Since the beginning of cinematography, creators have constantly attempted to break the perceived fourth-wall in order to bring their audience into the universe they have set out to create. Derived from stereoscopic photography, 3D film, television and computer graphics essentially show the viewer two separate perspectives of the same image in order to create the illusion that the object in fact inhabits the same real-space as the viewer. James Cameron’s Avatar has received much acclaim for utilizing this process in illustrating the gorgeous homeworld of the alien Na’vi and 3D viewings of the film are still selling out, propelling the film towards being the top grossing film of all time. Such success at the box office has producers and developers in the gaming industry questioning whether or not the same experience could be delivered to gamers in their living rooms. But this raises several questions as to whether or not this is fiscally feasible or even remotely in the realm of what players want when they sit down, controller in hand. While 3-D does possess numerous visual advantages in regards to the world of cinema, its fiscal feasibility still remain aloof as far as gamers are concerned. I seriously doubt that 3D gaming will change the industry anytime in 2010, maybe it'll be different in 2011.
Even today, ask many people what their favorite factors are when it comes to judging a video game and there will be a decidedly large following who subscribe to the graphical beauty a game can offer them. Titles like those in Halo, Gears of War and Final Fantasy franchises have a deep-seeded rooting in their respective communities as being some of the most visually appealing titles. But would that be altered at all if the games transitioned to 3D in the following iterations. How would a gamer feel if an Elite got in their face while doing a melee attack, actually causing the player to be seized by a momentary adrenaline rush? While this has the potential to be exceptionally cool, it raises another question. How would a gamer feel after the thousandth time experiencing it? When you sit in a theatre and can fully experience the majestic beauty that 3D has to offer, especially in the case of Avatar, the only action you have to worry about is the next image your eyes will take in. However, when you’re playing 4-player co-op and trying to stay alive on Insane, the last thing you want to worry about is how one of the players will respond to a Locust Drone trying to cut you to pieces.
Visual potential aside, the gaming implications alone are enough to bench 3D gaming for several years to come. However, if utilized in a game that was more of an experience than action-oriented, 3D has a far better potential to make a long-lasting impression on the gaming community. Suffice to say, people go to 3D movies to watch them, to let their minds absorb the images and feast on the vivid visuals. Conversely, people play games to do just that; play. They want to have a drastically different experience than what 3D films currently offer, but this doesn’t mean parallels can’t be drawn between the two. A game with far less emphasis on multiplayer could theoretically serve to transition 3D into the realm of gamers. Titles like Geometry Wars 2, Braid or Space Giraffe would make for exceedingly interesting gaming experiences if they were displayed in 3D. However, original games would be a must on any console that hopes to implement 3D into their gaming libraries.
This feature editorial continues on the next page, please click below to reveal our final thoughts on 3D Gaming in 2010.
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