PS3 Has Sony done anything to make the graphics worse in recent years?

[Berion]

@Nator I told You already, nothing has changed. Games looks the same as looks before. What has changed is Your TV - which have different matrix and firmware, so upscalling differently and post processing differently, and color spectrum and pixel reaction are different. If You cannot tweak anything in settings like disabling some effects etc. You can do nothing about it. Sorry. For me works fine as always (I didn't change my "TV" since then, using Samsung P2470HD which is rather mostly middle ware screen back in time, and I using it today for PS4 too).

 

[CrazyRati0n]

The only reason why you have such impression, that games on PS3 look worse than "back in 2008..." is a fact, that we, as a people, got used to new generation, modern graphics games, which are being displayed and rendered in much higher resolution, mostly also with extra graphics options like super-sampling or HDR. I also have such impression whenever I run my wonderful PS3 CECHB00 on a 4K screen - almost no AA, sometimes you also notice the low-poly models/textures, because of high resolution of your screen.
Console, as a processing unit - doesn't change it's capabilities. But we constantly buy new electronics - laptops, TVs, smartphones, which are faster, produces crispier image, gives better sound and naturally we get used to new standards. Panta rhei.

 

[Berion]

@CrazyRati0n You have much worst impression because Yours TV matrix uspacalling 720p-1080p to 4K. So it is blurry and distorted. With all the rest arguments - You have right.

 

[RoboKing's Cosmos]

I have a 4K tv.

 

[Nator]

The only reason why you have such impression, that games on PS3 look worse than "back in 2008..." is a fact, that we, as a people, got used to new generation, modern graphics games, which are being displayed and rendered in much higher resolution, mostly also with extra graphics options like super-sampling or HDR. I also have such impression whenever I run my wonderful PS3 CECHB00 on a 4K screen - almost no AA, sometimes you also notice the low-poly models/textures, because of high resolution of your screen.
Console, as a processing unit - doesn't change it's capabilities. But we constantly buy new electronics - laptops, TVs, smartphones, which are faster, produces crispier image, gives better sound and naturally we get used to new standards. Panta rhei.

Getting used to better graphics happens, but that's not the case for me. Unfortunately a lot depends on the TV.

 

[Nator]

@Nator I told You already, nothing has changed. Games looks the same as looks before. What has changed is Your TV - which have different matrix and firmware, so upscalling differently and post processing differently, and color spectrum and pixel reaction are different. If You cannot tweak anything in settings like disabling some effects etc. You can do nothing about it. Sorry. For me works fine as always (I didn't change my "TV" since then, using Samsung P2470HD which is rather mostly middle ware screen back in time, and I using it today for PS4 too).

Even disabling all processes and activating game mode, nothing changes. Unfortunately you are right, it's the TV. I understood it by trying the PS2 games, they are a disaster, totally blurry and with jaggies. With the old TV the ps2 games were better than the original when played on the ps3, now with the new tv they are worse than the original resolution on a CRT monitor.
The only solution is to play the PS2 titles converted for PS3 or buy a PS2 with those upscaling hardware solutions, i don't know if there is a guide on the forum about it, if there isn't i'd like to open a thread.

For me works fine as always.. using Samsung P2470HD which is rather mostly middle ware screen back in time..

I don't think buying an old TV is good for me, i could try the cheapest current one from Sony since according to @GamerAddict suggestion low end Sony TVs are fine.

 

[Nator]

Taking a screenshot will save the raw 720p ps3 image. Doesn't reflect how it looks upscaled on your tv.

Let's clear something, some ps3 games look blurry because of the ps3 antialising.

Ps3 games that run at native 720p, witth (QAA) antialising will look slightly soft. Other than that, games that used other AA or no AA look very nice and clear. Games like uncharted, gta v, last of us...

Several years ago, i searched this topic thoroughly because i experience thr same thing as you just have. Usually what makes ps3 look so bad compared to Xbox 360 is the lack of a hardware upscaler, so you would have to depend onyour tvs upscaling. Most tvs have shitty upscaling, especially cheap brands like vizio, tcl oder low end models from other brands like lg and Samsung. Good upscaling will upscale without rendering the image blurry as if someone wiped Vaseline on the screen. A good upscaler on a tv, will upscale a 720p ps3 output and make it look similar to dlss performance or fsr, it won't look blurry, but different than native in a good way, i often admired this type of upscaled graphics and like it more than native resolution. It even fixes aliasing soemtimes. I can't explain it, you have to experience it with your own eyes. The second thing that makes the picture ugly, is digital processing, like sharpness and using dynamic image mode. Sharpness is usually high by default on most brands.

Here's how to get a good image from ps3.

Never play on a pc monitor. No matter how expensive it is, it was designed to run at native resolution. Upscaling there is basic and needed mostly when someone is installing windows or had issues with gpu drivers.

Avoid cheap tvs, the only exception is "Sony".

Don't use gimmic options like dynamic mode and options that enhance colors or black levels and learn how to calibrate your tv or at least get the best out of it.

Sharpness is different from tv to another, you have to find out what level is zero sharoness, it's usually 0. Cheap brands have minis sharpness and could get very confusing trying to find out which value is "no sharpness" for example when value gets lower than 20 or 10 etc... Image starts getting very blurry. You have to test this on native resolution. There are sharpness test patterns that can help.

Finding an old high end sony 1080p tv from ~2011~2014~ .will be the best way to experience ps3. Or get a high end/mid high end 4k tv, i prefer Sony, LG, Samsung. Believe me, it makes a big big difference. It's the same way for ps4 on 4k tv, most 4k tvs will make it look blurry, soft compared to native 1080p tv. But a very good 4k tv, will upscale it and make it look even better than it looked on a native 1080p tv. Ehat i am talking about cannot be photographed by camera or explained, you have to see it with your eyes. I have been through dozens of tvs, and experimented alot, sony tvs are best when it comes to displaying an image lower than native resolution. They're best at upscaling.

I just tried some PS2 games and i totally agree with you. With the old TV the PS2 games were even better than the original when upscaled, now with the new TV they are a disaster.
What do you mean by sharpness test anyway?

I was also thinking, do you know those HDMI adapters that are used to convert the signal of old consoles (PS2, Xbox etc.) made for CRT TVs in order to make it clear on an HD TV? I think it could be an economical solution to the problem.

 

[Nator]

This is what i mean. mClassic converts the 720p signal from the ps3 to 1080p towards the television. Do you think it works for me?

 

[duffsman]

I

This is what i mean. mClassic converts the 720p signal from the ps3 to 1080p towards the television. Do you think it works for me?

Ive got the Mclassic and use is for my PS3, I can see the difference in most games, not all. One or two look better without it on. Personal preference I think, I am viewing it on a Panasonic Vierra Plasma screen.

 

[ashura]

hi guys i have a question about it, im using a PC monitor which is the samung F350 24" it looks really good due to that it has an IPS screen, i setup the options on the monitor in order to make it as PC mode instead of AV its because of the color depth, also i disabled freesync into it and any other stuff related to it, it also gets to sharpness to 0 and the games look really good to me, its a 1080p monitor, also what its helping me, i know that hdmi 2.1 cable that i have does not get the full benefits of it, but when i was able to install that one the quality of the games improved quite a lot, especially the colors and quality of the models in most of the games, also i know that there is a special hdmi cable that you can purchase over the internet that it seems to have something integrated into it ti help to improve the graphics on the ps3, you may find videos about it over the internet, i recommend you to check the youtube channel if Wizwiki, he has a video that explains that

 

[GamerAddict]

Sharpness in samsung pc monitors is not 0. The neutral value is the default one. I think it's 60. Below 60 your actually blurring the image.

hi guys i have a question about it, im using a PC monitor which is the samung F350 24" it looks really good due to that it has an IPS screen, i setup the options on the monitor in order to make it as PC mode instead of AV its because of the color depth, also i disabled freesync into it and any other stuff related to it, it also gets to sharpness to 0 and the games look really good to me, its a 1080p monitor, also what its helping me, i know that hdmi 2.1 cable that i have does not get the full benefits of it, but when i was able to install that one the quality of the games improved quite a lot, especially the colors and quality of the models in most of the games, also i know that there is a special hdmi cable that you can purchase over the internet that it seems to have something integrated into it ti help to improve the graphics on the ps3, you may find videos about it over the internet, i recommend you to check the youtube channel if Wizwiki, he has a video that explains that

 

[psy1]

i noticed that the graphics look bad, regardless of the game. I remembered the graphics being much cleaner.

To improve the visuals and the overall gameplay I am currently using "Game Mode" on my TV along with a RetroTink 4K scaler.
These things do improve the visuals and overall gameplay slightly.
I have plans to get an OLED TV, which will improve things even more.

There are limitations with the PS3, and what I have listed are pretty much the limits.

 

[ashura]

Sharpness in samsung pc monitors is not 0. The neutral value is the default one. I think it's 60. Below 60 your actually blurring the image.

ohh got it, so its recommended to leave it at 60 right? or maybe leave it on a custom preset, so far l leave it as cinema preset and it looks good for me, but i dont know if there is an another type of setup that it can be improved

 

[GamerAddict]

ohh got it, so its recommended to leave it at 60 right? or maybe leave it on a custom preset, so far l leave it as cinema preset and it looks good for me, but i dont know if there is an another type of setup that it can be improved

Reset your monitor settings to factory, Use standard mode or custom preset, set hdmi black level accordingly ( low or normal, i forgot which one is full, you should set ps3 to full hdmi black level, and set the monitor to the same option as well). Lower backlight brightness, turn off game mode and never use that crap( on Samsung pc monitors it makes the games look much uglier). Never turn on magic upscale. Maybe use a warmer color preset.
Keep it like that and don't touch other options if you don't know how to calibrate colors and contrast, but don't worry, it should be good as it is.

I used a Samsung monitor from 2018 to 2022, then i switched back to lg amd i recommend lg for your next buy. Increasing sharpness on lg doesn't make the picture ugly like on Samsung, instead it removes the blurry look of upscaled 720p and makes image and texture clearer without adding black and white lines on edges

 

[ashura]

Reset your monitor settings to factory, Use standard mode or custom preset, set hdmi black level accordingly ( low or normal, i forgot which one is full, you should set ps3 to full hdmi black level, and set the monitor to the same option as well). Lower backlight brightness, turn off game mode and never use that crap( on Samsung pc monitors it makes the games look much uglier). Never turn on magic upscale. Maybe use a warmer color preset.
Keep it like that and don't touch other options if you don't know how to calibrate colors and contrast, but don't worry, it should be good as it is.

I used a Samsung monitor from 2018 to 2022, then i switched back to lg amd i recommend lg for your next buy. Increasing sharpness on lg doesn't make the picture ugly like on Samsung, instead it removes the blurry look of upscaled 720p and makes image and texture clearer without adding black and white lines on edges

Thanks a lot, so far i'm using a personal setup like You told me, however brightness ando contrast both are on 0 are those values fine?

 

[GamerAddict]

Thanks a lot, so far i'm using a personal setup like You told me, however brightness ando contrast both are on 0 are those values fine?

Hell no bro, contrast shouldn't be 0. I forgot which value was default.i believe it was 75 on my monitor. You should use your monitors default contrast settings.

As for brightness, it's personal and depends on how strong is your monitors backlight. I prefer playing in peach dark room, so i use 10~20% brightness on my lg. My Samsung was so bright i had to use 5% at night.

 

[ashura]

Hell no bro, contrast shouldn't be 0. I forgot which value was default.i believe it was 75 on my monitor. You should use your monitors default contrast settings.

As for brightness, it's personal and depends on how strong is your monitors backlight. I prefer playing in peach dark room, so i use 10~20% brightness on my lg. My Samsung was so bright i had to use 5% at night.

ohh got it, thanks a lot, will do