There has to be such a thing as too big a monitor

[giantgonzolez]

Some people say there's no such thing as too big, but look at this monster 43" RGB monitor tube that cost well over $50,000 when it was new.
I didn't even think they even ever made picture tubes larger than 40", but I guess I was wrong.
This thing is  WAY too big for any of the aplications you guys use RGB monitors for because I just don't think that many arcade games made in the 20th century have enough resolution to look good on a monitor this big. I think Gamecube or Dreamcast or X-Box games have enough resolution for a monitor this big, but most older games would look too blurry on a screen this size and the increased size would not be worth it because of the increased blurryness.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3035350391&category=21517

Also, didn't Sega also make some arcade games with 50" RGB monitors like Virtua Racing or Daytona USA or something?
Those games must have been high rez or something because most games wouldn't look good on a screen that's too big.
I think 19" to 27" screens are the best for classic gaming overall(arcade or console gaming).
Some classic games like Donkey Kong 64 may have enough resolution to look good on a 36" or larger screen, but it's just my opinion that 20" to 27" is the sweetspot for most classic games since it's very rare for a classic game to have the kind of resolution that Donkey Kong 64 has.

[AlanS17]

All I know is this...

Years ago while on vacation in San Fransisco I played a special Ridge Racer. I sat in a full-sized modified Mazda Miata and the game played out on a small IMAX wrap-around type screen in front of me. We're talking about a screen that was probably 10 feet tall and 15 to 20 feet wide. That wasn't too big. It was awesome.  

[ErikRuud]

AlanS17,

Checkout Silicon Motor Speedway

They use slightly scaled down NASCAR Bodies, wrap around video, and there is even a monitor behind you so that you can actually use the rearview mirror!

They also have motion simulation and force feedback that is reasonably realistic.  

Races are often networked across multiple sites as well.

[Brax]

And yet the new reunion Cabs with vertical 25" monitors look like crap. Yes there is such a thing as too big. The nice thing about a horizontal 27" monitor is that is plays the classic vertical games at almost exactly the same size as their original vertical 19" monitors. A perfect compromise IMO.

[thewhizard]

just get yourself a projector for $999 and after dark play outside on the side of your house

[kspiff]

Don't forget the bug zapper and an altar of citronella candles

As far as too big of a monitor, it depends on how close you are to it.. anything over 19" in a Centipede cab = too big.. anything under 33" in a showcase cab = too small.. it's application-dependant (and, well.. if it is big and in-your-face, hopefully the screen res isn't CGA, at least ).