High Definition: Difference between revisions

{{tropeUseful Notes}}

'''High Definition''' is basically increasing the resolution of digital TV broadcasts to show more detail compared to the 625 lines of PAL or 525 of NTSC. [[Older Than They Think]]: Analog broadcasts in HD go back to the 1950s, but did not take off until the 2000s. Furthermore, computer users with VGA monitors have effectively had HD since the 1990s.

Note that 480p (640x480, progressive-scan) is '''not''' regarded as High Definition, but Enhanced Definition. Some PC monitor manufacturers bill a resolution of 2560x1600 (yes, it exists; [[Crack is Cheaper|no, it's not cheap]]) as "XHD".

Usually broadcasters tend to choose between 720p and 1080i depending on their type of programming; for instance [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]], [[FoxFOX]], [[ESPN]] and the A&E/Lifetime networks go with 720p to reduce image blur during fast motion in sporting events and films, and to address bandwidth concerns. 1080i broadcasters such as [[NBC]], [[CBS]], the Discovery networks and Food Network and HGTV go for image clarity. However in many cases the average consumer has no need to understand either format, as they all provide a great picture. 720p sets are cheaper than 1080i televisions, though as prices go down, 720p sets are becoming fewer and fewer. 1080p is mainly a media resolution utilized by camcorders, [[Blu-Ray]] and the [[PlayStationPlay Station 3]] as it is not currently possible to broadcast a 1080p signal over the air.

It's also resulted in a lot of people buying new televisions, especially in the United States after the FCC had forced the digital conversion (originally planned February 12th12, 2009 but delayed by the President to June 12th12).

Of the Sixth Generation of game consoles, the [[PlayStation 2]] and Xbox both technically supported HD, but very few games used those modes, especially on the [[PlayStation 2]], which only had TWO games that supported 1080i ([[Gran Turismo]] 4 and Tourist Trophy, which, it should be noted, ran on the same [[Game Engine]]). [https://web.archive.org/web/20191029142624/http://www.hdtvarcade.com/hdtvforumhdtvforums/index.php?s=941aaffdaa06508b4026a82248f98174&app=custompages&do=show&pageId=3 The HDTV Arcade Game Database] highlights which games do support the 720p and 1080i modes. Homebrew for either platform will be more likely to leverage the higher resolution. Most games (but not all) among all four consoles support 480p, at the very least.

Of the Seventh Generation of video game consoles (the [[PlayStationPlay Station 3]], 360, and Wii), only the Wii doesn't have HD capabilities. This has the side effect of making it so some [[PlayStationPlay Station 3]] and 360 games have near illegible text or HUD elements on non-HD TVs(since the game programmers expected it to be played on widescreen HD sets), a problem not present in the Wii due to the aforementioned lack of HD, though the Wii's 480p resolution is considered enhanced definition..

[[Category:High Definition{{PAGENAME}}]]