games  anime  |  toys
Destructoid is gaming news, community, videos, and sometimes love. Take the tour or jump in with Facebook:

 


SDTV owners rejoice: You'll actually be able to read the text in Dead Space photo

With each passing generation of consoles, cutting-edge graphics have been the delight of many. Unfortunately, there have been some nasty side effects for others: those still living in the standard-definition land of TV viewing have had to squint their way through countless games when it comes to text, maps, or both.

I've never been the type to question progress, yet I have wondered on numerous occasions why some developers have seemingly forgotten that not all of their customers have taken the high-definition plunge -- regardless of whether or not their consoles have that capability. Whatever happened to making sure that a product was the best that it could be for all who played it?

Anyway, we can take solace in knowing that at least one game (Dead Space) will cater to the whole, instead of the few. According to MTV's Multiplayer blog, EA has been making sure to include various SDTVs in the testing process while developing the game. As someone who still has a few of these around the house myself, my hat goes off to the team for doing this. Now if only they would pass this on to everyone else, I (and many others) wouldn't have to worry about repeating that Dead Rising experience ever again. 


Continue: More Xbox 360 stories





prev next

20 comments | showing # 1 to 20

The-Excel's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/04/2008 12:19
The-Excel
"Whatever happened to making sure that a product was the best that it could be for all that played it?"

Screw them. Either get into the 21st century or stay out of our clubhouse.
manasteel88's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/04/2008 12:21
manasteel88
I'll be able to read without squinting!!! hooray!
xdaytime's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/04/2008 12:25
xdaytime
Let's not forget Lost Planet...
The White Light's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/04/2008 12:30
The White Light
This is definitely a good thing. I recently bought an HDTV, so it doesn't affect me directly, but over the last couple of years, I've played many games which were very adversely affected by small text. In The Darkness, you couldn't read the locations on the in-game map, which made finding places a real pain in the ass. I also remember Dead Rising having a similar issue.
Alfie Haggis's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/04/2008 12:31
Alfie Haggis
Dead space?

DEAD SPACE?!

Im in space but im not dead yet!

Alfie
Anviltongue's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/04/2008 12:31
Anviltongue
This is the issue that has me on the fence regarding Penny Arcade's game. I liked it, but not the headache I got squinting at the screen.
savagesaladin's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/04/2008 12:33
savagesaladin
I failed in a lot of shit in Dead Rising because of that. Its hard to read on a low-end HD TV even.
B-Radicate's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/04/2008 12:35
B-Radicate
I moved from playing GTAIV on my 7ft HD projector screen at school to a 36in HD Sony back here at home and even then I hafta sit 2 feet from the screen to easily read the cell phone. My hat's off to EA on this one.
TrailerParkJesus's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/04/2008 12:56
TrailerParkJesus
Yeah fuck Dead Rising for that.

Oh and B-Radicate, you can enlarge the font on the cell phone. Somewhere in the options
skullivan's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/04/2008 13:52
skullivan
This problem isn't just limited to those with SDTV's though. A lot of games nowadays use really tiny text which is hard to read even on an HDTV.

I have a 30" TV so it's not like it's tiny. Some games seem like they're made to be played on 60" sets.
B-Radicate's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/04/2008 14:03
B-Radicate
@TrailerParkJesus: I know you can, but I shouldn't have to. I have a large crisp (1080i) TV I'm playing it on. Why the hell should I have to adjust cell phone text size?

Plus, that's fine and dandy for all the cell text, but what about all the other text in the game like street names and subtitles? Those are a lil on the tiny side, too, just not as bad as the cell.
Justin Villasenor's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/04/2008 14:26
Justin Villasenor
So far I haven't really had any trouble seeing things on my SDTV, but then maybe I just haven't played any of the problem titles.
nukka jdav's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/04/2008 14:53
nukka jdav
I remember the Penny Arcade demo giving me a headache after a while because it was so damn hard to focus on anything.
Sam Spectre's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/04/2008 16:04
Sam Spectre
Nice. The game looks really cool too.
ApocSin's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/04/2008 17:00
ApocSin
Buy A Damn HD TV all Ready! god damn! you can get one from best buy for like $350
Dave Shields's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/04/2008 19:35
Dave Shields
LOL I agree with Apoc.. just get the damn hdtv! use craigslist, I got a 43" for a grand, still good 2 years later. It's how your games are supposed to look for pete's sake!
Blackhat's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/04/2008 22:34
Blackhat
Play Vegas 2 on my TV was.. difficult. The text was literally impossible to read.

And yeah, not all of us want to drop money on something that.. you know, we already have. But now, it'll be sharper.
KnuxSonic's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/04/2008 23:41
KnuxSonic
[i]Buy A Damn HD TV all Ready! god damn! you can get one from best buy for like $350[i]

$350? Maybe a 15" model, which would still end in tiny text.
Gorelord's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/05/2008 00:47
Gorelord
buy an HDTV, you LOSERS!
illuminatatus's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/05/2008 06:14
illuminatatus
Losers? Some of us like to go out on an evening. Go raving. Go drinking. Take our girlfriends out for meals, to the cinema what have you. This costs money.

Choosing to socialise rather than play games a bit bigger/sharper? Maybe that's not L33T enough for some...

Go out and get laid Gorelord
prev next

Comment with Facebook





Click connect and comment instantly!

Comment with Dtoid





New? SIGN UP - it takes 5 seconds

Comments policy

Destructoid is an open discussion community. You don't need to "audition" to post a comment - just speak your mind. We respect differing opinions on the site, so have at it. Be smart, funny, insightful, clueless, or cute -- but back it up with substance. Keep your cool, keep it fun. We only ask that you act respectfully and above all: don't be a troll and ruin it for everyone else. Don't bring down gamers or we'll, you know, gently shoot you in the face and stuff you into a flaming mailbox. Each comment is your opportuntity to make this community awesomer. Is that even a word?

Avoiding the banhammer only requires common sense: spamming, trolling, racism, NSFW stuff, and other forms of sucking will not be tolerated. If anyone is griefing please report abuse. Be good. Don't suck!

 
New on Destructoid.TV play all videos

Loading
Loading Destructoid Videos



    Dtoid Twitter    Got news?   tips@destructoid.com

    Reviews & Previews
    God of War Collection review
    James Cameron's Avatar: The Game review
    Zombie Driver review
    The Saboteur review
    Creature Defense review
    more reviews
    Super Meat Boy
    Trauma Team (endoscopy w/ Tomoe Tachibana)
    Getting mad, ugly and dirty with M.U.D. TV
    Tom Clancy's HAWX
    Amateur Surgeon Christmas (free game!)
    more previews


    - The Dtoid Army is 52353 strong -

    Showing Cblogs with 3+ faps   show all

    Call for entries: Monthly Musing: Love/Hate

    New to Dtoid? Read the survival guide




     Originals
    Jim Sterling: Why do we use review scores?





















    More Destructoid Originals




     Popular now more






















    Team Destructoid   tips@destructoid.com
    Nick Chester
    Editor-in-Chief
    Niero
    Founder, publisher
    Jim Sterling
    Reviews Editor
    Hamza Aziz
    Community Manager
    Dale North
    News Editor
    Rey Gutierrez
    Video editor & director
    Anthony Burch
    Features Editor
    Colette Bennett
    Tom Fronczak Brad Nicholson
    Ashley Davis Ben Perlee
    Conrad
    Zimmerman
    Chad Concelmo
    Jonathan Holmes Jonathan Ross
    Brad Rice Jordan Devore
    Will Maddock Matthew Razak
    Dyson Joseph Leray
    Topher Cantler Samit Sarkar
         
      Dexter
    Adam Dork
    Daniel Lingen
    Hollie Bennett
    Joe Burling
    Mikey
    Stella Wong

    Josh Tolentino




    Kill time at Panfilo's Arcade
    more free games on Dtoid


     

     
      get involved

    register or login
    post a blog
    post a forum
    enter a contest
    contribute a news tip
    suggest a feature
    be a guest editor
    support

    new member's guide
    login assistance
    tech support
    report abuse
    email our editors
    read our dev blog
    nuclear crisis?
    keep in touch

    RSS feed
    Twitter
    Facebook
    Myspace
    Flickr
    Game nights
    Meetup+play online
    seriously

    about Destructoid
    advertising
    terms of use
    privacy policy
    jobs at MM
    buy our crap
    our network

    Tomopop
    Japanator
    Despingation?




    Destructoid is an independently-run publication forged by our love of video games and the gaming community's need of accountable enthusiast press
    living the dream since March 16, 2006





    Mr. Destructoid believes in the teapot...