Interest in 3D Gaming Extends Beyond the Avid Gamer, New CEA Study Finds

Interest in 3D gaming is strongest among early adopters and gaming enthusiasts, but a new study from the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) shows that interest in 3D gaming extends to the casual video game player as well. The 3D Gaming: Entertainment’s Next Dimension study of online U.S. adults also found that more consumer demonstrations and education are needed before adoption can take off.

Interest in a 3D gaming experience is not limited to the devoted gamer. While two-thirds (64 percent) of those interested in 3D gaming say they are video game enthusiasts, more than a third (35 percent) that showed interest are casual gamers. No matter what their gaming level, consumers interested in 3D gaming expect 3D gaming devices coming to the market to serve as multi-media players. Most consumers expect to use their 3D gaming device to watch 3D movies (58 percent) and connect to the Internet (51 percent). Nearly half (45 percent) want to download games and content directly to their gaming device. Consumers also want their gaming device to have backward-compatibility with 2D content.

“The introduction of 3D into the gaming arena has the potential to reinvigorate the gaming market by adding greater realism and fostering a more social gaming experience,” said Ben Arnold, CEA’s senior research analyst. “As interest grows and consumers become more comfortable with the technology, 3D is poised to become the preferred format for many gamers.”

The study also found that, like other technologies, seeing is believing when it comes to 3D gaming. A third of consumers interested in 3D gaming (32 percent) have seen an in-store 3D gaming display and a quarter have watched a gaming demonstration. A sizable number (21 percent) of interested consumers reported playing a 3D video game in the past year as well. Avid gamers, many of whom are early tech adopters, are also more likely to purchase 3D devices in the near term. Thirty-one percent say they plan to buy a 3D-capable game console within the next year. Twenty-seven percent will buy a 3D-capable display and a quarter (24 percent) will purchase a portable 3D gaming device. Only seven percent of casual gamers say they expect to purchase a 3D game console in the next 12 months.

“Like with 3DTV, HDTV and other innovative technologies, consumers will need to experience a 3D video game to truly appreciate the experience,” said Arnold. “Manufacturers, retailers and game publishers will have to partner to offer more demonstrations and consumer education so prospective buyers can experience gameplay and other features of a 3D gaming device.”

The study found some concerns about 3D technology among casual and avid gamers. Cost of games (69 percent), devices (66 percent) and accessories (61 percent) were cited as the main obstacles to adoption for casual gamers. For avid gamers, concerns about the health of their vision (33 percent), compatibility with the 2D content they already own (35 percent) and the availability of their favorite games in 3D (39 percent) were among the concerns.

3D Gaming: Entertainment’s Next Dimension (June 2010) was conducted from May 24-June 1, 2010. It was designed and formulated by CEA Market Research, the most comprehensive source of sales data, forecasts, consumer research and historical trends for the consumer electronics industry. The complete study is available free to CEA member companies at members.CE.org. Non-members may purchase the study for $999 at myCEA.CE.org.

Source: Consumer Electronics Association

Microsoft Does Not Believe in Rapid Adoption of Stereo 3D by Gamers

Stereoscopic 3D technologies is a topic that is discussed pretty widely both among movie and video games industries. But while there are companies claiming that stereo-3D (S3D) is the big thing for tomorrow, it may turn out that S3D will find itself important only the day after tomorrow. Following Electronic Arts, Microsoft said that it would take years for stereo-3D games to become popular.

"It is projected that less than one 0.5% of all TVs in the U.S. this year will be 3DTV. 3DTVs will make up only 5% of the TV installed base three years from now,” a Microsoft representative said on the sidelines of the company’s press conference at E3 trade-show.

From the hardware perspective, Microsoft Xbox 360 can support stereo-3D output; for example, Avatar: The Game, Crysis 2 and some other titles either already support S3D on the Xbox 360 or will do so once they are released. However, Microsoft is unlikely to put a lot of efforts into development its own stereo-3D titles for the current-generation hardware. Even if three-dimensional televisions have around 5% of the U.S. installed base in three years, it may not make sense to roll-out an AAA title supporting 3D, but rather to concentrate on other aspects of game-play.

Moreover, it may make a lot of sense to start adoption of S3D technologies with the next-generation Xbox. In fact, the original Xbox did not support high-definition video games despite of the fact that there were a lot of HDTVs available on the market in 2003 – 2005 timeframe. As a result, when Xbox 360 was released in late 2005, it clearly had one huge advantage over the predecessor. Quite naturally, though, Microsoft does not comment on features of its next-generation hardware.

“We closely and constantly evaluate consumer trends. If there is demand, we have demonstrated in the past that we are able to quickly dedicate resources to respond to consumer interest,” the representative is reported to have said.

But while Microsoft may not be exactly interested in enabling stereo-3D on the Xbox 360, its arch-rival Sony Computer Entertainment is more than interested in S3D technologies since besides PlayStation 3 consoles it also sells televisions as well as Blu-ray 3D content. Moreover, even Nintendo demonstrated interest in stereo-3D technologies when it unveiled plans to implement an S3D screen into its portable 3DS console, which may also potentially indicate a plan to enable stereo-3D games for its next-generation console that will succeed Wii.

By Anton Shilov, Xbit Laboratories

3D Makes Progress for Gamers

3D is becoming increasingly important in the gaming world, with 3D compatibility a function of all leading titles, and as we move forward content will align with a developing base of 3D-enabled consumer electronics devices, says a study from Futuresource Consulting.

“Based on the many 3D demos that we have experienced and played here at Futuresource Consulting, I'm sure that the additional immersive experience it provides will power 3D gaming right through the consumer adoption curve and into the mainstream,” says the study.

“However, the uptake of 3D video games may take longer to arrive than film, as movies can be experienced in the cinema long before consumers start to install 3DTVs in living rooms. That said, once 3DTVs reach a satisfactory installed base, we will see a far bigger push on 3D games advertising and promotion,” adds Futuresource.

“Focusing on the consoles, the Xbox 360 and PS3 are essentially 3D-ready; Sony will release a dedicated 3D firmware update for the PS3 this summer. The first rush of 3D gaming is expected to be distributed via download initially, with Sony releasing four games, including Wipeout, together with the firmware update. Here at Futuresource, we expect to see a significant proportion of disc-based games titles featuring a 3D option very soon, perhaps becoming prevalent by 2011. In addition, Nintendo is expected to announce details of its new 3DS device at next month's E3 show. The portable gaming machine could be many consumers' first experience of 3D gaming and will feature an autostereoscopic 3D-enabled screen, negating the need for glasses.

“There are no major obstacles to 3D games development and production, the process is relatively straightforward and is all done in post production. Including the 3D functionality, development costs of a 3D game are only 10% to 15% higher than a 2D game. Most developers and publishers are already fully geared up for 3D - it's all about the consumer catch up. As 3D functionality becomes more popular we expect prices to drop and 3D to roll out as standard on a wide variety of games,” says the company.

By Chris Forrester, Rapid TV News

Videogamers to Play in 3D

Stereoscopic 3D gaming hasn't really caught on, but it has certainly captured its share of headlines over the past 12 months. Now, one of the videogame industry's largest publishers says it expects the technology to break through into the mainstream within two years. Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot, in a recent earnings conference call, said he expects up to 50% of all games published to be 3D by 2012.

"The 3D games are going to come more and more with the TV screens that are available," he said. "We did Avatar last year, and the experience was enhanced by the 3D experience. On 360, PS3 but also maybe on portable machines. So we can count on substantial growth on the 3D aspect just because it's more immersive."

Guillemot expects 15%-20% of 2011's games to be 3D, with an even bigger jump the subsequent year. Ubisoft, so far, is the only company to push 3D on the console front. Avatar broke new ground with its stereoscopic 3D effects, but the game (which was also playable in 2D) was a sales disappointment -- and had a hand in the company's €60 million ($73.6 million) operating loss last fiscal year.

That's not stopping other publishers from dipping their toes in the water, though. Electronic Arts chief operating officer John Schappert recently announced the company would "show a marquee title in breathtaking 3D" at the upcoming Electronic Entertainment Expo, the annual tradeshow of the videogame convention.

Also at E3, Nintendo will unveil its handheld gaming device -- the 3DS, which the company says offers stereoscopic 3D images without the need for special glasses. Despite growing competition from Apple's iPhone and iPod Touch, Nintendo is still the leader in the handheld market, meaning it will likely have substantial support from third-party game publishers.

Even with the 3DS and Sony's recent update to the PlayStation 3 making it 3D capable, Guillemot's claim is a bold one. 3D TV sets are still new to the market. While the adoption rate has been a bit more enthusiastic than some manufacturers were expecting, there's still a lot of ground to cover before there is a notable installed base.

Microsoft, for its part, says the Xbox 360 is capable of 3D gaming, but it has not shown a lot of interest in enabling the system to showcase the feature.

It's not hard for developers to add stereoscopic 3D effects to titles, and the cost is relatively low. However, doing so cuts a game's frame rate in half, which detracts from the experience. Many industry insiders say the real boom in stereoscopic 3D gaming will come with the next generation of consoles, which will be able to support the effect and still be able to boast 60 frames per second of gameplay.

By Chris Morris, Variety

Microsoft Teams with LG Electronics for Stereo 3D Games on Xbox 360

LG Electronics and Microsoft have announced plans to jointly promote stereoscopic 3D content and video games using LG Infinia HDTV-sets and Microsoft Xbox 360 game consoles. The companies have already signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) regarding the matter.

Initially, the companies only plan to collaborate on promotion of stereo 3D Infinia LED HDTVs and stereoscopic 3D games for Microsoft Xbox 360 video game console in South Korea, but eventually the cooperation may be broadened to other countries. The companies plan to jointly showcase stereo 3D capabilities of their products in various stores and eventually may even bundle Xbox 360 consoles with LG Infinia LG LX9500 stereo 3D televisions that feature 47” or 55” diagonals.

The initiative of LG and Microsoft will counter similar move by Sony, which plans to promote stereo 3D TV-sets with its PlayStation 3 game console. It should be noted that owners of the PS3 will also be able to enjoy Blu-ray 3D movies, unlike owners of Xbox 360, which does not support Blu-ray.

In addition to stereoscopic 3D gaming support – which is likely to be supported on the newer versions of the Xbox 360 with HDMI output – Microsoft’s gaming platform will also obtain support for motion sensing.

“As we have said before, 3D games are available today on Xbox 360 and will continue to evolve. Today, you can buy a 3DTV and wear glasses to play games like Avatar, and more titles like Batman: Arkham Asylum are on the way. The promotional partnership with LG announced in South Korea is specific to the South Korean market, but is further evidence that as 3D adoption grows, Xbox 360 will support 3D games and entertainment,” a spokesperson for Microsoft in the UK reportedly said.

By Anton Shilov, Xbit

3D Gaming Summit Videos

Source: 3D Gaming Summit

Hardware vs. Software

While a lot of gaming companies are just starting to focus on stereoscopic 3D, nVidia has been exploring the technology for some time. It recently released its GTX 400 series graphics cards for 3D gaming on the PC. Variety spoke with Phil Eisler, general manager of nVidia's 3D Vision unit, about 3D on the PC -- and the hurdles it faces.

"3D gaming has been around for a long time. There were shutter glasses back 10 years or more. CRT monitors could be used, but as displays moved to LCD, it made 3D difficult. We kind of took a step backwards when we went to LCD screens."

"There's a little bit of a chicken-and-egg problem in that there's not a lot of hardware out there that supports 3D, so people aren't creating games. And because they're not creating games, there's not a lot of hardware supporting the technology."

"I think there will be more spillover from Hollywood. Gamers watch a lot of movies, and something like Avatar gets people to try the 3D experience. Once they experience it, they want to see that in their games."

"The gamer will be more willing to wear the glasses than the average television watcher. The problem with TV is it's usually a multiperson, social experience. You watch with friends or family members. PC gaming is a little less so. And many players are already wearing headsets, so there will be less resistance."

"3D has changed dramatically in the past year from a niche to where you can hardly turn anything on without being bombarded by talk of it. The game industry, on the marketing side, is a little bit behind in the marketing of 3D, but we're seeing more and more eagerness to partner with nVidia."

By Chris Morris, Variety

Speed Still Stymies Stereo

On the hardware side, the vidgame industry is embracing 3D at a rapid clip. Sony plans to make the PlayStation 3 3D-capable later this year, and Nintendo will introduce a 3D handheld system in June. But, so far, developers have been a bit less eager to embrace the technology.

The problem, ironically, is tied to hardware. To achieve stereoscopic 3D effects on today's consoles, developers generally have to compromise the frame rate of their games, which is a lot to ask.

"If your game is pushing the hardware it's running on, that's a challenge," says Christian Svensson, veep of strategic planning and business development at Capcom. "There are some companies that are showing console 3D games that were previously running at 60 frames per second that are now at 30."

That's something that's unlikely to change in this vidgame generation. But when the PlayStation 4 and next Xbox start to roll out (which is expected to be sometime around 2015), 3D could be a major component.

"I think we're just at the tip of the iceberg with it," says Marc Rein, VP at Epic Games. "The consoles aren't powerful enough to really do it now. My minimum vision for the PS4 is to have the power to run at 1080p at 120 frames per second. I hope to see something that can do a lot more than that, but that's my minimum."

Even then, developers agree it's going to take a truly epic release to convince gamers that 3D is the wave of the future for the industry. In other words, the vidgame industry is still in search of its Avatar.

"I think it will be kind of like 3D movies right now," says Lorne Lanning, co-founder and president of Oddworld Inhabitants. "If you don't have 3D for an animated film now, you're just not going to perform as well. When games start to go 3D, it will be the same. We've already seen Modern Warfare 2 set a new bar with visual fidelity. Imagine adding 3D to that. When that happens, there's going to be a greater rush to 3D in gaming."

One big advantage 3D gaming has in its favor is price. While transitioning games to high definition was extraordinarily expensive, there's very little cost in making the jump to 3D, say developers. Most additional expenses come from engineering tweaks and extra testing costs.

Nintendo's push to embrace the technology could also spur interest. The 3DS, a handheld gaming system that does not require the user to wear special glasses, could be a good litmus test for how players will react to 3D gaming. While Nintendo has a tight gag rule on developers about system specifics, those familiar with the system think it could give the technology a significant boost.

"While there's not a lot I can talk about, there are some applications of 3D technology (with the system) that may open people's eyes in a way they're not expecting," says Svensson.

By Chris Morris, Variety

Analysts Intrigued by Nintendo's 3-D Handheld

U.S. analysts were intrigued and curious Wednesday (March 24), following the overnight release of a brief statement by Nintendo saying the company plans to launch within the next year a handheld video gaming system that offers 3-D effects without requiring the use of special glasses. Nintendo provided few details, leaving analysts to speculate on the technology that the company plans to employ.

"There are only a few technologies for autostereoscopic displays, which don't require special glasses. We suspect they are using one of those," said Chris Chinnock, principal of Insight Media. According to Chinnock, there are currently no more than a dozen commercial products which use autostereoscopic 3-D displays, including a mobile handset from Hitachi which is available in Japan.

Pamela Tufegdzic, a consumer electronics analyst at market research iSuppli Corp., said she didn't know how Nintendo would implement autostereoscopic 3-D, but said it could have something to do with face-tracking technology, which can shift the perspective of the game's view with using a front facing video camera to capture where the player is looking portraying that 3-D effect. "It could be something similar to motion sensing game play tracking your movements with sensors," Tufegdzic said.

Chinnock said all of the known autostereoscopic display technologies suffer from poor image quality for the most part, requiring tradeoffs in viewing angles and viewing zones. "That's okay in a handheld device because it's easy to move your head around the screen," Chinnock said. But Chinnock acknowledged that using an autostereoscopic display for a gaming system could be problematic. "If it's a detail-oriented game, yes, it's going to be a problem. If it's more like icons and graphics that have larger scale, it may not be a problem."

Nintendo said the successor to its popular DS line of handheld gaming systems, which is temporarily being called 3DS, will include backward compatability so that DS games could be played on the system. The company promised to provide more details on the system at a video gaming conference in Los Angeles in June.

The Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday that Nintendo President Satoru Iwata told analysts in January that the company has been working on 3-D gaming technology for years and experimented with a 3-D feature for its GameCube console, the processor to Nintendo's Wii system.

According to Tufegdzic, Sony Corp. plans to release a 3-D version of its PlayStation 3 gaming system following the launch of the company's 3-D Bravia televisions, currently expected this summer. Microsoft announced that the Xbox 360 is fully equipped to handle 3-D games, but the company plans to sit on the sidelines to see how the consumers embrace 3-D technology in the living room, Tufegdzic said.

Several companies, including Sony, demonstrated stereoscopic 3-D technology at the Consumer Electronics Show in January, widely claiming that many 3-D products would ship during the 2010 holiday season. Others say there is much work to be done hammering out standards and silicon before stereoscopic 3-D TV is ready for the home.

ISuppli anticipates that all the next-generation gaming consoles will support 3-D due to the technology's expected growth, Tufegdzic added. Since 3-D TVs are needed to view the 3-D content from gaming consoles, iSuppli believes that 3-D gaming in consoles will follow similar trends of the 3-D TV market, she said.

"TV manufactures are working on bringing 3-D TVs to market that do not require 3-D glasses to be worn, Tufegdzic said. When these types of TVs become mainstream, that's when the console gaming market will see 3D gaming fully take off."

Philips Electronics had been working on an autostereoscopic display designed to eliminate the need for special 3-D glasses, but folded the unit last April, saying the point in time where mass adoption of autostereoscopic 3-D TV will occur has shifted significantly.

Tufegdzic said adding 3-D technology to gaming will add additional revenue streams and create more opportunities for software game developers and publishers. "3-D gaming will give gamers a more real and immersed experience, which will likely become a required standard technology in the future of video games," Tufegdzic said.

By Dylan McGrath, EE Ttimes

Nintendo Unveils 3D Game Without Glasses

Nintendo is embracing 3D -- but without the glasses. The videogame maker announced Tuesday it was working on the Nintendo 3DS, an updated version of its handheld DSi gaming system that will incorporate 3D technology, but won't require special glasses to view.

It is the first gaming company to announce portable plans for 3D. The 3DS, which will play existing DS games, will go on sale sometime in its next fiscal year, which begins in April. The company referred to the system as the successor to the Nintendo DS series.

Nintendo does not plan to reveal additional details about the 3DS until mid-June at E3, the video game industry's annual trade show in Los Angeles. But by confirming in advance that glasses will not be necessary to experience the visual effects, the company is playing to its mass-market strengths.

Consoles such as the PlayStation 3 face an uphill battle in converting players to the technology, since the heavy (and expensive) glasses that accompany 3D-enabled sets will likely be a distraction for gamers rather than an enhancement. If Nintendo is able to create a realistic 3D experience without glasses, the 3DS could significantly build upon the DS's life to date sales of 125 million units. It could also score with consumers -- especially the youngest ones who already demand that their parents buy them a DS -- because the 3DS will negate the need to wear 3D glasses that don't fit or slide off small faces.

Although the first to adapt 3D to a portable device, Nintendo is not the first to embrace 3D technology. Sony had already announced it will distribute a firmware upgrade later this year to make select upcoming games on the PS3 playable in stereoscopic 3D. The company has shown several titles using the technology at trade shows like CES and the Game Developer's Conference. (Microsoft has no existing plans to enter the space, but has said that the Xbox 360 could support 3D with a downloadable system update.)

Nintendo's focus with the 3DS is to gain an upper hand in its escalating battle with the iPhone rather than to compete with emerging console technologies. Apple has been making steady inroads into portable gaming, offering quality games for less than $10. Titles for the Nintendo DSi typically cost between $20 and $40.

With a 3D display incorporated into the 3DS, however, Nintendo will be able to further differentiate its offerings from Apple's. The company's handhelds already have exclusivity on some of the industry's top game franchises, including Mario and Zelda. The company has traditionally focused on the family market, whereas Sony and Microsoft have targeted their consoles at more adult gamers.

Additionally, the 3DS could prove to be a test balloon for the company's future plans. When Nintendo introduced the DS in 2004, it offered a play style that was entirely different from anything the portable gaming world had experienced. Similarly, the games Nintendo made for it -- including Brain Age and Nintendogs -- were hardly standard fare.

What the company was doing, though, was prodding the market to see if something radically different could simultaneously keep the existing audience happy and create a new one. Encouraged by the success of the DS, Nintendo introduced the Wii -- which has gone on to sell more than 67 million units, handily beating both the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. It's certainly possible the 3DS is an indication that Nintendo is exploring full 3D for its next generation product.

The timing of the 3DS announcement did cause some confusion, as Nintendo will begin selling a new handheld system in North America on Sunday. The Nintendo DSi XL features a pair of screens that are virtually double the size of existing DS units. By trumpeting a next-generation handheld system now, Nintendo sends a mixed message to consumers who are considering purchasing an XL -- implying that what they're about to buy will be outdated soon.

By Chris Morris and Marc Graser, Variety

NVIDIA Brings A New Dimension to PC Gaming

NVIDIA announced 3DTV Play, its latest software solution that allows consumers to connect their GeForce GPU-powered desktop or notebook computer to new 3D TVs, for the ultimate in big screen 3D gaming action.

Facts about NVIDIA 3DTV Play
- Can be run on GeForce GPU-based desktop or notebook PCs equipped with an HDMI or DVI connector
- Full support for all HDMI 1.4-compatible 3D TVs, including Panasonic VIERA Plasma full HD 3D TVs
- Enables 1080p24, 720p60, and 720p50 3D formats
- Advanced NVIDIA software and graphics drivers automatically convert more than 400 games to stereoscopic 3D in real time, without the need for special patches.
- Enjoy full HD Blu-ray 3D playback with real-time GPU accelerated decoding and playback on GeForce GPUs
- Watch streaming 3D movies
- View 3D photographs directly on the 3D TV

NVIDIA 3DTV Play software will be available later this spring and sold separately with an anticipated U.S. MSRP of $39.99. It will also be available for free for current NVIDIA 3D Vision customers.

What You Need

Source: NVIDIA

Darkworks Unveils TriOviz for Videogames

Darkworks, the Paris-based Action-Adventure developer, announced the availability of its TriOviz for Games SDK. TriOviz is a patent-pending post-process that enables 3D games on consoles and regular 2D displays. The result is a high-quality, cutting-edge experience for the console audience without expensive barriers to adoption. Darkworks will be giving demonstrations of its 3D technology this week at the Game Developers Conference and Expo in San Francisco.

Developed by Darkworks, the TriOviz for Games SDK leverages existing three dimensional graphics information to greatly enhance the depth-of-field; as well as volume and position of geometry and characters within a scene. This negates the need for rendering multiple images so TriOviz for Games does not require intensive computing power – the resolution, performance and game play integrity are maintained.

As a post-process, Darkworks’ SDK easily integrates into the production pipeline, supporting both popular and proprietary game engines; requiring as little as a couple of days or a week to integrate, depending on the implementation.

“Darkworks is enthusiastic to bring a truly innovative technology to top game developers and publishers in order to make the 3D experience a reality today for even the most technologically demanding console titles. Always boundary-pushing, video games will lead the entire entertainment industry in the 3D era,” said Guillaume Gourand, co-founder and managing director of Darkworks. “Consoles already broadcast 3D interactive content in real-time and their interactivity – by nature – empowers game developers to make a more immersive experience than is possible in movies”

Previously a technology only available to Blu-Ray & DVD video publishing, TriOviz processing utilizes innovative yet inexpensive glasses that render 3D entertainment with beautiful, true colors and sharp images. Unlike the red-and-blue anaglyph of the past, TriOviz for Games maintains the content’s art direction and images can be seen in 2D without glasses. Games can be enjoyed by everyone in the room with or without glasses seamlessly.

Key Features of TriOviz for Games:
- First and Only 3D Software SDK for AAA Console Games: TriOviz for Games works on Xbox 360, PlayStation3 and PC, delivering an immersive 3D experience to the most demanding games while maintaining performance, game play and content integrity.

- 3D Experience on 2D TVs; No Additional Equipment Required: Consumers can enjoy 3D games on their existing HDTV or even SD televisions without having to purchase additional hardware.

- Low-Impact Integration for High-Impact Return: TriOviz for Games supports both popular and proprietary game engines, resulting in minimal man-hours to deploy or hit to performance, while maintaining the original creative vision.

The first game implementing the Darkworks 3D technology is already announced, with future titles to follow Spring 2010.

Source: BusinessWire

Batman: Arkham Asylum 3D

Square Enix London Studios announced a Game of the Year Edition for the critically acclaimed Batman: Arkham Asylum. Available across Europe and other PAL territories from March 26th, 2010, the new edition will come complete with six extra challenge maps on disc and features an innovative new technology which offers a play-in-3D option compatible with all standard and high definition TV sets.

Batman: Arkham Asylum Game of the Year Edition adds a new dimension to the multi award-winning gameplay experience, with support for TriOviz 3D on both the PlayStation3 computer entertainment system and the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft.

TriOviz 3D is a patented 3D process which adds depth to the game, visible to players wearing the included 3D glasses. By leveraging the depth-of-field while maintaining the original gameplay and colour integrity, TriOviz 3D creates a far more immersive gaming experience, allowing console players to dive deeper into the gothic world of Arkham Asylum.

About the TriOviz SDK for Games
The TriOviz SDK for Games is an advanced, easy-to-implement 3D stereoscopic technology created by original action-adventure IP house Darkworks for games and home entertainment that provides consumers with a deeper, more compelling interactive experience without costly investment or equipment. Leveraging existing advanced graphics technologies, TriOviz SDK for Games creates a three-dimensional depth-of-field, negating the need for rendering multiple images or using anaglyph while maintaining content integrity.

Source: Darkworks

The Future Of 3-D Videogames

While Avatar got everyone excited about 3-D again, a different digital medium could play a big part in getting 3-D TVs in front of consumers. If executed well, videogames rendered in stereoscopic 3-D are a compelling product for 3-D TVs, and could potentially drive early adoption of the TVs, some analysts and industry leaders say. Like Avatar, this current generation of stereoscopic 3-D feels less gimmicky and eschews the use of tacky red-green glasses in favor or polarized or shutter glasses that don't wash the color out when viewing the display.

"We think the future of 3-D in the near-term will be 'event-based,'" meaning that consumers will use 3-D TV for things that require longer periods of focused attention, like watching sports games and movies and playing videogames, says Insight Media analyst Dale Maunu. Maunu explains that in casual TV watching, people find wearing the special glasses cumbersome, but would be more likely to don them for such focused events.

Forrester Research analyst James McQuivey echoed Maunu's sentiments in a recent blog post: "Gaming is the ideal environment for 3-D [TV]--gameheads stare straight at the screen in immersive gameplay for hours."

But while many have predicted the potential for 3-D gaming to help boost 3-D TV sales, 3-D gaming itself is off to a slow start. Though gamers on the PC have been able to play hundreds of games in 3-D for years now, including big-name titles like World of Warcraft and Resident Evil 5, there are only a couple of 3-D titles currently available for the consoles, where much of mainstream gaming occurs. In addition, some among the console makers remain skeptical.

Most notably, Nintendo Chief Satoru Iwata recently said he wasn't impressed by 3-D in videogames. "I have doubts whether people will be wearing glasses to play games at home," he said.

Of the three big console-makers, only Sony has put a substantial amount of weight behind 3-D gaming, ostensibly to support its upcoming line of 3-D TVs this summer, with a slate of 3-D games to be released at the same time.

Since January, expectations that 3-D games would boost sales of 3-D TVs have dampened. "Prior to the Consumer Electronics Show, everybody was talking about videogames being the logical next step, but 3-D gaming at CES was downplayed quite a bit," Maunu says.

Still, the potential of 3-D gaming is ripe for exploration, and some hint at the compelling uses 3-D gaming could have in 3-D TV beyond what's currently available.

"Think of combining a 3-D TV and 3-D gaming with Project Natal," says Patrick Naud, executive producer of the 3-D Avatar game, referring to the motion-sensing system for Microsoft's Xbox 360 slated for release later this year. "With the ability to move in 3-D within your living room while seeing your game in 3-D, there are so many possibilities there."

By Oliver J. Chiang, Forbes

Capcom 'Prepared to Start' 3D Game Research

Capcom has said that while it is technically able to create 3D video games, the decision to add 3D to its games will be made from a "strategic perspective". Asked about its plans regarding 3D home video games during a Q3 Q&A conference call, Capcom said:

"We can produce 3D games now from a technological standpoint. Although we are prepared to start research involving some titles, our decision about adding 3D to games will be made from a strategic perspective."

Capcom has already dabbled with 3D in the home, releasing Resident Evil 5 on PC with support for Nvidia's GeForce 3D Vision technology. 3D is expected to become more widespread in the home this year: Sony plans to release updates for its PS3 making the console compatible with 3D movies and games, while Sky will roll-out a 3D television channel this autumn.

By James Orry, Current

Ubisoft Integrates Stereoscopic RealD Format w/ Avatar Game

RealD announced that Ubisoft, in partnership with Twentieth Century Fox Licensing & Merchandising (Fox Licensing), has licensed and integrated the company's proprietary stereoscopic RealD Format into James Cameron's Avatar: The Game. The RealD Format allows for a seamless direct connection between the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system or PLAYSTATION3 computer entertainment system and 3D-enabled TVs with integrated RealD technology for an unsurpassed 3D gaming experience.

"The RealD Format will make James Cameron's Avatar: The Game one of the first titles to effortlessly work with the numerous lines of RealD 3D-enabled TVs that will soon be on the market," said Joshua Greer, president of RealD. "Like the current 3D film revolution, RealD technology is pioneering a new generation of immersive gaming where players can step inside a game and experience a world that literally surrounds them."

The RealD Format delivers an automated continuous approach to 3D that is compatible with real-time rendering and promises to bring RealD's world renowned 3D cinema experience to console gaming. A visually lossless universal 3D format, the technology multiplexes a left/right stereoscopic image stream into a single image channel.

By Robert Briel, RealD

Peter Moore: Sports Key to 3D Gaming's Success

Peter Moore has predicted that sports will be the biggest driver of 3D gaming's growth - just as it will be for 3DTV. Speaking exclusively to CVG today, the amiable EA Sports boss said that 3D gaming would only truly take off once bespoke content was being created for the technology - and forecast that sports games would lead the way.

Moore said EA Sports was "absolutely" looking into creating 3D content for PS3 - and that the innovation offered the video games industry "great opportunity". He told: "As James Cameron did with Avatar at the movies, you've got to build [games] from the ground up with 3D in mind. None of the games I've seen [so far] have been built that way - they've been regular games running in 3D. The real secret sauce will be when somebody says: 'I'm going to build this game specifically for a 3D platform.'"

When asked if EA Sports could be that 'somebody', Moore replied: "Absolutely. I'm not making any announcements, but it's no coincidence that of the 3D [TV] broadcasts I've seen in the last two years, I can count the NBA All-Star event in Las Vegas, while ESPN has announced 3D programming - perhaps even a full channel. There have also been a number of announcements around the [football] World Cup, with some games broadcast in 3D.

"This is reminiscent of where we were with HD five or six years ago. It seems like a lifetime ago now, but you'd go to CES and be in awe of HD - and it was sports games that showed up the technology. I think there's great opportunity for EA to bring sports to life in unbelievably imaginative ways, once we can grasp what 3D means to us."

By Tim Ingham, Computer and Videogames

TDVision Systems Announces Allowance of New Patents Application

TDVision Systems announced that the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has issued a Notice of Allowance for TDVision’s United States patent application directed to methods of generating three-dimensional images within a video game.

The patent application is U.S. Application No. 11/471,280 filed June 16, 2006 titled “3D Videogame System” and relates to earlier patent applications filed in 2002 and 2003. The newly allowed claims cover methods and systems for displaying three-dimensional images in a videogame that supports dynamically changing the stereoscopic settings based on a gamer’s object of interest.

The key feature of this patent is the dynamic stereoscopic convergence in video gaming. This method emulates the way the human eye perceives images in real life. When implemented on the videogame, it reduces side effects and enables a more enjoyable gaming experience. In real life, our eyes converge dynamically, depending on the object of interest. This is the same effect that occurs with the TDVirtualCam.

The TDVirtualCam can be implemented with DirectX, OpenGL filters, and at the Game Engine, Driver Level and the GPU level. This provides the videogame publishers and hardware manufacturers the flexible implementation required to achieve massive adoption. Currently, this method has already been adopted with some videogame titles.

Upon issuance, TDVision will begin licensing this technology under the brand name “TDVirtualCam” to game developers and others with an interest in stereoscopic gaming.

Source: BusinessWire

Sky Explores 3D Gaming

BSkyB is researching and developing technologies to turn live sports broadcasts into 3D interactive games. The project has been conceived as an extension of plans to augment Sky Sports' existing virtual graphics analysis tools for the launch of its 3D channel.

"The merger of live 3D sports broadcast with gaming is the next level," Darren Long, Head of Operations, Sky Sports at BSkyB, told TVB Europe. "One of my projects is investigating how to convert 2D HD information into 3D with as much realism as possible. We're taking player tracking data and information about head, leg and arm movements for playback in 3D.

"The important thing is to see how we can do better analysis of live incidents," he explained. "Despite the fact that football is regularly covered with 20 or more cameras, there are still instances of play which cause debate, perhaps because a camera hasn't really captured it in the best possible way. What's important for us is to accurately show exactly what has happened.

"We want to go beyond Hawk-Eye and Piero (two current sports analysis systems which extrapolate movement and positional data into 3D) and see if we can deliver a 360-degree virtual world in as much 3D realism as possible," he continued. "The real challenge is processing it fast enough.

"As a spin-off from that, we're exploring applications such as downloading the data to mobiles or other devices for people to view, interact or play a game with the sequence."

Sony has announced plans to upgrade all PS3 consoles to be capable of playing back a raft of new 3D games during 2010. Meanwhile BSkyB, whose Sky Player VoD service is already available on the Xbox, is expected to be ported to a number of new devices in the New Year, beginning with Fetch TV and to include the PS3.

By Adrian Pennington, TVB Europe

NVIDIA Demonstrates 3D Blu-ray Playback

NVIDIA has been demonstrating a complete 3D movie solution consisting of a PC equipped with a GeForce GPU and NVIDIA 3D Vision active-shutter 3D glasses, as well as new 1080p, 3D LCD displays from Acer to showcase how consumers will experience this new 3D Blu-ray content once it is commercially available. In anticipation of an official announcement by the Blu-ray Disc Association and expected product unveilings at the upcoming Consumer Electronics Show (CES) this January, NVIDIA has been working closely with the world's leading movie playback software developers, including Arcsoft, Corel, Cyberlink, and Sonic, to ensure seamless support for 3D Blu-ray titles when they are ready to ship in 2010.

Over the last few weeks, NVIDIA has successfully demonstrated playback of 3D content encoded with the AVC Multi-View Codec (or AVC-MVC), the codec that is expected to become the foundation for how 3D content is encoded onto Blu-ray discs. 3D Blu-ray content encoded in AVC-MVC can be decoded in real time on select NVIDIA GPUs. NVIDIA GPUs that can decode 3D Blu-ray content include the GeForce GT 240 ($99 U.S. MSRP), as well as upcoming next-generation GF100 GPUs based on the NVIDIA "Fermi" architecture. This will allow consumers to build desktop PCs powered by GeForce GPUs and NVIDIA 3D Vision active shutter glasses for under $1000 in total, making them the ideal platform for watching 3D Blu-ray movies, viewing 3D photographs, browsing 3D Web sites, or playing more than 400 PC game titles in 3D.

Of course, consumers will need a compatible 3D Vision display to watch upcoming 3D Hollywood blockbusters in the home. As a result, the world's leading display manufacturers are readying new 3D-Vision-ready, 1920x1080, 120Hz 1080p LCDs for introduction in 2010, and Acer will be first to market with its new GD245HQ and GD235HZ models that are perfect for gaming, videos and other home entertainment uses, including 3D Blu-ray content.

Source: CNN Money