Sony offers 3D gaming and video via PS3 firmware update

[112]

Its always interesting when you guys go all technical on here, makes me feel thick/stupid, and you guys seem like science, techno bods.........

Don't get me wrong, i enjoy it when I read about stuff i clearly have no idea about, much like most of the general public who just follow trends.........

I learn something new every day indeed!

112

[sj33]

I'm sure I read that a TV would need to be able to display two 100hz images for the tech to work.

The basic idea is that each eye has to be fed a separate 'frame'. So, to be able to do the average 60Hz source in 3D, you'd need a 120Hz input. Existing TVs that boast 100/120Hz processing are no good because this is merely post-processing - they don't actually accept 120Hz input. In fact, I don't think it's officially supported by HDMI 1.3 spec. HDMI 1.4 adds this, but you can't just update a TV to 1.4.

At best, the PS3 should be upgradable to 1.4 via firmware update.

[Number45]

They said recently that 3D was going to be added to the 1.3 standard I believe. I'll see if I can find the link...

[sj33]

I read an article that suggested that Nvidia's implementation worked on 1.3, but that works differently to Sony's implementation. There was also an article that suggested that the 3D Blu-Ray movies would work on 1.3, but that was surely an error because 3D support is one of the biggest additions of 1.4 (unless I'm missing something?).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HDMI#Version_1.4

[Number45]

Here's what I read before, so yeah it seems like it's not going to be perfect on 1.3. Be interesting to see if they can get it into a firmware update, seems to me like it might have an accompanying hardware requirement.

[sj33]

Looks like it would be a nice solution for people with firmware upgradable sets. I certainly can't see myself upgrading anytime soon, so...

EDIT - it sounds like the update is for players rather than TVs. I wonder what the implications will be for 3D gaming?

[EvilBoris]

HDMI 1.4 requires that double the bandwidth is available for certain sources so that twice the information can pass through.
I don't think that any sets offered 1.2 - 1.3 upgrades via firmware and that was a similar kind of thing for the deep colour

[Uli]

They said recently that 3D was going to be added to the 1.3 standard I believe. I'll see if I can find the link...

ehm, this thread is actually about this solution as, like i said before, existing HDMI hardware most likely can't be updated to HDMI 1.4 standard.

also, in respect to the "3D TV" discussion, all a display needs to do is to output 2 different frames instead of just one at every frame step. so basically even a 60Hz TV set (HDMI v1.1 - v1.3) should be able to display 24/30fps movies in stereoscoping 3D and 720p resolution. or have i missed something?

[Brad]

I think you are correct Uli. The task therefore will be ensuring that the glasses are synched correctly with what the TV is doing. Quite how you do that is anyone's guess. You could, for instance, have the PS3 send a bluetooth signal to the glasses. There'd need to be some kind of calibration to take account of the lag between the PS3 and the screen actually displaying the frame. I'm guessing that bespoke systems would have the actual TV send the signal to the specs?

All the above is speculation. i've got no idea how this magic works!

[Akihabara]

How would Natal games look in 3d? It would look like the way we will play games in the coming generation I guess.

[Uli]

just found an interesting, highly informative article on the subject of The truth of Stereoscoping TV.

[Number45]

SSHD3D at least is confirmed as 720p running at 60 (120) fps!

There's a video on IGN of them holding up the glasses in front of the camera.

[sj33]

Gone will be the days when you could casually watch a mate/sibling/girlfriend play a game :P

[ChrisF]

Is this going to offer any better experience than Nintendo's Virtual Boy? Other than the graphics being a tad bad...

I'm kind of still expecting major migranes to be induced by these things!

[Number45]

I managed the best part of three hours watching Avatar without any headache, I'm not sure if this would be any worse assuming you're not playing for hideous amounts of time.