14 Gaming Myths Exposed
This just in from GamePro: 14 gaming myths exposed. I’ll show you the list – head over to their article for the details – and to understand some of these, you really need the details. Come back and tell us what you think.
1. Third-party controllers are just as good.
2. LCD/plasma TVs look better than old-fashioned CRTs.
3. 1080i looks better than 720p.
4. The more memory, the better the gaming system.
5. You need 1080p.
6. Porn will settle the next-gen DVD war.
7. The PC is the only good place to play first-person shooters.
8. You need to buy the extended warranty.
9. The Xbox 360 can’t handle 1080p.
10. Cheat codes are put in for the sake of gamers.
11. Wireless controllers don’t work as well as wired.
12. You have to spend $500 for a PC video card.
13. S-video is fine for HD video.
14. VGA output is better than component video.
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1) Their response to this correct, but there is an aspect they didn’t touch on. 3rd party can be better than 1st party sometimes, because the 3rd party can improve on the 1st party original design and make things more ergonomic or comfortable.
2) If you’re going to discuss CRTs, then you have to discuss the CRT problem: burn-in and image distortion. CRT’s (especially rear-projection) will burn-in. The phosphor’s age, and gaming doesn’t help this since it leaves ‘static images’ on the screen for a long time.
The second item of image distortion is the bigger area of image degradation. CRT’s (non-rear-projection) have a tendency to distort bright, or very white images. This causes the sides of the screen to become unsquare and waver as the image changes on screen.
This is another one where they skipped a second aspect: refurbished units. If you buy a refurbished unit, odds are its life has shortened. Case in point: when my original PS2 died, I traded it in for a used unit, which died within two weeks. I happened to be out of town during the first two weeks and if I didn’t have the extended warranty, I would have been stuck with a new doorstop.
Otherwise, I’d say they’re pretty much right on the money.
As Mike said, many of those “myths” (never heard about any of them) are explained in an overly simplistic manner. Cheat codes can be put to unlock easter eggs, for example, so it’s not like ALL cheat codes are for game testing.
That’s my problem with certain “specialised” magazines, now everyone that reads this piece will think all cheat codes were meant for game testing, while there are obvious uses of cheat codes that hold easter eggs for gamers and are absolutely useless to test the game (like the “dopefish” cheat in Rise of the triad).
The controller one… I hate third party controllers with a passion. A lot of times you miss out on the best quality with those because 1st party controllers integrate alot of patented design features. I haven’t liked one since the Ascii Grip for PSX http://www.oneswitch.org.uk/1/asciigrip.htm .
And CRT’s? Man, if you have an HD CRT you run into NONE of the problems you described. I had a 32″ 4:3 Sony Wega (480i, 480p, 720p, 1080i) for about 3 years and the picture is still amazing! It blew away LCD! But alas, I have replaced that relic with a 56″ Samsung 1080p DLP. A-freakin-mazing. I really don’t think there is anything BETTER than DLP for gaming, but that’s just me.
(and i’m opinionated!)