Just because your home theater looks sophisticated with its flat screen TV frame and matching décor doesn’t mean you can’t have a little youthful fun in the comfort of your own home. Gaming has become a huge part of the lives of children, teens and adults alike, and if you’re into any aspect of this interactive entertainment, you’ll need to know how to get the most out of your experience.
A Traditional frame from HD Envy will make your flat screen TV look simply stunning, highlighting the content in one of the many stylish choices available. However, before you dive into the décor aspect of your home theater/gaming room, you’ll need to choose the right TV for the right style of gaming.
So, first you’ll want to ask yourself: what kind of a gamer am I? Do you like first-person-shooters, resplendent with lush jungle backgrounds, finely detailed buildings and a bit of PG-rated effects? Or are you into “party” games, like Guitar Hero and Rock Band that you’ll be playing with a large group of your friends? Or maybe you’re a role-playing fan, soaking up the majestic story cutscenes and wide-roaming fantasy landscapes.
Different gaming preferences and styles of play require slightly different types of HDTVs. The Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 can both play games at 1080p resolution, so you might want to consider a Full HD 1080p flat screen TV, either a plasma or an LCD, if you have one of these consoles. The Wii and other, older consoles output at 480p or lower resolution. However, even if you have an older console, consider a 1080p TV – more games and consoles will be switching to this crystal-clear resolution in the future.
A flat screen TV is also great for games that will be played by you and your friends. Because they offer a wider viewing angle than older CTRs, your guests will all be able to enjoy what’s on the screen without craning their necks. And if you have people over at all hours of the day, consider a TV with brighter colors and higher contrasts, so that the image can be seen in the sunlight as well as in the dim lights at night.
There are some HDTVs out there that offer a specific “Gaming Mode” in addition to “Movie/Theater Mode” and other picture settings. Many TVs allow picture modes to be assigned to specific inputs, so that once you turn on your console, you’ll get the vivid colors, deep blacks and rich contrast that often come with the Gaming Mode.
As with any HDTV, don’t necessarily splurge for the biggest screen just because you can. Consider your room size in relation to the size of your screen. If the TV is too big, your video game could appear distorted and it could severely impede gameplay. Likewise, if the TV is too small you won’t be able to see all the rich details that are found in so many of today’s bestselling games.
Video games can be a permanent installation in your home theater with only a single cable to your HDTV. Many of the latest consoles can play movies, either on DVD or, in the case of the PS3, on Blu-Ray format, so you can use them as a dual game-movie player too. And because video games look best on a flat screen TV, you can easily add some class to your gaming room by incorporating a flat screen TV frame from HD Envy into your interior design, and really cause your video games to pack a punch.
Tags: audio/video, Home Theater
