What's up with horizontal split screen?

[migo]

I could understand in the days of 5:4 and 4:3 screens that horizontal split screen makes sense, but now that we're working with 16:9, why don't devs suppor vertical split screen providing two 8:9 screens to work with, with the bottom and/or top with HUD info? Or at least the option to choose between the two would be nice.

 

[Snarky Username]

From my knowledge, most games don't support split screen at all anymore.

 

[Deviltongue]

I suppose it's for the horizontal view. Having that cut off even a little can fuck you over...

 

[ohgodalex]

From my knowledge, most games don't support split screen at all anymore.

Oh you. Telling it like it is.

 

[Cynical skeptic]

Because lateral viewing angle is more important than vertical viewing angle, maybe?

Would you rather see your feet and your eyebrows or whats to your left and right?

 

[StBishop]

Because lateral viewing angle is more important than vertical viewing angle, maybe?

Would you rather see your feet and your eyebrows or whats to your left and right?

This.

But, I agree that we should be able to choose.

In some games it really doesn't matter but it also depends on the game.

I just wish Borderlands would squish my screen rather than chop the ends off.

 

[Haunted Serenity]

I suppose it's for the horizontal view. Having that cut off even a little can fuck you over...

True. It`s also more realistic viewing than the vertical split.

 

[migo]

I suppose it's for the horizontal view. Having that cut off even a little can fuck you over...

True. It`s also more realistic viewing than the vertical split.

I'm not sure about that, I suppose since the eyes are side by side you have slightly more width than height, but it's nowhere near 32:9 like you get in horizontal split screen on a widescreen TV.

 

[Haunted Serenity]

I suppose it's for the horizontal view. Having that cut off even a little can fuck you over...

True. It`s also more realistic viewing than the vertical split.

I'm not sure about that, I suppose since the eyes are side by side you have slightly more width than height, but it's nowhere near 32:9 like you get in horizontal split screen on a widescreen TV.

True but it's not that narrow as paper view you sometimes get with the vertical spilt. Plus you have periphals.

 

[Jast]

I will counter your question with another: What's up with vertical split screen? I have a widescreen television and horizontal split screen has always worked better for me because being able to see more to my left and right is more important than being able to see up and down. But I'll say I like games that give the player to choose between either or.