Sony demos 3D dual-view split screen gaming

Two players, one full screen

A mock up of how it will look

21 February 2011 23:26 GMT / By Stuart Miles

Sony is looking to introduce a dual-view 3D mode for its PlayStation 3 console, that would allow gamers to play against each other in the same room on the same TV without having to play split screen.

Demoed by Mick Hocking, senior director for SCEE and director of World Wide Studio’s 3D Stereoscopic Team, to a select few (including many shocked Sony execs) in London, Hocking detailed how in the near future gamers will be able to play against each other in the same room on the same console on the same TV, without seeing what the other person is doing thanks to advances in 3D technology.

Pocket-lint was treated to the demo of the recently released Killzone 3, showed us first hand that what you see is dependent on where you sit in your living room (gaming room).

“This will hurt your eyes,” warned Hocking, before proceeding to play the video clip of the new gaming mode on the Sony exclusive title; explaining that we should only watch it with one eye open (swapping eyes to get the different effect) as we wouldn’t be sitting in the right place.

The technology works in a similar way to Jaguar’s spilt screen television on its dashboard that displays television to the passenger in the car and a map to the driver, but in this case to gamers at home.

Player one will see his movements full screen, while player 2 will see his - i.e., something completely different explained Hocking on the technology that could revolutionise gaming at home, on your TV.

Sitting directly in front of the television (in our case a 55-inch Sony BRAVIA no less) meant we saw both images (unless we did the eye trick) - something that we wouldn’t recommend.

Unfortunately, there’s no word on when the new feature will be available. Our attempts to photograph the new tech clearly didn't work, but the mere fact that Sony has shown it working on a game that is already available (albeit just 3 days at time of writing) has got to be a positive thing.

Are you excited by this new dual-view mode? Let us know in the comments below.

Full tags
Gaming, PS3, Killzone 3, Sony, 3D, 3DTV

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