GlaciusXL

I see what you re saying about 3d, Adam. If someone asked if I wanted 3d in gaming I d probably give a whatever shrug. But maybe we should consider a different viewpoint. I m neither for nor against 3d. So hear me out before writing it off as an argument. It's just a discussion.

3d is just tech. Like color TV, HD, Stereo, 5.1 etc. I don t think any of those things changed game-play. I mean, your 360 games play exactly the same in standard def black & white mono. Sure the color helps but it still plays the same. Sure the stereo sound helps but it still plays the same. Sure the 3d depth helps but it still plays the same.

I don t think 3d will ruin games. I understand that you have fears that somehow developers will make 3d JUST to make 3d, and I m sure some will at first. Just like sixaxis moments in games just to be there. But I would compare 3d most directly to stereo or 5.1 surround. After all, that s what it is, stereo for your eyes. Ask yourself, did games suddenly change when stereo was introduced? I don t know, but seeing as I didn t notice, I doubt it. But if they did add elements JUST for the stereo effect, it obviously died out really quick and the focus was back on the game experience.

Does surround sound enhance game-play? No more than 3d. It just adds a sense of space like 3d adds a sense of depth. And I m sure some people tried to be fancy with their audio at first. Oh listen, it s like it s RIGHT behind you!! But now you see where that has lead. The focus is on the game experience instead of making deliberate RIGHT BEHIND YOU noises for kicks. It s merely an assistance and extra enhancement. Is it necessary? No. Did it revolutionize gaming? Not really. Is it mandatory? No. 3d will be the same. Perhaps some games will be 3d only, but I would imagine those would number even less than online only games. But those would be games that wouldn t exist without the tech anyway.

So maybe the idea of 3d is fine, but it s those damn glasses. I seriously doubt that design is the final 3d experience. Remember corded phones? Remember fat monitors? Some geniuses found ways to free us from those things. I think the same will happen for 3d.

Back to visuals. Take HDTV for example. Did that do anything for game-play? No. Did standard def work fine? Sure. But HD adds an extra level of clarity. That sniper you probably couldn t make out unless it was HD might be that sniper you only spotted because of 3d. Would that be unfair in multiplayer for a 3d gamer to play a standard? No more than you playing on a 50 HD against a 19 standard on games today. Adam, you being a fan of platforming games I thought you might actually appreciate some 3d tech. I know there have been times in 3d platformers when you misjudged a jump because the platform in front of you wasn t the distance you thought. And then every time you have to make a jump you hesitate stop, rotate the camera left and right to get a sense of the platforms place in space, then jump. 3d would completely remove that issue just like surround lets you know where a sound came from without having to spin in circles to tell when it s louder. That s all the 3d should be seen as, just an extra layer. Like stereo. Like surround sound. Like rumble. Like HD. All new tech has a gimmick phase. But they always wear off quick. And when they do, that new tech is used in a very positive way.