moved out to the sides and you can clearly see the cutoff on both sides and top/bottom when comparing the 480p/480i shots.  THere is zoom in 4:3 480p also so the zoom is only related to 480p settings.

Link is Here: http://www.avsforum....20&pagenumber=6

1) Go down to the pictures posted by member 'bbobbo' these are taken from the projector with zero overscan
2) Note the placement of the HUD, note less info on all sides.
3) Read the ChrisFB conclusion below it.

[shinomen]

QUOTE

The Halo 2 Autoupdate is a small piece of software which will improve the functionality of Halo 2, most notably in the following areas: Matchmaking: Some players have experienced irritating delays while waiting for a game to be found while in Quickmatch and Optimatch. This is caused by a combination of factors, including connection speed and other detailed nuances of matchmaking. We have isolated the cause and applied a solution to the autoupdate which should normalize that wait time. 480p Support: The autoupdate will improve support for 480p resolutions on a wide range of HDTV and EDTV displays, correcting a flaw that the software encountered with some sets causing part of the HUD to be obscured. This problem does not currently occur on all HDTV sets, so it is possible that your specific set is unaffected right now and it will therefore not be altered or changed by this autoupdate. If you are seeing the HUD clip or bleed off the screen in 480p widescreen and 4:3 modes) this should address that problem perfectly. The Halo 2 autoupdate should be downloaded automatically (with your permission) the next time you log into Xbox Live. You will see a message alerting you that an update is available, and you’ll be given the choice to download it or not. Choosing not to download the autoupdate will have no effect on your software and it will continue to operate as it did before the update. We do however suggest downloading this autoupdate, since it should enhance your play both on Live games and in 480p resolutions. Full Story At Source

[photoman]

Bungie's Official Announcement

Same as above, just from the Bungie page and how to get it the auto update.