Does anyone play on a rear projection TV?
 

Does anyone have any issues with image burning while using a projection television. I just got a Gamecube and don't want to f-up my TV. Any info would be great.

I haven't gotten my RPTV, which will be a 47" Panny, but I will be playing widescreen games onit, because I have a 4:3 tv to play non widescreen games(that don't look good stretched). Put as long as you turn the contrast way down you should be fine

I do. 50 inch Toshiba. I haven't had any problems. I'm not one to sit playing games for 5 straight hours though.

A lot of games come with a way to move the screen around. I try and do that every so often if I'm playing a game a lot.

A properly calibrated (Avia) set shouldn't have any problem with a little caution.

What about for a plasma tv?

My wife wants one of those and I'm just curious how it might be effected using games. :)

I'm guessing you can't really do it with projector and screen though.

I've been playing my XBOX on a 55" Toshiba RPTV since last December with no problems.....

I have been playing various consoles on my 50" Toshiba for several years now. I have had no problems with burn-in. I feel that burn-in with video games is a thing of the past. As someone else stated, pretty much every game nowdays has movement all over the screen, which is all you need. The only thing that causes burn-in is having a static image on the screen, as some of the OLD classics had (The mazes in Pac-man, etc.) The same holds for plasma, there is not any worry with burn-in.

As far as burn-in images, I am more paranoid about watching the same TV channels too much... the channel logos they stick on the bottom are horrible!

You will still need to be cautious with games that have lives, scores, or other statistics in fixed places on the screen--these can cause burn-in. Crank down the contrast when playing these types of games and you should be fine . . .

Thanks for the info.

I've had my 55" Panny for a year+ with no burn in from Xbox, N64, or Super NES. :)

Actually, plasma tvs can be affected by burn in, as plasma tvs use phosphors, just like the tubes in regular front projection, rear projection, and direct view tvs. On a plasma, if someone watches a lot of 4:3 aspect ratio tv without stretching the image, its possible for 'boxes' to appear on the left and right of the centered 4:3 image. I personally hate watching stretched 4:3, so it will be a while before I get a 16:9 ratio tv.

All projector TVs have the problem that their picture tubes (usually three) run very hot compared to direct-view tvs. So, over time, the picture will dim faster and can burn in quicker if the same image is shown long enough (over days-weeks). Front projectors are probably the most susceptible, as the tubes run the hottest.

I know someone whose family had CNN on continuously after 9/11, and on their RPTV, the scroll bar at the bottom and the channel logo eventually burned into the image!!

I have a 53" Sony XBR rear projection TV I've used for around 6-8 years now and I still play games on it, sometimes for 8-10 hour marathons. Whenever I take a break I change the video in to TV or something else that refreshes the whole screen.

I think it also helps to crank down the brightness/contrast. Get one of those AV system tuning discs, like Video Essentials, and you'll get the picture just right, though it may be a little dark for some people.

If you leave your game on pause for a month or two, then there might be some burn-in, but I don't think you should worry about it too much otherwise.

Mine actually has a Video Game setting, I never use it but it's supposed to make the colors look a bit better. I don't think it's an issue anymore.

I wouldn't leave it on overnight with a game paused to play it safe, but I always turn the TV off on the rare occasions I do that.

What's the longest time you guys have played a game on your RPTV?

The reason I ask if some buddies and I are hooking up 4 Xboxs tomorrow for some old-fashioned Halo deathmatches and I know we will be playing at least 6 hours straight. Halo does have the static sheild & weapons displays.

Any problems to worry about? I have had my TV professionally calibrated so the contrast is in check. Just trying to put my mind at ease. Thanks.

Most RPTV's definately have brightness and contrast cranked way too high. These default settings are sometimes called "scorch mode" because of the increased risk of burn-in. I used Avia to set the levels on my set. I modified 2 of the built-in modes to compensate for light level in the room. Console games and DVD's look great.

a 50 frag game will only last 10 minutes or so, and then the screen cycles to the game report, so you should be allright.

One of the conference rooms at my work has a plasma screen hooked up to a PC for presentations and such. The "My Computer" icon is permanently burned into the screen, as are some other static windows icons and bars. Be careful.

It will be fine as long as you turn the contrast and picture down to half of the company pre sets. Ive had mine since december and havent had a prob yet.

I play lots of videogames on our 53" rptv, zero burn in from it. That being said, we do have the Weather Channel logo burnt into the upper left hand corner of our screen - my dad has a habit of leaving it on that damn channel.

How's duck hunt on these tv's? ;)

I'm glad to read all of these optimistic, yet cautious reports. I've had a 47" Panny for about 2 months now, and I've played about 2 hours of games on it. It's calibrated with Avia, but I'm still too nervous to play on it for much more than an hour or so. Maybe when the "new" wears off I'll play more games on it.

been playing on my 61" hitachi for a couple of years with no problem, though i don't play for hours on end like i use too, got my cube hooked up right now w/component cables and waiting for the ps2 price drop so i can get a second one hooked up and get back into it as the kids are currently holding my first one hostage.