Anyone using a projector as a display for games?

[Pixel_Outlaw]

I want to get a projector to use my wall as a television. I'm currently using a small TV but I think my blank wall would make a better display. As far as quality and price go I was wondering if anyone has any thoughts on a good compromise.

[Ganelon]

If you can find one without lag. Every projector I've played on has had crazy display lag (like a full second from its CRT counterpart when split).

[Pixel_Outlaw]

Ah that is really bad news, thanks.

[cools]

I've used an Epson EMP-TW10 for 4 years, not noticed any huge lag issue. Don't tend to play shooters on it though.

[nem]

If you can find one without lag. Every projector I've played on has had crazy display lag (like a full second from its CRT counterpart when split).

That can't be right. I've played Guitar Hero and fighting games (the mashing kind, admittedly) on a projector, no noticeable lag.

[Pixel_Outlaw]

Just to clarify I'm talking about projectors used in schools to put a computer screen on the wall for students. Not a projection television.

[dcharlie]

used a sanyo pz and a Panasonic UE-700

Pana had an issue with CMOS chip death after 3 years.

Didn't see any lag, it did screw my eyes a bit and am happily back with tv/monitors/etc

[Ganelon]

That can't be right. I've played Guitar Hero and fighting games (the mashing kind, admittedly) on a projector, no noticeable lag.

What if you split it? Honestly, most people are really bad at telling lag. Back when my local fighting tourneys didn't know better, some games were played on projectors and some of the players who played for years wasn't sure there was lag. The only reason it was obvious to me was because the video signal was eventually split along to both the CRT and projectors. Sitting next to both, it was disorienting watching things on the projected screens come out after I saw it on the CRT. The lag may have had something to do with the splitting devices but that doesn't jive with the fact that the CRT picture came before the projector.

That's why I'd advise folks to scientifically test lag out (if they care about these things; some display lag may not matter to casual players), and not base it off unreliable eyeballs. There's input lag in MAME as well (at least on default settings) but most can't feel that either. But it's possible most projectors don't have lag; all I know is from my experience that all the ones I've used do. That's why fighting game tourneys never use a projector for players to play on (only for audiences to watch).

[Pixel_Outlaw]

Ah thanks,

I too noticed a very slight lag in MAME and thought it was my controller. I have called my dad's big DLP TV "unplayable" because of a fractional second lag. I just wanted to make sure that you and I were on the same page. I have always used a CRT television so maybe this is not a good option for me.

[neorichieb1971]

Anything less than 1 tenth of 1 second is not noticable to me. I think 99.9% of equipment fits in that expectation.

[D]

Wake me up when projectors can project black. They can't.
So the black is however black that WHITE sheet is lit inside the room.
Maybe I'm not being fair......my 2 sense

[neorichieb1971]

If its black, it won't project anything at all.

Anyway, a projector setup.



Thats not too shabby, I wouldn't complain about the blacks personally.

However, playing shmups on that would send me dizzy. If you went TATE you would have to knock the ceiling down to see it.

[D]

If its black, it won't project anything at all.

Anyway, a projector setup.



Thats not too shabby, I wouldn't complain about the blacks personally.

However, playing shmups on that would send me dizzy. If you went TATE you would have to knock the ceiling down to see it.

I don't understand the picture. Is it projected on a black sheet? If so, that could work, but I was under the impression that you have to project on a white sheet. Who can clarify?

[dcharlie]

However, playing shmups on that would send me dizzy

yeah, it does become a problem - i was playing at around 110 inches and you end up having to physically move your head.

Whilst this is great for immersion in some games, for shmups and other arcade games it was much more of a struggle to play.

[neorichieb1971]

If its black, it won't project anything at all.

Anyway, a projector setup.

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e31/e ... C01554.jpg

Thats not too shabby, I wouldn't complain about the blacks personally.

However, playing shmups on that would send me dizzy. If you went TATE you would have to knock the ceiling down to see it.

I don't understand the picture. Is it projected on a black sheet? If so, that could work, but I was under the impression that you have to project on a white sheet. Who can clarify?

On that picture, the borders are probably black card or a black material. The idea being you have a zoom for 16:9 which knocks a bit off the sides. That image is probably 2.35:1 or thereabouts. I doubt highly that those borders are projected blacks.

[sven666]

I have a HD projector for casual gaming, response time is a damn lot better than my LCD television atleast, picture lag is not a problem at all, neither is the blacklevel if you buy a decent machine, stuff like resident evil or silent hill works just as well as any lcd/plasma television ive ever seen.

wouldnt use it for shmups tho, playarea is waaaay to big i get dizzy as hell when playing motorstorm in first person perspective and crash around, feels like the whole room is spinning (have about 120" screen)

[CMoon]

I've used a projector for a couple years, no lag issues or anything like that. The biggest concerns are 1) heat 2) making sure the room is dark enough 3) the bulbs are really expensive if they burn out. Other than that, go for it.

Edit: Oh yeah, don't even think about trying to tate a projector....things get weird.

[dcharlie]

noise can be a problem too - some of those suckers come with fairly loud fans.

i get dizzy as hell when playing motorstorm in first person perspective and crash around, feels like the whole room is spinning (have about 120" screen)

yeah, i found most driving games pretty intense at that size. Rez was a religious experience at that size.
F-Zero GX is the only game to make me hurl from motion sickness (just the once)

[cools]

The worst games I've found for motion sickness are Super Monkey Ball and GTA SA (when you're in a helicopter cockpit view).

[Pixel_Outlaw]

In theroy one could turn their room into a roller coaster...

I have Rez, playing it on such a screen would most certainly be pure win.

[dcharlie]

I have Rez, playing it on such a screen would most certainly be pure win.

yeah, first game i tried on my projector when i got it home - played Level 5

ur head assplode it's so good.

really well suited to a projector.

[PC Engine Fan X!]

Would that be the DC version of Rez or the PS2 version with the 60fps instead on a projector screen setup? Granted that the DC version of Rez only runs at 30fps but with the cool VGA Box support from the get-go.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[dcharlie]

Would that be the DC version of Rez or the PS2 version with the 60fps instead on a projector screen setup? Granted that the DC version of Rez only runs at 30fps but with the cool VGA Box support from the get-go.

it was the PS2 version on that occassion I tried the DC version a while later. Then the HD remake a long time later!

[DJ Incompetent]

However, playing shmups on that would send me dizzy

yeah, it does become a problem - i was playing at around 110 inches and you end up having to physically move your head.

Whilst this is great for immersion in some games, for shmups and other arcade games it was much more of a struggle to play.

Fuck that. I play STGs on projector all the time. Almost all my best scores and accomplishing were done on my theater. The best part is you don't have to tate anymore. No lag is the best part. To hell with HDTV, get a projector. I recommend Optoma (rolling 3000 hrs on the same bulb) and Epson. I use native component video and the HD is sexy on it.

I have Rez, playing it on such a screen would most certainly be pure win.

yeah, first game i tried on my projector when i got it home - played Level 5
ur head assplode it's so good.
really well suited to a projector.

Truth.
I did this too. It's like a law written somewhere.

[captpain]

Wasn't there some dude in the "show your non-cab TATE setup" thread that had a TATEd projector?

[sven666]

Wasn't there some dude in the "show your non-cab TATE setup" thread that had a TATEd projector?

i TATEd my projector on several occations (use it with a feed from one of my cabs for display), works fine as long as you make sure the airducts are clear to breathe.. ?