Old games cut-off on tv screen

[bluenote]

Hi everyone,

I thought this topic was brought up here before, but I can't seem to find it.

I've noticed that old games seem cut-off on my tv. For example, Super Mario Bros 2. I've tried it on 2 tv's, fairly new ones, and the left side seems cutoff. About 1/2". It looks like you need to adjust the horizontal switch, but newer tvs don't have this option anymore. This happens with most of my NES or Sega Master System games.

Has anyone else noticed this? Any idea how to fix it?

[FABombjoy]

Many newer TVs have a service mode that you can use to adjust things like horizontal size. I have a Sony with the exact same problem that you're describing, but haven't been motivated enough to dig up the service mode instructions for.

If you do find service mode instructions for your sets, heed all of the warnings about being careful with with you adjust. It may be possible to knock something out of adjustment and be unable to see the screen & menus to get it back.

[Jagasian]

It is called "overscan". This isn't a problem. In fact, NES games were designed with overscan in mind. That is why many NES games have corrupted or flickering messy looking graphics at some of the edges of the screen, when you run the game without overscan via an emulator or by adjusting your TV to remove overscan. If you want to play your NES games the way they were designed to be played, then keep the overscan the way it is, that is, let the edges of the screen be cut off. It is normal and supposed to be that way, and eliminating the overscan will displays parts of the screen that were not intended to be displayed. Super Mario Bros 3 is a good example of this. The far right hand edge of the screen should be corrupted, messy, and flickering when running to the right, assuming it is not being cut off due to overscan.

[gcl1984]

overscan sucks.get the service mode instructions and adjust your tv.

[bluenote]

So, do you think I should adjust this?

[Jagasian]

So, do you think I should adjust this?

NES games were designed taking into consideration overscan. So disabling overscan completely will cause certain graphics to be displayed that the game designers did not intend to be displayed. This kind of thing is usually just garbage on the left-most or right-most edges of the screen. I'd say don't adjust it because the games were designed for it.

[Leo_A]

Jagasian, I don't think he ever said he wants to see the overscan on his tv, but part of the picture people do want to see is being cut off on the left side of the screen.

[heyricochet]

What about new games? I haven't really noticed it with other games, but while I was playing lifeline today the bottom was cut off.

[SkiDragon]

I thought my new TV was broken recently, until I realized it had a "4:3 pulldown" option, with basically stretched the picture vertically so the tops of peoples heads and news tickers on TV were cutoff. Disabling this option fixed everything.

[The Manimal]

if you want more picture, adjust overscan but don't completely rid of it. It's there for a reason.

[bluenote]

All I know is that there is a blue bar on the left side of the screen, which is about an inch or 2. I suppose I'll just leave it as is. It just looks as though you need to adjust the horizontal controls, but my tv doesn't have that.

Thanks for everybody's help!

[Gapporin]

What about new games? I haven't really noticed it with other games, but while I was playing lifeline today the bottom was cut off.

Most newer games usually have an "Adjust Screen" setting somewhere in the options.

[gcl1984]

sony service mode
http://myweb.accessus.net/~090/sonyadj.html

overscan is there so as the tube ages and the picture shrinks it is compensated for.I prefer to see the whole game screen but you do have to be careful doin this.