I was able to sit down last week and test BenQ’s flagship projector, the W7000.  At ~$2500, it is a direct competitor to the Epson 5010.  I’m glad I was able to look at these two projectors soon enough after one another to make a proper comparison.  The W7000 projector throws a super bright and extremely sharp image and also includes features like 3D and frame interpolation.  Input lag has been a topic of concern with many of the newer projector models, read on to find out how this projector measures up in the game room!

If you didn’t already know, I do have a dedicated room for my setup.  This room also happens to be fairly small ~(11′x12′).   My couch is flat against the opposite wall of my 100″ screen and if you are facing the couch, my projector is rack mounted directly to the left, ~6ft off the ground.   The Epson 5010 was able to match my 6500UB’s placement flexibility and did a top notch job filling my offset screen.  Many other projectors have a tougher time with this and require a bit more tweaking to accomplish this goal, if they are able to manage it at all.

If the Epson 5010 has “great” placement flexibility, I would rate the BenQ W7000 at “very good”.  It does include both vertical and horizontal lens shift, but both the range and the zoom are not quite as expansive as the Epson 5010′s.   From the same position that the Epson sat, the BenQ W7000 was a few inches short of reaching the far left side of my screen, and I was unable to make the image large enough to fill it completely.  I think another foot back would have done the trick.

I was really impressed by image quality of the Epson 5010, and I can say with confidence that I consider the W7000 to be a strong competitor.   They are both great projectors, but there are some major differences between the two.

The BenQ W7000 is noticeably sharper than the Epson 5010.   It is the sharpest projector I have reviewed so far and one of the sharpest projectors I have ever seen.  It made digital images really pop, which is great for games.   The extra sharpness, however, can add a grainy look to movies.   This is not something I necessarily consider to be bad, but it is definitely a matter of preference.  The graininess can be tamed a bit by adjusting sharpness settings.

The W7000 is impressively bright in it’s “best” mode.  Fully calibrated, the W7000 was easily twice as bright as the Epson 5010.   There is a tradeoff here though,  the Epson 5010 makes up for its dimmer image with deeper, darker blacks.  I’m a sucker for inky blacks, so my general image quality preference goes to the Epson.  However, the  W7000 had plenty of shadow detail and a super bright image that boosted it’s ‘wow’ factor.

For some reason, I enjoyed 3D gaming more on the W7000 than I did on the Epson 5010.  I would need them side by side to tell which was brighter in 3D mode, but I can tell you I thought the W7000 seemed to have a more accurate, cleaner 3D picture.  The Epson did well, but for 3D gaming I give the edge to the W7000.

The W7000′s CFI system also seemed to do a good job.  There were very minimal artifacts and I see it as something usable for slower paced games where input lag is not an issue.

The BenQ is a single-chip DLP projector, and in the past I have noticed rainbows in other single-chip DLP projectors like the GT750. I was not able to see them at all with the W7000.  I believe this to be a result of its faster color wheel.

Lastly, input lag!   This time, I’m happy to report that the BenQ W7000 measures a respectable ~35ms.   For video games at 60Hz refresh rate, this means you are about 2 frames behind.    I personally experienced no problems playing on this projector.   I feel the W7000 throws an image that is fast enough to enjoy gaming, but I could see how it may not be fast enough for those folks who drink, eat and breathe first person shooters.   Ideally, I’d like to see these numbers more in the < 20ms range, but given the measurements we’ve seen in the past couple reviews, I will gladly accept 35ms and do so with a smile! 

I was unable to test how input lag changed with CFI enabled or in 3D mode because the projector would not let me enable these features while connected to my laptop for some reason.   As you can imagine, the numbers should only increase when you enable image processing features.   35ms is the best it gets.

All in all, I am quite impressed with the W7000.   It’s not perfect, but it’s damn good.   Of all the projectors I have reviewed so far, I’d say this has the best overall image quality of the ones that I can recommend for a gaming.  I kinda see the W7000 as a heavily tweaked GT750.  It doesn’t boast zero input lag, but for folks looking for a higher end projector that also works for gaming, I highly recommend the W7000.  Way to go BenQ!

It’s been a little while since I’ve had my hands on any new projectors, and I was really hoping Art would allow me to get my hands on this one.   Up until receiving the Epson 5010e, I had primarily looked at projectors in the  $700 -$1400 range.   The Epson 5010 retails for ~$2999 and I can tell you – it certainly performs like a projector in that price range.   I took a look at the Epson 5010′s younger brother (Epson 3010), and I really liked the image quality, but it suffered from a bit too much input lag to recommend for any serious gaming.   I can say that the Epson 5010e is superior to the 3010 in nearly every fashion.    Read on to find out more on how the Epson 5010e holds up in the game room.

I’ve had the Epson 5010e setup in my theater room for over a week and I’ve had a chance at a few solid gaming sessions.   Without letting too much drool leak from my mouth, I will say that this is the only projector I have reviewed thus far that has made me want to upgrade my Epson 6500UB.  It was a benefit to review this unit immediately after the Epson 3010 so I could more easily compare the two.   The first thing I noticed was the build quality of the 5010.  I can’t tell if it’s cheap tricks, but the 5010 seemed well built and stylish compared to it’s younger brother.    It seemed to reach out like it wanted to be noticed when I placed it on my A/V rack.

My next surprise was lens shift.   The Epson 3010 uses keystone correction as it’s placement mechanism, the Epson 5010 has a full mechanical vertical and horizontal placement system which I think is much better in general.   It made for a seamless integration into my setup.

I’m a sucker for black levels and it was no surprise the 5010 performs well in this area.  I started with Resident Evil 5 and worked through a couple dungeons in Skyrim to get a feel for the black levels and shadow detail.  They were both superb.  The Epson 5010 is bright enough in best mode, and when put into dynamic it has enough horsepower to cut through moderate ambient light.   As with all projectors, it certainly benefits from some light control.

Another thing the Epson 5010 includes that it’s younger brother does not have is a creative frame interpolation system.   This was something I missed a bit in the 3010.  There was some jitter now and then, but the CFI was smooth compared to my 6500UB, but that isn’t saying much because the CFI in the 6500UB is known to be flawed.

The 5010 is 3D capable and I made it a point to get some new 3D demo material.   My choices were a bit limit, but I went with Gran Turismo 5!  Before StarCraft 2, I had zero 3D gaming experience, and let’s just say Gran Turismo 5 benefited a bit more from the 3D game-play.   I really enjoyed how the 3D enhanced depth and realism in this game.  It made for a really fun, racing simulation!   I don’t really have much basis for comparison, but I can really see 3D being an asset to racing games specifically.  It allowed for a better feel for how close and how sharp turns were and actually seemed to improve my skills.   I’ll probably write something in the future that compares many different genres and how they perform/benefit in 3D, but for now, racing games sit at the top of my list for most improved.

I know many were disappointed in the 3010 because of its high input lag and many are curious if the 5010 behaves the same way.    Unfortunately…yes, it does.   The input lag tests were a bit more involved because of the CFI system/3D/Wireless HDMI features on the Epson 5010, but absolute lowest number I could measure was ~85ms.   This was, of course, with CFI OFF and all other image processing OFF.   Naturally the CFI system introduced some lag (the results are below).

CFI OFF    ~85ms lag

CFI LOW    ~100ms lag

2D-3D conversion ~ 100ms lag

CFI NORMAL  ~120ms lag

CFI HIGH    ~150ms lag

*Wireless HDMI Feature did not change any of these results*

It really is a shame this projector can’t do better with input lag.   From purely an image quality standpoint, this projector is spectacular.   But again, I can’t recommend it for serious gaming because there is just too much input lag.  In my opinion, 100ms+ is unacceptable for any material.  There was so much lag with CFI HIGH I (as well as some others without me asking them) noticed the sound to be delayed from the lips on the video.

I’m still waiting to hear back from Epson, but at this point I’m doubtful they will make any serious effort to improve these numbers with a firmware update – at least with this year’s model.  We can only hope that the next revision of the Epson 3010/5010 addresses this issue.   I can tell you -  if it does, I will be seriously considering upgrading my 6500UB.

That’s all for now!

-Pete

Thanks to TXLZone, we have an unofficial update saying

“A fix would require more than just a firmware for the lag on with video games. There would have to be a hardware change as well. These first 3 units were designed to work with 3D movies more than any other media. It will be addressed for future models.”

We can cross our fingers and stay hopeful!

Also, I have a BenQ W7000 on it’s way. I should be able to look at it this weekend and post a review sometime later next week.  So stay tuned!

For those not familiar, Skyrim is a single player, open-world RPG.  It is completely free-roaming and creates a world in which you direct the adventure.  Your development depends on what quests you choose to pursue and what skills you choose to use most throughout the game.    There is a “main story” you can choose to follow but there are hundreds of hours of side quests you can be sucked into at any given time.   There’s not much more I can say.  Games like Skyrim are not for everyone, if you haven’t played a similar game, it’s something you need to play for yourself to decide if you enjoy.

Skyrim has noticeably better graphics and more realistic world/character design than its predecessor -  as expected.   The landscapes are epic and majestic, and leave you in a state of wonder and awe.  This aside, the first thing I noticed about game-play as I started my adventure was the smoothness of conversation.  In a game this large, it is hard to not have characters repeat themselves or sound awkward in unscripted conversation.   As I worked through many quests and ventured later in the game, my initial observations held true.   Even the people you overhear while walking by that aren’t speaking with you directly seemed to have a vast library of conversation pieces.   The designers really did a great job.   If  you do hire or acquire a mercenary to help along your quests, I did find they repeated phrases fairly often.   This was one of the few exceptions…

As I mentioned before, the landscapes were gorgeous.  It’s something that jumps out at you immediately as you start your adventure.  The cities/towns and the dungeons were also built with this level of detail.  Most towns are easily distinguishable from each other in both layout and architecture.   This is was an aspect of Oblivion that carried over  well.  Where Skyrim trumps is in dungeon design.  Oblivion’s dungeons seemed painfully repetitive at times.  Skyrim boasts not only fairly unique dungeons, but extremely large ones as well – much larger than even the largest of Oblivion.

Enemy design is another strong suit of Skyrim.  Many of the enemies are downright scary-looking and they are fairly smart in how they attack.  Dragons play a large role in both the story-line and in character development.   Dragons fly around and appear all over Skyrim and you are required to fight them.    They look fabulous, but the AI for the dragons is pretty sub par.  It is pretty much my only gripe with this game.   If they were not such an integral part of the game, I could probably overlook it.  It’s pretty exciting, but fighting dragons is a bit repetitive.  They fly around and repeat the same moves/attacks and as you pick away at their health.  It’s still fun…and I’m sure it’s much easier said than done, but I wish they would have spent a little more time fine tuning the AI of the dragons.

How your character levels up in Skyrim is a a bit different than in Oblivion.   There are less things to consider, you aren’t forced to choose a class which dictates your major and minor skills, and it is much more intuitively laid out.  Because they list the perks you can unlock, you can have a clear goal to work towards rather than just enjoying a certain skill and wondering what it will do for you.   Also, your character levels on a (mostly) fixed number system.  In other words, the enemies you are fighting in random dungeons stay at a fairly constant level rather than leveling up to match you.   Certain quests have noticeably stronger enemies and you need to wait to level up before attempting them.  Personally, I found this system much more enjoyable than having all the enemies around you match your level.

I found the “sneak” system and item retrieval mechanics to be improved.  Oblivion felt a bit random at times. In Skyrim, it is very clear which items (especially arrows) can be salvaged from a slain beast or bandit.  Also, obstacles such as rocks and trees play a large part in enemies detecting you while sneaking around.  It makes it much more fun and strategic to sneak up on an enemy.  The 3rd person game-play is also much improved.  It doesn’t feel nearly as mechanical.   I still choose to play in 1st person, but I could see someone playing the game through in 3rd person if they desired.

As with both it’s predecessors, Skyrim has an amazing soundtrack.  The songs are a bit less melodic, so they (fortunately or unfortunately) don’t get stuck in your head much, but they serve their purpose well and greatly add to the mood throughout the game.

I can’t cover everything, I have put a good 40 hours into the game over the past month and have probably 10 times that much of the game left to explore.    It has jumped into my favorites list and I think it has set the new standard for modern RPGs.

That’s all for now.    I’m off to play some more Skyrim.

Game on!

-Pete

Over the past several years, Epson has established a pattern of producing some of the most competitive projectors in class, so its no surprise many were anxious for me to share my thoughts on the new Epson 3010.    At $1599 ($1799 for the 3010e), the Epson 3010 fits into the just-above entry-level market and boasts some impressive features (including 3D capabilities) for its price point.   Read on to find out how the 3010 holds up in the game room!

With the holidays just around the corner, November is always a busy month for title releases – and this month was no exception.  Between the new Assassins Creed, Uncharted 3, Skyward Sword and the next chapter in the Elder Scrolls series (Skyrim), I’ve had plenty of new and exciting test material for this projector.

The first thing I noticed about the Epson 3010 was its brightness.  It is a very bright projector.  Even in “Cinema” mode with the “ECO” blub setting activated (the least bright mode for this projector), the Epson 3010 throws an impressively bright image.   I spent most of my time with this projector in this mode because I have a light controlled environment and felt it resulted in the best black levels.   If  “dynamic” mode is activated and the bulb output changed to “normal”, it is clear this projector has the lumens to shine in an environment where ambient light might be an issue for other projectors.

This added brightness does come with a trade-off.   There is a clear difference in darker scenes between my Epson 6500UB and the Epson 3010.  When crawling around the darker dungeons of Skyrim, the Epson 3010 simply cannot compete with the black levels of the 6500UB.  Keep in mind, however, it goes both ways.  The 6500UB cannot compete with the brightness of of the 3010.  It’s a trade-off.

I would say the Epson 3010 has better blacks and is less bright than the Optoma GT750 and has about the same black levels and is more bright than the BenQ W1200.

Placement flexibility is a feature many people can overlook.  There has been a change in the optics between the Epson 3010 and its predecessor.  Instead of vertical and horizontal lens shift, Epson has decided to implement a fixed lens system with keystone correction.  By no means does the Epson 3010 have poor placement flexibility, but it took a little more finagling to get the 3010 to project an image on my screen from the same position as my older Epson. I usually have to put the projectors I review in completely different spots than my 6500UB.  So, the Epson 3010 still has better placement than many other projectors, but the new system, in my opinion, is not as versatile as the older model’s.

The Epson 3010 projector is 3D capable and I was successful, for the first time, at gaming in 3D!  My 3D game of choice (the only 3D game own), StarCraft 2, was played from my computer via the NVidia GTX560 graphics card.  I don’t have much basis for comparison in 3D games, so I’m wasn’t really sure what to expect.  StarCraft 2 looked…3D!  Instead of a flat 2D birds eye view, I could see more clearly how the units and buildings were positioned in layers in respect to my point of view…depth!     I guess it’s hard to explain…but there definitely was a difference, and it was pretty cool.

StarCraft2 is a game I would never choose to play on a projector, so I’ll have to search for some better demo material in the future.  For all intents and purposes, StarCraft 2 did well in giving me a feel for 3D gaming.  (If anyone can recommend a 3D gaming title to be my new reference – please let me know!)

The Epson 3010 also includes two built in 10 watt speakers.  The speakers lack the bottom end, but I was impressed with the sound coming from the 3010 both in regards to overall volume level and clarity at higher volumes.   The best speakers I have heard on a projector yet.  The sound starts distorting around level 30/40.  At 25/40 the Epson 3010′s sound is impressively loud and clean.   I like included speakers because they increase the projectors portability appeal.   The 3010 is not a huge projector, but it is not a “portable projector” by any means and the built in speakers are great for their “plug and play” functionality.  Just an all around nice feature to have if you decide to pack up the projector and bring it to a friend’s place.

I would like to mention the Epson 3010 does not have a CFI (creative frame interpolation) system.  I sometimes find CFI able to improve to the overall gaming experience – especially in slower paced games.   Switching from my 6500UB, I did miss this feature a little bit, but in no way would I consider it a deal breaker.  (The Epson 3010 uses the 2:2 pulldown method to smooth its imaging.  I made sure this was off during input lag testing.)

Because there is no CFI system, there were few settings that could influence the input lag results.  I turned off noise reduction and any settings I could find that might increase input lag.   Unfortunately folks…the results were less than stellar.    The best result I could capture was ~80ms.  Input lag measurements extending into the +100ms range and averaged around 100ms.    (I was unable to test the input lag over wireless HDMI, as I received an Epson 3010 not the Epson 3010e.  If anyone had access to this feature and is willing to do some tests please let me know.)

To be honest, I was not expecting this at all.  I was playing slower placed games, but I didn’t notice a hint of lag while playing them.   I took a look at some faster paced games after I saw the input lag results and it was apparent in both Amplitude and online in Halo: Reach that the 3010 had enough input lag to impact high-speed game-play.

Though the numbers were similar, I felt the Epson was a tad more responsive than the W1200, but it was still frustrating to play.   Art will be in touch with Epson regarding this, maybe they can attempt a firmware fix like BenQ on the W1200?  If they can get the projector to test below 40ms, I think we’ll have a real winner.

In short, the Epson 3010 is a great projector – awesome brightness, good color reproduction, respectable placement flexibility and 3D capabilities to boot.  It’s a shame I can’t recommend the 3010 for any serious gamers.  It suffers a bit too much from input lag to be used as a primary gaming display.   If you have ~$1500 to spend, I would recommend trying to find an “older” projector like the Epson 8350.  It won’t have 3D capabilities or built in speakers, but the input lag will test around ~33ms.

In the mean time, I’m continuing my Skyrim review.  Hopefully, Art has plans to send me some more toys!

That’s all for now!

-Pete

EDIT:  I also found this interesting article on AVSforum which compares some of the lag time on the newer Epson projectors

Thanks to TXLZone, we have an unofficial update regarding the input lag issue,

“A fix would require more than just a firmware for the lag on with video games. There would have to be a hardware change as well. These first 3 units were designed to work with 3D movies more than any other media. It will be addressed for future models.”

We can cross our fingers and stay hopeful!

I had a bit of a break between reviews so I decided it was a good time to do a game review!   I know Portal 2 isn’t brand new, but it’s fairly new and a game whose predecessor is one of my favorites.  I played through both the single player campaign and some of the coop online story over the past few weeks.   Read on to find out what I thought!

For those not familiar with the Portal series, it is basically a puzzle game in a first person shooter environment.   You create “portals” like doorways which allow you to move instantly from one part of the map to another and solve puzzles using your portal guns and other various items.   That’s pretty much the basics!

I was hesitant to play Portal 2 because, like most sequels, I was nervous they might not live up to the high expectations set by the originals.  Five minutes into the game, that fear was swept away by strings of hilarious dialogue and captivating series of events which pulled me into the storyline.    As I started playing, I started to appreciate how balanced the game felt.   A lot of times, after playing for a while, puzzle games can seem a bit tedious.   With Portal 2, the action sequences were matched very well storyline progression.  There were times where I felt rushed to complete puzzles (though there was no time limit) and other times where I felt I could almost relax and just enjoy simple puzzle solving fun.  These feelings were all controlled by how the storyline progression guided the game-play -  in my opinion, very well done.  And I can’t mention enough how well the writers incorporated comedic dialog into Portal 2.     Again, sometimes puzzle games can be a bit heavy at times and the comedy helped allow for a wonderful balance of entertainment when trying to think through various puzzles.   It’s hard to say how many hours it took me to complete the  single player campaign because I enjoy messing around in the puzzle environments, but I would say the story is under 10 hours for first time players.  Regardless, I was sad to see the credits (also uncontrollably laughing) and was begging for more.

I usually don’t focus too much on graphics, because I personally feel storyline and game-play are much more important.  But Portal 2, being a “next gen” game, had reasonably impressive graphics.  I wouldn’t say reference quality, but the environments were pleasingly detailed and well thought out.  The physics of the game, however, was fabulous.  This is extremely important in a game like this.  I never felt I was cheated by poor physics, rather I found myself always thinking, “wow, that’s kinda cool” or “I guess that’s not possible”.

If you are going to play coop, being able to communicate with your partner is key.  It is a puzzle game, and unlike other games Portal 2 coop cannot be completed by a single strong player.  Most of the puzzles require the synchronized action of two players in order to solve.   I would highly recommend the coop mode if you can play split screen OR you can play online with someone you know if you both have headsets.   I played Portal 2 coop primarily online with people I didn’t know and found it very frustrating to play without a headset.

All in all, I would highly recommend Portal 2 to anyone who enjoyed the first game, people who enjoy puzzle games in general or to anyone looking for something new – because it is a very unique game.   If you haven’t played the original, I would definitely play that first as this story line of the second is tied very closely to the original.  The original is available in The Orange Box on XBOX360 and PC which also includes Halflife 2 and Team Fortress 2 and also as a standalone game for PS3.  Portal 2 is available for XBOX360, PS3 and PC and I picked my copy up used for ~30 bucks.  So go get it!

That’s all for now!

There are a few things on the pallet for this month.  First, there is a huge release on 11-11-11.  If you hadn’t heard, the next in the Elder’s Scrolls series is coming out (Skyrim).  I have been waiting for this game for a very long time.  I plan to do a review, towards the end of the month/early December.  I like to take my time with game reviews and I hope I will be able to write my review around that time.

Art is also planning to send me the Epson 3010e to review.  I know many readers are interested in seeing how that performs, and I hope to have that review finished by the end of the month (before I finish the Skyrim review).  If all goes as planned I will be using the 3010e while I take a look at Skyrim. 

Stay tuned!

Before I left for Austin, I had a chance to sit down and play with the Optoma GT750 projector for a while.  Sometimes it takes a little time apart to fully appreciate what you had.  One thing is certain, seeing the Optoma GT750 reminded my how much I really enjoyed the GT720.

I found it to be remarkably similar to its younger brother (the Optoma GT720),  In fact, I found them so similar it was difficult to take note of the differences without seeing them side by side.

Just like it’s sibling, Optoma’s GT750 projector is built for gamers on a budget.  It throws an extremely bright and respectably sharp image and is right at home in a shelf mount (or floor mount?) configuration.  It also is awesomely portable.  I cannot stress enough how the “plug and play” feel of this projector is it’s greatest asset.  It’s light, small, its built-in-speakers are mighty enough to actually use, and the included travel backpack makes it too easy to pack up and walk to a friends.   Also, I can’t forget to mention…ZERO input lag.  Yes, the Optoma G750 projector matched its younger brother’s impressive result with ZERO input lag.

Now, just like with the Optoma GT720, there are a a few “shortcomings” I should mention.  The  Optoma GT750 sports a 2x color wheels and rainbows are seen fairly easily by those susceptible.  The black levels and shadow detail (and sometimes resolution) on the GT750 cannot match those on the projectors that retail for a few hundred dollars more.  Its partially due to the fact that this projector throws 2000+ lumens, but honestly, at $749 MSRP can you really complain?   And at that price the GT750 even includes the 3D glasses!

That brings us to the main difference between the GT720 and the GT750.  First,  the Optoma GT750 is able to play 3D content from BluRay discs as well as from PCs with 3D enable graphics cards.   The Optoma GT720 can only do 3D from 3D ready PCs.   If you purchase the Optoma GT750 projector it includes the 3D transmitter and  one pair of 3D glasses, the GT720 does not.

From a purely visual standpoint it was very hard to compare these two projectors.  I really think Optoma improved the 3D capabilities of the GT720 projector to include BluRay movies and bundled it with the transmitter and a pair of3D glasses and called it the GT750.  If they made any other improvements to the projector they were very small.  I’m curious to see what Art has to say in his full review.

Now, I know I promised a 3D inclusive review, but after many hours on tech support, Optoma and I concluded that the transmitter and the glasses I received with the unit were not functional.   I know…bummer!     They offered to send replacements, but my time with the GT750 was up and I needed to send the GT750 to Art before I packed up and left for Texas.  I was totally ready for some 3D gaming, but not this time.   Sorry folks…believe me, I’m disappointed too.  Hopefully next time!

To wrap things up, I want to say I really like this projector.   I think it will be the benchmark for budget gaming projectors I review in the future.   Yes, there are better choices for home theater enthusiasts, but the GT750 is great choice for gamers who have limited space, are on a budget and are aching for a little 3D.

That’s all for now!

-Pete

BTW…I’m all setup in Austin, TX and ready to go.  Art says he should have a bunch of projectors for me to check out in the next couple weeks.  Including some of the next round of competitive home theater projectors.  Stay Tuned!

I apologize for being MIA for a little while.  I am in the process of moving to Austin, TX for a new job and have not had time to sit down at all lately.  But I do have some updates for you!

Yes, I’ll share the Scrabble story too…

The first time I took a look at the w1200 projector it had some serious input lag issues.  Any games that required quick motion of any kind were literally unplayable.   BenQ offered to update the firmware to a newer version and claimed it would help with this issue.  I was given a replacement unit with firmware V1.02 and the first thing I did was test input lag…

I found the updated  BenQ W1200 to be marginally faster than the original projector.   Before the firmware update, the fastest response time I measured was 100ms – with an average of around 120ms (with all FI and NR features off).  It seems they have improved speed by about 25% with the firmware update, bringing the fastest time to 70ms and an average of around 100ms.

To me, this is still in the realm of “unplayable”.   I tried playing some Amplitude and I couldn’t make it through the “Komputer Kontroller” track which I usually use as my qualitative input lag test.   The lag was simply too great.  I also attempted to play play the newly released FPS, Gears of War 3.  I found single player enjoyable enough in casual play, but once put in a fast paced online environment there was definitely a hint of disadvantage.

The verdict on V1.02 of the BenQ W1200 is pretty much the same as the original review unit.   Though improvements have been made, the W1200 is a projector that I would recommend to movie enthusiasts rather than gamers.  You can expect to get satisfactory results from slower paced RPGs or puzzle games like Bejeweled or Echochrome, but anyone looking for a 1080p machine for hardcore gaming is better off looking elsewhere.

However! I have been informed by BenQ that an even newer version of the firmware has come out (V1.04) which supposedly cuts the total input lag to around 25ms (all FI and NR features off).   I have not tested this version of the firmware nor do I have plans on having BenQ send me another unit to do so, but if any readers have a newer BenQ W1200 with the V1.04 firmware installed on it, I would be very curious to see the results.  Please comment and let me know results. (I can show you where to download the input lag software)  If the BenQ W1200 could achieve 25ms response times this would be a complete game changer, moving the BenQ W1200 much higher on the list of gaming recommended projectors.

So that’s the scoop!  Next order of business – I promised details on “Scrabble” so…here ya go!

I am currently in the process of moving to Austin, TX and there are literally boxes everywhere around the basement of my house.  Before I left for my house hunting trip a few weeks ago I needed to ship the original W1200 back to BenQ to receive the firmware update.  I didn’t have enough time to make it to the store myself so I packed it up and placed the return shipping label on top of the box for my sister to take to FedEx.  Now, I have no idea why…but my sister saw the Scrabble game and thought that is what I wanted shipped!   So she slapped the board game in a box and mailed it to BenQ.  Let’s just say they were a little confused to find a Scrabble game instead of a W1200.      Still haven’t gotten the game back yet…haha

That’s all for now!   Off to Austin, TX!   30Hrs drive…

-Pete

BTW…I did look at the Optima GT750 game projector.  I’ll write my review ASAP.

I’ve had a couple weeks to sit down with these two Optoma projectors and get a good feel for what they can do.   This was my first time with any “pico” projector and I spent a good deal of time getting used to the concept before diving into my review.  It certainly was interesting to see how these types of projectors perform in a variety of environments.

Before getting too deep into my review,  I want to mention that both of these projectors have the same “projector” on the inside.  They have some different features and different outside shells, but the projectors themselvs are the same.  The PK301 has a very small shell suitable for easy travel in a purse or bookbag.  The Neo-i, though small in comparison to most other projectors, sports a larger ipod speaker dock type design more suitable for sudo-permanent shelf placement.  Naturally, the Neo-i has larger built-in speakers than the PK-301, and a full sized HDMI rather than a mini connection, but all-in-all, the two projectors function identical to one another.  Both projectors also have the 3.5 stereo output for headphones if you prefer…

Other than testing input lag and some basic comparisons between the two, I spent most of my time with the PK301.  Its less specialized features and extremely portable design was much more appealing to me.

I was able to connect it to a variety of devices including my PS3 (720P 60Hz).   I tried to use the PK301 as it would be used by its owner – in a whole bunch of different environments, both ideal, and less than ideal.  I also spent a lot of time trying to connect it to handheld devices like my Sony PSP.  The image mediums included a screen, some dry-wall, some rough off-white walls, even on the back of a microfiber chair.   And for the most part, it did pretty well…

Brightness is always a concern for projectors, and I’d say the Neo-i/PK-301 can respectably support up to a 40″ screen in most environments.    Some may try to argue for more size, but I personally wouldn’t go much larger.  Anything above 40″ starts getting dim and pixelated.  The good news is, you can pretty much decide how large you want your screen to be on the spot and cater to the environment you find yourself in.

The colors on these two projectors are…acceptable.  They aren’t 100% accurate, but if you put the PK301 in “standard” mode rather than “brightest” mode the colors look much less over saturated and much more natural  -  a big difference.   I tend to sacrifice brightness for color accuracy, so I kept the PK301 in “standard” mode for the majority of my use and found it enjoyable to play on…but if you are already playing on an off-color surface you may opt for the extra boost in brightness because the colors are skewed anyways.

Input lag was not a problem for these projectors.  Both the PK301 on the Neo-i tested the same 10-15ms input lag.  And there are no extra features like FI to increase this number, so nothing to worry about here…

Something worth mentioning about the PK301 is the built-in battery pack (something not included on the Neo-i).  It’s only good for about an hour with the bulb on standard brightness settings.  But being nearly pocket size, this feature could definitely be handy in situations where you don’t have immediate access to a power outlet…

My opinion is that this type of projector appeals to a very specialized gaming market.  If you are always on the go and value ultimate portability and instant access to a larger screen sizes…its worth considering.   I can see it being used in conjunction with a PSP (component adapter) or a cell phone (HDMI out) to play games or watch movies on a larger screen.  If you aren’t picky you can throw an image up on about anything…

If you are looking to use this projector in a more permanent setting, you may be better off getting something like an Optoma GT720 which will give you much more brightness, sharpness and a larger image.

-Pete

For those curious  -

I’ll be working on the Optoma GT750 (GT720′s successor) gaming projector review in a few days.  And…

BenQ has informed me of a firmware update that will supposedly solve the W1200′s input lag issues.  I’ve shipped the W1200 back to them – along with a Deluxe Scrabble board game (long story), and they will be shipping the W1200 with updated firmware back to me so I can take a second look.   Stay tuned!

I’m usually pretty up to date with the latest and greatest technology on all fronts, so I’m pretty embarrassed to say I’ve been carrying the same old cell phone around for more than four years!   Kudos to LG for making a great phone (2nd generation chocolate) that lasted as long as it did, but I sure am glad to finally get my upgrade.

I’ve stepped into the world of the smart phone, and to celebrate the occasion I’ve decided to do a product review of my Sony Ericsson PlayStation phone, the Sony Xperia Play

The Xperia Play is an “Andriod” phone (gingerbread 2.3) with a 1Ghz processor, 512MB RAM and 8GB of pre-installed disk space on a micro SD card.  Being me, I upgraded my internal card to the maximum size supported by the device almost immediately (32GB).    I won’t go anymore into the basics, because for the most part, it functions nearly identical to all the other android phones.   There is one feature, however, that is very unique to this phone.

Sliding the Xperia Play’s touch screen screen up from the horizontal position reveals a smaller version of a PlayStation controller.  It includes the familiar four directional D-Pad, X, square, triangle, circle buttons, the L1, R1, Start and Select buttons, and dual touch sensitive analog pads.     The configuration is definitely a little cramped, but all things considered I think it’s the correct size.  It certainly doesn’t need to be any smaller, and if the controller was made any larger, the sleek, pocket sized design would be lost.

The Xperia Play came loaded with six games, and all but one was pretty disappointing (Crash Bandicoot).   Despite my lack of interest, I fiddled around with most of the other games for a while to get a feel for how the controller responded to a variety of different genres.  It took more than a little getting used to the “analog sticks”, but after a couple hours I was able to get a better feel for how they worked.  They’re far from perfect, but they work well enough and I think they will prove useful when Sony releases more titles.

From what I can tell, there are two groups of titles for the Xperia Play.  The first group includes Android games available to all Android phones from the market place.  The second is a group of games released as Xperia Play exclusives – many of which being old PlayStation 1 games.   I’m new to “cell phone” gaming, but I have to say I’m not particularly impressed with either of these groups so far.

I have spent a good deal of time searching and I have only been tempted to purchase one – a turned based, artillery type strategy game called Worms – a familiar classic ported to many different consoles.  I went ahead and purchased the $3 title, but I anxiously await Pocket Tanks a very similar, lesser-known title that I enjoy more.

Personally, I think Sony has an untapped gold mine with the Xperia Play.  Final Fantasy VII, Metal Gear Solid, Chrono Cross, Twisted Metal are just a few titles that would not only be instantly purchased by device owners, but would sell the device itself.    I have no idea why they haven’t released any games like this yet, because the device is built to handle these titles, but I certainly hope they do soon.

If you’ve read About Me, you know I’m a huge fan of older games.  Naturally, my favorite  part about the Xperia Play is it’s ability to run 3rd party emulators.   I have found the Xperia Play can successfully run Atari, NES, SNES, SEGA GENISIS, Gameboy, Gameboy Advanced, PS1 and yes…Nintendo 64 games all pretty smoothly.    The “analog sticks” do not function with the 3rd party emulators (yet), so only the D-Pad for now – but overall, very impressive.

I know…any Android phone can run these applications, but it’s the on-board controller on the Xperia Play that sets it apart from the rest.  All the other phones use virtual buttons on the touch screen or tiny assigned buttons on a QWERTY keyboard.  (Playing games with your fingers in front of the screen isn’t too much fun)

The built in controller, although a bit cramped, allows the phone to transform into a hand-held gaming device.   Once you start playing, it’s not difficult to forget you’re playing on a cell phone.   It’s not as ergonomic, but in my opinion, it plays enough like a hand held to enjoy.   I certainly had doubts of my own when purchasing this device, but it’s safe to say – I’m impressed.

However…the Xperia Play it’s not for everyone.  For those not sure if they will use the Xperia Play for regular gaming…it’s a tough sell.

The Xperia Play can do most everything other Android phones can do, but it does have a couple notable shortcomings.  First off, the camera is a bit below average with a resolution of 5MP vs some 8MP, and for whatever reason, it cannot record 720p video – which is strange because the hardware is definitely capable of doing so (software update?).  The built in controller adds a little bit of extra thickness and weight to the phone that other Android models do not have and the Xperia Play is a 3G device, so it will not be downloading as fast as the 4G phones in the 4G areas.

Personally, I don’t care about these small gripes because I more than make up for the losses by taking advantage of the built in controller.  I can easily see, however, some may value other features over a built in controller.

In the end, the Xperia Play is a hybrid device.  It’s not a perfect smart phone, and not a perfect hand held.  Anyone looking at this device should understand this before they buy.   I personally accept it for what it is, and love it.

That’s all for now.  Game on!

-Pete

“Brightest mode” is usually a calibrated mode that focuses more on light output rather than accurate image reproduction.

There is often lots of talk about “best mode” vs “brightest mode”, and they both are useful, so I thought I’d share some of my thoughts on their uses/impact on gaming.

I’ll start off by saying that 90% of the time…I keep my projector in “best mode”.   It’s probably my OCD kicking in, but I can’t seem to get the thoughts of gaming with “inaccurate colors” out of my head.   So when I switch back and forth between the two modes in my light controlled room, I rarely choose brightest mode over best mode.

I find the whole thing funny really because most colors in video games are either so arbitrarily basic or so blown out of proportion it really shouldn’t matter.  But still…I want to play 8-bit Super Mario Bros in all of it’s glory with accurate colors, damn it!

I consider myself to have a pretty good eye for stuff like this.  What makes matters even more humorous is that there have been many times that I have been playing games for hours in “brightest mode” thinking to myself  -  “Wow, the colors look really great!” – and not even realizing until I check the settings that I’m not even in “best mode”.  To be honest, half the time that I’m in brightest mode is when I’ve forgotten to change it back after a previous session of intentionally putting it there.

So when is the other 5%?   I can see a couple situations where brightest is useful.  It sounds obvious, but when the image is washed out…brightest mode is great.  Sometimes the picture can benefit a lot more from extra lumens than it can from near perfect colors.  I’m fortunate enough to not have to deal with light pollution or washed out images because I have a completely light controlled room, but there still are some situations where I’ll put it in bright mode.

Some games are just too ridiculous (in terms of color or content) to even matter.   Geometry Wars is a perfect example of a game full of stimulus overload and neon madness.   My eyes end up watering too much to care, and my accurate color obsession is put on the back burner.   LocoRoco Cocoreccho is a game where you control a butterfly to lure herds of multi-colored, singing, bouncing blobs to a finish portal – an example where I can’t really take anything seriously.  When it comes to these types of games, the extra brightness only adds to the awesomeness of the experience.

In the end, it really comes down to personal preference.  Most of the time, I can’t stop thinking about accurate colors, so I sacrifice some brightness to put my mind at ease.

Many people prefer the brighter image when gaming in spite of everything – and rightfully so.   Although it is getting more important, it’s still no where near as critical to have a perfectly calibrated image while playing a video game as it is while watching a BD.

So play around, see what you like, and stick with it.

And as always -  game on!

-Pete