17

The NES zapper doesn't work on LCD TVs, but my friend has a Samsung CRT HDTV and was wondering if it would work on that type of TV. Does anyone know?

Improve this question

3 Answers 3

Reset to default
23

The NES must do the following to "read" the zapper:

  1. Wait until next frame starts
  2. Make the screen black, except for a small area where a target is
  3. Read the zapper to see if it's detecting light
  4. Wait until next frame starts
  5. Make the screen completely black
  6. Read the zapper to see if it's not detecting light

If it detected light in both step 2 and 5, the zapper is not pointed at the TV set and the program should count it as a miss. However, if light was detected in step 2 but not step 5, then the program should count it as a hit. This is why the screen flickers in Duck Hunt, and the duck sprite is replaced with a solid white sprite for 1/60th of a second, when you pull the Zapper trigger.

TL;DR: It should work on any TV if the contrast and response time of the display are good enough.

Improve this answer
3
  • you say it should work on any TV, but in practice it only works on CRTs. (Definitely not on LCDs. I haven't tried on plasma or DLP, but I've heard that it doesn't work well on those either.) Is it because LCDs have too low of a response time, or too low of a contrast ratio? If it's the response time, I wonder if new 120Hz LCD TVs will work with it.
    – Kip
    Commented Feb 24, 2011 at 14:59
  • 4
    @Kip Both. Most LCD TVs have both too slow a response time (which is measured in ms and is not the same as refresh rate measured in Hz) and too low contrast (often the contrast rating is "relative contrast" instead of the more meaningful absolute contrast).
    – SevenSidedDie
    Commented Jun 23, 2011 at 15:27
  • Great answer, I've always wondered how the zapper worked.
    – Jerron
    Commented Jun 23, 2011 at 15:27
1

I can confirm that on a 32" Sony Wega Trinitron CRT HDTV (with DVI inputs and everything, back then called HD Ready) a grey and an orange NES Zapper/Light gun did not work. I messed with various contrast and brightness settings and I confirmed the guns still worked on an even older CRT. By that point in history the technical requirements of the light guns and the technical specifications of the TVs had already parted ways.

Improve this answer
1

No, the NES Zapper will not work on a CRT HDTV, it will only work on a standard definition CRT (the most common type of tube TVs).

The Zapper works with a very strict timer to check if you shot the target, you might have noticed a black screen with white squares in Duck Hunt. That screen lets the Zapper know if the player hit the duck.

HDTVs have a lot of video lag compared to regular SDCRTs because they need to process the signal, apply whatever filter they need to, and send the image to the screen. SDCRTs, on the other hand, are dumb, they send the signal pretty much exactly how it's supposed to be, so they don't have as much lag.

Improve this answer

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge you have read our privacy policy.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.