# A few questions about the Wii. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 18, 2007, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-few-questions-about-the-wii/400561 "2007-04-18T01:59:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![KidCharlemagne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed8c4c/32.png) [@KidCharlemagne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KidCharlemagne)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2007, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-few-questions-about-the-wii/400561/1 "2007-04-18T01:59:47Z")
I finally got a Wii and loaded up Zelda only to see that the graphics were awful. I had originally seen Zelda on my brother’s tv and figured his tv was fked up. Then I loaded up Prince of Persia:Rival Swords and the graphics were even worse. I find it hard to believe they could have looked this bad on the GC. I’m playing my Wii on a 42inch Sony LCD screen. I had heard that the graphics engine for the Wii was basically the same as the GC. So why do they look so bad (at least the 3d graphics do)? On another note, I set the Wii to Widescreen but Wii Sports still comes up in 4:3. Does Wii Sports support true widescreen or do I have to do the cheesy stretch-o-matic? Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Lightnin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightnin/32/180_2.png) [@Lightnin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightnin)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2007, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-few-questions-about-the-wii/400561/2 "2007-04-18T03:04:27Z")
Are you using the component cables? You won’t get good a good HD image without 'em. ---
**Author:** ![Khadro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f07891/32.png) [@Khadro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadro)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2007, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-few-questions-about-the-wii/400561/3 "2007-04-18T03:07:54Z")
It’s likely that part of the problem comes from the TV you’re using. I presume that being a Sony LCD that it’s a HD screen. And the Wii only supports at most 480p, and that’s if you’re using a component cable. Only a composite one comes packed in with the machine, so you’ll need to grab one. It’s possible that upgrading the cables will make it look nicer, but there’s no guarantee. I’ve not played Wii on a HDTV, but my friend has a HD CRT, and has not complained about it… he is using component cables. The Wii and GC hardware is pretty close, but the Wii is slightly more powerful. About twice as powerful if you believe the Nintendo Hype Machine, but to be honest, I’ve yet to see proof of that. Some of the first generation games for the 360 looked a bit awful as well, relative to the newer games. But then again, Zelda is merely a Gamecube “port”. Obviously some changes to the controls and graphics (Zelda uses his right hand on Wii, but is left-handed on GC for example). Other than that, it’s basically a Gamecube game. The Wii Sports review from IGN states: > [@](#): > > And yet, the title does feature crisp textures, displays in 16:9 widescreen and progressive-scan modes and runs at 60 frames per second. [link](http://wii.ign.com/articles/745/745708p1.html). And the Cnet review of the machine itself says > [@](#): > > ..the Wii can hit only the GameCube’s ceiling of 480p, and even that mode can’t be used with the Wii’s included composite A/V cables. (Most if not all of the Wii’s games will, however, be optimized for wide-screen TVs.) [link](http://reviews.cnet.com/Nintendo_Wii/4505-6464_7-31355104.html). So I would guess that it’s a setting somewhere that you’ve missed. It might be that the game has its own settings, while other games get their settings from the Wii setup itself… I have not played around that much with the display settings. ETA: Re-reading that made it sound like I was blaming your TV. I was not doing so, in any way. ---
**Author:** ![KidCharlemagne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed8c4c/32.png) [@KidCharlemagne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KidCharlemagne)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2007, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-few-questions-about-the-wii/400561/4 "2007-04-18T16:20:32Z")
Ok I don’t have this component cable. I presume that’s why it’s not letting me choose HD in the Wii settings correct? So is it possible that a Wii on an HD tv without the component cable would look worse than on a regular tv? ---
**Author:** ![DeadlyAccurate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ac91a4/32.png) [@DeadlyAccurate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeadlyAccurate)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2007, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-few-questions-about-the-wii/400561/5 "2007-04-18T17:02:56Z")
I bought the component cable a few weeks after I got the Wii, and there is a difference. It’s a noticeable but not monumental difference. By the way, I’ve seen two cables for sale. I bought the cheaper of the two ($20 vs. $30). ---
**Author:** ![TristramAiblins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ea5d25/32.png) [@TristramAiblins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TristramAiblins)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2007, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-few-questions-about-the-wii/400561/6 "2007-04-18T18:04:36Z")
I found a good deal [here](http://meritline.stores.yahoo.net/480-p-hd-component-cable.html) for component cables. 8.99 with free shipping. They work pretty well, but as **DeadlyAccurate** said, it looks better, just not WOW better. ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Barchetta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/da6949/32.png) [@Red\_Barchetta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Barchetta)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2007, 6:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-few-questions-about-the-wii/400561/7 "2007-04-19T06:59:20Z")
[QUOTE=KidCharlemagne] So is it possible that a Wii on an HD tv without the component cable would look worse than on a regular tv? [/QUOTE] Definitely. Particular with HDTVs that are not CRTs, such as your’s. Since any non-CRT HDTV has a native resolution, the image from low-def sources (such as the Wii) will look worse, since the TV has to upscale the image.