With the ever-increasing move to larger and higher quality televisions on the rise like never before, the concept of using these sets to play video games from a console or a PC has reached an all-time high. This marriage is also fueled by the fact that the quality of video game graphics has increased exponentially in recent years as well. Given these two factors, can video games actually cause damage to your high definition television?
High definition televisions are produced in three flavors: Plasma Televisions, LCD Televisions, and Video Projectors. Video games can be played off of a dedicated video console such as Sony’s PlayStation 3, Microsoft’s X-Box 360, or Nintendo’s WII Video Gaming System. They can also be played on a personal computer. All of these systems can be hooked up to your large screen television with little difficulty.
The notion that video games can harm your high definition television is in large part a myth. The biggest caveat that one must be aware of when playing video games is image retention. Image retention, or burn-in, occurs when a static image is left on in the same spot for hours on end. To that end, image retention only occurs on plasma televisions. LCD televisions and video projectors do not suffer from burn-in.
Objects such as crosshairs, H.U.D. displays, or kph/mph displays in racing games can leave a permanent and lasting impression on your plasma television. However, so can the ticker that is always on display when you are watching the news, or pausing a movie while you go eat dinner. This is not to say that you should not use your high definition plasma to play video games. Your plasma panel will provide you with a wonderful gaming experience time and time again, and there are a few tricks that you can use to ensure that you will never burn-in the screen.
Most plasma monitors and televisions are equipped with an on-board orbiter function that minimalizes any chance of image retention. In some cases, this device is known as a wobbler. What this feature does is move the entire image in extremely small steps of less than a pixel. Depending on the manufacturer of your television, this may or may not be enabled by default.
Manufacturers also suggest that any new plasma purchaser refrain from enjoying video games on their television for the first one hundred hours of life on the product. This is the standard “break-in” time on the panel. In so saying, I have enjoyed video games on my plasma television within fifteen minutes of it being installed, and I have encountered no adverse effects.
Gaming on a large format television display is a blast, and aside from the minor concerns noted above, can be run on any HDTV with no problems. It is more likely that you will throw your WII remote and crack the screen accidentally then you will playing a game on your display panel.
