AntiAliasing
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PS Vita firmware 2.6 adds enhanced save management, spruced up UI
We're weary of the PlayStation Vita's constant firmware updates, but what version 2.6 brings to the table makes the patches almost bearable. Not only does it make managing game saves via PlayStation Plus easier, but the bubbles representing menu functions, games and apps are noticeably crisper, too. Sony has also added the ability to toggle wireless connectivity -- WiFi, Bluetooth, 3G and airplane mode -- by holding down the system's blue PS button. The features don't stop rolling there either, as you can now play media stored on a PC or PS3 remotely, without using the kludgy Remote Play app or copying the files to your handheld. While we've listed a quartet of tweaks here, there are a slew of other changes detailed in a video after the break and Sony has the full release notes on its official site.
Microsoft lifts Xbox 360 minimum 720p, anti-aliasing mandate for devs
In a column published today on Develop, Black Rock Studio (Pure, Split/Second) technical director David Jeffrries revealed that Microsoft has removed an item from its TCRs (Technical Certification Requirements) that stated all Xbox 360 games must run at a minimum of 1280x720 (720p) resolution if the system is in HD mode. According to Jeffries, this was done earlier this year so that developers could be "free to make the trade-off between resolution and image quality as we see fit."TCRs are technical "rules" that all games developed for a given platform must adhere to in order to be certified for release. Of course, some games that have skirted this specific TCR have still been allowed on the system; the most notable being Microsoft's own Halo 3, which runs at 1152x640 (progressive). Joystiq has confirmed with a trusted source familiar with Microsoft's TCRs that Jeffries' claim is legit. Not only that, but, as of March 2009, Xbox 360 developers are no longer required to utilize full-screen anti-aliasing in their games. The elimination of both requirements is especially noteworthy since the console maker had touted that all 360 games would run at a minimum of 720p with at least 2x FSAA since before the hardware launched.As Jeffries points out in his column, 1280x720 isn't necessarily the "starting point" for HD on many displays and that it's not nearly as crucial as anti-aliasing. It's not clear if the back-tracking on Microsoft's part was due to pressure from the development community or not, but we can probably all agree that, as long as a game looks great, it doesn't really matter how its creators got there. Does it?
Emulator runs Wii games in 720p while we wonder what might have been
Using PCs to do what Nintendon't, YouTube user renebarahona is running Wii games in HD resolutions through the Dolphin emulator. One peek at Super Smash Bros. Brawl in 720p is enough to make any of us wonder what a world where Nintendo didn't hate HD (even yanking 480p capability from the Gamecube, we're still not over that) would be like. These games aren't merely upscaled like DVDs, they're being rendered in a high resolution natively with extra anti-aliasing Xbox 360 BC-style, producing surprisingly crisp visuals. Check out the embedded videos after the break (remember to hit the HD button) for an example, including how to set this up on your own computer.[Via Joystiq & 1Up]
