3D – Been there, done that

By : Boonichiwa

Not something I expected to see coming so quickly after introducing HD into everyone’s homes, and especially after the <sarcasm> RAGING </sarcasm> success that was Motion Controls. Is the entertainment industry so short on ideas that not only must they resort to shallow gimmicks, but shallow gimmicks that comes from the archaic era of the 1980s? Or am I so jaded that instead of sitting in anticipation for the all mighty 3D I sit here saying… it will come and go and hopefully when its all over I’ll finally be able to enjoy some proper gaming/movies/TV again?

Well, E3 really got my blood flowing with all of Nintendo’s fancy 3D announcements. Honestly, I look forward more to the games that are coming out on the new handheld (Kid Icarus, Metal Gear Solid, and a whole plethora of gaming wonders) more so than the 3D itself. Impressive that we are one step close to holograms but I can already foretell what is going to happen… same thing as what happened with Motion controlling your games.

Step 1: Excitement

This is where everyone gets super excited about the new thingy thats just appeared. Oh look at how shiny and special it is.. It can do what I want it to do and make me PART of the game (I say this from personal experience as when I first touched a Wii I “Gamer-gasmed” so hard I may as well have been a giggling 13 year old girl).

3D  is doing just that. Sony is bringing it onto their TV’s too freaking soon, especially now that everyone has just kitted themselves out with an expensive HD or LCD TV. Not saying there won’t be buyers. Every yuppie and his dog is going to end up with one. This I’ve come to expect of Sony. But Nintendo has got me at an impasse.  Yay to new gaming peripheral that has the power of the Wii… but why 3D. Did they not say themselves that interactive gaming on that level will not be good UNTIL FORCE FEEDBACK! It’s like we’re running in circles here.

Step 2: Ridicule

This is where fanboys of one system will mock the other system, and companies will point and say “Thats not the future!!!”

Motion controls are another good example. Short version. Nintendo brings out motion controls. Sony and Microsoft and respective fanboys : “lol @ casual. lame rofl!!!!1″ Nintendo says “k, need feedback” The End (?)

But the ridicule on 3D has been ever so silent. (Except for Sony’s statement of Nintendo’s glasses free 3D is not the right way). Why? Is it because everyone has fallen into the 3D hype? Maybe. Maybe it’s because everyone realises that if they don’t keep quite about dissing another platform their own fanbase just might sting them back.

Step 3: Acceptance

This step just means that gamers and companies alike know its their, accept it and move on. Revert back to what was more comfortable and easy to use, usually cheaper too, and every now and then use the “new” system for whatever it’s worth.  3D may add a little bit of oomph to some visual (maybe like Silent Hill) but unless you take away that squared restriction of the TV, it’s just not going to be believable.

Step 4: Boredom

Gamers give up on the new hype thingy. It’s done its job, it’s entertained me… but not anymore. Let’s just go back to the way things were. Pick up a control, sit down in front of the TV and play the new “Shoot them till they die lots” game.

Eventually people will lose their glasses (Sony) or turn down the 3D button so save battery (Nintendo) because that 3D element is really… not adding… to the experience.

Step 5:  Replicate

Realise that the hype for the previous system is over, but copy it to other systems anyway. It may seem I’m picking on Sony and Microsoft here, but Nintendo is just as much of a bastard when it comes to this (read : Cartridge vs CDs). Motion Controls aside, 3D will have just that. When Sony and Nintendo are finally done with the idiocy that is 3D, using it only to justify its existence, Microsoft will do what it’s done best. Wait to see what was the best of all of it and duplicate it into their system (not a bad strategy, just a very boring one).

In conclusion, 3D is just a gimmick. One that will make lots of money, as it’s done before, but will sit on the roadside like an unwanted CRT in a few years.