Aspect Ratio in Games

[KnightWarrior]

How do you guys feel about Gamers put there older Consoles like the Genesis 16x9?

That will annoy me, Older Consoles was never ment to be Stretched, Even on the GBA with GB/GBC Games,

[Mzo]

It's absolutely disgusting and I don't know how anyone can stand to look at that stretched out garbage.

Instant turn-off on gaming videos.

[CGQuarterly]

It's absolutely disgusting and I don't know how anyone can stand to look at that stretched out garbage.

Instant turn-off on gaming videos.

I agree with this post 100%  Nothing gets me to turn off a gaming video faster than seeing a 4:3 game stretched to 16:9.

[Gentlegamer]

Use the correct original display ratio! Which is 4:3 for classic systems, even where the internal resolution is under that 256x244, it's intended display is 4:3.

I can't even look at a youtube video where some dude just captured the 16:9 display on his PC.

[esteban]

How do you guys feel about Gamers put there older Consoles like the Genesis 16x9?

That will annoy me, Older Consoles was never ment to be Stretched, Even on the GBA with GB/GBC Games,

DO NOT SPEAK OF THIS AGAIN.

[ultrageranium]

It's the same habit as with people watching 4:3 videos and stretch the image to the maximum of the their 16:9/16:10 TV sets.

I always wondered why it does not seem to bother those doing that. It's like if the potentiality of the technology, the image generated, is so mesmerising that any deterioration of what is being actually displayed does not matter anymore.

It also reminds me, the infamous "black bars" discussions, back in the days of 4:3 tech, where some people would be upset because a rented or broadcast film would be left in its original cinematic ratio, and not cropped to maximise the surface of home TVs.

[ClodBusted]

The thing with the Genesis (320x224) and DOS games (320x200, VGA Mode 13h) is that they don't even run in true 4:3 aspect ratio. In case of the Genesis, it relies on the console outputting the game vertically stretched in 4:3 to the CRT TV. In case of the DOS games, they rely on the CRT monitor stretching them vertically to 4:3.

Try running games from these two systems through an emulator in their native pixel-perfect resolutions on an LCD can result in distorted proportions like circles being oval shaped - if the developers had the previously mentioned 4:3 stretching/scaling in mind and programmed their graphics that way.

Pixel-perfect Genesis and DOS game screenshots thus are often slighlty disproportioned. This is especially noticeable when comparing screens of different ports, e.g. see Earthworm Jim which was available on SNES, Genesis and DOS: http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/earthwormjim/earthwormjim.htm
Another example of Splatterhouse: http://nfgworld.com/mb/post/1704;?unb507sess=d652da6d6eec796b73de13c468ee4219
Of course it can also go the other way around: If a game was programmed with the DOS 320x200 resolution and monitor stretching in mind, and later got ported to other systems, the other systems get disportioned graphics if the background graphics and sprites do not receiver a complete makeover.




EDIT:

TL;DR: I can't stand it when people put anything in the wrong aspect ratio on Youtube. In some cases you can even tell the difference between 16:10 and 16:9, when people's heads look squished.


EDIT2:

On another note, do you guys remember the PlayStation 2's behaviour of outputting DVD Videos stretched to 16:9 on 4:3 screens with the factory settings? I do, and I also remember that 99% of PlayStation 2 owners didn't bothered changing the settings to Letterbox 4:3.

Even dumber, the PS2 had four options to change aspect ratios, and all of them needed to be adressed to get a correct video output:

1. In the system's menu (only applicable for the menu itself)
2. In some games (for each game, and only if available)
3. In the hidden menu when you play DVD video discs. And to change the aspect ratio you even had to stop the DVD playback, as the console prohibits doing it on-the-fly.
4. Via RGB Scart cables. Due to the console outputting a +5V signal on Pin 10 on the multi AV out, it will switch a PAL TV to an artificial 16:9 widescreen mode. To get the correct proportions, you either needed to cut off the +5V line or use the TV remote to change back to 4:3 everytime you turn the system on.


EDIT3:

I hate, hate, HATE 16:9 videos where the black vertical bars of 4:3 games are replaced with fancy colourful borders or even blurred moving images. What dumb showerpissing moron thought this was even cool and needed? The same goes for any colourful borders when playing old games downloaded from the Xbox Live marketplace. Distracting borders were a funny option on the Super GameBoy, but for fuck's sake, let this idea rot as a crude 90s invention that should never return. Even the SGB made it possible to have plain black borders as an option.

[wilykat]

I keep them at 4:3 on my TV.  Thankfully my TV is smart enough to default to 4:3 on composite and S-Video input (where all pre-16:9 systems are) and leave 16:9 on component and HDMI for later systems and BD/DVD player.

Still waiting for legit video mod for Atari 7800 that isn't composite.  It's the only system I have left that is still using composhit

[esteban]

I hate, hate, HATE 16:9 videos where the black vertical bars of 4:3 games are replaced with fancy colourful borders or even blurred moving images. What dumb showerpissing moron thought this was even cool and needed? The same goes for any colourful borders when playing old games downloaded from the Xbox Live marketplace. Distracting borders were a funny option on the Super GameBoy, but for fuck's sake, let this idea rot as a crude 90s invention that should never return. Even the SGB made it possible to have plain black borders as an option.

AGREED 10000000000000000%

I had a TV that displayed LIGHT GRAY sidebars.  They were so annoying and distracting. PURE BLACK is the only logical way to handle 4:3 content on a 16:9 display.

Same for games: I do not need some distracting trash on the screen. PURE BLACK.

[CGQuarterly]

I hate, hate, HATE 16:9 videos where the black vertical bars of 4:3 games are replaced with fancy colourful borders or even blurred moving images. What dumb showerpissing moron thought this was even cool and needed? The same goes for any colourful borders when playing old games downloaded from the Xbox Live marketplace. Distracting borders were a funny option on the Super GameBoy, but for fuck's sake, let this idea rot as a crude 90s invention that should never return. Even the SGB made it possible to have plain black borders as an option.

AGREED 10000000000000000%

I had a TV that displayed LIGHT GRAY sidebars.  They were so annoying and distracting. PURE BLACK is the only logical way to handle 4:3 content on a 16:9 display.

Same for games: I do not need some distracting trash on the screen. PURE BLACK.

I'm kinda glad to see you guys say this.  I was thinking about putting something in my videos to fill the black space on the sides of the game play footage.  Think I'll just leave it alone.

[esteban]

I hate, hate, HATE 16:9 videos where the black vertical bars of 4:3 games are replaced with fancy colourful borders or even blurred moving images. What dumb showerpissing moron thought this was even cool and needed? The same goes for any colourful borders when playing old games downloaded from the Xbox Live marketplace. Distracting borders were a funny option on the Super GameBoy, but for fuck's sake, let this idea rot as a crude 90s invention that should never return. Even the SGB made it possible to have plain black borders as an option.

AGREED 10000000000000000%

I had a TV that displayed LIGHT GRAY sidebars.  They were so annoying and distracting. PURE BLACK is the only logical way to handle 4:3 content on a 16:9 display.

Same for games: I do not need some distracting trash on the screen. PURE BLACK.

I'm kinda glad to see you guys say this.  I was thinking about putting something in my videos to fill the black space on the sides of the game play footage.  Think I'll just leave it alone.

I can tell you the only acceptable thing: if you always kept a logo/brand ("CGQ") displayed in the lower right-hand corner of your videos, it could stay there at all times, even when black sidebars make the logo more "obvious" because of the contrast. Then again, you could always adjust the transparency so that the logo remained subtle at all times, even with black sidebars. I would do the latter.

[Dicer]

I'm gonna catch heat, but I don't mind 16x9, DEPENDING on game...I kinda like it for horizontal shooties, but again depends on the game, but what I don't like is filters in emulators that smudge the shit out of something....that's kinda gross.

Vert shooters tho, mush that shit up like all the shitty cell phone videos, cause people can't turn a phone on it's side...

[CGQuarterly]

I hate, hate, HATE 16:9 videos where the black vertical bars of 4:3 games are replaced with fancy colourful borders or even blurred moving images. What dumb showerpissing moron thought this was even cool and needed? The same goes for any colourful borders when playing old games downloaded from the Xbox Live marketplace. Distracting borders were a funny option on the Super GameBoy, but for fuck's sake, let this idea rot as a crude 90s invention that should never return. Even the SGB made it possible to have plain black borders as an option.

AGREED 10000000000000000%

I had a TV that displayed LIGHT GRAY sidebars.  They were so annoying and distracting. PURE BLACK is the only logical way to handle 4:3 content on a 16:9 display.

Same for games: I do not need some distracting trash on the screen. PURE BLACK.

I'm kinda glad to see you guys say this.  I was thinking about putting something in my videos to fill the black space on the sides of the game play footage.  Think I'll just leave it alone.

I can tell you the only acceptable thing: if you always kept a logo/brand ("CGQ") displayed in the lower right-hand corner of your videos, it could stay there at all times, even when black sidebars make the logo more "obvious" because of the contrast. Then again, you could always adjust the transparency so that the logo remained subtle at all times, even with black sidebars. I would do the latter.

Maybe Nulltard can create a little logo for me.  The wooden indian photoshop job he did was fucking awesome, but is no bueno as a logo.

[KnightWarrior]

I got yelled at one of the N64 Groups on Facebook by saying don't stretch it

[Gentlegamer]

I got yelled at one of the N64 Groups on Facebook by saying don't stretch it

I'm now I'm gonna yell at you for being on Facebook.

[turboswimbz]

I got yelled at one of the N64 Groups on Facebook by saying don't stretch it

Leave that group, and never return.

[esteban]

Maybe Nulltard can create a little logo for me.  The wooden indian photoshop job he did was fucking awesome, but is no bueno as a logo.

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LLC

[SignOfZeta]

I got yelled at one of the N64 Groups on Facebook by saying don't stretch it

I can't even imagine how idiotic an N64 Facebook group would be.

As to the original question: everything should always be the original intended aspect ratio. There are no exceptions. Only utter fuckheads would argue this.

[CGQuarterly]

I got yelled at one of the N64 Groups on Facebook by saying don't stretch it

I can't even imagine how idiotic an N64 Facebook group would be.

I can.  I check out the N64 sub-reddit from time to time.  90% of the posts are just collectards posting pictures of their games, all laid out on the floor.

[Nazi NecroPhile]

Leave the aspect ratio alone.  Distortion is never an improvement.

[MrFulci]

Leave the aspect ratio alone.  Distortion is never an improvement.

Unless one likes the, "fun house mirror" effect.

[SignOfZeta]

I got yelled at one of the N64 Groups on Facebook by saying don't stretch it

I can't even imagine how idiotic an N64 Facebook group would be.

I can.  I check out the N64 sub-reddit from time to time.  90% of the posts are just collectards posting pictures of their games, all laid out on the floor.

That's honestly a lot of Facebook groups. The Laserdisc one is particularly bad. Just 90's punks with their Total Recalls and Ninja Turtles junk all fresh from the flea market, didn't even peal the price tags off yet, all asking if the shit is good despite the fact that they already own it so therefore there is no better judge than themselves. Rarely is anything intelligent or in-depth mentioned.

[CGQuarterly]

I got yelled at one of the N64 Groups on Facebook by saying don't stretch it

I can't even imagine how idiotic an N64 Facebook group would be.

I can.  I check out the N64 sub-reddit from time to time.  90% of the posts are just collectards posting pictures of their games, all laid out on the floor.

That's honestly a lot of Facebook groups. The Laserdisc one is particularly bad. Just 90's punks with their Total Recalls and Ninja Turtles junk all fresh from the flea market, didn't even peal the price tags off yet, all asking if the shit is good despite the fact that they already own it so therefore there is no better judge than themselves. Rarely is anything intelligent or in-depth mentioned.

Just a giant consumerist circle-jerk, then.

[Nazi NecroPhile]

... asking if the shit is good despite the fact that they already own it so therefore there is no better judge than themselves.

Heaven forbid they actually watch it.  Kids these days.