Sony Soon to Force Gamers into Using HDMI

grandy

Published on 07-12-2011 06:11 PM

192 Comments

A recent GameStop memo has been circling the net and has gamers buzzing with frustration. The memo, which recently leaked to Kotaku, reveals that a new "K" model PS3 will be shipping to retailers this week. The new model will force gamers to utilize HDMI to display High Definition movies and games. The new model does away with the option to display High Definition content via component cables. In addition, the memo states that all future PlayStation 3 models will adopt this policy.

Gamers are probably scratching their heads as to why Sony would remove such a widely used feature. Unfortunately, Sony is implementing the change in order to comply with the DRM standards which are known as the AACS Final Adopter Agreement. According to Wikipedia, "the Advanced Access Content System (AACS) is a standard for content distribution and digital rights management, intended to restrict access to and copying of the "next generation" of optical discs and DVDs."

So, what exactly in the AACS Final Adopter Agreement is dictating this hardware change? According to Blu-Ray.com, in 2013 the AACS stipulates that no Blu-Ray player may be manufactured or sold which outputs decrypted AACS content via analog outputs. The component cable featured on the PlayStation 3 is an analog output and the Blu-Ray discs played on the PS3 contain AACS content. It appears that this is the very reason for Sony's removal of the feature. However for the time being, please consider this a rumor until further information develops.

Source: Kotaku
AfterDawn

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192 Comments

Jay-Jay - 07-12-2011, 10:43 PM
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Umm, so what type of cable are they providing for their customers when they buy it? This is so weird.

grandy - 07-12-2011, 10:49 PM
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It comes with the standard cheap Audio Video (AV) cables, but to play high definition content, you MUST buy an HDMI cable.

SwordOfWar - 07-12-2011, 10:59 PM
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Originally Posted by grandy

It comes with the standard cheap Audio Video (AV) cables, but to play high definition content, you MUST buy an HDMI cable.

Do most games even support 480 resolution? I'm guessing if that is the case, then you can't play those either? Because 720 or greater would be "HD".

This must be a ploy to force everyone to upgrade to HD televisions. Even though I already have one, I can see why this would be extremely frustrating for new PS3 customers who still only have an SD television.

bobbintb - 07-12-2011, 11:04 PM
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Originally Posted by SwordOfWar

This must be a ploy to force everyone to upgrade to HD televisions.

how so? you can still use an the av cable provided. what youre saying doesnt make any sense.

even though not many people use component cables, its stupid that it doesnt come with an hdmi cable.

Kenzya - 07-12-2011, 11:06 PM
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Originally Posted by SwordOfWar

Do most games even support 480 resolution? I'm guessing if that is the case, then you can't play those either? Because 720 or greater would be "HD".

This must be a ploy to force everyone to upgrade to HD televisions. Even though I already have one, I can see why this would be extremely frustrating for new PS3 customers who still only have an SD television.

It has been a frustration for people using SD. I remember the whole Banjo & Kazooie Nuts and Bolts fiasco. The text wasn't readable on SD televisions and it took them a couple months to release a patch that made text readable. By that time I had already sold the game. I found a very nice HD TV for cheap since then but there are some games like Red Dead (I don't remember if it's zombies or not) that refuse to even load on SD TV's. I just wanted to show the game to my friend.

gDrive - 07-12-2011, 11:07 PM
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Do most games even support 480 resolution?

They do, albeit with illegible text (and in some cases, better framerates, like Mirror's Edge when played in SD (smooth) and in HD (choppy))

gDrive - 07-12-2011, 11:08 PM
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Originally Posted by Kenzya

It has been a frustration for people using SD. I remember the whole Banjo & Kazooie Nuts and Bolts fiasco. The text wasn't readable on SD televisions and it took them a couple months to release a patch that made text readable. By that time I had already sold the game. I found a very nice HD TV for cheap since then but there are some games like Red Dead (I don't remember if it's zombies or not) that refuse to even load on SD TV's. I just wanted to show the game to my friend.

You beat me to it lol!

indirect76 - 07-12-2011, 11:19 PM
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Really what is the point? If this is ultimately to curb movie piracy via component output then I've got news for them. Blu-rays have been cracked a long time ago. Who on earth is copying movies with component cables?

Kayot - 07-12-2011, 11:20 PM
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I'd think this is kinda pointless since Bluray copy software exists for the PC and in some Linux cases, the OtherOS. Then again, it is Sony.

indirect76 - 07-12-2011, 11:33 PM
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The only thing I can think of that may make sense is to curb piracy of Netflix movies, but even that is a flaky excuse.

dhruvbhutani - 07-12-2011, 11:49 PM
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Lol ! Stop blaming Sony for everything... this one is out of their hands. I wonder how they were able to ship without complying with the AACS terms earlier considering all blu-ray players must. Anyways, all of us here already have one so we needn't worry. Moreover , why would a person buy a PS3 and play the game over component and on an SD TV ? o.O

noetikos - 07-12-2011, 11:50 PM
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What a hassle

krytonic - 07-12-2011, 11:59 PM
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Originally Posted by dhruvbhutani

Lol ! Stop blaming Sony for everything... this one is out of their hands. I wonder how they were able to ship without complying with the AACS terms earlier considering all blu-ray players must. Anyways, all of us here already have one so we needn't worry. Moreover , why would a person buy a PS3 and play the game over component and on an SD TV ? o.O

Because not everyone can afford a HD TV... The sooner people and game developers realise this, the better.

juicebox9 - 07-13-2011, 12:10 AM
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I don't really have any problems with this. I just hope that the 'K' models come with HDMI cables. I mean, people won't be buying the console to watch movies, they buy a 'game' console to play GAMES. So if SONY's games require HDMI, they should provide the cable in the package.

Pretzel729 - 07-13-2011, 12:13 AM
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I have had never owned a HD tv in my life. I have at the best owned a 480i 17" lcd tv with component slots but never ever used them. I always used to use my ps3 through the standered red yellow white cables supply because I don't have a HD tv. So if someone buys me a new ps3 next week for my birthday I wouldn't be able to watch blu-ray or play hd games???

steveo1978 - 07-13-2011, 12:23 AM
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Originally Posted by krytonic

Because not everyone can afford a HD TV...

Then they could use composite cables.

Yeah and I agree that this is not Sony's fault.

I also wonder if people complained when RF cables were no longer included with consoles.

dulal - 07-13-2011, 12:26 AM
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lol im so sorry i just came here to say this cuz what i was thinking exactly happened i knew this site will write something dumb as oh sony is forcing customer to use hdmi cuz this site is freaking full of TROLLS its not freaking sony's damn fault at least know whats going on before typing craps and i wont say whats the reason for this cuz others are already saying it

SACPOP - 07-13-2011, 12:29 AM
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Originally Posted by dhruvbhutani

Lol ! Stop blaming Sony for everything... this one is out of their hands.

AACS Licensing Administrator, LLC (AACS LA), a consortium that includes Disney, Intel, Microsoft, Panasonic, Warner Bros., IBM, Toshiba and Sony.

ahou - 07-13-2011, 12:45 AM
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Originally Posted by Kenzya

It has been a frustration for people using SD. I remember the whole Banjo & Kazooie Nuts and Bolts fiasco. The text wasn't readable on SD televisions and it took them a couple months to release a patch that made text readable. By that time I had already sold the game.

There's a patch for that game? Figures i find out about that a month after my xbox died.

Moreover , why would a person buy a PS3 and play the game over component and on an SD TV ?

Are you volunteering to buy me an hdtv? I got my 10-15 year old 40" sd tv for free, otherwise i'd still being using a 20" piece of garbage. Not everyone has a few hundred dollars to drop on a tv. The only problem i have with my tv is retarded game developers being too retarded to go fish an sd tv out of a dumpster to test their games on, to make sure they are actually playable. All of my tv/movie viewing is done on my computer, and i don't play games for the pretty graphics; i play them for the games. I am just fine with playing games in sd, as are many other people. Why should i buy a new tv just because game developers can't be bothered spending 5 minutes making sure their games are playable on an sd tv, and if necessary, adding an option to use a larger font? I got a ps3 for the games (lol), not because it looked better than the ps2.

ahou - 07-13-2011, 12:49 AM
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Originally Posted by SACPOP

AACS Licensing Administrator, LLC (AACS LA), a consortium that includes Disney, Intel, Microsoft, Panasonic, Warner Bros., IBM, Toshiba and Sony.

Just because they are part of the group does not mean they are the ones responsible for this particular restriction. For all we know, they could have fought against it.