Last month we published a review of several candidates for PC gaming projectors. During the course of that review, we came to two conclusions. One, 1280x800 is a versatile resolution for PC gaming, and two, PC games and console games are not the same. Personal computers have several unique features that separate them from console games. PCs typically output via VGA or DVI, while consoles are more likely to use component or HDMI. Game consoles are typically limited to video resolutions, such as 480p, 720p, or 1080i/p, and PCs are much more flexible in this regard.

Moreover, even the consoles themselves are different from one another. The three current generation consoles (Microsoft Xbox 360, Sony Playstation 3, and Nintendo Wii) have different optimal resolutions, meaning that a projector good for one will not necessarily be good for another. In this article, we'll discuss matching your game console to a suitable projector, as well as what to do if you own more than one console system.

Games of today are miles beyond the games of yesterday. Gone are the days of pixelated graphics and bleep-bloop sound; today's games normally feature lifelike HD graphics and 5.1 stereo output. Today, video games are more similar to movies than they are to, say, PowerPoint presentations -- they require a projector with good color accuracy and contrast, while lumen output is less important. This makes choosing a projector for console games fairly simple, as most projectors that are suitable for video are likewise suitable for console games.

The trouble comes when one wants to decide on the resolution of their future projector. While 1080p projectors are currently the top of the line, and have come down in price sharply in recent months, they still remain out of reach for some consumers. With this in mind, realize that not everyone necessarily needs a 1080p projector to get maximum enjoyment out of their gaming console.

Xbox 360

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