This looks pretty but as it says in the slides they are taking advantage of HDTV resolution, undetectable on regular TV the yellow RCA plug.

Not enough people have HDTVs. Hell some dumbasses play Halo 2 on old RF connectors. I think this is the same mistake as bringing in broadband too early. Dreamcast had it but could not implement it. PS2 and GC launched 56k because they were scared of broadband.

Well broadband is affordable now, but HDTV's are not. Sucks if you don't have a big HDTV.

I want to know which platforms these render tests were on. I can't see the Revolution generating the same graphics as next gen M$/Sony along with the overly optimistic 100x physics improvement.

The speculation mounts. Prehaps Mr Iwata will shed some light on the future in his GDC keynote.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't that photo-realism? Has the gaming holy grail been achieved..?

I personally don't know if I like the idea, but of course it doesn't mean every developer actually has to have graphics that look like that.

A)HDTV's are availablke at walmart... 200-300$ will get you a 20-30 crt hdtv. compare that to a 30 inch tv like ten years ago... and its not bad at all... sure a 60 inch plasma is still 10,000 , but you dont need one to enjoy the higher resolution.

B)HDTV has nothing to do with why that looks so good. i have my cube hooked up to an hdtv, i have played the ocarina of time in progressive scan... its looks better but it isn't photo real just cause its in HD. That image looks awsome because it has:
1. high poly count model
2. high resolution textures
3. multiple textures to create a more natural surface
4. shadder effects. I.E. specular highlights for glistening sweat and transparency to see veins below the skin
5. real time lighting

infact if you check... those screen shots are all 640x480... which means they are 480p at best, which technically isnt a true hd resolution... its just normal tv resolution minus the flicker of interlacing.

(note: the images may have neen in HD and then been photographed in 640x480, but it still illustrates my point that the resoltuion is not at all what determines the "realism" of the image)

I may be wrong in saying this, but I believe acidviper is referring to the situation here in the UK, where HDTV is not common nor particularly affordable.