The Effect of Video Games on a Projection Screen TV

Projection

Projection TVs do away with the tubes that televisions had used for years, instead projecting light from a lamp inside the set to create the picture. Different projection TVs have different picture qualities and sizes, but all use the same basic technology and therefore have the same advantages and disadvantages.

Two of the three latest video game systems, the PlayStation 3 and the XBox 360, are high definition televisions and will not work to their full potential on sets that are not HD. There are also three tiers of HD quality, 480p, 720p and 1080p. The 1080p creates the best picture, because it uses the most pixels and best rate to display them. The PlayStation 3 and XBox 360 can play at this level. The Nintendo Wii, with an add on, can play at 480p at best. When pairing a system with a projection TV, buy the TV or system that is best for the pairing.

Projection TVs, even at their HD best, aren't always the best for gaming. Typically projection sets cannot produce as vibrant a picture as some rival technologies. Blacks are not as "deep" on projection sets either. This means that when a picture is dark, including in a game, details may become indistinguishable. Some projection sets also suffer from blurring effects. And as bulbs begin to die on projection sets, the picture they produce will suffer.

The only real problem with playing games on a TV is burn in. Burn in occurs when the same image stays on the screen too long and scars to it. This is why computers have screen savers. This problem can be more common with projection TVs because of the light projection technology they use. Some models are built specifically to reduce burn in. And the Wii, PlayStation 3 and XBox 360 all automatically go to screen savers or to sleep mode to avoid burn in. This is not true of older systems, however.

Some TVs are built with gaming in mind. This is especially true of plasma and LCD sets. These TVs use gas or liquid crystal technologies to create the picture within the set. These technologies reduce effects like blurring and burn in. They also have more radiant pictures and deeper, more distinguishable colors. They are thinner and lighter than projection models as well. However, there is still the threat of burn in from video games on these sets.