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[Synbios459]

I just recently got a HDTV and I'm just curious if there are any settings I need to tweak in order to "optomize" it for games. I have my Xbox, GameCube, and PlayStation 2 all hooked up via Component and always make sure that Progressive Scan in enabled when possible.

However, I know that there are other settings that can be adjusted to my HDTV so I'm hooking someone may tell me what I need to do (if any).

This is what I got.

 

[golem]

pick up avia or digital video essentials and follow the directions.. should help you improve your image

 

[ChrisReid]

Hey, that's the same tv I bought back in May. There's a few default preset modes (Film, Sports, Normal). I put mine on Sports mode when I play games because I assume there's some similarities in terms of fast motion and such.

 

[oBa]

If you have money to burn, have an ISF technician come out and professionally calibrate your TV.

 

[Naked Snake]

Hey, that's the same tv I bought back in May. There's a few default preset modes (Film, Sports, Normal). I put mine on Sports mode when I play games because I assume there's some similarities in terms of fast motion and such.

Bad move.

 

[ChrisReid]

Bad move.

Wonderful. Care to share with the class why? It certainly looks good.

 

[Lunar Aura]

sports mode is like the brightest setting ever thus burning your set faster for no reason. brighter is not better.

 

[COCKLES]

Nice TV.

 

[Yusaku]

Hey, that's the same tv I bought back in May. There's a few default preset modes (Film, Sports, Normal). I put mine on Sports mode when I play games because I assume there's some similarities in terms of fast motion and such.

All of those preset modes are horseshit, sports tends to be the worst. Usually the brightness/contrast and color saturation are jacked way the fuck up.

Like other posters said, pick up an Avia disc and set it up properly and leave it.

 

[Synbios459]

Mind telling me exactly what these discs are and where I can get them? I have noticed that Resident Evil 4 even with Pro Scan does look a little grainy and wasn't sure how to fix it.

 

[Shompola]

Mind telling me exactly what these discs are and where I can get them? I have noticed that Resident Evil 4 even with Pro Scan does look a little grainy and wasn't sure how to fix it.

RE4 looks grainy because of heavy dithering in the game. YOu cant do much to fix that. The dvds mentioned here can be obtained at your local dvd video store, hifi store and online in respective type of stores.

 

[gblues]

A less thorough, but still helpful method is to use the THX optimizer found on many movies. I know for certain it is included in the Alladdin DVD and the T2 Ultimate (the one with the HD version of the movie included).

Nathan

 

[teiresias]

Those THX optimizers on various discs are worthless as they vary from disc to disc and in no way reflect color standards or anything. Avia or Video Essentials are the only way to do it properly - and it has alot of test tones for your sound system too. I prefer Avia myself.

 

[Yusaku]

Yeah, the THX optimizers are tailored to make that specific movie look best. Stick to a general setup disc.

 

[sammy]

It can be really hard to optomize, since art-direction in games these days never seem to take HD into account.

But if you're jumping back'n'forth between progressive and non-progressive games keep the 'sharpness/picture' fairly modest ---- on my samsung I crank it at about 40% since I play a lot of RE4, and games that run less than 32bit colors can really get muddy the sharper you get.
But if you're running games like MarioKartDD, you can crank that sharpness like a biyotch!
In general most first-party GC games look outstanding, something about the component-cable on the cube --- that and many run at a solid 60fps.... with my experience progressive is all for not and hardly noticable without 60fps.
If you're runnin' that lower sharpness, then go ahead and turn the 'digital-noise-reduction' off --- This keeps settings good for PS2 non-progressive.

Keep the Brightness more like movie-standard --- where the screen never totally goes to full-black. In other words, make it to if there's nothing but black-void on the screen - there's a slight slight neutral glow from the screen, and not total darkness.
After that, cut your contrast a few hairs above that brightness.
This will be easy on your eyes, since many many games run too dark for their own good --- and also this'll be easy on jaggies, and in general avoid a muddy image.

Color can be tricky, since there's such a huge range in games today - so look at what you're playing ---- pop in Pikmin2 and make sure the colors don't blow the eyes out the back of your head. (actually, i found that Pikmin2 was a great HD test all-round since it's a game that needs a much higher resolution than it's given)
But I keep my color a little toned down, since most games today (even if they're going for a dessaturated color-palate) get way to saturated for their own good, since they're usually trying to show off their textures more than create a nice mood.
A great TV can make good grey-tones look damn sexy too

But do some tweaking, and have some fun getting obsessive since there really is no 'standard' as of yet.

 

[Warm Machine]

Rallisport Challenge 2 has a pretty good calibrator but seems to err on the darker side of things.

I tweaked my TV with the THX Optimizer on a few differn't films. The majority of them are very similar. Only a few are a little out there like Attack of the Clones.

You should hopefully have differn't custom settings per AV Input. Movies should have a warm tonal range and games should have a more medium range.

 

[Spencerr]

Because I'm a lazy bastard who doesn't care that much about perfect HD picture, what preset is the best? Movies?