# Why is the war so pixelated? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 21, 2003, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-war-so-pixelated/163035 "2003-03-21T05:25:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Goo\_Fee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Doctor\_Goo\_Fee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Goo_Fee)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2003, 9:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-war-so-pixelated/163035/21 "2003-03-21T09:07:22Z")
oh-- i almost forgot-- i think the OP is a little silly in that it really is incredible that we can get any live pictures and sound out of a combat zone AT ALL. (so don’t bitch-- you could be waiting for the war newsreel to make it’s way to your local Bijou… IN A WEEK OR SO!!) ---
**Author:** ![vanilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/f19dbf/32.png) [@vanilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vanilla)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2003, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-war-so-pixelated/163035/22 "2003-03-21T15:07:20Z")
throbbing brown squares-Band Name! ---
**Author:** ![SmackFu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/53a042/32.png) [@SmackFu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmackFu)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2003, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-war-so-pixelated/163035/23 "2003-03-21T16:45:25Z")
This is Exhibit A in why you need to pick the right codec for the job. Using a talking head style of compression for shots from a moving vehicle that has whole frame movement constantly is clearly not a good idea. Not that clear pictures of dust are that much better or anything. ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2003, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-war-so-pixelated/163035/24 "2003-03-21T16:50:29Z")
The media is HPB, bwahahah. Get Cable fuxorz! ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2003, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-war-so-pixelated/163035/25 "2003-03-21T20:50:06Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Sam Stone \* > You’re looking at some extreme data compression. These guys probably have the equivalent of 56K modem uplinks. As a guy with more than some passing experience w/r/t battlefield communication bandwidth issues, I’ll just say that 56K would be a _luxury_ compared to what most units usually get. And I believe most of the news media are using Apple Powerbooks in the field, which suggests the footage is streaming Quicktime. Look for the four-second delay between when someone asks a question and the reporter in the field replies; that’s the Quicktime compression taking place. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2003, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-war-so-pixelated/163035/26 "2003-03-22T00:51:47Z")
I don’t think this thread was intended quite as seriously as some of you are taking it. From the OP: > [@](#): > > They could at least lower the number of onscreen troops so the frame rate would improve. I don’t have to explain this now do I? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Avalonian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ee7513/32.png) [@Avalonian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Avalonian)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2003, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-war-so-pixelated/163035/27 "2003-03-22T01:09:33Z")
I think that you still have to explain it to the likes of **Sam Stone** , **techchick68** , and **Doctor Goo Fee** … 'twould seem from their posts that not everyone understands gamer-speak. I’ll try to make it easier, while maintaining the spirit of the OP: **The original DOOM had better graphics than this war!** For what it’s worth, the OP is bloody hilarious. There’s not much to laugh about in this war, but that was damn funny. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Scrivener](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@The\_Scrivener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Scrivener)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2003, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-war-so-pixelated/163035/28 "2003-03-22T01:24:54Z")
I blame the sand… _it gets in everything!_ ---
**Author:** ![NurseCarmen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5daacb/32.png) [@NurseCarmen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NurseCarmen)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2003, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-war-so-pixelated/163035/29 "2003-03-22T01:49:56Z")
My tax dollars demand nothing less than 16:1 with 5.1 Dolby, Dammit! ---
**Author:** ![miatachris](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@miatachris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/miatachris)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2003, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-war-so-pixelated/163035/30 "2003-03-22T02:46:02Z")
It was so funny switching back-and-forth between CNN and Brown raving about such “historic footage” of what looked like some sort of vehicles running around (while the camera was itself moving) and ABC and Koppel doing a stand up from a stationary point with studio quality on a live remote minicam. Koppel did mention that they had a sat truck with them, though. It’s nice to have the comic relief of comparing the throughput of different technologies used by different networks. ---
**Author:** ![Slacker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6bbea6/32.png) [@Slacker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slacker)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2003, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-war-so-pixelated/163035/31 "2003-03-22T03:33:32Z")
Bush: GG PWNED!!1 ---
**Author:** ![ElwoodCuse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/edb3f5/32.png) [@ElwoodCuse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElwoodCuse)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2003, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-war-so-pixelated/163035/32 "2003-03-22T05:49:26Z")
Bah. I’m waiting for the DVD to come out. I’m especially looking forward to the director’s commentary with GWB and Rummy. ---
**Author:** ![MissGypsy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8491ac/32.png) [@MissGypsy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MissGypsy)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2003, 5:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-war-so-pixelated/163035/33 "2003-03-22T05:57:58Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Max Harvey \* > \*\*I never expected the apocalypse to have such shitty graphics. \*\* **Max** , can i use that as my new sig? Please? ---
**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2003, 6:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-war-so-pixelated/163035/34 "2003-03-22T06:03:03Z")
Will the commentary be as crappy as most commentaries? "Um, yeah, this was the part where we did that bit. Sgt. Smith was awesome in that role. OK, and here’s where this other thing happened. I really liked that. Oh, cool, explosions! Remember how we put in explosions? That was awesome. {I don’t play much multiplayer FPS games. I know what aimbots are, but what is wallhacking?} ---
**Author:** ![Slacker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6bbea6/32.png) [@Slacker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slacker)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2003, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-war-so-pixelated/163035/35 "2003-03-22T06:39:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Lemur866 \* > \*\*{I don’t play much multiplayer FPS games. I know what aimbots are, but what is wallhacking?} \*\* I could tell you, but then you might do it to me. 😃 Ok I’ll tell ya. It’s a hack that lets you make walls invisible. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2003, 6:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-war-so-pixelated/163035/36 "2003-03-22T06:45:36Z")
> [@](#): > > It was so funny switching back-and-forth between CNN and Brown raving about such “historic footage” of what looked like some sort of vehicles running around (while the camera was itself moving) and ABC and Koppel doing a stand up from a stationary point with studio quality on a live remote minicam. Koppel did mention that they had a sat truck with them, though. > > It’s nice to have the comic relief of comparing the throughput of different technologies used by different networks. It’s not a difference between networks - it’s the fact that one of them IS ON THE RUN WITH AN ARMORED COLUMN IN A BATTLE. Mr. Koppel and his sat truck? CNN’s got lots of 'em. But I notice Koppel isn’t on the front lines. ---
**Author:** ![miatachris](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@miatachris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/miatachris)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2003, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-war-so-pixelated/163035/37 "2003-03-22T18:48:35Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Sam Stone \* > \*\*It’s not a difference between networks - it’s the fact that one of them IS ON THE RUN WITH AN ARMORED COLUMN IN A BATTLE. > > Mr. Koppel and his sat truck? CNN’s got lots of 'em. But I notice Koppel isn’t on the front lines. \*\* My post made reference to the difference between moving and stationary cameras, although not very loudly. Please, don’t shout. I’m trying to lighten things up. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2003, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-war-so-pixelated/163035/38 "2003-03-22T20:21:09Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by NurseCarmen \* > My tax dollars demand nothing less than 16:1 with 5.1 Dolby, Dammit! 16:1, huh? Man, _that’s_ widescreen, baby. ---
**Author:** ![Avalonian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ee7513/32.png) [@Avalonian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Avalonian)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2003, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-war-so-pixelated/163035/39 "2003-03-23T00:48:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by KneadToKnow \* > \*\*16:1, huh? Man, _that’s_ widescreen, baby. \*\* Hey, at least it’ll get those who are anti-widescreen (and they do exist, believe me) to quite whining about the black bars at the top and bottom of the screen! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2003, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-war-so-pixelated/163035/40 "2003-03-23T01:00:24Z")
Funny OP, but it does bring up an interesting point. Are there any reporters on the ground using any equipment that will capture higher-quality video of the conflict? While it is certainly amazing to have real-time footage of the war as it happens, I think its also important to have a historical document of the conflict. I’d hate to think that the record of this war is going to be a bunch of blocky pixels, especially when compared to the amazing war footage that was taken in WWII, Korea, and Vietnam. I’d also like to point out that **techchick** has now been whooshed more often than downtown Baghdad. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-war-so-pixelated/163035.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-war-so-pixelated/163035.md?page=3)