The Xploder HDTV Player, the upgrade said to "unlock the capabilities of the PS2 console", truly lives up to its promise, as representatives of the media, retail and distribution got the chance to see for themselves at the Leipzig Games Convention.

Two HD plasma screens placed side-by-side for comparison between the Xploder HDTV Player and the PS2 standard output made the difference instantly recognizable, the crystal clear graphics, well-proportioned characters, crisp text within on-screen menus, detailed backgrounds, vivid colors and smooth character animation resulting in a dramatically enhanced gameplay experience.

And the good news is that the HDTV Player is compatible with 90% of all PS2 games. Simply choose your required settings (480p, 720p, 1080i and numerous VGA modes), position the screen image in the required location and experience your favorite games like never before. The system is also capable of playing DVDs in High Definition and Enhanced Definition modes, but this is just icing on an already delicious cake. I can only imagine how beautiful Shadow of the Colossus must look like in HD.

Ever since product details were posted on the site, the interest in the HDTV Player shown by the gaming community has been phenomenal. Fire International, the company behind Xploder, received thousands of requests from consumers, media representatives, retailers and distributors all over the world, wanting to know more about the product and its availability.

Details on its availability will be posted on www.xploder.net as soon as the HDTV Player is available for purchase. In the mean time, consumers can register their interest in both the PAL & NTSC versions by visiting: www.xploder.net.