Talk:Overscan

PAL DAR

If I'm doing the math correctly, PAL display aspect ratio is ≈1.48:1, or close enough to 3:2. So do PAL games basically come pre-widescreen? How does the vertical alignment compare?—Lidnariq (talk) 18:53, 9 April 2013 (MDT)

I have no access to a PAL NES, PAL famiclone, or PAL TV, but I'm getting in the neighborhood of 1.39:1. Could you explain the math that leads to 1.48:1? But for this comment, assume that the 240px of the NES picture is in fact vertically centered on the 288px tall PAL picture. A widescreen TV will show 216px minus overscan, and overscan is (I'll guess) 12px per side, so anything designed for a 192px tall safe area will fit properly. And the old Nintendo BG planning sheet did assume a 192px tall safe area. --Tepples (talk) 19:29, 9 April 2013 (MDT)

Just going on what was said in the page: 1.3862 × 256 ÷ 240 = 1.4786. Am I doing that wrong? —Lidnariq (talk) 19:46, 9 April 2013 (MDT)

Oh, my fault, I misread your first comment. 1.48 is the DAR. I've been so focused on getting proper PAR that sometimes I forget about DAR. But you'd need a DAR near 1.78 to be widescreen friendly. --Tepples (talk) 21:38, 9 April 2013 (MDT)

Having a vertical active area of 200px (back of the envelope: 256×9÷16×1.3862) puts "de-letterboxed widescreen PAL 16:9" as convenient as 4:3 SDTV, which is perhaps worth keeping in mind.—Lidnariq (talk) 01:02, 10 April 2013 (MDT)