Right now the Xbox 360 carries a couple of titles that run full native 1080p support. These are Virtua Tennis 3 and NBA Street Homecourt. It seems sports titles will be the predominant class for the highest-resolution games. However, a couple dozen other Xbox 360 titles, as well as numerous PS3 titles, have limited 1080p support, which gives them license to print a 1080p stamp on the box. However, most of these titles are upconverted and not actually programmed for 1080p output. For the PS3, there is NBA Live 07, which is the first 1080p console game. It will be followed up later this year with NBA Live 08. Of course, also in the pipeline is Gran Turismo HD, which for some die-hard racing fans could be enough to justify the 1080p price.

The mouthwatering imagery from Gran Turismo HD can be experienced in a demo on PS3’s online network.

Interestingly enough, where most of the PS3 1080p gaming content comes from right now is through digital downloads. The console’s Playstation Store has downloadable games that can run at 1080p, including original titles such as Calling All Cars, Flow and Super Stardust HD.

Though simplistic in concept, the PS3’s Super Stardust HD has some of the most eye-popping visuals among all consoles.

Additionally, the Xbox 360 and PS3 both have video download services containing full 1080p videos. For the PS3, this is relegated to game and movie trailers, but the Xbox 360’s Video Marketplace has full-length movies that run in the highest resolution. Of course, don’t forget the two systems are also capable of playing back high-definition disc-based movies, with the PS3’s built-in Blu-ray Disc player and a cheap HD DVD player attachment available for the Xbox 360. In other words, the two high-definition consoles already offer a compelling reason to move to 1080p, and more games that can take advantage of 1080p are on their way.