It can cause burns on the phosphor layer on the CRTs.   The problem is the parts of the images that never move, like the score box.

The "watermark" that many TV networks put on their channel can cause the same problem, incidentally.


If you want to play your games on the big screen,  you can do it safely, but first, drop the brightness and contrast down a few notches.  (They shouldn't ever be up more than halfway in any event!!!!)  And don't leave the game on the screen if nobody's actually playing it.   REALLY.

I fly flight simulators on my home theater Really Big Screen. (8 foot wide screen, with a front projection system)    I've never had any issues but I don't leave it on all the time, either.    I fire it up, fly for a while, and then shut it down.  

CJ

I run at 1600x1200, if the program will run that high a resolution.

TRUE  High definition and a 10 foot diagonal screen, baby!



CJ

I have a 54" Samsung rear projector, it has a PS2, Xbox, Gamecube, and Dreamcast hooked up. I have played games once or twice and it has never had any problems from it.

It takes HUNDREDS of hours with a static image on the screen for the screen burn to be noticeable if your set's settings are in the range they should be.   If you've got the brightness and contrast cranked, it can take much less time,  but having the settings set up like that is pure ABUSE of the equipment anyway.

CJ

Quoted: Most rear projectors that use traditional tube/lenses (single or tri-tube) will suffer image burn after only a few years of use (even less if used with video games).  Digital Light Projectors, like Samsung, will not.  LCDs don't, but they suffer from lack of contrast/dynamic range.

True....but have you priced the lamps for DLP projectors lately?  It's not unusual for your
lamp operating costs to exceed a dollar an hour.

DLP will be ready for prime time when the light source problem is solved, which I think will
be soon thanks to the development of super long life LED based lamps.   Modern LEDs are
available in all colors including white.  and the brightness levels are getting ridiculous.
It's only a matter of time before excellent, color temperature correct, high intensity LED
lamps make their entry into the projection market.  And they'll last as long as any other part
of the projector if they don't get power spiked.

Right now, top quality CRT projectors still are the high water mark in image quality, but DLP
has gained a lot of ground in just a few short years.     When my CRT based projectors are
finally ready to be retired,  DLP will certainly be ready even for my demanding standards.

CJ

Size and weight....once a projector is mounted on the ceiling high enough that you're not going to bump your head on it,  who cares?

My VDC Marquee weighs about 160 pounds, I guess, and it's ceiling mounted.   It really wasn't that tough a proposition.

The picture is worth the minor hassle of installation, and I know that there's no maintenance that nees to be done to a CRT projector except maybe clean the air filter from time to time.   Its convergence is rock solid,  totally stable.   Haven't so much as done a touch-up convergence in months, and that takes a minute or two at most.

Here's an actual digital photo of my projector in operation.  The very slight blurriness is due to the camera not focusing perfectly.    Of course this picture has been cropped to the edges of the screen.



Note:  This image as viewed is eight feet wide with plenty of available brightness.


CJ