Gaming Hacks

Tune Your TV for Console Video

Calibrate your video display device to see more of the game.

Today’s games have resolution and details that will tax your display to its limit. A properly adjusted sharpness setting will reward you by showing off the spectacular details in Halo, and a correctly set black level will allow you to see Sam Fisher lurking in the shadows of Splinter Cell. Hooking up your console with the best connection possible ( [Hack #41] ) is only half the battle. You must calibrate the monitor settings: the brightness (black level), contrast, sharpness, and color balance controls.

Setting Up Your Television the Right Way

There are many misconceptions about what looks good. Default television settings that make them stand out from one another on the showroom floor are disastrously horrible (and potentially damaging) if you keep these settings once the set is in your home. The best and most efficient way to tune your TV yourself is with a testing-and-calibration DVD such as Digital Video Essentials or Avia Guide to Home Theater. These test discs will guide you through all the adjustments necessary in order to calibrate your display for its highest possible performance. They cover a wide gamut of settings, including audio setup help. Although they’re expensive, they are a great investment. Currently, outfits such as Netflix.com don’t offer these discs for rental, but a local video shop might have them available.

Tip

You might already have a calibration disc at home without ...