Unable to get console based immersion.

[mingsoup]

Living rooms aren't usually 6' wide/long. But maybe people just get sectionals now a days and devise acloves to watch TV in.

 

[zerocool84]

Isn't there a discrepancy between a 200$ console and a 3500$ 65" television? Buy a bigger television isn't really the answer some of us look for.

Well you asked and we helped you.

 

[Thraxen]

I'm the opposite. I have a hard time getting into my games sitting at my computer. I'm just not as comfortable since it feels like sitting at work, so I can't ever fully get into the game. Wearing headphones seems to help since the audio is a bit better (compared to my PC speakers) and it helps shut everything else out, but I still prefer the main entertainment center by a wide margin.

 

[PieIsAwesome]

Isn't there a discrepancy between a 200$ console and a 3500$ 65" television? Buy a bigger television isn't really the answer some of us look for.

Sit closer to the TV. I tried playing on a 50" plasma in the living room and it sucked. On my monitor I can see everything, but then everything looks like shit because of the non-native resolution and the close distance (720p on a 24" monitor looks bad). I now play on a 32" LCD TV in my bedroom about 3-4 ft away and its great. Perfect. I will eventually get a bigger TV so I can sit further away.

 

[mizzou]

controls also = immersion

the fluid movements of the mouse and keyboard add immensely to the idea that you are in the game

by contrast, movements with a control pad are doable but not as natural

 

[Thraxen]

controls also = immersion

the fluid movements of the mouse and keyboard add immensely to the idea that you are in the game

by contrast, movements with a control pad are doable but not as natural

I don't know, I really dont consider M/KB natural at all. Digital movement and unnaturally fast aiming isn't the least bit natural. Not saying it isn't better, but don't really buy the natural angle.

 

[Soundmanred]

I sit (or lie down) around 6 feet from my 42" and it's great. I haven't sat at a computer desk in a long time and I don't miss it at all!
When I want to get up close, I move the coffee table and pull my computer chair in front of the TV.

 

[zerocool84]

controls also = immersion

the fluid movements of the mouse and keyboard add immensely to the idea that you are in the game

by contrast, movements with a control pad are doable but not as natural

Ugg I hate people who talk like this. Controllers are fine and you can be just as immersed.

 

[the DRIZZLE]

How about one of these? http://www.amazon.com/b?ie=UTF8&node=668180011

Thats a cheap way to get closer without having to put the coach in the living room. You could just put the chair in a corner when your not using it.

 

[mingsoup]

Yeah I am using a chair right now. and immersion has gone up much further than my PC setup now. Quite a difference. I suppose I'll just game like this from now on. Movies on the couch, gaming in the chair. Phones to keep the distractions out and be able to turn volume up loud, so I can actually hear stuff. No need to worry whether or not my 6 channels are all equalized properly or the sound environment is calibrated properly.

 

[Fingolfin269]

This is one of the things I was very aware of when deciding what size TV to pick for my living room. I ended up going with a 58" because it was basically perfect for the center viewing area of the room. Granted this was a decision made more for movies than gaming but I think in terms of involvement the two measurements are probably pretty much the same.

 

[Sulaco]

Ugg I hate people who talk like this. Controllers are fine and you can be just as immersed.

Depends on the game, obviously.

First person shooter, mouse and keyboard, hands down.

Sports game or racing game (barring wheel), controller, hands down.

I have a feeling he was likely referring to FPS though.

 

[AstroManLuca]

Depends on the game, obviously.

First person shooter, mouse and keyboard, hands down.

Sports game or racing game (barring wheel), controller, hands down.

I have a feeling he was likely referring to FPS though.

"Being immersed" != better.

While I agree that a keyboard and mouse are superior for FPSs, I don't see how they're any more immersive. If anything, they're less immersive since you have to figure out some way of setting them up. Put them on a coffee table and you have to either sit on the floor or hunch over. A board on your lap wobbles around. I guess you could set up a small desk just for the keyboard and mouse but that's a hassle and most people don't even have something like that laying around. With a controller you just hold it and you're good to go.

 

[DJK Frank 16]

I use my comfy desk chair and rest my feet on the TV table My PC is hooked to the HDTV and I use an Xbox 360 wireless gamepad to play games whenever possible.

As others have said, sit closer You'll get immersed if the screen fills most of your view. Would be even better if you had a strong PC and could crank up all details with high AA levels. That with a gamepad = best experience IMO.

EDIT: Tried to use my 24" LCD a few times and I just can't enjoy any game on that. Even if I keep my head close to the screen...

I sit in a similar position when playing 360... I use a computer desk chair and prop my feet up on the TV stand. So I'm a legs length away from my 42in LCD TV. No complaints at all here.

 

[Anubis]

Bigger tv or sit closer. You sit too far away.

This is a good article to read:

http://carltonbale.com/1080p-does-matter

i really hate that chart, sitting where "i'm supposed to" is not comfortable and is way to fing close. for gaming as well as TV/movies

 

[mingsoup]

My monitor is 24" My head regularly sits about ~ 2'1" from this monitor. To get this same amount of immersion from my 55", I would need to sit 4'7" from it. (24/25=55/x, solve for x) Problem is, I'm already sitting where my feet basically hit the TV out in front of me, head sitting at approx 5'7".

To get any more immersion, I almost have to put the TV on a desk and *sit*. WTF> god, I swear to god, console based immersion won't ever be PC based immersion since you aren't sitting at a desk. If I had to put my PC monitor on the floor and sit in front of it, I would have to scoot back as my legs are longer than my current viewing distance of my desk based setup. This presents a problem. I game on my PC. I *try* to game on my console. Not immersed. Back to my PC. I *want* to be immersed on my console.

Hmmm. My PC monitor isn't 16*9 however, its 16*10. I believe that gives even more immersion, meaning that I'd need to sit even closer to the 16*9, than my current numbers even. Basically impossible without a desk.

Does this mean if you want to sit with legs extended in front of you TV, you *have* to go 60"+.
While closer to the 55" heightens immersion greatly, by the numbers, it still doesn't match my (or the standard desk based) PC setup.

OCD, yes.

 

[Sulaco]

"Being immersed" != better..

Yes, it really is though.

Immersion is all about the feeling of being a part of the game world, hence, being immersed in it.

We can quibble the nuances of the language all day, but the better, more natural, more comfortable, more responsive control scheme is ALWAYS going to offer greater immersion because its simply more natural. Anything that takes you out of the game, like a clunky control, breaks that immersion and is inferior.

Let me say, I love and play many console shooters. Each and every Halo game, Goldeneye on the N64, and even long before that. But unless the game compensates for the less precise, slower moving gamepad, that immersion factor is broken somewhat by the frustration of my gun not pointing it where I want it to point as quickly and efficiently as I could with a KB+mouse combo.

EDIT/PS. I'm ONLY talking about a KB+mouse combo at a comfortably set-up desk location, NOT trying to balance them both on a sofa or chair or something.

 

[mingsoup]

I'm going to return the 55" Panasonic plasma soon, since it didn't work out due to flaws such as floating blacks, extreme buzzing, and color banding. I would like to downsize the television, switch to LCD tech, and up immersion.

Can anyone give me some tips about how this could be done in a couch setting? Console gaming *is* done via couch these days correct, or did I miss the boat and people switched to desks?

My life can't really handle a 55" size television nor can my wallet. Nor do I want to invest lots and lots of money in something I *know* I'm going to replace in 2 years anyway, its just how I work.

Could anybody think of some furniture setups or configurations where I could make a smaller television work but also increase immersion? I guess I just don't understand how its done. Maybe the ideal way to do it is move the television close to the user via a coffee table? My budget is extremely limited. At most, 3 people would ever watch the television at one time. I'm looking at extreme bang for buck type of deals.

I just don't know how to get immersed. Somehow people play console games and enjoy it. I'd like a smaller television for its mobility too. Price. If anyone can help me solve the dilemma I've been fighting for so long, it would be much appreciated. How do modest people game with a couch? Like people who don't have $2.5k nor $1.5k to willy nilly blow on a tv, but still want something reasonably decent.

 

[Veliko]

I just don't know how to get immersed. Somehow people play console games and enjoy it. I'd like a smaller television for its mobility too. Price. If anyone can help me solve the dilemma I've been fighting for so long, it would be much appreciated.

I doubt if it has anything to do with screen size, furniture arrangement or the colour of your coffee table. For whatever reason it just sounds like console gaming isn't for you.

 

[mingsoup]

How do you sit 3'-4' from a 32". My LEGS are 3' long!?

 

[Soundmanred]

How do you sit 3'-4' from a 32". My LEGS are 3' long!?

By sitting, not stretching your legs towards your TV...

 

[Pr0d1gy]

One of your biggest problems is that you're probably playing Black Ops, because if someone is 50+ feet away they look like a garden gnome or if they're within 10 feet of you they look like Frankenstein.

 

[AstroManLuca]

How do you sit 3'-4' from a 32". My LEGS are 3' long!?

That's only a problem if you sit on the floor with your legs stretched out in front of you instead of sitting in a chair or on a couch with your legs bent.

 

[PieIsAwesome]

I'm going to return the 55" Panasonic plasma soon, since it didn't work out due to flaws such as floating blacks, extreme buzzing, and color banding. I would like to downsize the television, switch to LCD tech, and up immersion.

Can anyone give me some tips about how this could be done in a couch setting? Console gaming *is* done via couch these days correct, or did I miss the boat and people switched to desks?

My life can't really handle a 55" size television nor can my wallet. Nor do I want to invest lots and lots of money in something I *know* I'm going to replace in 2 years anyway, its just how I work.

Could anybody think of some furniture setups or configurations where I could make a smaller television work but also increase immersion? I guess I just don't understand how its done. Maybe the ideal way to do it is move the television close to the user via a coffee table? My budget is extremely limited. At most, 3 people would ever watch the television at one time. I'm looking at extreme bang for buck type of deals.

I just don't know how to get immersed. Somehow people play console games and enjoy it. I'd like a smaller television for its mobility too. Price. If anyone can help me solve the dilemma I've been fighting for so long, it would be much appreciated. How do modest people game with a couch? Like people who don't have $2.5k nor $1.5k to willy nilly blow on a tv, but still want something reasonably decent.

What size TV?

For something like 32", I wouldn't use it to play from the couch. I have a 32" and I have it mounted on the wall with an articulating arm. I just sit on my computer desk chair a couple of feet from the TV oriented so that it faces me. No way I would use this TV in a static position in a couch setting. Way too small. I have a big desk, and before I wall mounted the TV I just put it way back on the desk. Then I say back in my chair, and the viewing distance was about perfect.

This is in my bedroom, so dunno how you would want things in your living room. I guess maybe I would set things up the way you normally would in a living room and leave the couches for movies. But for gaming, use a chair and sit up close.

 

[frumply]

i play on a 47" tv from ~7ft away. It seemed small for a while compared to my projector setup (100" 16:9), but know what? You get used to it. Just like the way 17" monitors were absolutely HUGE and made Quake a killer experience (till you started on 19"s) you'll get used to the size.

The best thing you can do is to get better speakers. A cheap HTIB setup can't hold a candle to proper stereo speakers; something in the 500-1000 range will end up being a lasting investment. Unless you plan on going deaf, most of these speakers can be run off low-end amps you probably already own w/ no problems.