Virtual Reality

Virtual Reality has always been a boom and trough sensation picking up the imaginations of the majority only to drop them again when they become less interested in the state of the technology being shown. It’s a shame because current technology could allow a whole new level of immersion for movies, TV and video game alike.

It’s strange because 3D in films these days has almost become and necessity as well as for sporting events and even for some of the AAA game releases too. Sony were the biggest supporter in the Video Games industry (at least until Nintendo’s 3DS got released) but a few years on the interest in this is really starting to decline.

The problem is that while 3D movies have become the standard many day to day TV viewers have continued to watch the 2D counterparts. This has obviously led to only a small volume of 3D stations which has left this side of the market somewhat emaciated.

Perhaps it is because the 3D scene arrived too early when current video games tech for example, as well as standard home televisions were unable to represent the concept to its best potential. True 3D can only be represented using twice the amount of pixels and twice the geometry to be of any success. The actual implications of this on our consoles hardware means that all but the best examples fall well below the quality that is actually being expected.

What we are all really thinking is that 3D is a ‘neat’ bonus feature but is still not something we expect as the majority still can’t use it properly. Developers can’t be expected to build a 3D experience from the ground up if only a minority can play it. Essentially a 3D game actually plays exactly as it would normally, just with a sense of added depth. Yes the impact can be impressive, it can increase levels of immersion to a certain extent but fundamentally, the game is almost exactly the same.

In Naughty Dog’s Uncharted 3 the stereo immersion feels much more than just a tack on with the incredible vistas heightening the sense of wonder. In fact it feels so good that the ‘effect’ makes you really feel as if you are pushing the limits of what the Playstation 3 can actually do.

Meanwhile we are also being treated to the Nintendo 3DS. Obviously being a completely 3D system you would hope that we would be seeing more games uniquely tailored to this strength but many have fallen well short. The window of depth is there and is visually appealing but the actually effect on gameplay is minimal at best. The one true exception though is Super Mario 3D which being a platformer is definitely taking advantage of the technology by removing the ambiguity of distances when displayed on a 2D screen.

All in all 3D is being taken with a pinch of salt – we either love the result or hate it and in most cases, unfortunately, it is the latter. It’s true that 3D is a good addition to a game but it is still something far from expected in each new release. There are many people that knock the 3D aspect of gaming because they feel that it diminishes an experience while others constantly bring up depth fatigue after it plagued the 3DS since its launch. I wouldn’t be surprised if this trend bent its knee in favour of some new idea but the emphasis from developers for the future is that 3D is a direct to go in if the costs aren’t too great. Don’t expect any big 3D only releases but as people become more use to 3D at home expect more of the same being offered – at least for the short term.