Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

What's The Right TV Set For Gaming?

Posted by simoniker on from the a-big-one dept.

Thanks to GameSpy for its article discussing the choice of TV sets that are best for playing videogames. The piece points out: "It is also important to keep in mind that bigger isn't always better, and that some types of displays aren't so game friendly", before analyzing the options, including Direct View CRT screens ("Affordable; good resolution... [but] Very large sets; limited progressive scan options"), DLP ("Immune to burn-in; reasonably affordable... [but] Doesn't work as well as CRT in bright conditions"), Plasma screens ("Wall-mountable; bright picture... [but] Phosphor burn-in; expensive") and Front Projection ("Big display; portability... [but] No speakers; depends a dark environment.")

7 of 72 comments (clear)

  1. Interesting to note by foidulus · · Score: 2, Interesting

    that very few people who buy consoles even use most of the features of their TV. In fact, only about 1% of gamecube users even use the digital output despite the fact that 90% of Nintendo made games and about 1/3 of 3rd party games support it.

    1. Re:Interesting to note by bigman2003 · · Score: 2, Interesting

      After a lot of thought/research I bought a 32" 4:3 CRT HDTV mainly for gaming.

      I had to go with the 32" (or smaller) to fit into a cabinet I already had. Otherwise I would have gotten some sort of projection system.

      The TV is good, and it is great for gaming- but it SUCKS for 'regular' TV viewing.

      The worst is when the TV show has a lot of greys, or even blacks. They come out totally pixellated, and un-even. This is coming from my Dish receiver via RCA cables.

      My Xbox is hooked up via component cables, and when it is in 480p mode, it looks great. 480i still has the same problems with greys and blacks. It is very noticable when a game has cutscenes in 480i and then the game switches to 480p.

      Prior to buying the TV, I thought I just *had* to have it. Now I regret it...without any HD support from anything other than my Xbox, the TV looks worse than my old one.

      --
      No reason to lie.
  2. Front Projection by LordNimon · · Score: 2, Interesting

    I love playing games on my 80" screen. If you buy the low-end Dell projector, you can have a setup for less than $1000. I laugh at people who spent over $2K for their puny 40" high-def TV.

    --
    And the men who hold high places must be the ones who start
    To mold a new reality... closer to the heart
    1. Re:Front Projection by Babbster · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Anyone spending over $2,000 on a 40" TV is looking for something besides screen size (like, say, wall-mounting). A 40" rear-projection HDTV can be had for barely over $1,000 and you don't have to sit in the dark to enjoy it. That, of course, is the fundamental problem with front projection: Most people don't want to set up a dedicated viewing room isolated from virtually all light. Instead, the vast majority of people watch their television in the living room where there's usually at least one window. There are also some people who actually like light. I'm not one of them, but I hear they're out there.

  3. article out of touch with reality IMHO by whiteSanjuro · · Score: 2, Interesting

    wow this article wasn't written by anyone who has done a lot of research. it makes little mention of the benefits of progressive scan and instead focuses on the much less important issue of aspect ratio.

    sometimes it is plain wrong (LCoS displays are roughly the same size as DLP, contrary to the "nor does it make for a small form factor." comment on page 3). And their recommended LCD of 15" costing $1800? What a horrible recommendation! A 17" LCD (meant for PC display) w/ TV-tuner costs way under $1000 and would make a much better display.

    I personally would recommend going with an EDTV (480p) until the 1080p DLP or LCoS displays drop. A nice 32" EDTV CRT can be found for well under $1000 and will be fine until the new tech starts making it onto shelves.

  4. Affordable & spiffy: Sony WEGA Flatscreen by Jesterboy · · Score: 2, Interesting

    I bought a 20 inch Sony WEGA flatscreen a few years back for ~$300, and have never regretted it. Mine is even one of the cheaper models without S-Video capabilities, but people are stilled wowed by it's picture quality and vibrant colors. The first game I played on it was Final Fantasy X, and my friends playing it started bringing their memory cards to my house, esepcially if they had a effects-laden boss fight coming up. ^_^

    While not as technologically impressive as other choices, I'd recommend it whole heartedly for anyone who wants a decent price and excellent picture.

  5. Plasma burn in ... by UnknownSoldier · · Score: 2, Interesting

    ... is OVER rated.

    Of all the thousands of posts on avsforum.com, I think I've seen a grand total of 1 or 2 posts about it. I've never experienced it on my own plasma either, and I've put a lot of long continious hours on it.

    --
    Orignal, Fun Palm games by the Lead Designer of Majesty!
    http://www.arcanejourneys.com/