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Minecraft XBLA refunds available to SDTV owners
Minecraft's XBLA port features local split-screen multiplayer – but only when played on an HDTV, a stipulation that wasn't ... stipulated very clearly. Microsoft announced two efforts to rebuild the shattered relationship between it and SDTV-owning fans who found themselves lacking in modes. The full (but brief) statement is after the break.First, Microsoft is now issuing refunds to affected customers who contact the publisher through customer support. Second, it is preventing other customers from being Mineshafted by adding clearer notification to the XBLA listing: "To experience split-screen functionality a high-definition television is required."
Vanquish 'SDTV mode' enlarges text, icons, hopes
In this modern era of high definition gaming, there's a certain set of gamers whose voices beg to be heard. This group wishes desperately to be a part of the new generation of gaming but, too often, they are left behind, forced to squint at tiny text that hasn't been optimized for standard definition televisions. At times the unfortunate condition can get so bad that it renders a game practically unplayable. This forsaken group, also known as "the majority," has something to look forward to in Vanquish, as the recently released demo reveals an optional "SDTV mode." As the name implies, SDTV mode makes text and icons larger and, blessedly, legible.
How to fight HDTV image lag
HDTV processing lag isn't really the sexiest gaming thing to talk about, but fans of Rock Band and Guitar Hero may have felt and dealt with its cold, uncaring cruelty. Hypercombofinish has a really great, basic piece on the issue and provides some tips on how to avoid the lag. Engineers can keep on walking past the piece, but for those of us who've wondered why we have to calibrate for music titles on new televisions, it's an interesting little read.Some basic tips the article suggests to combat lag: Make sure games are playing at the native resolution, turn on the "game mode" if the TV has one and turn off any additional video processing options on the TV if possible. Of course, if you want to avoid all this drama, you can always use an SDTV -- we hear those are coming back like vinyl records.
Banjo Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts SDTV fix released
Still playing your Xbox 360 on a non-HDTV or, like some of us at EHD, sticking out the holidays at a relative's where standard definition is the only option? Good news, the Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts title update went live earlier this week, rendering things readable, even under the most trying of circumstances. Now, getting your console online at your dial-up only, WiFi-less, out of 3G range cousin's house is the only problem left, until that's solved hit up Xbox 360 Fanboy for comparison shots of the original and newer, bigger text.
Rare to fix Banjo-Kazooie's text issues after all
Hastily abandoning an ill-advised plan to include a magnifying glass with every purchase of the game, Rare has resolved to solve reported text issues in its build-a-bear's-car adventure, Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts. After stating that the in-game text, allegedly illegible on standard-definition television sets, would be "too expensive in terms of time, resources and money to alter," the company has committed to releasing a correctional title update within the next 30 days.This is "good news for everyone," according to a post on the developer's website. "Including us, as we would actually like people to enjoy our game and not revile us with a fiery passion." There you have it, internet. You may now return to being angry about other things, like Banjo's square nose.
Banjo Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts getting fixed for SDTV owners
They always said the squeaky wheel gets the grease, and yet again that adage has proven true. After demo players of RARE's Banjo Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts found the text to be unreadable on SDTVs, word was passed on that the issue would remain in the final version of the game. Now, however, RARE's George Kelion has stepped in to announce that a fix is indeed in the works. To quote: "We would like to assure you that contrary to earlier reports, we are aware of the [text] issue and [are] currently working on a title update to be released within the next 30 days that will fix it for those with standard-definition TVs." Nice job raising cain, people.[Via The Escapist]
Banjo Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts text unreadable on SDTVs, no fix planned
Whoa, boy. Talk about causing an uproar. Rare, the development studio behind the forthcoming video game Banjo Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts, has decided to move forward with the game without fixing a glaring textual issue when playing on an SDTV. Essentially, the text in the game -- of which there a lot -- is darn near illegible on standard-def televisions. When playing the game on an HDTV (even at 480p), it's relatively easy to make out what's going on; when attempting to play on an SDTV, things get ugly. As you can see above, we find it hard to believe SDTV owners will be able to stand the game-play for more than a few minutes, and amazingly, Rare has admitted that there are no plans to fix things before it goes gold. So, how do you feel about this? As a presumed HDTV owner, you probably couldn't care less personally, but should SDTV-owning gamers be given more respect here?[Via Joystiq]
Global HDTV shipments exceed SDTVs for first time
The times, they are a-changin'. Back in February, we found that LCD TV shipments had surpassed CRTs for the first time in history. Now, an iSuppli report on HDTV growth has shown that HDTVs overtook standard-definition televisions "as the leading TV shipped globally" in 2008. Sure, the current economic environment may put a damper on HDTV sales for the moment, but the previously mentioned research sees no sign of growth slowing in the long-term. In fact, it forecasts that HDTV unit shipments will surge to 241.2 million by 2012, up from 97.1 million units in 2007; in comparison, it reckons that just 23.1 million SDTVs will ship out in 2012. Oh, and if you're eager for even more smile-worthy news, the report also suggests that HD set-top-boxes will represent 50% of the overall STB market in under four years. Time will tell.[Via InformationWeek, image courtesy of ThePoolSide]
Revolutionary: New Year's Res
Every (other) Tuesday, Mike Sylvester brings you REVOLUTIONARY, a look at the wide world of Wii possibilities. It is the year 2008 and we've all got jet packs to carry us from our front door to the flying car in our driveway. Our friends can leave us telepathic thoughtmails when we're summering in seclusion on the dark side of the moon. Skynet fought back and the treacherous Decepticons have conquered the Autobots' home planet of Cybertron. Everyone is basking in the realer-than-reality goodness of their HD television sets. Wait a minute ... scratch that last bit. Not everyone's got an HDTV or even a DTV, so that broadcast switchover to digital transmission that the FCC mandated for the years leading up to 2007 wound up getting postponed until 2009. Nintendo engineers are patting themselves on the back (no doubt with fat stacks of cash) for predicting the relatively slow transition to HD, which allowed them to keep production costs down on the little white wonder. It's a point of contention to some, but seniors, girlfriends, your parents, and most Wii fanboys aren't giving it a lot of thought. Many people aren't even aware that it's not an HD console, so this edition of Revolutionary is intended to clear up any misunderstandings about the Wii's resolution ... -ary.
Punch-Out!! leaves HDTVs down for the count
Many who've downloaded the Virtual Console's Punch-Out!! release are reporting that the boxing game isn't playing well with their HDTVs. Timing is paramount if you want to dodge punches and have your own jabs connect, but the HDTV response lag that sometimes occurs has a habit of knocking Little Mac's bloodied face onto the canvas, leaving him too dazed to even focus his eyes on the mouthguard dropped inches away.Gamers with SDTV's haven't been experiencing any lag between their controllers and the onscreen fight, and explanations for the decreased response time lean towards blaming the televisions, so Nintendo doesn't seem to be at fault this time. Have you noticed any HDTV lag with Punch-Out!! or your other Virtual Console purchases?(We know that Mike Tyson isn't in the VC release of Punch-Out!, but we saw the above comic at The Librarianist, and couldn't stop ourselves from using it!)
Dead Rising: patch chance lost!
How fortuitous that the winner of our first Dead Rising giveaway just recently acquired a new HDTV -- on that old set of his, he'd likely have some difficulty reading the annoying edicts coming from security guard and phone etiquette fiend, Otis. After users of non-HD television complained about the unusual amount of squinting required to read the on-screen text, Capcom admitted awareness of the problem and doled out a list of DIY solutions, none of them nearly as effective as a downloadable patch would be. So, what's the word on that?Unfortunately, the word is "no." Speaking to 1UP, a Capcom representative pointed out that "the amount of text and the size of the patch necessary to change the text" were prohibitive in producing a patch. "We had asked the team if it was even possible but ... due to the scope of what a patch would need to cover, it wasn't possible." This is far from a game breaking fault, but it's certainly disappointing that Capcom completely failed to spot a problem that would end up affecting a notable group of players. Coupled with King Kong's scenes of SDTV darkness, it seems some developers are a little too eager to rush into the HD era.
Capcom aware of Dead Rising standard-definition woes
Apparently, Capcom wasn't paying attention last December when Ubisoft head honcho Yves Guillemot publicly admitted that King Kong for Xbox 360 was unplayable on standard-definition televisions. The Dead Rising developer seems to have committed a similar oversight, presumably testing the game on HD monitors only.Over on the Capcom BBS forums, complaints have piled up, prompting one forum administrator to post: "Dear Everyone, I have heard your concerns and passed them to every source within Capcom possible. I feel your pain as I, myself, have a large SDTV and am having trouble reading the mission objectives, item names, etc."Joystiq can confirm that item descriptions, in-game dialogue, and mission objectives (given via text prompts) are unreadable on a 27" standard-definition TV set using component A/V inputs. That this "next-generation" title doesn't provide voiceovers for dialogue and mission objectives is questionable enough, but not testing the game in standard-definition resolution? C'mon Capcom, get to know your consumer base.
Five shows we wish were SDTV
Hey, it's a nice way of saying these shows don't merit an HD feed, OK? These five shows should just stop broadcasting in high-def and go back to standard definition television. If they stay in HD, we'll keep watching them because we'll take a bad HD show over a good SD any day. Check out the list and tell us which ones we missed. "King of Queens": We think Kevin James is funny of course, but do we need to see him in HD? No, we don't think so. "E.R".: It's actually a good show, not a great show like it was ten years ago, but a good show. The problem? After a long hard day of work, it's nice to sit and relax in front of the widescreen. E.R. is just too damn stressful! "According to Jim": See "King of Queens" above for similar reasons. Besides, we're hearing that this one might be on it's last legs in SD or HD. "American Idol": Not only do we have to see untalented knuckleheads that have no sense of reality, but we have to hear them is crystal clear Digital Dolby 5.1 Surround Sound too. Please, stop the music! "Joey": If you don't even warrant your own show category on TV Squad, how can we possibly watch? We would have opted for a Chandler Bing spin-off instead.
