PAL video settings and HDTV
Hey folks,
My name is Kevin Meyer (gamertag: doulWeapons) and I'm on the test team for some of the Xbox 360's system software like the dashboard and the guide. I'm going to talk a little bit about the exciting world of PAL video modes! Well, maybe it's not that exciting, but some users have had some confusion on the subject, so we at the Xbox Team blog thought we'd lend a hand in helping you understand what's going on, and what you can do.
The PAL video specification supports two frequencies for output, 50 and 60 hertz. The Xbox 360 supports both frequencies at standard definition (480i), but only outputs at 60hz for high def resolutions (480p, 720p, and 1080i). However, just because the system supports 50 Hz doesn't mean that every game will, and there are a handful of games that won't work at 50Hz. These include Feeding Frenzy and The Outfit among others. If your system is set to PAL 50 output mode, you will see a message telling you that the game doesn't support the current video mode. However, if you are in High Def mode, some of these games, like the two I mentioned above, will still show the warning.
There was a problem with an early version of the development kit given to game developers that still paid attention to the SD setting for PAL mode, even when your system is set to HD mode. This has since been fixed so new games that have the 50 Hz limitation for SD won't hit this problem, but it's a large amount of work for developers to go back and fix the games that already have the problem.
Lucky for you, there is an easy way to get around this problem. First you need to switch back to using SD mode - flip the switch on your Component HD AV pack to the SD setting, or temporarily swap out your VGA AV pack for a Component (SD) AV pack, S-Video pack, or HD pack set to SD mode.
Next go to the System Blade, pick Console Settings, then Display, and change your output mode to PAL 60.
Now just switch back to your HD video mode of choice, and you are ready to go.
- doulWeapons (kevin.)
Comments
Anonymous
August 02, 2006
As someone who's TV will not run 60hz only games, publishers not supporting PAL50 is really starting to annoy me. I hope this is just an early development thing and doesn't become the norm.Anonymous
August 02, 2006
I understand that it would be difficult to get publishers to put out patches via Live to fix this but it would be good to have there are games that sit on the shelf because I don't want to go through that procedure.
That said, I know it's unlikely, however there are games in backcompat with the same issue - surely the emulator could be made to get round this - if only for the most popular games (yes I mean Halo: Combat Evolved and some of the Tom Clancy range).Anonymous
August 02, 2006
nice man
thanksAnonymous
August 03, 2006
That doesn't sound like something users of a video game console should have to do.Anonymous
August 03, 2006
Nice to know and nice to see something posted here! :)Anonymous
August 03, 2006
PingBack from http://www.iamkevin.com/journal/?p=350Anonymous
August 03, 2006
Nice to know.
Can you tell me now how to get Doom 3 to work using the VGA cable? It only supports 50hz, VGA only supports 60. What do you do?
WHAT DO YOU DO?Anonymous
August 03, 2006
Thank you for the information. I was just asking about this on Xbox-Scene yesterday.Anonymous
August 03, 2006
Will we ever see 1080i at 50hz? Im stuck playing at 480p on my tv as it only supports 1080i at 50hz.Anonymous
August 03, 2006
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August 03, 2006
So what you mean is that you can play NTSC games that way?Anonymous
August 04, 2006
Thanks for the info regarding PAL.
Sorry to go off topic, but, when the 360 first came out I was really impressed. The Spring update made things even sweeter, but there are still a couple of things I'd like to see in the next release.
1. Restructuring of Video section on Media Blade. It should allow you to go to your PC or 360 hard drive, like for music. When you go to PC, you should be able to stream from your PC (I have Media Centre, but better for everyone if this was not required). Then, when you go to the 360 hard drive, there should be a folder/directory layout identical to the categories available in the marketplace for video content (i.e. game trailers, must video etc...). At the moment, its just one big list of videos. Note - leaving the Game Videos on the Games blade is a good idea.
2. Ability to log into Xbox Live whilst appearing in a Offline mode by default.
3. Web browser to compete with the rivals
Hope that made some sense. Keep up the good work.Anonymous
August 04, 2006
It would be so much easier if you could just change the output mode even if you are using HD/VGA.Anonymous
August 05, 2006
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August 05, 2006
i guess i'm glad i don't have to worry about this :)Anonymous
August 07, 2006
do you guys have a podcast. Or ever plan to start one. You guys a major could make a realy adictive podcastAnonymous
August 10, 2006
Kevin,
This is all well and good, but unfortunately just because a variant of the PAL standard (called PAL-60, PAL-60/525 or Pseudo PAL) exists doesn't mean it is supported by vendors of products for a region.
In Australia, the official Analog broadcast standard is PAL-B, and this is what the manufacturers of televisions have to conform to. There is no law stating they must support anything else (including 30 or 60fps support).
Due to this, alot of manufacturers brought HD ready televisions to market supporting just the Australian PAL-B and HD standards for display, in essence a frame rate of 25/50 only.
This shows that Microsoft's generic statement to support "PAL" is technically incorrect - to support "PAL" you must support all inherent standards of it... including 25 fps support, and the ramifications of this is the sale of Xbox 360's and games into a territory where the early adopters of HD Ready TV sets will never see a HD signal output from their shiny new console, or for people with non HD sets may only be able to play a small amount of games due to all of the latest releases only supporting "PAL-60".
TV manufacturers that have done this that I know of are Panasonic and Samsung, and they are unwilling or unable to provide a fix for these TV's that handle "Australian Standard Broadcast SD/HD", claiming they have done what they need to, and it is in essence Microsoft's problem.
Any thoughts?
Regards,
CrystalHawk (Shane).Anonymous
August 14, 2006
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August 24, 2006
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August 25, 2006
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August 28, 2006
Where is the option on PAL console ? I can't find it :(Anonymous
September 05, 2006
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September 25, 2006
What does PAL stand for?Anonymous
September 30, 2006
Yeah, the Pal 50hz issue and BC games is a pain. Having to swap cables everytime I want to play Halo is a real headache, and its a worry that it might be wearing out the socketI really hope MS can fix this problem, especially with the only true 1080p support been with the VGA cable, it sort of leaves European gamers at a disavantage. Ive asked for advice on this from MS employees in different forums, but can't get an answer.Anonymous
October 01, 2006
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November 05, 2006
PingBack from http://trenddiary.com/games/2006/08/03/pal-video-settings-and-hdtv/Anonymous
November 17, 2006
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December 08, 2006
can any one please help ?? my tv is 50hz and gear of war is only 60hz !!is there any way i can play it on my tv ?? thanks alotAnonymous
December 08, 2006
can any one please help ?? my tv is 50hz and gear of war is only 60hz !!is there any way i can play it on my tv ?? thanks alotAnonymous
December 25, 2006
can you please tell me how to play gear of war on 50hz tvAnonymous
December 27, 2006
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January 12, 2007
We need the VGA cable to be compatible with 50Hz and the console needs to auto switch between PAL-50 and 60 where necessary. I use VGA and want to play Doom 3, but the PAL version is 50Hz only and while the NTSC version is 60Hz and region free, I don't know if NTSC Xbox games are BC on a PAL 360. Another VGA problem is the Xbox content downloader because it's 50Hz only, so while Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory is 60Hz compatible and looks great through VGA, if I want to download any maps I can't.Anonymous
January 12, 2007
We need the VGA cable to be compatible with 50Hz and the console needs to auto switch between PAL-50 and 60 where necessary. I use VGA and want to play Doom 3, but the PAL version is 50Hz only and while the NTSC version is 60Hz and region free, I don't know if NTSC Xbox games are BC on a PAL 360. Another VGA problem is the Xbox content downloader because it's 50Hz only, so while Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory is 60Hz compatible and looks great through VGA, if I want to download any maps I can't.Anonymous
January 13, 2007
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January 29, 2007
so can any HD TV play games that are 60hz only?Anonymous
April 11, 2007
if you use a pal game on a us xbox will it be in black and white??Anonymous
April 12, 2007
I have the same problem with wahid. My TV is 50hz and ProEvolution6 supports only PAL60. Is there any solution for that? I rent an accomodated flat in Egypt and I do not know how long I will stay here, so buying a new TV is not the best optionAnonymous
May 12, 2007
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May 06, 2008
Letzte Woche gab es bei Amazon ein gutes Angebot: Wenn man eine Xbox 360 kaufte, bekam man das HD-DVD-Laufwerk für die Xbox, 3 Monate Xbox Live Gold und - das war für mich das entscheidende - GTA IV für die Xbox gratis dazu.Bei der Xbox 360 Elite, diAnonymous
June 18, 2008
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