Sony PS3 back catalogue unlikely to go 3D
Leading expert in stereoscopic gaming gives us the skinny
24 September 2009 9:00 GMT / By Stuart Miles
Sony's ability to retrospectively turn all games on the PS3 into 3D is unlikely to become a reality according to the President of the S-3D Gaming Alliance.
"We aren't sure how the rumour started, but it is unlikely to be possible for Sony to make all games on the PS3 3D retrospectively," Neil Schneider, who also happens to run Meant to be Seen (MTBS), the world's first and only stereoscopic 3D Certification and Advocacy group, told Pocket-lint in a one to one interview.
The news is likely to be a blow to those who got excited by the comments from a Sony exec reported at IFA in Berlin in Germany at the beginning of September.
"It would be possible on the PC, but consoles don't work like that," says Schneider.
Neil Schneider, a self confessed gaming fan, set up the S-3D gaming alliance in August to help create a standard for stereoscopic gaming allowing developers to work to a set format.
The alliance, which has already gained popularity and members such as DDD, iZ3D, Real D and BlitzGamesStudios, hopes that a unified format will be key to bring stereoscopic gaming to the masses within the next two years:
"The biggest hurdle is to appeal to game developers," Schneider told Pocket-lint in a one to one interview before acknowledging that the biggest problem is to convince them to start working and changing a product that already works and sells well.
"Now is the time," Schneider says. "Games are normally developed in two year cycles. If they don't embrace it now they could be left behind."
That two years seems to be a pivotal timeline in Schneider's world. It's also the date he believes that all the majority of PC monitors will be stereoscopic with technologies like Nvidia's 3D vision glasses amongst others empowering games to get immersed in the gameplay.
"I believe the majority of PC monitors will be 3D-Ready within two years," says Schneider. "The great news, is that the industry acknowledges that gaming is going to be at the centre of it all," boasts Schneider before suggesting he isn't the only one with this idea: "Katzenberg has said that gaming it the way 3D will get into the home."
Schneider could be right. Many experts believe that gamers will be key to bring 3D into the home. Their ability and urge to immerse themselves in gaming makes consoles like the PS3 and Xbox perfect gateways to a 3D world. The gamer is already sold on the idea that a TV can and will do more than just play back images.
So what's the future for the S-3D Gaming Alliance? Schneider has high hopes.
"We are constantly talking to new parties. I don't care whether we create the standardised format or someone does it based on getting involved. It's all about the consumer."
Once again he seems to be right, consumers will be the driving force here although game developers have just as equal say as to whether or not they start to develop games for a S-3D audience even though that audience is relativity small.
"Many people says its all about the chicken and the egg, I believe it's about real estate. Screen real estate."
As for future S-3D titles, it's clear more and more developers are already coming on board. Market leader EA aren't official on board as yet, however the S-3D advisory board cites Habib Zargarpour, a Senior Art Director within Electronics Arts on it.
Unlike 3D movies that are yet to make it into the home in a mainstream capacity, 3D gaming is already here and has been for some time.
Schneider suggests those interested in doing a little 3D gaming should check out; Fallout 3, Crisis, Elder Scrolls 4, Need for Speed Shift, and Invincible Tiger: The Legend of Han Tao. The game to watch though, will be Avatar due out in December.
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