WipEoutHD's 1080p resolution made possible by dynamic framebuffer |
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You'd think that being such a fast-moving game, WipEout HD would have a problem rendering at 1080p at 60 frames per second, but it seems the PlayStation 3's hardware can take it. According to a report from Digital Foundry, this is because the game operates on a dynamic framebuffer, allowing it to change resolutions on a frame-by-frame basis.
Rather than using methods like dropping frame rates to catch up with the speed, the game uses the Playstation 3's horizontal hardware scaler. This allows the game to change resolutions on the fly from anywhere between 1920x1080, to 1280x1080. Reportedly, this is something the Xbox 360 can't do, and so is limited to fixed resolutions.
I'd say that's a great solution for games with ambitious resolutions. I can't say I can tell the difference when the game switches resolutions, seeing as how fast the game is. I'd prefer this method rather than dropping frame rates, which can make for pretty awkward gaming, especially for racers. Here's how Digital Foundry reports its findings:
The actual amount of horizontal resolution being dropped can change on a frame by frame basis: 1728x1080, 1645x1080, 1600x1080, 1440x1080. All have been seen in the Digital Foundry TrueHD captures. The shots above appear to be 1500x1080.
The dynamic framebuffer is really quite an innovative solution to the perennial 1080p problem. Even though we're seeing major differences in resolution, the human eye really will have trouble realising the difference when the detail level is changing so rapidly in such a fast moving game.
In short, it's making an advanced-looking game like WipEout HD work at 1080p60 and that's pretty damn awesome.
Related Articles:
Via Digital Foundry
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Comments [refresh]
That's kewl! Too bad the 360 can't do this. Then the famed Halo 3 would have been MUCH better and not looked like crap on my TV.
Sounds to me that while a good technical solution...it's most likely the cause of the epilepsy problems they had.
I think it is the colors on the zone levels not the resolution.
Sweet looking game worth 20 bucks
I think it's the zone levels as well, and not the resolutions.
Doesn't matter to me. I'm still playing on my "old" CRT-TV. XD
but if its changing resolution per frame, can you REALLY say its running at 1080p?
I would be much more impressed if it were constant resolution AND framerate....
i experienced a seizure playing wipeout. it was aweseom
You'll notice the number of horizontal lines never drops below 1080.
I'd be more impressed w/ you if you'd STFU
o/c
LOL
It's the 1920 that changes resolution, not the 1080. So yeah... we REALLY can say it's running at 1080p.