PS3 Game Upscaling: Fact or Fiction?

IGN decided to run a couple of PSX and PS2 titles through their paces, testing out the new PS/PS2 Upscaler and PS/PS2 Smoothing features under the Game Setttings menu.

Screenshots after the jump.

[FeralPhoenix]

Well honestly I couldn't see much difference other than some of the upscaled screenshots look a bit more "blurry", but the GoW2 screenshot using progressive scan and widescreen does look a little better although it looks lighter.....or maybe its just me, I'm interested to hear other impressions?

[InMyOpinion]

Upblurred? I agree, GOW 2 was the only game that looked better IMO.

[zantetsuken]

http://boardsus.playstation...

Check that out. Notice the HUGE difference? IGN screens are too small to tell wth is going on. They're also not using 1080p, on their forum they say it's 720p.

Also, notice they don't show the exact same screen back to back? IGN did this bs intentionally to get hits.

[BIGBAER]

The upscaled screens looked worse than the originals. Blurred.

[Seraphim]

as stated, IGN was only using 720p. I'm running 1080p on my Bravia XBR3 and the games look great. DMC 3, Odin Sphere, and God of War II were the only games I've checked out, but all looked great. Much better than they do on the PS2. Obviously upscaling isn't going to give you great graphics, but running 1080p there's a very noticeable difference. Instead of still using my PS2 as I had planned I'm now actually using the backwards compatibility in the PS3...

[icechai]

Its kind of strange because all the other screenshot comparisons are so dramatic. Only reason I can think of is because IGN didn't actually do 1080p comparisons with proper screenshots of similar quality to compare to.

[WilliamRLBaker]

they seem all blurry and not really better, and i've yet to find an option to upscale the games to 720p... one should never take 480i/p content and upscale it to 1080i/p it all ways looks like crap that way.

[PhinneousD]

ewww... it just makes things not as crisp so you can't see the pixilated texures as well. you can't fool us sony! we are on to you!!!! >:-(
to be honest, i like the un"scaled" version better... it has richer color and looks more detailed.

[Sashy]

IGN have posted low res images. Look at my test:

Killzone gunzoom 480p
http://www.playstation-3.se...

Killzone gunzoom 720p
http://www.playstation-3.se...

Killzone 480p
http://www.playstation-3.se...

Killzone 720p
http://www.playstation-3.se...

[ErcsYou]

those screen shots showed a huge difference. when i tried the upscaler myself it was very easy to tell that it made games look better

[Bathyj]

The upscale pix look way sharper. In SotC it made a HUUUUUUUUGE difference with the shimmering interlacing effect as well.

I admit some of these screens have a haze or washed out look to them but in game it just makes it look more natural and less cartoony. Screenshots are NO way to do a proper comparison and if you're knocking the PS3 based on these screens slap yourself in the face with a burnt fish for me.

Alot depends on the source as well. Of course PS1 games aren't going to look that good, and maybe even worse since the new rez might showcase the shortcomings of the graphics. You can polish a turn forever, its still a turd, but a fresher one might come up a bit shinier. Also maybe these test should be done with just upscaling on and not blurring (which can be turned off by the way). I cant believe people are complaining about blurring. Do you even know what AA is?

[TheMART]

Oops, now look at the pictures again... first time you think: indeed PS3 upscaling looks better... THen you look again and see

The PS3 image is squeezed vertically, so the right measurements are gone. Now zoom in on the ceiling. The detail has gone.

Thus PS3 upscaling = getting the edges to smooth indeed, but at the same time blur the whole screen + squeezing the screen vertically...

Doesn't look better at all!!!

[Sashy]

The Mart, I actually set my HDtv on widescreen so ... please dont complain so mutch before you know whats going on.

[Nik]

Upscaling is not the same as re-rendering it in HD. PS1 and 2 games will become even more pixaleted when upscaled so they've used a smoothing filter. Screenshots will not show much difference. On HDTVs, it will.

[Vojkan]

Yup, exactly. Good comment btw. I also think people expect to much. Its not like you are going to get totally new game

[IPlayGames]

Couldnt really see a difference there either.

Havent played a ps2 game on the 3 sense the update so cant really say.

[SPAWN]

even takes ps1/ps2 games and still bleaches them out! The ps3 is a peice of crap no hate what so ever! The proof is in the pudding! Just look at the shots and what the ps3 fanboys are saying their selves!

[ErcsYou]

if your basing your opinion of these screen shots, you are truly misinformed. any ps3 user will immediately be able to tell the difference with the upscaler turned on. raiden 3 looks SO MUCH better upscaled and smoothed. dont knock it before you try it

[MySwordIsHeavenly]

bleaches them out???

You obviously haven't tried this yet. and what do you mean still??? Are you going with the rest of "those guys" and saying the PS3 leaves a washed-out look??? Because I think that's what you're saying.

You, sir, are an idiot. You deserve death. A painful. Suffering. Death.

BTW..."the proof is in the pudding" <What are you smoking???

#1 - lamest phrase ever
#2 - are you a housewife?
#3 - that phrase was used incorrectly
#4 - average size of the full-grown asian male...

[AcidRhain]

No one deserves death... You know it will only come around and get back at you.
You sir just have been JINXed. :-/

[Close_Second]

...so now PS3 can claim another feature - software upscaling. But in all honesty, who cares. I did not purchase an HD display to play last gen games. I will continue to use my PS2 and Xbox to play my favorite last gen games on my SD display. My HD display is reserved for HD gaming.

Ok, for all you Sony fanboys that hit disagree...well, if upscaling was all that was needed why should we waste our time with Blu-Ray. Why not just put up with upscaled DVD on an HD display??? probably because upscaled anything never compares with native resolutions, especially on a 1080p compatible display. I did not spend thousands on a new HD display to play yesterdays games. Its a novelty to see how they look but not something I really care about. I dare say once the PS3 gets some great games you won't give a toss about upscaling either.

[icechai]

seriously though, anyone seeing IGN's comparison would laugh, I did... over the ridiculousness of their reporting. There's been tons of other screenshot comparisons around the web that show how much better the games look when smoothing options and the rgb full color range are turned on:
http://i14.tinypic.com/6fs2...
vs
http://i7.tinypic.com/4r07n...

http://img159.imageshack.us...
vs
http://img339.imageshack.us...

[Bloodmask]

Nik is correct. The very defenition of the word tells what it does. They (UP SCALE) MAKE BIGGER the textures or sprites. Its not some act of God. They make them bigger and increase the resolution. Now, if you increase the resolution of something it becomes more pixelated or jaggie if you will. As the texture or sprite becomes stretched from being enlarged the colors start to separate on the sprites or on the texture itself. Then when you turn the filter or smoother on it fills in the gaps that are created from the separations which distorts it or makes it blurry as well as washing out the colors. At 1080p with a filter on the image will always be less detailed or blurry, as well as the colors being washed out. You can't just transform a low resolution sprite or texture into an HD one, if that were the case why release the PS3. Why not just release upscaling software on the PS2. Every emulator all the way down to the SNES has this option so they can run on high resolution PC monitors without looking pixelated. Its no big deal..............I see so many people checking disagree on the comments when people say it looks blurry...well it does. It's just like enlarging a photograph. The bigger you make it...the more it stretches....the more the colors separate...the less detailed or blurry it becomes in the end......It is really a simple concept.....you can even do it to pictures saved on your computer..the bigger you make them the less detailed they become......I have explained this so simply that anyone should be able to understand now. So if you check disagree i don't know about you people..

[Close_Second]

...lots of fanboys hitting disagree because they think upscaling is all you need. As I said (above) if upsacling is all that was needed why waste time with Blu-Ray...probably because true-HD s**ts all over upscaled anything.

[Rybnik]

my god, did you even check the screen comparos like what icechai and Sashy provided. Dude, it is like night and day...I NEVER would have thought such a difference could be seen. This is insane!

[DrHooker]

so, the image pairs don't match and they are too small. what are they trying to pull?

[Quicksilva]

On my 40" 1080p screen there is a definite difference in the upscaled version. From what I can see when not using smooth edges the upscaled version looks better and now fits to my full screen (without horrible black borders) there is still a few jaggies around which then with smooth edges turned on it seems to fix that.

Overall I'm pleased with the upscaling but I still need to test alot more games.

[ITR]

This reminds me of the old composite cable vs S-Video debate.
S-Video was better but just barely..maybe a 10-15% improvement over composite res.

GOW2 should look better. It's using recent tech., and it's also progressive scan.

RE2 looks a bit better.

The rest could be done in photoshop. Maybe a blur filter and a anti-aliasing filter.

Some games look blurry (Capcom game) and comes off looking worse then the orig. res.
Others see barely any improvement.

[JVC06]

I aint seen much difference in PS1 games but on FF12 and Pro Evo 6 I defo noticed smoother visuals and when the camera was zoomed out the speckles were almost gone from the screen.
I dont think that IGN article used the best of games to demonstrate the upgrade (e.g Capcom fighting game), and yeh the screens werent big enough to get a gud idea of the difference.
Reminds me of the expansion pack for the N64, that did a similar thing to the games.

[ITR]

I think newer games released within the last two yrs will benefit the most from this firmware update.

[WilliamRLBaker]

its funny how so many people are blind, every game so far ive tried doesn't look that much better, im still looking for a 720p option instead of 1080p....and some games ive tried look down right crappy, and every game with text the text is all blurry.

p.s: its a fact taking 480i/p media and upscaling it to 1080i/p allways looks worse then if you upscale it to 720p.

[achira]

you dont even own a ps3 you moron, how can you look ? lol, thats rediculous. you are a ms whore.

[progx]

the originals are WAY better. Its all stretched and the colors messed up. Only blind fanboys would think they look better.

[Vip3r]

I can certainly see a difference on my TV.

[techie]

Haha. What is IGN like. They upscaled and then downscaled all their images!? Both their images were the same size, meaning you couldn't see the quality difference...typical IGN resizing. What were the size of the pictures?

You can't see the difference when you show small images for both, since in upscaling you are producing an image 3 times the size...meaning original the psx/ps2 game will be STRETCHED accross an HDTV screen, but with upscaling it is actually UPSCALED to the right resolution. The difference is simply seen on an HDTV.

Look members have provided their images and these are some of the results they are getting;

[Stormflood]

Indeed. IGN have posted 640x480 images comparing them to 640x480 images! How utterly ridiculous.

But as a few posters have pointed out, upscaling isn't going to magically turn games into next-gen quality - but it certainly makes a difference.

[ITR]

Stormflood IGN images are 480x360.

Deep those photos are 600x450.
That second photo looks very similar to photos I see of SOC all over the net all from 2005.

[FeralPhoenix]

I don't know why people expect so much from upscaling in the first place.....yes as I said these particular screens look blurry but if you still enjoy playing a older games, chances are its because of the gameplay/fun factor, since no matter how good upscaling is done, its still obviously graphicaly inferior to current gen games. -Big deal. Is it really going to change that "old" game you already played? I mean are you expecting some PS1 game to look amazing because its upscaled?

Personally Iam one of the few who doesn't really care about BC and upscaling, I mean seriously I barely have time to play the games I recently bought. The comparisons looked blurry for whatever reason, but really I wasn't excited (just curious) either way= not a big reason I bought my PS3 or 360 for that matter.

[techie]

Fact is upscaling makes things look better on an HDTV. Simple as that. The moothing option is the ONLY thing you'll be able to see in small screens on the net.

And ITR of course it looks like the images...but the first one is how it looks on an HDTV without upscaling, and the second is with.

Feral my boy. Often it's not about playing games again that you've played before. But looking through the back catalogue of PS2 games, or getting the ones coming out. For me...I want to play Shadow of Collossus, Okami, Resi 4, GOW2, Tomb Raider Anniversary....you see BC is important. (I also like playing my faves like POP :) )

[Stormflood]

@ITR

The thumbnails are 480x360, but the actual images when you click on the thumbnails are 640x480 - both the un-upscaled, and the upscaled examples.

My point is that the upscaled screen shots should be 720p, 1080i or 1080p resolutions for a fair comparison. As it stands, it's they're comparing 480p to 1080p by showing two 480p screens!

[Xbot_Killer]

I have a Ps3 on a 1080p display and knew right away that these screenshots are BS. the non scaled shots look like they were done on a standard definition display while the upscaled ones look like they are in 720p.

IGN thinking people wouldn't be smart enough to sniff out their caca makes them look like hacks and fools.

[LightofDarkness]

Ign displaying a rather comical lack of intelligence and knowledge on the subject (not the first time). If both images are the same size, we're supposed to be able to see a difference HOW? Unless smoothing is turned on, you won't. Regardless, I have a PS3, so take it from ME, as in someone who DOES know what they're talking about, that it looks noticably better. Not a heck of a lot better, let's not forget we're mulitplying the number of pixels many times and putting over a generic smoothing filter, but better. If you want to see similar results, do the same with an Xbox game on a 360 upscaled to 1080P/720P, although I'm more impressed with the 360's approach to upscaling, just seems a little cleaner in general. But taht's just my opinion.

[TruthHurts]

This is really really really pathetic. IGN seems to have it out for Sony in general when ever they release to new piece of hardware, then they change their minds (flipfloppers).
Don`t listen to any info about the ps3 from IGN for another year or so.

[sumfood4u]

This will always be an Opinion Answer! So saying Fact or Fiction you'll wind~up with both Agree/Disagreeable Tempers! Since Debating makes the World Go Round!

[bee2427]

I have to see i was shocked when I saw those pictures on IGN. I would think they would know what they are doing. Anyway having a 60 inch tv in front of me you see alot of jagged edges playin old games and the dvd upscale doesnt work magic but for one thing on a 60 inch tv it improves the quality of the picture A LOT.

[gnothe1]

for me it looks a little better than it did (gow2) but it still looks like a PS2 game!!

now about this upscaling issue, since sony is doing it , its fine!! remember when MS announced that the 360 can UPSCALE ALL games to 1080p, you sony boys were all over that, talking about how it wasnt any good to upscale. the 360 was able to upscale 360 games an all. but now the Ps3 can upscale old PS2 games now its the best thing since sliced bread!! I see how it is, IF MS DOES IT ITS BAD BUT IF SONY DOES IT ITS GREAT!!

FANBOYS YOU GOT TO LOVE THEM!!

[daomay]

For some of you

Get a PS3

Get a 50inch xbravia sony LCD (1080p)

have sex with your boyfriend or galfriend or wife or a hooker....shortly after...light up a cigie then relax in front of your big azz TV....

Put any PS2 game into da ps3 machine....then turn on upscale and the difference is there....For those of you who can't see the difference you very need to wipe that cum off your glasses.....

We should be thanking Sony for they latest firmware update...instead of fuking saying shiiit like "Eil I think it look worst"

Sony is not stupid...why the fuk would they relaese an update if it wasnt gonna make it zit better.

By the way....Upscale DVD to 1080p is fuking amazing....good job sony

As for IGN go suk a 8===>....those screens are so fuking blurry....wat the fuk were they thinking showing it to peoples that doesnt have a PS3!!!

[Lord Anubis]

poor IGN is at it again. To bad it didn't work for them because it works for everyone else.

[SaturnTo]

Those screen shots are such bull! There is a huge difference in the look of the game when upscaled to 1080p. What kind of crappy so called HDTV were they using??? I think they deliberately are trying to deceive people, but they can't deceive the PS3 owners who play on a HDTV set. We all know the difference is huge!

[tk]

Don't really care what IGN says. They constantly try to downplay any PS3 news. The great thing is - when I get my PS3, I will be able to play nearly all my PS2 titles. And many will even look better as a bonus.

The XB360 fanboys trying to downplay this - shame. Still can't play your old XB titles? Heck - with so many new titles still coming out for the PS2 it is all good.

Thumbs down for IGN and their crappy reporting. They seem to compete with Kotaku and TheInquirer.net for the most stupid reporting.

[Shadow Flare]

i think what they are forgetting is that a HDTV stretches a psone game until its unbearibly crap to look at. I know this because i tried FF7 on my ps3 through a 40" HDTV before and it was painful. Now i'm about 20 hours through the game, and it looks perfect because of upscaling. I couldn't be happier with this update

Like all things, you really notice the difference when you see it for yourself on a HDTV, not on a monitor

[Stinkey]

Any of you who own a PS3 and downloaded the update and played one of their old games will no doubt disagree with those stupid screenshot that IGN doctored up to create a buzz so more people can visit their lame website. Those pics are stupid and in accurate and any of you believing what you see to be true with out actually seeing it in real like is an idiot too. who care what Upscaling means or how it's done the fact is that it makes a difference.

[StateofMind]

Well I couldn't tell the difference, but I sure as hell see a big improvement on my TV. I don't know what IGN is doing wrong, but I do know that they're not getting the same affects that I'm getting.

[Maddens Raiders]

like to throw out their opinions hyperbole, conjecture, and all of the rest of the water cooler cliches and horsesh1t as if their opinions are the final say these days -- well more than normal today, especially on this topic.

Thammer, marty, spazz...errr...I mean spawn, thwip, jason, not the one, Bill L. Baker, jenzo, & the list goes on & on from the congregation @ Peter Moore's Church of Gates. Their former reverend top gamer a.k.a. the real deal was caught in a scandal and now controversy is stirred up on just about anything pro - PS3 since the good shepherd has left the site and they have no leader. Awwwww...

What's the matter -- You guys are tired of playing your 3 or 4 games that are even worth mentioning on your idolized system. It is so obvious how bored and jealous you all are because you're on PS3 threads like flies on Dawg$hit....Mmmmmm yummy. So here ya go taste THIS: The following are a couple of screens from a little game that came out oh...about 5 years ago...you may have heard of it before -it's called Marvel vs. Capcom 2. Rememeber games like that guys? You know Great games that came out on the PS2 and that now can be played on the PS3. Oh no you Don't know because your reverend doesn't believe in Back Compat. HAHA....oh well

While you're being charged for online networking via "live" in 2007 and finishing AAA games in 6 hours; take note that the following is yeat another added perk for owning the PS3 because in actuality -- nothing this pure will ever grace that poor excuse of technology called an XBox360. Throw it out in the bathwater (take the towels off first) and then start all over again....ok? Nevermind that's already been done. =]

The first pic is Wolvie vs. Hulk PS3

Second is Wolvie vs. Hulk PS2

The last is Ruby Heart & Spidey vs. Hulk PS3

There is some motion blur because these are not stagnant characters [no I didn't pause the game, because I wanted to capture the raw essence of the characters as they move on screen, unretouched for your review] and it's difficult to get the lighting just right in my game room, but one can clearly see the level of refined detail to the training room wall - bars (green) at the rear between the two consoles (upscaling in effect) and the level of detail in Hulk's feet and the jaggies around he and Wolvie on the PS2 shot are clearly evident. Also look at the detail ion fonts and the colors even look a little better. I know Wolvie looks kinda blurry and crazy on the first PS3 shot, but hey -- the guy's a berserker and wouldn't stand still -- not even for this shot!lol Believe me, the game is not blurry AT ALL, as opposed to what all the HATERATION posts above are claiming. I think that the blurriness in the photos is simply due to the difficulty in capturing a "good" screenshot and natural artifacting that shows up in the final shots. My games aren't blurry buddy, but I keep the competition dizzy. Thanks for nothing Microsoft.

P.S. -- Join Folding team #60148 with your own PSN i.d. and get great fringe benefits if ya know what I mean. Enjoy -

Cheers

[gunnar2906]

Frankly speaking I cannot get one thing - Why X360 owners cannot sleep well since the PS3 release? Why every Sony's step forward is met with a hostile reception? I dont really care about X360 - more I got this piece of 2 years old technology, I researched all its inner stuff (hardware), I took a look at its software and put it away. Yeah, there are something to talk about in X360 like GoW or some dashboard features ... But all of this can be and will be easily implemented in PS3.
All is just a different approach. As Ken Kutaragi one told something like "We could install a newer videochip and a more powerfull CPU inside of PS2 and call it PS3, but then we wouldn be Sony". And of course he didnt mention anything about stealing technologies, as MS did - rebuit Apple PowerMac as a base of X360. Dont believe it? At E3 2005 all demos of upcoming X360 were demontrated on slightly modified Power Macs, and that was explained as "similar archetecture". So was it "similar" or "the same"?
I read a lot of sht wented on PS3 by Sony haters since PS3 release.
First it was a the poor CPU performance myth dispelled by Berkley University (!!!) researches.
Then poor GPU performance that was untruth too.
Then difficult programming. This idea is still in fashion. Yeah, true - for devs who use 3rd party engines and templates - PS3 is a nail in ass. And for creative ones PS3 gives particularly unlimited oportunities and performance.
Now we are discussing if "upscaling of ps2 games" is true or fake basing on a few low res pics not on real personal expirience.
Ok ... enuff of it. Sony haters plz calm down ... just relax and enjoy the show. And collect money to waste for a new MS creation upcoming at fall 2009.

[power of Green]

Loot Ninja's so full of sh*t as always. I hat their anti MS asses.

[progx]

thats a good one. So how long you been a fanatical member in the kult of krazy ken?

[Maddens Raiders]

and are you a Hitler fanatic as well? No, really...Heil SturmFuhrerererer!

[bung tickler]

...upscaling does not equal better graphics... you cant make something from nothing... they are sd images and anyone running a hd set knows that it looks like poo poo. all upscaling does is take a little image and make it bigger with as little distortion as possible... however there is still DISTORTION no matter what... shouldn't sony be more worried about new ps3 games? i mean if some one really wanted to play GoW II and they are one of the few gamers that dont have a ps2 they could go out and buy a slim ps2 for like $100... and odds are if they are playing it on a hdtv it (the tv) could/would do the upscaling itself anyways... no need to spend $600 to play ps2 games in almost-but-really-not-hd.

yes i have posted this 4 times now and i will continue to untill this non-news is no longer posted like 23424329884944 times.

[ASTAROTH]

One thing is for sure guys, most of the guys making their opinions here havent even tried a PS3. MART, and some others are really tiresome. The other day MARTY said Resistance was a mediocre FPS, but he havent even played it. He is sooo blind to believe that this mediocre FPS already looks better than Halo 3. But Marty said COD2 looked better. Come on blind fanatics..wakeup.

On the upscaling I have to tell you guys, I have more than 90 PS2 games and the difference is really there. Dont expect you morons that the upscaler make PS2 games look as good as PS3 games!! Jesus!!. At least some of them now look better than some Xbox games. Not all of the games I tried looked good. Some games have their problems.

The Konami games I tried looked worse upscaled. Contra Shatered soldier, The Castlevania games and MGS2 looked prety bad. MGS3 works fine. FFXII looks really amazing. One problem I find playing Tekken 5 is tha it was too blurry, I find the solution in this case and some others. The game came preloaded with a softening option. Turn it off. Also if you turned on the progrresive scan in any game, it is doungraded to 480p.

Games like PRIMAL, Ghosthunter, God of War 1 and 2, FFXII, RE4, DMC3, Champions Returns to Arms, Tekken 5, VF4, Onimusha DoD, Mortal Kombat DA and Okami just to name a few. Looked better than most of my Xbox games. One thing that make me really enjoy this upscaler was WWE Smackdown vs Raw 2006. The upscaler make it look as good as my $59.99 "superior" XBOX 360 version. So to me, anyone who is talking negative comments about the firmware 1.80 and his ability to upscale PS2/PSone games, obiously dont know what the hell he is talking about.

PS: MARTY FANATIC!! I really enjoyed playing CoD2 on my 360, but it doesnt looked better than RESISTANCE. Sorry. MARTY, dont be mad...RESISTANCE cant compare graphically with my copy of GEARS...the best graphical showpiece of the next gen.

FANATICS IF U DONT LIKE IT GO.....URS ELVES!!!!!!!!