How awesome is this?

Jobydrone · January 07, 2011, 06:54:38 AM

http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/news/2011/01/hands-on-sonys-head-mounted-3d-display.ars

Sony's 3D enabled headset was unveiled at CES yesterday. THIS is the kind of tech that could turn me around on 3D. Who needs a TV? Plug in, turn it on, and immerse yourself in a fully 3D enabled virtual universe. Imagine the implications for 3D gaming. This is a product I've been dreaming about ever since becoming a gamer and it seems that the technology is catching up to my dreams. I'll try not to get too excited, but WOW.

Bryancd · January 07, 2011, 07:06:48 AM

3D in entertainment is here to stay. Alot of the reports out of CES on CNBC this past week I have been watching with the CEO's of companies like Sony as well as the entertainment industry are making a lot of big bets on 3D.

KingIsaacLinksr · January 07, 2011, 08:09:50 AM

3D is a gimmick. After Tron 3D, I probably will never watch anything else in 3D. Too expensive for what you get.

King

Bryancd · January 07, 2011, 08:33:33 AM

Quote from: Kingisaaclinksr on January 07, 2011, 08:09:50 AM
3D is a gimmick. After Tron 3D, I probably will never watch anything else in 3D. Too expensive for what you get.

King

According to the film studios and theater owners, you are in the minority, sorry to say. I'm just reporting what is on business news, I have no dog in this fight beyond any potential investment opportunities.

Rico · January 07, 2011, 08:46:29 AM

I will never turn to the darkside of 3-D. And Bryan, I think you may need to recheck some of those reports. Most 3-D films have not done well in the last year. And the lack of another great 3-D film experience is leaving many people sour on the format and extra cost. "Tron Legacy" is a good example of this. Always been a gimmick and still is a gimmick. Just make a good freaking movie and you don't need gimmicks.

QuadShot · January 07, 2011, 08:52:33 AM

I'm holding out for Holodeck movies!! :)

Bryancd · January 07, 2011, 09:02:02 AM

Quote from: Rico on January 07, 2011, 08:46:29 AM
I will never turn to the darkside of 3-D. And Bryan, I think you may need to recheck some of those reports. Most 3-D films have not done well in the last year. And the lack of another great 3-D film experience is leaving many people sour on the format and extra cost. "Tron Legacy" is a good example of this. Always been a gimmick and still is a gimmick. Just make a good freaking movie and you don't need gimmicks.

No, in general theater owners have benefited form ticket sales at a higher price point due to the various 3D offerings this year despite a dcline in overall attendance.

http://articles.latimes.com/2010/dec/28/business/la-fi-1228-ct-box-office-20101228

No doubt they have of wildly dispirit quality and effectiveness, but the studios have so many new offerings in the pipeline coming as well as the home entertainment efforts to begin to capture this technology...3D is here to stay, mark my words. They will do everything they can do to drive that business.

Here's a good article about the debate that came out prior to AVATAR's release:

http://www.slashfilm.com/is-the-digital-3d-movie-fad-over/

Rico · January 07, 2011, 09:50:24 AM

Nope, still not buying it. I'll give you another example. "Inception." Not in 3-D, made a ton of money. Why? Because it was a good movie!

You are welcome to continue to pay $15+ and get gouged for 3-D that matters little in the current film going experience. People are tight with their dollars these days. They may get people to pay that, but I still maintain more are staying away at those prices.

Read this to get an idea of the price gouging going on. Get ready for a $20 3-D movie ticket. I can buy the movie for less than that!

http://www.cinemablend.com/new/Movie-Ticket-Price-Gouging-Will-Push-3D-Near-20-Dollars-17734.html

Jobydrone · January 07, 2011, 09:58:22 AM

I know it takes very little to kick off the 3D debate on these boards. But try to set aside the theater going experience and think of this product used in conjunction with a motion sensing, full body scanning device like the new Microsoft Kinect. The tech is all in place, for a true three dimensional space with an avatar based around everything you are doing with your body. Quadshot joked about the holodeck but with a little bit of imagination on the part of software designers, the level of immersion that could come from this headset might very well rival something we've seen in TNG. To me the possibilities seem endless.

Rico · January 07, 2011, 10:03:29 AM

I'm more in favor for it with computing devices and gaming actually where it could truly be immersive. They've tried to get these big headsets out there for several years now. nVidia had a set for a long time they were pushing. A couple issues are the cost and software/games to run on them. Until those things come together, we have a ways to go. I'd guess maybe 5 years still or so.

Jobydrone · January 07, 2011, 10:04:10 AM

And you even look like Geordi LaForge when you're wearing them!

Jobydrone · January 07, 2011, 10:05:31 AM

Quote from: Rico on January 07, 2011, 10:03:29 AM
I'm more in favor for it with computing devices and gaming actually where it could truly be immersive. They've tried to get these big headsets out there for several years now. nVidia had a set for a long time they were pushing. A couple issues are the cost and software/games to run on them. Until those things come together, we have a ways to go. I'd guess maybe 5 years still or so.

Maybe sooner Rico, there's a pretty long list of 3D games coming out this year for the PS3. A couple are already out...Avatar the Game had 3D support. Cost is probably the major stumbling point. This must be a super expensive device and it could be a really long time before the price becomes anywhere near affordable for the average consumer.

Bryancd · January 07, 2011, 10:06:18 AM

Very true, Joby. My contention is 3D, from films to home entertainment to gaming is here to stay and will continue to be developed and pushed aggressively. It's not going away and provides for future avenue's of growth and revenue for so many different industires. And it's going to improve in terms of quality and delivering a positive experience. I haven't seen a 3D TV boradcast yet but I recall your son Stephen, Rico, mentioning he thought that sports looked pretty cool in 3D. It's coming. I don't think there is any debate of that inevitability. A person may not like the theater experience or cost, but in general, that's not going to stop the trend.

Rico · January 07, 2011, 10:09:53 AM

Yep - Stephen said that. He also said (like I did) that Tron in 3-D stunk and was not worth it. Like I've said above, I'm opposed to tacking 3-D on to a movie that just isn't helpful to it and only adds to the ticket pricing. Maybe in 10 years when I can walk into a new movie theater and see some type of full 3-D experience without wearing goofy glasses and that costs a reasonable amount I will be good with it. Until then, it's still a gimmick for most movies.

Bryancd · January 07, 2011, 10:14:20 AM

Quote from: Rico on January 07, 2011, 10:09:53 AM
Yep - Stephen said that. He also said (like I did) that Tron in 3-D stunk and was not worth it. Like I've said above, I'm opposed to tacking 3-D on to a movie that just isn't helpful to it and only adds to the ticket pricing. Maybe in 10 years when I can walk into a new movie theater and see some type of full 3-D experience without wearing goofy glasses and that costs a reasonable amount I will be good with it. Until then, it's still a gimmick for most movies.

Fair enough but when evaluating something like this, it's often usefull to remove our personal bias, love it or hate it, and look at it in a more academic way. Your a scientist, this should be second nature for you! :) This is the same way I evaluate Apple. Yes I love the products but my evaluation of their products and prosepects in purely academic, I remove my own bias to try and be more predictive. 3D technology is here to stay, that's not a very difficult prediction to make. Whether we like it or not is inconsequential.

How awesome is this?

QuadShot