Sega Genesis Gameplay: S-Video vs Composite

[@Captain_Neckbeard]

S-Video is good enough for me. It's a step up from composite, and most old systems don't require modification to display it.

[@RedRanger2001]

But you're missing out on one thing -- blending colors and transparencies. The Genesis uses a lot of dithering.

[@marioboi323]

While S-video looks good, the genesis was designed around composite from what I remember. That’s why they do a lot of dithering for elements of highlights and shading

[@incudust953]

does the snes use as much dithering? I'm trying to decide if I should use s video for snes

[@dytallixx1268]

i personally like the blurring of the pixels of composite but id like to give s-video a shot some day

[@jorgeplex]

is dithering lost in s-video?

[@carlos13538]

Yep

[@boulvejak]

Composite gang checkin' in. I eat a bowl of NTSC horizontal blurring pseudo-transparency for breakfast every morning.

[@fabiojcarvalho]

I like that BLUE color on sky in Sonic game (composite and s-video)

[@gc4408]

How do u get s-video out of a genesis?

[@MatticusFinch1820]

You have to mod the consoles board.

[@purplesabbath9057]

I'm sure you're already aware of this, but the Sega Genesis has a native RGB output, so it's best to use an RGB SCART cable or HD Retrovision component cables if possible.

[@culturax2285]

It's interesting to have the S-Video option for Genesis games even if you have access to a RGB-to-Component solution. You may prefer the look of several games over S-Video given that many of its games rely on dithered patterns, which usually don't look as nice with the added image definition that SCART/Component provides.

[@purplesabbath9057]

@@culturax2285 Yeah, I get what you're saying, but I would personally take a sharper picture over dithered patterns any day.

[@culturax2285]

@@purplesabbath9057 Nothing wrong with preference, happy gaming days bro!

[@SolidSonicTH]

Yes but you might need a different sort of display at that point. S-Video is prevalent on most mid-range TVs from the 90s and early 2000s. It's easier to get access to, especially if you're shooting for CRT gaming.

[@purplesabbath9057]

@@SolidSonicTH I can definitely see your point. I'm in the unique situation of being able to use my Genesis on a VGA monitor via the Retrotink 2X Pro and an HDMI to VGA converter.

[@BKDDY]

Svideo is a downgrade. Genesis was made to be run on composite.

[@incudust953]

what do you think of snes svideo?

[@EmperorMAR]

Composite looks better on a crt than it does here (heck RF on a crt looks. Better than composite here in many ways) but svideo is still way better overall, no artifacts and color banding on text, better color

[@DocBrewskie]

So maybe you are watching on your phone & thinking “what’s the difference?” I had the chance to play on a genesis wt s video on a crt and it is noticeably better.

[@PaperBanjo64]

Sega Genesis/Mega Drive has the worst composite video out of all retro consoles, meanwhile, the Super Nintendo/Super Famicom has excellent composite video.

[@kamilpotato3764]

But it masks nicely dithering making games look as intended

[@kamilpotato3764]

Anything pre dreamcast looks well over composite and true to their design. Especially if dithering is involved

[@blastprocessing6223]

The snes had the worse screen resolution of all retro consoles.

[@PaperBanjo64]

@@kamilpotato3764 that's also true, the waterfalls in Sonic, and the lights in Streets of Rage 2.

[@PaperBanjo64]

@@kamilpotato3764 I agree with that, but by the Dreamcast/GameCube/PS2/XBOX you need at least S video.