The XCM HDMI Blaster Offers HD Gaming For Non-HD Consoles

There are many gamers out there that are already living in the age of high definition. There are also many gamers that are planning on upgrading once they can save up enough paychecks without spending their money on newly released and highly anticipated video games, peripherals, and accessories! And there are many true die-hard gamers that just can’t seem to let go of their older consoles, even after they have upgraded to HDMI gaming with the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. For the many that are still stuck in this limbo, The Game Train is offering the latest in HDMI converted gaming!

We are excited to announce the release of the HDMI Blaster, created by the peripheral modification leaders, XCM! The XCM HDMI Blaster is here to blast the older HDMI-less consoles to the future, so you can enjoy high definition gaming with your classic games! This product works by converting analog signal into standard high definition signal so the games look clearer, sharper, more colorful, and sound better on your high definition entertainment system!

The HDMI Blaster is compatible with consoles that lack the true high definition technology, such as the Nintendo Wii, 2, the original Microsoft Xbox, Nintendo Gamecube, the N64, PSP Slim, and much more. It also supports any component signal (YbPbR), such as your DVD player, Satellite or Cable box, DVB, and many others. Any HDTV or monitor with HDMI or DVI inputs will do, as well as any device with VGA output.

Another cool feature that is integrated into this peripheral is the automatic power supply management. What happens, is the product detects the signal running into itself – so if there is no input signal, the power supply will automatically shut off to preserve power, instead of remaining on until it’s unplugged. Ultimately, the product looks like this:

Using RGB Scart on the SNES, N64 and Gamecube

If you are trying to get the best picture possible from your SNES, N64 or Gamecube, using an RGB Scart cable is the best quality solution. The resolution and clarity that you get with the RGB Scart cable is much better than S-Video or standard AV, however there are some compatibility issues.

Nintendo has engineered some of their systems so that RGB output is restricted. Here are the basics on which systems restrict RGB Scart output, and of those which ones can be upgraded or modified to use RGB Scart.

The SNES, N64 and Gamecube all come in two versions: the USA / JAP version which is designed to work with NTSC style television signals, and the PAL version which is used throughout Europe and other locations where the PAL standard is followed. If you have a SNES which is USA / JAP, or a Gamecube which is PAL, you will be able to get RGB Scart output simply by getting an inexpensive RGB Scart cable to plug in.

If, on the other hand, you have a SNES from the PAL region, the cables will need to be modified before it will work. It’s a fairly simple modification that just requires soldering out some resistors.

With a USA / JAP N64, you will need the console itself modified to work with the RGB Scart cable. This is a lot trickier and we advise only the experienced to go down this route. A PAL N64 cannot be modified to work with the RGB Scart cable.

Surprisingly, Nintendo of Europe gave us UK gamers a break, as PAL ‘cubes require no modifications to work with RGB Scarts straight out the box. However, if you own a Gamecube from the USA / JAP region, there’s a cable mod that can be performed to enable RGB.

How to Use Opera on Your Wii With a Real Keyboard

Nintendo were nice enough to include an internet browser on the Wii in the guise of the open source Opera, so it's a shame then, that they expect you to use the Wiimote with an on-screen Virtual Keyboard. Using it is kinda like watching your Nan try to type, the way she uses one finger at a time and sometimes her hands shake so much she misses the right key. It can get pretty embarrassing in forums when your typos mean you're ROTLMAI-ing instead of ROTFLMAO-ing.

You can't just plug in a standard USB keyboard as it won't recognise it, nor a PS/2 keyboard with a USB-PS/2 converter.

There are a couple of solutions available, but unless you fancy taking a second mortgage out on your home and buying one of the super rare original Gamecube keyboards on eBay, there's only one practical way.

The Wii Keyboard Adapter lets you plug in standard PS/2 keyboards (the round type) into your Wii and use them as standard Gamecube keyboards, both in the browser and within supported Gamecube games. It's got some other pretty nifty functions too so check it out here, priced at just £9.99