Recent FAQ Responses - Update February 2007:
Q: Does the disc that comes with this product have any regional encoding? Specifically, if I ordered this, would I be able to use it on my slim model Region1/US/NTSC Playstation 2?
A: There are 2 versions of the disc, a PAL version and an NTSC version.
Q: I was wondering if you had a list of games that are compatible with this device. Or maybe a list of games that aren"t compatible?
A: A compatibility list is available on our website here. You can also contact Xploder Support.
Q: Does the Xploder HDTV Player need to be inserted every time the PS2 is restarted, or does this alter the system settings (either through hardware or via memory card), meaning this is more of a permanent change? A. The disc has to be loaded before each game disc: Simply load the disc, select the mode you wish to play your game in, then swap the HDTV disc for the game disc.
Q: When I load the software, it tells me to “Insert a Playstation, Playstation 2 compatible disc.”
A: Contact Xploder Support
Q: When I load a game, it appears to be vertically squashed. I have tried aspect ratio controls but it makes no difference.
A: Unfortunately this is down to the game itself. HD works with a Horizontal pixel resolution of 720. Unfortunately, some games only allow 640 to be sent to the screen and sometimes even just 512. This is why the screen appears to be vertically squashed.
Q: I have the VGA adaptor for the HDTV Player. What are the RED, WHITE and YELLOW sockets for?
A: They are used for attaching external hardware such as PC speakers or Surround Sound systems.
Q: Does this software work with DVD movies?
A: The HDTV Player has not been designed for DVDs, only games. However, we have found that some DVDs do work. Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee that any DVD will work.
Q: Is this software compatible with the PS3 to upscale PS2 games?
A: No. This software is only designed for the PS2, and we advise you not to use on PS3.
HDTV Player FAQs
Q: Is the HDTV Player changing the code within games so that they display in HD?
A: No, the Xploder HDTV Player does not change the code within games. It enables progressive scan, so instead of outputting odd/even fields it outputs 448/512 lines to the CRT output.
Q: Does the HDTV player use additional hardware?
A: The Xploder HDTV Player does not use any additional hardware in converting the signal; it is purely a software product. The disc does comes bundled with a PS2 component cable for the HDTV output, and a VGA Adaptor cable is available separately for those who wish to use a VGA connection.
Q: Does using the software slow games down?
A: Games render at their native resolution - therefore Xploder HDTV Player does not take-up any additional processing power.
Q: The PS2 hardware isn"t capable of outputting 720p and 1080i
A: Contrary to popular belief, the PlayStation 2 can output 480p, 576p, 720p, 1080i modes via a Component cable. In addition the PS2 supports the following VESA modes (via VGA adaptor):
- 640 x 480 (60,72, 75, 85hz)
- 800 x 600 (56, 60, 72, 75,85hz)
- 1024 x 768 (60, 70, 75, 85hz)
- 1280 x 1024 (60, 75hz)
Q: Will games suffer from stretching and distortion?
A: For optimum display on PAL TVs with limited aspect ratio controls, we recommend the 576p display option. Some games may experience distortion in the higher resolution modes.
Q: Doesn’t my HDTV already up-convert lower resolution signals to High Definition, regardless of the source?
A: Displaying interlaced video on progressive displays (LCD, Plasma) results in motion artefacts called “combing”, the Xploder HDTV avoids this by sending video frames in progressive mode (where possible).
Q: Do the games have to be formatted in HD?
A: No, the games do not have to be formatted in HD to be used with the Xploder HDTV Player.
Q: You can"t increase the quality of the source.
A: Progressive mode sends twice the number of lines per frame (game permitting), so the resolution is increased vertically (interlaced games need 2 screen updates, or twice the amount of time to send the same video data).
Q: There has been a lot of reference to up-converting/up-scaling and de-interlacing. Which of these best describes the HDTV Player?
A: Progressive mode and up-scaling best describe the method used by the Xploder HDTV Player.
Q: Does the device interpolate (or add pixels).
A: The Xploder HDTV Player does not interpolate. It works by enabling progressive scan output, so instead of sending half the lines per frame it sends all of them. This has noticeable improvements in movement, especially on HDTV sets; artefacts such as combing are no long present. The software does not create extra lines (or interpolate).
Q: Will this work with all PS2 games?
A: We have already successfully tested Xploder HDTV Player with hundreds of games, however there may ultimately be a small number of games that the Xploder HDTV is not compatible with due to circumstances outside of our control. Our comprehensive testing programme will continue as new games are released. Compatibility is around 90% of all PS titles. Current List of Compatible Games
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Xploder HDTV Player Quick Start Guide
