What is the modern resolution for a VN?

[Watercolorheart]

I know that 640x480 is really, really old ... and 800x600 is rapidly becoming too small to upscale ... and we also have widescreen to worry about.

What is the usual modern resolution for visual novels these days, across laptops and PCs mainly?

Is horizontal or vertical letter-boxing preferred?

I seem to remember a survey of some kind that showed the most common resolution, but the Search function isn't combing that link up for me.

[Anima]

A lot of people that use widescreen resolutions, use the most common netbook resolutions as a guide.
Since those are 1024x600 and 1024x576, they also fit on older 4:3 monitors. Everyone with a monitor
that only supports up to 800x600 should really consider a new one. For health reasons if nothing else.

[Applegate]

As a related question, what would be a "window" resolution that's comfortable these days?

[LVUER]

If you want HD, I think 1280x720 is pretty good. It's the minimum for HD resolution and AFAIK, netbook have even higher resolution than that.

[babyfish]

As a related question, what would be a "window" resolution that's comfortable these days?

Personally, I would prefer 1024x768, especially since I don't have widescreen.

To be honest though, One's Mileage May Vary, as there are plenty of people who do prefer window sizes of 800x600, along with other 'windowed' resolutions. 640 x 480 might be pushing the lower limit though.

[KomiTsuku]

Well, as much as I HATE 800x600 due to my monitor being 1920x1080, there is one thing that I'm now considering as I determine game size. Handheld devices are rapidly becoming popular, which makes 800x600 still a viable size.

[DaFool]

1024x600 for netbooks. 1280x720 for HD Ready.

1024x640 used to be valid, but 16:10 monitors are also a dying breed.

[LVUER]

Recently I went to a mall that specialized in selling computer. In the brochure, I saw that most modern netbooks have resolution higher than 1024x600 (I believe it's about 1300 or so for width). Don't know for older netbooks though...

[jack_norton]

I was using 1024x768, but changed to 1024x576 for the recent titles so they're playable even on (crap) low-end netbook. However since tablets use 4:3 (I don't know why honestly!) I might revert back to 1024x768 for my future plans... If only all those people would agree on a DEFINITIVE aspect ratio at least would be great

[LVUER]

But wouldn't RenPy re-scale the graphics on its own (with black bar on its side or top-bottom)?

[jack_norton]

Yes indeed - it's not a huge problem, but for example for design it is. I designed Planet Stronghold in a way that I cannot "rescale" down to 576 since there are too many elements in the battle GUI. When doing the sequel (right now) I tried to use 576px height, but was impossible.
Also if you have a HIGHER resolution, is really not a problem, but a lower, yes. If you try to play games with 1024x768 on netbooks, you'll see them scaled down and looks very bad (not for plain VNs, but for RPG/simulations that have many text/buttons on screen).

[AxemRed]

However since tablets use 4:3

Tablets made by Apple use 4:3, pretty much every other manufacturer seems to use 16:9 or 16:10. The iPad market is larger than the every-other-tablet market though...

[jack_norton]

Ah, didn't know. Well there are more Android tablet already than iPad:
http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/3655 ... tition.php
however as you say, Android market is f**d up with all piracy and "adware crap" and right now devs reports a difference of income 10 vs 1 in favor of iOS...

[Auro-Cyanide]

I always play everything in window mode, so whatever size it is, it doesn't bother me. I can't have it full screen, everything is too big! D: But that is just me.