TV Vertical or horizontal

[mimic]

I wonder if there is more vertical or horizontal games? Would it be a good idea to mount tv vertically? Shootem ups are my preference, but is it going to distort games? I don't know if pixel size on tv is a square or rectangular?
(or maybe neither, I don't know much about that issue) 

[tetsu96]

I wonder if there is more vertical or horizontal games? Would it be a good idea to mount tv vertically? Shootem ups are my preference, but is it going to distort games? I don't know if pixel size on tv is a square or rectangular?
(or maybe neither, I don't know much about that issue) 

MAWS can help you get a more accurate answer, but there's probably at least twice as many horizontal oriented games than vertical games.  Either way, you can play both as long as you give up 1/2 of the screen for the opposite orientation.

[deadkenndys1105]

My screen rotates so I can switch back an forth but %90 of the time its vertical.  I play mostly vertical game though.  The only time I really switch it to horizontal is to play street fighter, defender or joust.

[Jeff AMN]

If you go with a larger TV, there's nothing wrong with playing vertical games on a horizontal setup...for the most part. I have a 27" TV and I (personally) feel that games like Pac-Man, DoDonPachi, Donkey Kong, and others are great.

I'm still planning on eventually building a vertical only setup, but the result so far has been so satisfying that I'm in no real rush.

[mimic]

My screen rotates so I can switch back an forth but %90 of the time its vertical.  I play mostly vertical game though.  The only time I really switch it to horizontal is to play street fighter, defender or joust.

I was actually thinking about something like that! Here I am thinking I had and original idea! 
I figured that rotating a screen would be best with like a lcd panel, or are using regular tv!?
Btw you don't notice any kind of distortion in games? Are pixels still same size?

[ahofle]

Rotating an arcade monitor is the best method (because that's what actual vertical arcade games used).  I wish I was more mechanically inclined -- I would've tried to do this in my cabinet.  Playing vertical games on a large multisync horizontal arcade monitor is a close 2nd IMO. 

[Tiger-Heli]

Rotating would definitely be easier with an LCD panel.  I think you might need to degauss when rotating a CRT, but that isn't a big deal.  The games should look fine in either orientation.

Depends on screen size and how many of each type of game you play which orientation you would prefer.

[mimic]

Well I already got tv for that project, just got it off some moving out sale. 26" for $36. it has huge speakers on sides instead of on the bottom therefore I wonder if I should mount it verticaly to save space on the width of the cabinet.

[Tiger-Heli]

Decase it and mount it horizontally, mount the speakers above it or use PC speakers.

Read the monitor forum about discharging it safely before you mount it decased, though.

[Jeff AMN]

Decase it and mount it horizontally, mount the speakers above it or use PC speakers.

Read the monitor forum about discharging it safely before you mount it decased, though.

This is what I would do. Luckily my 27" TV fits snugly in the cabinet without any modifications.

[mimic]

Decase it and mount it horizontally, mount the speakers above it or use PC speakers.

Read the monitor forum about discharging it safely before you mount it decased, though.

I was thinking about it, but messing with charged tv is a deterrant enough.
I was googling about unrelated tv problem and came accross people talking about not to discharge tv! Didn't find once any actual mention on how to do it.
Of course I had no idea such info would be on this very forum!

BTW you're most helpful! Thank you for your time!

[rdowdy95]

I have a big 27" Sharp TV that stays in the horizontal form.  The vertical games look big and great.  You do get black bars on the side, but it doesn't detract from anything!

[Jeff AMN]

I have a big 27" Sharp TV that stays in the horizontal form.  The vertical games look big and great.  You do get black bars on the side, but it doesn't detract from anything!

Same here. In my case, the room is dark and the black bars don't even appear to be part of the set. It just looks like a smaller vertical monitor when games are in the vertical setup. I'll drag out my tripod and take some good shots in the dark. I think everybody could benefit from some examples.

[shorthair]

I think it's a psychological thing, in that, if it's vertically mounnted and you play a horizontal game, you notice what's above and below. Plus you have to look higher in some games than you would for vertical games in that orientation. However, mounted  horizontally, you're looking in the same place you would when playing vertical games in that orientation. And, vertical games on a horizontally mounted 27" are about the same size as the original 19" vertical monitor games. (Slightly larger, actually - although I use 5:4 aspect, which makes 'em a little broader, even).

[Tiger-Heli]

And, vertical games on a horizontally mounted 27" are about the same size as the original 19" vertical monitor games. (Slightly larger, actually - although I use 5:4 aspect, which makes 'em a little broader, even).

That is the real key.

BTW, you can use either real or fake "bezel" art to fill in the edges with either screen - electronically:

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=64939.msg651605#msg651605

http://www.mameworld.net/tigerheli/arcadepanels/crop43.jpg (This is from a pre-107 MAME version - the new one works with greater clarity and less slowdown.)