Sony offers 3D gaming and video via PS3 firmware update

[Hohum]

I don't care about this 3D lark at all, seeing as I don't have stereo vision (always had poor vision in my left eye), thus can't use any of it. Not that I care too much though - get to keep all my money, and not wearing 3D glasses means I also get to keep my dignity.

I will be interested to see if this is just a fad though... 3D stuff has come and gone so many times over the years, what makes this time around different?

[kernow]

I will be interested to see if this is just a fad though... 3D stuff has come and gone so many times over the years, what makes this time around different?

Agreed.

[Brad]

I will be interested to see if this is just a fad though... 3D stuff has come and gone so many times over the years, what makes this time around different?

No colour degradation.

You need the special specs so that your head doesn't explode or sommat.

As far as "normal" broadcast TV goes you get Freeview in HD, 3D is limited to PS3 and/or a 3D Blu Ray player.

Or Sky, who are doing 3d broadcasts right now using regular Sky+ HD boxes. To get the 3d they squash the image by 50% and send 2 versions down per frame. The TV then decodes it and output one stretch 3d image.

So, to get 3d on sky you must give up half your tv resolution. Sky 3D HD = 960 x 1080i. And you still need stupid glasses.

The only 3d I'm interested in is the Nintendo 3DS cos that needs no specs.

[Spatial]

Seems to me it's really not the time (for me certainly) to jump in to 3D at home. Not only is the cost pretty prohibitive it's also in its infancy which means the tech for not having glasses is still being worked out.

[nonny]

I think the whole movie industry is jumping the gun somewhat here. Most consumers have only just swallowed the blu-ray pill and most are still using DVD.

I just don't see the need for 3D right now. That said the home tech is impressive from what Ive seen. The new samsung TVs just launched over here and one retailer had the 50" running monsters vs aliens in 3D. I watched it for a good 15 mins and for me the effect was better than watching avatar in IMAX or a standard screen.

So I think it works well enough but are people going to buy into it while it's in it's infancy and more importantly do you want to wear glasses every time you watch a movie or play a game just for added effect?

[dataDave]

I'm gay for 3D and want it everywhere.

If I was Bill Gates I'd get Rare to make me Perfect Dark in 3D. That would be amazing.

In all seriousness, 3D will sell me a PS3 finally. And if it's selling it to a stubborn, hard to please bastard like myself then god only knows how many muppets are going to be jumping on board (who aren't already on with the PS3 of course).

[analog dog]

I was pricing 3d in the home this morning for a client.
?1800 for the Samsung LED Monitor
?349 for the 3D capable blu-ray player
?150 for the specs
?80 for the sync generator (which is a sneaky extra that you need for it to work!!)

So 2.5k for 2 people to watch Monsters vs Aliens-no thank you.

[EvilBoris]

They are taking the piss with the pricing, to make all the exta 3D hardware probably costs less than a tenner on top of a blu ray player. That's including the specs

[dataDave]

I don't think it's that bad, considering you'd have paid all that for a normal big screen (40"?) 720p setup back in 2005, with a few crappy extras like a stand and speakers.

Saying that it's out of my budget at the minute, along with anything else over £50.

[Paddy]

I think the whole movie industry is jumping the gun somewhat here. Most consumers have only just swallowed the blu-ray pill and most are still using DVD.

I just don't see the need for 3D right now. That said the home tech is impressive from what Ive seen. The new samsung TVs just launched over here and one retailer had the 50" running monsters vs aliens in 3D. I watched it for a good 15 mins and for me the effect was better than watching avatar in IMAX or a standard screen.

So I think it works well enough but are people going to buy into it while it's in it's infancy and more importantly do you want to wear glasses every time you watch a movie or play a game just for added effect?

I agree wholeheartedly with what you're saying here. We can risk coming off as sounding like old conservatives but anyone who earns a regular wage would look at the costs and go 'maybe in a year or two ey little Jimmy?' It's not cost effective to upgrade to a 3D-capable TV right now and warrant the purchase as you'd have to consume films/games/TV on it for 5 years to get your value out of it.

Give it 2 years and I imagine we'll see similar prices to HDTVs now when the technology is cheaper to produce and they are more mass market.

[nonny]

I think the point right now is there is also very little content over here at least. Australia is months behind the US and UK this yet the hardware has landed.

The only reason I can see to buy it now is if you were in the Market for a TV upgrade anyway and wanted to future proof yourself. Other than that it has limited appeal given I can't see people wearing the glasses every time they look at the display. Were not at the point where all content is 3D but I still don't see myself playing a game in 3D for several hours. Surely that is going to wreck your eyes?

Lastly only two sets of glasses. Well that is a clever ploy right there isn't it.

[analog dog]

Lastly only two sets of glasses. Well that is a clever ploy right there isn't it.

Not as clever as the sync generator that you'll need (to pay extra for) to run them at the same time!

[Uli]

I was pricing 3d in the home this morning for a client.
?1800 for the Samsung LED Monitor
?349 for the 3D capable blu-ray player
?150 for the specs
?80 for the sync generator (which is a sneaky extra that you need for it to work!!)

So 2.5k for 2 people to watch Monsters vs Aliens-no thank you.

with Samsung you have to buy an extra sync generator for syncing the shutter glasses? that's no exactly what i call a 3D-ready TV...

[mackemansj1]

I think ill wait, this is coming from someone that jumped on 720p lcd tv right away, imported a hddvd player from the states, was there launch day for skyhd and someone that owns multi ps3s for all region playback of bluray. I really cant justify changing my 52" bravia thats only year and a half old and gives me an amazing bluray playback picture. Ill wait till 3d is in with the price of the set instead of extra like it is atm.

[Neil]

I think ill wait, this is coming from someone that jumped on 720p lcd tv right away, imported a hddvd player from the states, was there launch day for skyhd and someone that owns multi ps3s for all region playback of bluray. I really cant justify changing my 52" bravia thats only year and a half old and gives me an amazing bluray playback picture. Ill wait till 3d is in with the price of the set instead of extra like it is atm.

Similar situation, got my 3rd Bravia just over a year ago and like you I'm very very happy with it so just can't justify it atm. Paid nearly ?3000 for my first 40" Bravia and it's now in my games room, still looks good now and gives a nice crisp picture with blu ray and freesat HD.