Disc Problems
 

Was just playing a strike game, and I noticed something odd about the game.

http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/1...irdsofprey.png

As you can see, 3/4s of the game has a blur/median filter effect. At first, I blamed my television since it has a long history of problems. But then I noticed the GUI is in perfect condition. I started to wonder if it was my PS3, but it wasn't even a year old. So then I took the disc out, and saw that there was a big, yellow, scratch. And a fingerprint. Cleaned it with water but that made it worse and then used window cleaner. It solved everything, so for those of you who have dirty discs, clean them.

It is interesting what a scratch can do. The rest of the disc was in brand new condition, but that one scratch caused this.

thanks for the tip my friend,did t know the quality of window cleaner for this prob before and good to know it now.thx

And if you ever get a deeper scratch that is effecting the game, you can use brass cleaner to polish it out.

Brass cleaner? Don't know about that but you always could try ammonia.

You can even use toothpaste to polish out a scratched disk. The abrasion takes off a very fine layer from the plastic on the disk. Just make sure you rub across the disk not around the disk.

I don't think disk dust or dirt will affect visual quality in the way you explained. As far as i know, digital information are generally readable OR unreadable, there's nothing in between. Think like writing a book. No matter how the paper is old or ripped, if you are still able to read the words, you will get the the story.
Game data are just "words" written on a scratched disk. If that certain part of the story is unreadable, the system might try to read it again the next disk spin and might be able to succed or fail. Behavior after a read failure vary from system to system, software to software etc...

Analog storing devices, like, audio tape, VHS tapes was more used to that kind of "anaolog decay of information".... every one have noticed how a Vhs movie on tape used to loose the audio/video quality during years.

You should check your tv system, is it a CRT? Plasma? Looks like a refresh problem to me. The gui always overlays on screen in a fixed position, while the 3d world refresh and moves in background. Probably during the time you cleaned your CD, so exited the game and maybe turned tv off, gaved the tv some time that someway changed TV status...

CRT. 10 years old, wires rusty, amazing it still works. Its not a refresh problem though as other games worked fine, as well as TV channels.

I'm guessing this is in arcade, judging by the speed shown. Is it therefore a combination of speed/ frame rate that's causing it?

Edit: my bad- it's kph I'm guessing!

Don't use toothpaste, its too abrasive.. It can completely destroy the disk. However I would suggest Brass Cleaner, it has worked before!

Simulator. KM/H for speed and meters for height.
I saw something else weird just now. On the Ardennes, Night, Hazy, there is a big black spot always above the moon.