Topic: A word of warning: PSP Slim...

[elbryan42]

So yeah, thought I'd bring this to anyone's attention who might be getting the PSP Slim to play your games on the TV. The games will only display through a component cable. There are RCA cables available but they're fucking useless. I just wasted my money. I hope others don't.

A question for Sony: WHY THE HELL WOULD YOU RELEASE SUCH A FUCKING FEATURE ON A GAMING SYSTEM AND ONLY HAVE A SMALL PART OF THE POPULATION BE ABLE TO USE IT WITH GAMES!?!?!? FUCKING RETARDS!

Playing your UMDs and surfing the net is great on the big screen, but how the hell am I going to split the PSP between the TV and computer to record my gaming vids?

Sony can take their non-gaming agenda and shove it far up their asses.

There, that's off of my chest.

[PFG9000]

It is kinda lame, but I heard it's because the games already display in a type of progressive scan on the PSP, and the unit isn't programmed to downgrade to interlaced mode for games.  So the cables just work with what the PSP's already designed to do.

The weird thing is that it can apparently display interlaced images when viewing photos...just not for games and movies.  So it's not entirely incapable of downgrading from prog scan.

[elbryan42]

They could at least make it clearly visible on the box.

A warning on the PSP box itself about needing a component cable for gaming (or at the very least a note about "video output cable not available", had to go back to the store).

Or on the package for the RCA cables on the front specifically stating "cannot be used for gaming". On the back it says (in fine print) something how some images might not be viewable, but wasn't specific at all.

Sony is playing dirty pool.

[Think Tank]

In Reply To #4

I'm a little slow. What does this mean? You CAN play PSP games on your TV still, right? You just need special cables? Do you need a special TV too? What are the jacks for component cables like? Are they not RCA compatible at all?

[Jorge D. Fuentes]

In Reply To #5

I'm guessing he has an older TV without the Component Cable input slots.

"MODERNIZE, MAN!" -Random 'Simpsons' guy-

Seriously, who doesn't have Component Cable input nowadays?

[Clara E. Leet]

I'm hearing a lot of problems about this at work.

Not only does your TV need component input, but your TV MUST be Progressive-Scan compatible.

If you don't have those two things, you can't output to TV.

[Kale]

In Reply To #6

ME! But the TC is right. They should clearly print those things. Its like buying a prebuilt computer and then having to open up the case to see a sign saying.... "CPU not included" >.>

[elbryan42]

My TV supports component cables, but after looking into it more, you also need a widescreen tv with progressive scan as well. Oh, and the PSP does work with the RCA cables for UMD movies. The only thing not compatible is games themselves.

Well, got a refund for my Slim. Thankfully I still have my old PSP.

Sony's alienating their fanbase. I'm not buying another Sony system. Not even for MGS4, unless the PS3s go down to clearance prices. They burned me bad. I was really looking forward to playing my PSP games (especially DXC) on my tv.

[ringo]

In Reply To #9
By the sound of it, it seems to be a hardware constraint. It's not like this is some ploy by Sony to force people to buy bigger TVs. Not enough people are interested in this feature to warrant that. Boycotting Sony over this is going over the top.

I do agree though that this information should be shown clearly on the packaging though.

[Rodriguezjr]

It seems I'm lucky. All I need to do is buy the cables.

[John Capricorn]

so let me get understand this.  The requirements to play games-only on the TV are a widescreen tv with progressive scan,  and component(not to be confused with composite) cables?  And the problem with RCA is...?

[PFG9000]

In Reply To #13

That's right.  I'm not sure about the widescreen requirement, as this is the first I heard about it.  Apparently the problem with composite is that the PSP games only output in progressive scan, which composite cannot transmit.

[John Capricorn]

In Reply To #14

Thanks dood.  If you need widescreen, that's lame.

[elbryan42]

I can understand it being a hardware constraint. But why even include the feature when only a fraction of the users will be able to use it? And even then, why when you release it with the feature, with little to no documentation or warning in or on the package.

A very sloppy move by Sony. They should think more about their customers. The PS3 was a serious botch job and after this, I've really lost respect for the company.

I'm not particularly boycotting Sony, but I won't feel comfortable about purchasing anything from them (besides a few PSP games) for a very long time.

BTW, to clarify in one post. To play games on your TV you need:

-A PSP Slim System
-A component cable (not the RCA one)
-A widescreen, progressive scan TV

If you use an RCA cable on a regular, interlaced TV with the Slim, you can watch movies, view photos, surf the net, play music, etc. Everything BUT playing games.

The question is, are UMD movies progressive scan? Or are they downgraded for a regular interlaced picture? Playing movies on a TV looked like a bad DIVX rip. Dark parts didn't quite look right, kinda blotchy.

[John Capricorn]

I did very little research and you need a screen that can do 720p or 1080p so basically an HDTV (not SD widescreen).  So yeah that kinda sucks, not many people have HDTVs and the good ones are all expensive as hell.  It seems almost nautral nowadays to assume you need an HDTV to get the most out of video gaming.  Sorry for your loss I probably would've made the same mistake. : (