Solving the problems of Split-Screen...

Split-screen is convenient in that 2 players can play multiplayer using only one disc, one console, and one monitor.  However this leaves you with the inherent problem that you can see the other player's screen. "Screen-peeking" is inevitable, the element of stealth in the game is almost completely lost, and most gamers would agree that it is a less than ideal multiplayer experience.  Wouldnt it be better if each player got his/her own monitor?  Online there are many forums about split-screen gaming on dual screens, each concluding that it was impossible.  However, it is in fact possible ...

For this instructable's purposes I will be using Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 on the PlayStation3, generated screenshots are not mine.

Step 1 In Theory ...

The theory is that the PlayStation 3 (or Xbox or whatever console) mimics a camcorder, whose live output can be displayed on a computer using free software.  (since i am on a mac, i used BTV Carbon)  Once you have it displayed on a WINDOW on a computer (it must be a window no full screen), you can set up dual monitors and drag the window your console is playing into in between the screens so one screen sees their half and another screen sees the other half.  Each player gets their own screen.

If you are unfamiliar with different video signals see the images below.  I do not address HDMI or DVI output in this because they require more hardware.

The PlayStation (or Xbox or whatever console) generates a signal that it sends through its AV output. Now how do we get this composite, component, or S-Video signal onto the computer.  How do we make the console look like a camcorder to the computer?  It would be easy if the PS3 or Xbox had a firewire output, like camcorders, but they dont.  So we need a video card that can take a composite, component or S-Video signal and send it into the computer on firewire.

Comments

[craztheking]

a while back i had two tvs and a ps2.. me and my friends wanted to play 2 player but i was sick of screen peaking, i spliced the cables and made it able to output to two tvs. then covered half of each tv.. only flaw is small screen =/

[brucedamoose16]

yeah, and thats like playing on a ridiculous rectangle screen. the only real fix needs to be done at the software level, like a dual screen mode.

[yours31f]

Awesome idea, Been working on this issue myself, but ended up with a total of 4 xboxs, 3 tvs and a computer monitor.

[yours31f]

Also, I might make an `ible on using a computer monitor.