Opinions/advice on Master System Black Bars

[Dawnrazor]

Hey guys! I'm wondering how you all handle the black bars on the left side of many Sega Master System games. I realize that they are there to help maintain prosper aspect ratio, but I suppose it also really boils down to user preference. With games that let me do it without messing up centering too much, I will often adjust the settings on the game play screens to move the bars off the screen. Sometimes I don't because I don't wanna distort the image or leave the title and options screens off-center. It's mostly because I don't like the way it looks with the bars there, and I feel like its an imperfect experience. How do you handle this? Do you just let the bars remain? Is it bad to "stretch" the aspect ratio to remove them? FYI -- I am using RetroArch and also user-made bezels. Thank you!

Edited Friday at 10:00 PM by Dawnrazor

[zugswang]

9 hours ago, Dawnrazor said:

Hey guys! I'm wondering how you all handle the black bars on the left side of many Sega Master System games. I realize that they are there to help maintain prosper aspect ratio, but I suppose it also really boils down to user preference. With games that let me do it without messing up centering too much, I will often adjust the settings on the game play screens to move the bars off the screen. Sometimes I don't because I don't wanna distort the image or leave the title and options screens off-center. It's mostly because I don't like the way it looks with the bars there, and I feel like its an imperfect experience. How do you handle this? Do you just let the bars remain? Is it bad to "stretch" the aspect ratio to remove them? FYI -- I am using RetroArch and also user-made bezels. Thank you!

The Genesis Plus GX core allows you to remove the side borders on Sega Master System games.

How to Remove the Left Border

• Launch a Sega Master System game in RetroArch.

• Open the Quick Menu (press F1 on a keyboard or your assigned hotkey combination).

• Go to Core Options (or Options).

• Look for the setting named Borders or Hide Master System Side Borders.

• Change the option to Left Border Only or disable borders entirely

[Dawnrazor]

I will definitely give this a try. Thank you! 

[Dawnrazor]

Excellent! I wish I had asked earlier. I'll have to go back and readjust a few games, but this works perfectly! Thank you!

[Dawnrazor]

So, I just found a game where there is actually a bar on the right. So, I tried hiding the bars on the left and right. It's seems like it's working out... Are there any known issues (as far as centering goes) when hiding both? Thanks again! BTW... I'm trying to mark this as the solution but I can't seem to find the option. I'm on my mobile device maybe that's only a desktop option?

[Dawnrazor]

Ha! So, I guess I'm answering my own question. I did find that by doing that (hiding both) it does shift the games off center. So I guess just going with the left being hidden is the best option.