alright so i got my ps3 hooked up to my hdtv with an hdmi and i decide to download ff8, i start it up and its all pixelated and dumb...so i was wondering what setting i should have my ps3 on and if i should use the hdmi cable or not

It's a PS1 game. The PS3 doesn't make them look better.

i know that, but shouldnt it be standard like it was on a standard tv...it looks worse than normal

it's an HDTV it's only normal you can tell the pixels a lot more than before.
it's still worth the play

It must be your HDTV or go to the PS3 settings and change the PS1/PS2 display on your PS3.  My games look fine on my Vizio though.

I play my PS1 classics exclusively on the PSP entertainment system. There is no solution for older games to look better unless they get the God of War Collection treatment :)

PS1 games does look better on the PSP. 

If you full screen it with hdtv/hdmi its gonna look crappy, you have to either switch to your old cables or put it on normal or whatever the setting is. When I went through and played ff1-5 I had the same problem, in game just press the ps button and there is screen settings or something or other.

Yeah I am the bestest at explaining instructions

keep up the good werk

My HD BRAVIA has a sharpness dial in the menu which significantly improves upon the jaggy pixels that come with playing PS1 and PS2 games on an HDTV if I turn it all the way down.

I'd suggest looking for something similar on your TV.