Samsung announces two gamer plasmas for Korea

Although Samsung's billing these plasmas as being "3D ready", what they mean to say is that they apparently did some tweaking with game mega-developer EA to ensure their two latest 1080p plasmas -- in 42 and 50-inch sizes -- play games well. The HDMI 1.3, USB, and supposed 1m:1 contrast ratio don't exactly hurt, either.

[Via Akihabara News]

[James @ Feb 28th 2008 4:07AM]

Wow, looking at that picture made me miss my 1st car... the Mitsubishi Eclipse.
That paint and displaced camber are horrendous tho.

[malone @ Feb 28th 2008 12:13PM]

Some race cars normally have negative camber to help with cornering traction. The trade-off is uneven tire wear, but that's not a concern as races are short. Aside from the funky teenaged paint job (ugh) this car could be decently race-tuned.

[Demaar @ Feb 28th 2008 4:10AM]

Hmm, Samsung making a high end plasma. Surprising... to me anyway.

So considering these are "gamer" plasmas, does that mean that having a HUD constantly on the screen won't be an issue?

[Chris @ Feb 29th 2008 12:20PM]

I've been gaming on my plasma screen for over a year now without issue.

[stimr2 @ Feb 28th 2008 4:48AM]

Here's an better article on the two Samsung plasmas.
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2008/02/123_19800.html

[wonderbread @ Feb 28th 2008 7:22AM]

Wow, after reading that article this two sentence engadget article sucks even more than it appeared. Particularly in saying that the 3Dness only has to do with talking with EA when in fact there's a 3d glasses aspect to it

from the .kr article,
"Users could see the latest generation of Hollywood 3D movies by wearing a designated eyewear"

moar better summaries please

[Dapensa @ Feb 28th 2008 4:49AM]

want one!

[Chris @ Feb 28th 2008 4:56AM]

by "gamer ready" they mean "it's the same shit but we're charging you twice as much, suckers!"

[Balance_In_Life @ Feb 28th 2008 7:44AM]

Yeah you would think if it's gamer ready... they would try to make it affordable due to the fact that most gamers aren't your rich 50 year old men that can drop 2 to 3k on a nice 1m:1 50".

[Syven @ Feb 28th 2008 6:23AM]

I dont expect these to sell that well because most koreans go to internet cafe's and play games on the pc. They dont really need to spend a lot of money on a "gamer ready" screen. The console market in Korea is bad.

[Jack @ Feb 28th 2008 7:18AM]

sweet gorilla of manila :)

[Balance_In_Life @ Feb 28th 2008 7:44AM]

So I guess right now no word on when the US is getting these bad boys. Oh I wonder, is it still not safe to game on a plasma? My dad is getting a pioneer 60" and i plan to play a ton on it when I get the chance. Just don't want to screw the thing up though. From what I hear, it's a lot safer then the older plasmas by far.

[Heath Stahl @ Feb 28th 2008 9:28AM]

New plasmas are much safer then old ones. I've gamed on my Panasonic plasma for almost 2 years now and no permanent burn in. But for the first 100 hours or so of use do NOT play games with static HUDs/graphics on it (or any other material with static images for that matter). After the first 100 hours the chances of burn in are much less. Also make sure you reduce the brightness on the input you'll put your game system on. Most plasmas (not sure about Pioneer's) default an input to "torch" mode, ie supper bright.

[Chris @ Feb 29th 2008 12:22PM]

I agree with Heath Stahl. My Panny has had no issue with gaming. I did the wear in process and have had no problems.

[mattclarkie @ Feb 28th 2008 9:04AM]

10 comments and everyone actually about the TV and not the girls. Something fishing is going on at Engadget.

[dave @ Feb 28th 2008 1:27PM]

Actually didn't notice the girl until I read your comment. She kind of blends in with the background and the color on the display draws your focus on the ricer.

[diamondandy @ Feb 28th 2008 2:05PM]

i thought she was part of the "3d" effect

[KingRoyale @ Feb 28th 2008 9:38AM]

@ mattclarkie

These are the Series 4 Plasmas which were on display at CES - coming to the U.S. next month. They, like the current 2007 and upcoming Samsung DLPs, need the shutter glasses/emitter/software piggidy package from DDD (think it's $199). Supposedly NVIDIA needs to step up their game and get their 3-D drivers updated so more games can be played, etc.

Either way...it's coming...and perhaps some migraines too

[andy @ Feb 28th 2008 11:28AM]

With EA?

Does that mean they're going to stop putting the static, bright white EA logo on every single screen in the same place of every single game?

[Michael @ Feb 28th 2008 5:00PM]

and built in internet EA Trax radio; but remember, you have to register for EA Online to get more than 30 TV channels.

[austin @ Feb 28th 2008 12:52PM]

Dangit, when I read the tagline I thought they had implemented the technology that allows two different images to show on the same display depending on angle of viewing.

You'd need two consoles but it's cheaper than two monster displays.

[Allen @ Feb 29th 2008 11:29AM]

I too have gamed on Plasma, play COD4 on it all the time, and burn in is way overstated. But like it has been mentioned, do turn down the brightness (I recommend running a THX Video Optimizer), and set the picture mode to Orbiter.