I just found this thread today - actually it's the first time I've even looked at HTF's Video Game Forums, and was really impressed by the data compiled in the first post, but one thing concerns me is the 16:9 column.
Many of the games that are listed as being in 16:9 are actually just cropped versions of the original 4:3 game and not 16:9.
Maybe it would help if you added a column that distinguishes between native 16:9 and cropped 16:9 as there is a huge difference between the to.
When a game is just cropping the 4:3 image at the top and bottom to create a 16:9 image you are losing 25% of the image! Unfortunately most 16:9 versions of games are exactly that which is why in those cases you are better off setting the game to 4:3 even if you have a widescreen display.
A great example of this is with one of the more popular games, Grand Theft Auto: (3 & VC) which are not native 16:9 so if you set the game for widescreen you lose 1/4 of the available image!
In fact, there is no difference at all between games that do not even offer 16:9 and those that offer 16:9 setting from a cropped version of the 4:3 because you get the same effect by using the zoom function on a widescreen display for any 4:3 image. In effect - this makes all games 16:9, but with a significant loss of image.
The important question - and one that would be really nice to see added to those tables from post #1 is does the game offer a native 16:9 video - thus adding additional images on the left and right side of the screen.
I don't own a lot of games, but I do know both Gran Turismo 3 and Ace Combat 4 offer native 16:9 video.
BTW: It is very easy to check whether a game that offers 16:9 is native or not. Simply start the game in 4:3 mode and pause it. Make a note where you stopped and what you saw as far as images along all four sides of the video.
Now switch the game to 16:9 and be sure to look at the same spot as before when you were watching it in 4:3 mode.
If you notice that the images along the sides have not changed and the ones at the top or bottom or both have been cut off, then you know the 16:9 video is not native and is simply the 4:3 video cropped to make a 16:9 image.
If you notice the images on the top and bottom are the same and you now see additional images on the left & right side of the screen that weren't there before then you know the 16:9 video is native and would be the better choice of the two.
Of course all of this may be irrelevant as I just noticed that this thread has been rather dormant lately and the original post hasn't been updated in over four months.
Oh well, just in case anyone is still watching hopefully this helped explain the difference between native 16:9 and cropped 16:9 and why you are better off playing a game in 4:3 mode if the 16:9 mode is not native.
