Looks like llj provided most of the important information, but I'll try to add a little bit too!
Drew_Sutton wrote:I would love for you to elaborate more! I've had some friends and done some reading on the net who have mentioned issues about upscaling from 4:3 ratios to 16:9 ratio on most LCD TVs; however, on that TV pictured, we've never had issues with that, therefore I figured it might have been a legacy of the TV technology. Our LCD in the living room that I have the LD player connected to, still broadcasts in 4:3, despite everything else doing a 16:9 ratio.
The aspect ratio shouldn't be too much of an issue; most (if not all) newer sets still offer options on how to fit the content on the screen, including a 4:3 aspect ratio.
Drew_Sutton wrote:I figured that the only concerns I would have when it comes to old game systems and new TVs would be including the connections the needed to connect them up via the connectors I had already (Coax for NES & Genesis, RCA/RYW for Playstations) and how many more generations of TVs would have those connections.
Though this has become more of an issue than it was a few years ago (many newer sets ship with a single combined composite/component input and no S-Video inputs, and some contain only HDMI inputs), finding a way to connect your systems to the TV is still relatively easy. The main issue, as llj said, is the way the 240p output from those systems looks on an LCD or LED screen. Even 480i and 480p can look pretty bad depending on the particular TV.
You'll often see artifacts, blurring, and the timing on everything may seem to be a little off. Many find it difficult to play older games on newer TV sets; you may notice it the most when playing a game you are very familiar with. My personal litmus test is to play Super Mario World on the SNES and see how it performs. From my point of view so far, no newer television has played it correctly without special hardware (more on that in a moment). Though there are plenty of technical discussions out there that can explain this, I tend to stick to something a little simpler: it just doesn't feel right. Things don't seem like they happen when I expect them to, almost like the game and my eyes are out of sync, which does not happen on a CRT.
With this said, numerous people have zero problems with playing the games on an LCD or LED television. Like everything, it comes down to a matter of personal opinion. You might try playing a few games on a new TV and think that it suits you just fine. Of course, you might try it and wonder why fast games seem to blur more than you remember and why all of your blocks are a split second late in your favorite fighting game.
If you do decide that playing these games on an LCD or LED television doesn't work for you, there are two main options:
Play older games on a CRT
This is usually the simplest method if you have the space. These games were designed to be played on CRT screens, and that's where they look best. There's also a certain nostalgia factor here, and you may find that some older anime are fun to watch on a CRT as well (though many will say that this is due to the color accuracy of CRT screens, I will freely admit that nostalgia is the main factor here), particularly if they are on VHS!
Purchase an upscan converter
Upscan converters such as the XRGB series offer a decent solution for playing older games on HDTVs. If the system outputs RGB, you can get a pretty high quality image displayed using one of these converters, complete with scanlines! However, the XRGB series of upscan converters are usually pretty expensive, and the lower-priced alternatives don't seem to get very good reviews. I did have an XRGB-2 plus at one point, and can vouch for the picture quality. I ended up sticking with the CRT, but this isn't a bad option if space is an issue.
If you're interested in learning more about playing your games in RGB,
RetroRGB is a great resource that can get you started on the right track.
There are a few other options which I haven't personally tested yet, but that might be of interest to you:
-Newer systems such as the
RetroN 5, which plays NES, SNES, Genesis, GB/GBC/GBA and Famicom games and supports HDMI.
-New hardware for classic systems, such as the Super Nintendo and Sega Genesis component cables from
HD Retrovision (their Kickstarter is over, but I believe the company will be selling them after they deliver the initial units to backers).
Drew_Sutton wrote:The oldest generation of game console I have is NES - are these issues with older systems or those of this generation or newer (Genesis/SNES, Playstation/Saturn or even newer)?
I personally play systems as recent as the Wii, Playstation 2, and Gamecube on a CRT, but others don't mind playing them on LCD screens. The last generation of systems (minus the Wii, which was not HD) was really the first that benefited from HDTVs.
I know this is a lot to take in, but I hope you find it helpful!
At the end of the day, the important thing is that you enjoy playing the games; so if something works for you, then that's what matters.