pumbaaj Posted October 6, 2005 Share Posted October 6, 2005 Has anyone tried playing their Atari on one of those new-fangled flat HDTV screens? Is it possible?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Helmet Posted October 6, 2005 Share Posted October 6, 2005 (edited) Yup. There is a setting that displays 4:3 ratio on the screen (standard TV) so the image won't be streched out. 16:9 aspect ratio is the true dimentionof the screen, so you will have black bars on the sides of the screen. If you have a problem with the bars (I don't know why you would, but some people are strange) you can watch it in 16:9 mode, but the image will be streched out horozontally. The image is never in HD, the 2600 doesnt produce an HD image. I play on my Mitsubishi widescreen HDTV quite a lot Edited October 6, 2005 by Lord Helmet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keilbaca Posted October 6, 2005 Share Posted October 6, 2005 Yup. When I did my atari audio/video mod for the first time, I tested it on various tv's. Including my two, and the upstairs dayroom huge big screen tv. I got all kinds of looks when they walked in to me playing kaboom! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laner Posted October 6, 2005 Share Posted October 6, 2005 I've tried my S-video modded 7800 on a Dell 2405FPW, and it looks great... doesn't have the brightness/contrast issues that show up on a CRT. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaggy the Atarian Posted October 6, 2005 Share Posted October 6, 2005 Yup. There is a setting that displays 4:3 ratio on the screen (standard TV) so the image won't be streched out. 16:9 aspect ratio is the true dimentionof the screen, so you will have black bars on the sides of the screen. If you have a problem with the bars (I don't know why you would, but some people are strange) you can watch it in 16:9 mode, but the image will be streched out horozontally. The image is never in HD, the 2600 doesnt produce an HD image. I play on my Mitsubishi widescreen HDTV quite a lot 943542[/snapback] Interesting, I hadn't thought of playing my games in 4:3 ratio before. I always just played them with the 16:9 ratio as I don't mind the image being stretched out I have noticed on my HDTV that flicker is reduced in some games, which is nice at times. I wonder if that's true for most HDTVs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dwh Posted October 7, 2005 Share Posted October 7, 2005 I just got a HDTV a few weeks ago, do not see any problems.Maybe I will get one of those s-vidio mods and plug it into the front of the unit,that would probably look even better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zonie Posted October 7, 2005 Share Posted October 7, 2005 I play the Dreamcast Atari emulator on a flat LCD. I Like it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaDDuck Posted October 7, 2005 Share Posted October 7, 2005 The image is never in HD, the 2600 doesnt produce an HD image. 943542[/snapback] Are you sure?????? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+FujiSkunk Posted October 7, 2005 Share Posted October 7, 2005 (edited) The image is never in HD, the 2600 doesnt produce an HD image. 943542[/snapback] Are you sure?????? 943869[/snapback] What's there to be unsure about? The 2600 was never intended to be displayed on a 16:9 screen, and the only resolution it "supports" is 480i. No hi-def there. Edited October 7, 2005 by skunkworx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carpecarne Posted October 7, 2005 Share Posted October 7, 2005 I might be going out on a limb here...but I think MaDDuck was joking Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevin242 Posted October 7, 2005 Share Posted October 7, 2005 What's there to be unsure about? The 2600 was never intended to be displayed on a 16:9 screen, and the only resolution it "supports" is 480i. No hi-def there. 943950[/snapback] Not even the 2600jr? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+FujiSkunk Posted October 7, 2005 Share Posted October 7, 2005 What's there to be unsure about? The 2600 was never intended to be displayed on a 16:9 screen, and the only resolution it "supports" is 480i. No hi-def there. 943950[/snapback] Not even the 2600jr? 943972[/snapback] Nope. However, if you know the secret joystick combo, you can get the 2600jr to output the little-known (but still not hi-def) 480jr resolution. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joeybastard Posted October 7, 2005 Share Posted October 7, 2005 I would warn those of you using older Plasma HDTVs to not leave the VCS on for too long if you aren't playing. They actually get burn in just like old TVs/computer moniters. When we started producing HDTV we had to do away with the station bugs in the corner of the screen because it was burning in to those early screens. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaDDuck Posted October 7, 2005 Share Posted October 7, 2005 I might be going out on a limb here...but I think MaDDuck was joking 943969[/snapback] Not a very long limb, I REALLY was kidding!!! Sometimes companies CAN predict the future, I'm going S-VHS from my C64 into a TV and it looks GREAT! But the odds of any HW developer having the forsight to include any way to un-interlace a picture in 1977, it just ain't happening!! You watch some POS like the bally astrocade just might!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaDDuck Posted October 7, 2005 Share Posted October 7, 2005 The image is never in HD, the 2600 doesnt produce an HD image. 943542[/snapback] Are you sure?????? 943869[/snapback] What's there to be unsure about? The 2600 was never intended to be displayed on a 16:9 screen, and the only resolution it "supports" is 480i. No hi-def there. 943950[/snapback] For the record picture structure, and aspect ratio are *NOT* connected!!! I've seen 4:3 progressive scan TV's and non progressive scan 16:9 ones. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+FujiSkunk Posted October 7, 2005 Share Posted October 7, 2005 For the record picture structure, and aspect ratio are *NOT* connected!!! I've seen 4:3 progressive scan TV's and non progressive scan 16:9 ones. 944012[/snapback] They are not connected, but they both get subjected to the "hi-def" buzzword. And the Atari 2600 still doesn't have what it takes to satisfy either use of "hi-def." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mos6507 Posted October 7, 2005 Share Posted October 7, 2005 I would warn those of you using older Plasma HDTVs to not leave the VCS on for too long if you aren't playing. They actually get burn in just like old TVs/computer moniters. When we started producing HDTV we had to do away with the station bugs in the corner of the screen because it was burning in to those early screens. 943991[/snapback] So only play 2600 games that have screensavers on them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mos6507 Posted October 7, 2005 Share Posted October 7, 2005 You watch some POS like the bally astrocade just might!!!!! 944010[/snapback] The Bally actually outputs component video from the video chip, maybe not exactly the same component format as used today, but it's still one step up from the 2600's Y/C output. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joeybastard Posted October 7, 2005 Share Posted October 7, 2005 I would warn those of you using older Plasma HDTVs to not leave the VCS on for too long if you aren't playing. They actually get burn in just like old TVs/computer moniters. When we started producing HDTV we had to do away with the station bugs in the corner of the screen because it was burning in to those early screens. 943991[/snapback] So only play 2600 games that have screensavers on them. 944077[/snapback] Yeah, I wasn't suggesting don't play on the plasma, just to use some caution. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+remowilliams Posted October 7, 2005 Share Posted October 7, 2005 I would warn those of you using older Plasma HDTVs to not leave the VCS on for too long if you aren't playing. They actually get burn in just like old TVs/computer moniters. When we started producing HDTV we had to do away with the station bugs in the corner of the screen because it was burning in to those early screens. 943991[/snapback] The stark color contrasts and low res large area graphics of the VCS (and other classic systems) will burn new plasmas as well if you're not careful. And it doesn't take that long at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joeybastard Posted October 8, 2005 Share Posted October 8, 2005 I would warn those of you using older Plasma HDTVs to not leave the VCS on for too long if you aren't playing. They actually get burn in just like old TVs/computer moniters. When we started producing HDTV we had to do away with the station bugs in the corner of the screen because it was burning in to those early screens. 943991[/snapback] The stark color contrasts and low res large area graphics of the VCS (and other classic systems) will burn new plasmas as well if you're not careful. And it doesn't take that long at all. 944170[/snapback] True but the newer ones seem to hold out better tha the older ones from what I've seen at work. They are different companies models though so that could be the difference. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ATARIPITBULL Posted October 8, 2005 Share Posted October 8, 2005 I would warn those of you using older Plasma HDTVs to not leave the VCS on for too long if you aren't playing. They actually get burn in just like old TVs/computer moniters. When we started producing HDTV we had to do away with the station bugs in the corner of the screen because it was burning in to those early screens. 943991[/snapback] I just bought a new SONY WEGA HDTV LCD and I would love nothing better than to be able to play my 2600 games on it, but if there is even a chance it might hurt my new TV, I don't want to risk it. :!: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+remowilliams Posted October 8, 2005 Share Posted October 8, 2005 I just bought a new SONY WEGA HDTV LCD and I would love nothing better than to be able to play my 2600 games on it, but if there is even a chance it might hurt my new TV, I don't want to risk it. :!: 944569[/snapback] Fear not, there isn't much you're going to harm an LCD with. They do not burn like plasmas can. That being said I play games all the time on my Sony plasma set - you just have to be careful. Oh - and the real, real biggie for plasmas: DO NOT play any video games or anything that has static images (or channel bugs) for the first 100 or so hours of a new units life. They are exceptionally prone to burning during this period. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+remowilliams Posted October 8, 2005 Share Posted October 8, 2005 True but the newer ones seem to hold out better tha the older ones from what I've seen at work. They are different companies models though so that could be the difference. 944500[/snapback] You're right they have improved a whole bunch since the original units. But you can still ruin them in a very short period under the right circumstances. My girlfriend for instance is not allowed to use my plasma set as she's entirely too careless to be trusted with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
supercat Posted October 8, 2005 Share Posted October 8, 2005 Nope. However, if you know the secret joystick combo, you can get the 2600jr to output the little-known (but still not hi-def) 480jr resolution. 943974[/snapback] Not sure why anyone would WANT to do this, but I'm curious: could a programmer get 480p resolution out of a 2600 (at the expense of half the horizontal resolution) by hitting the TIA RESET address every 39 cycles? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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