Minimum CRT screen size for 4 players?

[Ikaruga11]

What CRT screen size do you guys feel is the minimum for four people to comfortable play on? I have a Nintendo 64, GameCube, Wii, etc. and plan on playing 4P multiplayer games with others.

[Blair]

well, I would think its whatever is most convenient for you. are you going to buy a lager CRT display for 4 player gaming? at the break room at my school we never had access to anything past 32" and we played a lot of Halo/xbox and Naruto on the cube. (but it was all done via composite
)

the largest crt I've ever owned was a 27" sony. anything under 20" I feel is pushing it as far as visibility goes. but it also might depend on the type of game. even 2 player split screen halo is painful at 13" to my eyes

[Xyga]

You forgot 27" GL (often labelled as 29") which used to be the most common large 4:3 format.

I remember anything 4p I used to play with the buds back then, like Goldeneye, was only comfortable on 27"~29" tellys, and I mean the curved/bombed tube ones, because those flat Trinitrons aren't perfect from the sides.

21" is manageable but you have to sit stuck together which is not very nice especially in summer.

[Dochartaigh]

Weren't many of the arcade 4-player games on 27" CRT's? (but granted you were pretty close to those with the controls right in front of the monitor).

At my house I have 2x 20" BVM's setup with 2x people in front of each screen. Trying to find another Sony 27FV310 to have 2 of those setup as well for a bit more size (specifically for 2-player light gun games, but will work for 4-player as well).

[Ikaruga11]

well, I would think its whatever is most convenient for you. are you going to buy a lager CRT display for 4 player gaming?

Well, I actually just bought a Sony BVM-D24E1WU. I made this thread so I could gauge what the smallest screen size people on here found acceptable for 4 person multiplayer games, hoping that a 24" 16:9 screen would be enough. Multiplayer gaming isn't the main focus here. Just a nice little bonus.

at the break room at my school we never had access to anything past 32" and we played a lot of Halo/xbox and Naruto on the cube. (but it was all done via composite )

Oh nice. That must have been real fun.

the largest crt I've ever owned was a 27" sony. anything under 20" I feel is pushing it as far as visibility goes. but it also might depend on the type of game. even 2 player split screen halo is painful at 13" to my eyes

I used to own a Sony KD-34XBR960 HD CRT. It had a massive 34" 16:9 screen which could easily accommodate four people, but I sold it because I wanted a D24. I still have my 27" 4:3 Sony KV-27FS120 that I bought off Craigslist back in 2012. That was my first venture in video quality on CRTs. Yeah, I agree. My brother uses a 20" 4:3 Insignia CRT, and that already seems pretty small. I can't even imagine playing on a display smaller than 20".

[Lord of Pirates]

I think 24" would be livable for four people. I've used the XBR960 then gone right back to a 27" in another setup with my brothers and nobody minded.

I need to get off my arse and finish a projector setup for 90" CRT madness .

[Dochartaigh]

Well, I actually just bought a Sony BVM-D24E1WU. I made this thread so I could gauge what the smallest screen size people on here found acceptable for 4 person multiplayer games, hoping that a 24" 16:9 screen would be enough. Multiplayer gaming isn't the main focus here. Just a nice little bonus.

I don't know about Wii (which is only 480p, right?) but the other systems you mentioned (N64/GC) are mostly 4:3 ratio, especially for 4-player games, correct? (I hope you're also considering 4-player MAME games which are the best IMO!!!). So just keep in mind that your D24 has a 4:3 screen slightly smaller than a 20" PVM or BVM - which I have a feeling most will find to be too small to play 4-player on. It think it may not be the screensize itself in fact (if you can sit super close to it), but the logistics of physically fitting 4 people in chairs scrunched around a small monitor - viewing angles for the two outside people can't be that desirable.

[FinalBaton]

My buddy has a 24" crt and we regularly play Mario Kart 64 on it. It's a bit on the small size, but it's perfectly doable IMO. We can always make out the tracks just fine and it doesn't interfere with the gameplay, I feel like.

Of course a bigger screen would be swell. But that's just what he happened to find and also he doesn't want something any bigger anyway. N64 is hooked up via s-video and it's clear enough and colours good enough for us

[bobrocks95]

Would have voted for 27" if it was on there. A very common size for Trinitrons, a reasonable weight (32" starts getting ridiculous), and probably the smallest I'd want for 4 people assuming you have the space for a large CRT.

[FinalBaton]

27 inchers are a great size indeed. But I'll add that Sony 27 inchers are pretty dang heavy, clocking in at around 100 lbs/45 kg.
If you're going to move it in alone and move it around the house every now and then, it might be a bit of a pain in the ass.

Sets from other brands are generally lighter though. JVC 27 inchers are around 80 lbs/36 kg

(EDIT : looks like the OP already have a 27 incher.)

[Xyga]

The non-flat aren't so heavy, better geometry, definitely my #1 choice, Sony or not.

[Syntax]

Although i can only use them at night, my Sony rear projection 50" are awesome for multiplayer.

[Ikaruga11]

So I'm eventually going to get another BVM to complete my setup. It's either going to be another D24 for congruency or a D32 for the much larger screen size, 4 person multiplayer and exclusive Digital Convergence adjustment feature.

Here is my current setup:


Here is the first possible setup I've thought of:


Here is the second possible setup I've thought of:

I can actually fit two D24s on my stand! Albeit, there will be very little space on either side, with no room for speakers and a combined weight of 224lbs. 6oz., which isn't too much heavier than the XBR960's supported 196lbs. weight. Is it okay for two BVMs to sit side-by-side? Can this cause any possible interference or damage?

Here is the third possible setup I've thought of:

I did some research on the dimensions of a Sony BVM-D32E1WU to see if it would fit on my stand, and it looks like the width is 31" 3/8. Very comfortably within range, especially considering my old Sony KD-34XBR960 had a width of 39" 1/8 with room to spare on both ends of the stand for the TV remote, etc. The height is 22", which is almost as high as the 34XBR960's 25" 5/8 height. The much bigger screen size of the D32 and 34XBR960 make multiplayer gaming much easier. It also sets the center of the display much closer to eye level when sitting in a chair and looking head on. The weight of the D32E1WU is 206lbs. 13 oz., which is only about 20lb. heaver than the 196lb. weight of the 34XBR960. The only problem with fitting the D32E1WU on my TV stand is the depth of the monitor. My stand is 20" deep, and D32's depth is 26" 1/4. HOWEVER, the depth from the front legs to the back legs is 20" 1/8. This is an extremely tight fit and close call. Do you guys think the 20" 1/8 space between the front and back legs of a D32 will fit on my 20" deep TV stand? Will the weight distribution of the monitor destroy the stand?


And finally, here is the last possible setup I've thought of:


Do you guys have any ideas or suggestions? Any input is appreciated. Thanks.

[Steamflogger Boss]

I voted for 32'', maybe too hastily. It looks really nice on that size or above. I did split screen co-ops of the Halo games semi-recently on an HD Sony set and it was really nice.

You can probably live with 27 inches though, I've played a lot of 4 player Mario Kart DD and SSBM on a 27'' tube.

If you have the space and can lift it or have one already one of the top end HD Sony tubes at 32'' or above is going to look really good with your progressive sources (Cube, Wii). N64 might honestly be better on standard def though. I would just not play the N64 personally.

[tacoguy64]

I voted for 20' inch since i remember playing on that as a kid and we had no issue with 4-players. It was a pretty big upgrade when we went to 27' inch.