Projectors for games

[Warbie]

Has anyone here got one? or have much experience?

I've been demoing a few and, having just bought a bigger place, have my heart set on a big 8 foot plus screen for movies and games. The downside is they seem to cost crap loads for a decent model. The plus side would be playing Dead Rising with zombies bigger than me

DLP, LCD, CRT? Wall or table mount? There's a whole world of stuff I know little about when it comes to home cinema.

 

[Asus]

I have not played game on a projector at all but I have messed with movies. And I know that a quality screen can make a difference.

DLP seems more for Media while LCD is sharper for text and such. Thinking about hooking your consoles up to it?

 

[Warbie]

Thinking about hooking your consoles up to it?

That was the initial motivation - the thought of playing wii sports on a giant screen makes me grin.

For the kind of money some of these thing go for i'd want to get the most out of it - a few consoles, the pc, and a dvd player (HD when they come down in price)

 

[Barney Fife]

Well wipe that grin off of your face, projector will have you in hangover with headaches, if you don't keep your distance in fast pasted projectiles.

I thing slower projection like movie and such is the original concept, but not games. Any way, if you really can't keep your mind off of it, try and let us know how you feel.

Good Luck.

 

[kjac]

Projectors are nice, but they suck if you have any sunlight coming into the room. You need blackout curtains if you want to watch it during the day.

 

[Warbie]

Well wipe that grin off of your face, projector will have you in hangover with headaches, if you don't keep your distance in fast pasted projectiles.

I've read that some people can experience eye strain and headaches with DLP projectors, but didn't know this could be a problem with them all. Some more research is in order.

The room is 16' * 14', so there is some space to play with - i've seen quite a few setups in less.

It wouldn't be something that was used during the day often, Kjac, but black out curtains sound like a good idea. I've also been advised to look into sound proofing so as not to annoy the neighbours and building my own screen (which sounds quite fun)

This will probably take a year or two to organise/buy/setup, but i'll post some obscenely huge picture of Mario if and when it's done

 

[Barney Fife]

Yeah keep us posted. Also let us know your research and what you come across Warbie.

Good Luck.

 

[Paintballer]

I don't know how DLP projectors compare to DLP projection TVs.... but my DLP projection TV has the slightest delay while playing games due to processing time of upscaling or something. Its a little better when you have HD input (xbox 360), but if it needs to upscale... its slow.

Awesome for movies and everything tho

 

[JNightshade]

My good friend has a top-of-the line projector. It's in a room in his basement, along with an XB360, a 7.1 speaker setup, and several comfy chairs. It just may be the greatest thing ever created.

Of course, that setup costed more than your average car, but he's rich as f*ck

 

[Warbie]

Of course, that setup costed more than your average car

No doubt. I've been checking out a few projectors, some decent screens, and a new sound system - the cost is obscene. This is before sound proofing, plastering, painting, lighting etc.

1080p projectors are starting to come out (the one I saw in the flesh is awesome) and should be getting cheaper over the next year. I plan on picking one when funds permit to go with a 110" good quality gray screen (apparently these give better blacks while being able to handle any naughty ambient light that shouldn't be there - useful as this will be in the lounge, not a dedicated room). I'm not a huge audiophile so will be going for a 'budget' 5.1 setup - which, for a room of this size, will probably still cost over £1000!

Still, it's exciting, and should be ready this time next year \o/

//edit

check out this bad boy:

http://www.cine4home.com/index.htm
http://www.avscience.com/reviews/projector_sony_vplvw50.htm

 

[DEATHMASTER]

If a whole year is the case, focus on saving some dough and then get top o' the line by this time next year.

 

[Warbie]

Will do - i'm just trying to get an idea of what can be achieved for what money.

 

[Bakurei]

Well the here are the cons and pros of the different techniques:

CRT

pros
+awsome contrast
+awsome colours
+supports many resolutions and in most cases you can adjust the frequency better than in DLP or LCD projectors

cons
-needs a lot of calibration to get the best out of it (usually you need to hire a professional to do it)
-the tubes are really expensive
-the machine it self is usually pretty huge and noisy (but you can make your own box for it with better fans)

LCD (I recommend Sanyo, Panasonic and Hitachi)

pros
+cheap and most of the projectors support 720p
+nowadays good picture quality and contrast ration
+small and quiet

cons
-pixel grid and screendoor effect (panasonic has a technology for reducing the pixel grid but it lowers the image quality)
-the room needs to be pretty dark. And direct lights kill the image

DLP (I recommend Optoma)

pros
+no pixel grid
+very good contrast
+small

cons
-rainbow effect (causes people to feel sick, headache, puking etc. I can't watch a DLP projector as I get a headache in like 10min). But if you buy a 3chip DLP the rainbow effect isn't there since the image isn't produced with mirrors (these things cost like +5000$)
-nearly not all of the cheap dlp's support HD resolutions (720p to 1080p)

Those were the things that first came to my mind. Anyways I recommend buying a projector. You get it with a price of a LCD display and you get HD resolutions. So you won't see that much scaling because of the idiotic 1300*700 'HD' resolutions.

If you decide to buy a LCD projector remember to buy a High Contrast whitescreen with it. And if you thought of projecting an image to the wall without a whitescreen, please give me you address and I'll come end your life.

 

[Warbie]

Thanks for the summary, it verifies much of what i've read during the last few weeks. And don't worry, i'll be using a screen of some kind (aren't gray screens meant to be better for lcds?)

Initially I was leaning towards a crt projector, but the sheer bulk (how can anyone feel safe with something as heavy as that above their head?), and the fact i'd have to buy second hand for a decent one, put me off.

DLP projectors were then ruled out after seeng a mates rear projection television - the rainbow effect made for very uneasy watching - but if 3chip projectors really don't suffer in this way it puts them right back near the top of the list.

Do you know much about Sony's SXRD projectors, namely the Ruby and Pearl? The reviews for the projector linked above sound superb, and user impressions have been equally as favourable. In a year I can imagine these being quite cheap.