Ben-DutkaThere's no doubt that 3D is a cool, high-tech feature. And for certain games, it can be impressive. Amazing even.
But this doesn't appear to be something that has caught on among hardcore gamers. I mean, I can only speak from personal experience and what I read in articles and communities on the Internet, but most fans don't seem to think 3D is a critical upgrade.
Some say the drop in high-definition is the reason they don't like 3D. Others say it gives them headaches. Still others say it remains too expensive; i.e., the cost of a new 3D-enabled HDTV if they don't already have one, plus the cost of the glasses. But the majority seem to agree that for whatever reason, 3D doesn't always add the expected intensity and immersion one might expect. I've even heard people say the immersion level drops because they're too aware of the technology before their eyes; too aware they're involved in something that is, for all intents and purposes, fake. It's a fantastical experience, after all.
Now, that may not make much sense but in some ways, I understand it. Plus, we have to remember that 3D isn't exactly new; people have been going to the theaters to check out 3D movies since the 80s. Of course, things have advanced since then and the technology is better but even so, the concept is the same. The bottom line is that unless we're talking total immersion, as in virtual reality, I don't think 3D is going to have any significant impact. Then again, there are a select few who will swear by 3D gaming and wonder why it hasn't become more popular.
Maybe we just need to take the next step, and when the tech gets a little better and we don't need glasses, and it's seamlessly implemented in the gaming experience, with no resolution cut, 3D will become more popular. That's just a guess, and perhaps a hope. For now, though, 3D gaming doesn't appear to be this amazing revolution it was purported to be.
