Nvidia Debuts GeForce 3D Vision Glasses

The shutter glasses have been around for ages, this is nothing new. I have an Elsa set in a closet somewhere. I don't know why this is suddenly $199. These used to be $80-120. Several Nvidia board partners sold these systems. At the time you had to use a CRT since LCDs were waaay too slow on refresh speed and response. I'm still skeptical that they are fast enough. Any image persistance will degrade image quality and show ghosting. On a CRT at 120hz it was still annoying. It also leaves you with a headache after ahile. I guess I'd be interested in trying it again on a newer 120hz, fast response LCD to see if it is any better. I'm not terribly hopeful. I wouldn't recommend running out any buying this without being able to demo it on a similar LCD to what you intend to use to see if it is really acceptable.

The phase-based (polarized) stuff like Disney uses at Epcot for their 3D show (starting with Captain EO like 20 years ago, later updated to Muppet 3D) is much more impressive. I believe this is what the iZ3D system does. Only bummer is it absolutely requires a special display system. Either one of these iZ3D LCD monitors, or a pair of projectors each with a polarized filter. At least like anaglyphic 3D (the red/green glasses), the glasses are relatively cheap, unpowered, and lightweight so many people can view the display comfortably. I don't know the details of iZ3D's display as far as how good the left/right separation is or if they use the same transistors and flip an electronic polarized filter or what, but the projection systems have always been the premier 3D technology. I think this is much more promising even though cost is much higher. If it is something you can actually live with every day then the value proposition is decided. I'm actually hopeful about this. The displays aren't cheap, but $399 for 22" display isn't completely out of the question if it performs better than a $150 22" LCD with $199 shutter glasses.

I'm very skeptical of all technologies that let you use a standard display. There always seems to be serious drawbacks that would likely keep you from really using it on a day to day basis. Gamma curve is off, serious ghosting issues (crosstalk between left/right), brightness lowered considerably, etc.

There are also still universal issues with all 3D tech. Crosshairs in shooters are a big problem. They won't be "on target" at all distances. It will take integration by the developer of the game itself to solve this issue, like some sort of "3D mode" checkbox so your crosshair is dead on for just one eye or similar. And how convenient is it to wear glasses, put them on, take them off, every time you want to look at something in 3D? Even the polarized glasses reduce brightness. Do the drivers adjust brightness up automatically in 3D viewing? Are you going to want to use 3D in all 3D applications, or just some games or CAD programs? Can you enable 3D per application? Is this going to become a nightmare of turning stuff on and off when you switch tasks?

I'm still very excited at the prospects of 3D displays, but I would caution anyone before spending $200-600 to try the tech out before spending money. There are drawbacks that very well may keep you from really using it. Try to find a demo before you plonk the money down. After using at least 4 different 3D systems I'm not using any of them today, and none of them lasted more than 2-3 days of farting around.

I tried these out a few days ago -

Pros - Yeah they are cool, the unit has a depth adjuster knob on the back where you can physically change the distance between the left/right eye rendering to get an effect you are comfortable with. In third person games it has the effect of making the game look like a miniature playset.

Cons - This is old tech, the glasses are shutters that match the refresh rate of your display. They are range limited because and IR bar on the unit has to see you to constantly adjust the shutters. The glasses are also battery powered - I'm not sure what the life is on them. I thought that fact was kind of shitty. You will get eye strain on monitors/displays older than a year or ones with 120hz refresh - even with that refresh rate I heard there is a curve for adjustment.

I'm looking forward to the days of polarized glasses because those cause little eyestrain and feel more natural. Those glasses don't turn on/off blinders in the glasses a hundred times a second.

A good writeup on the subject:

http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/192/1050192/nvidia-picks-the-wrong-3d-glasses-technology

Any idea what monitors are included in tihs? I have a Dell3007FPW, is that 120hz or is it only really new monitors?

someone take a photo of the 3d screen through the glasses so I can see how cool it looks in 3d!

3D glasses have definitely come a long way. I saw a 3D show in Disney World that just stunned me. Donald Duck tried to grab a diamond that came all the way up close to the viewers face, so close I instinctively thought of grabbing it :D amazing..

Also Beowulf in IMAX was sort of cool, but sometimes certain elements shouldn't have been made in 3D, but I won't forget a moment where an axe comes right through the screen. It's cool when it's done right.

I wonder how much better these Nvidia glasses are than Disney/IMAX theaters, anyone tried both?

I wonder if this sort of thing could be combined with head tracking.

Everyone is comparing these to failed attempts at 3D in the past. I'm a little more optimistic. That it requires 120hz monitor is promising, since 60hz will go to each eye -- my monitor I have now runs at 60hz, and I only get a headache after 6+ hours of staring at the screen (and I can only take a couple hours of gaming at a time before I get bored).

I only wish I had the money to blow on these (and a new monitor) right now. I can't wait to try this out. If it's anything like the 3D IMAX version of Beowulf then I am instantly sold (that was the most amazing thing my eyes have ever seen). From reports of people who've actually tried them they say it's a "game changer" (pun intended?).

seems like both camps are getting desperate to raise their stock prices, coming up with this crap just to con some kids out of more money.

Yeah, I just bought a new 50' 1080p plasma... but I believe it only supports the equivalent of 60 hz... any way to check before I buy?

Requires Vista = Fail

Someone with endless cash try these out and report back.

3d goggles won't be done well (and won't be popular) until it's done well on a console, perhaps even a console with it's own screen. That way the developers of the system can count on the screen having a certain refresh rate, and drivers working a certain way. And if the system / peripheral is a hit, then other developers can feel confident about it and develop for it. The problem is... what I described sounds like Nintendo's virtual boy. Perhaps the main problem with the virtual boy was timing. It was too soon for a system like that. Today a virtual boy system would have full color, be more portable, and could rock. I'd like to see it on a stationary console too. Perhaps we'll get there eventually. The TVs would have to support a good refresh rate. The 3d part of it would need to be either goggle-less or the goggles need to be cheap enough that everyone in the room can still enjoy it. Perhaps the key will be if 3d displays get popular for TV shows and/or porn. Then the consoles could use the 3d display too.

I have a strong opinion about stereoscopic gaming. I own an Optoma DLP projector with shutter glasses and run games in 3D on the wall (ala the tomshardware.com setup.) I also own a pair of Vuzix iWear goggles (connected to a Wii remote as seen on youtube.) The real problem with this market isn't the products, it's the drivers. Some games work better than others (for example: World in Conflict has 2-D labels above the units that really disturb your focus, making it virtually unplayable.) The drivers, however, could work with ANY product if only they existed. So far, the fastest graphics card available that allows 3D gaming (the way You want to do it) is the GeForce 7 series! Yea! Nvidia has been promising stereoscopic drivers for their other cards for over a year, but we see damned little effort put into it (effort might be there, but we don't hear about it!) So, I have two separate computers... one computer has my GeForce 7950 in it... I run the projector and glasses off of it for 3D. My other computer has a GTX280 and there is no way of getting stereoscopic on that card. On top of this problem... it doesn't work with SLI (wouldn' it be GREAT to have one video card per eye?!?)

Here's something to get you hyped about this kinda stuff: When you play games in 3D your brain has access to knowledge (depth perception) that it uses to make better decisions than others playing the game in 2D. Scientific American once had a short article about how when the brain has access to depth it is being fed more information about it's environment, and thus capable of making a more accurate representation of the event it is trying to interpret. I can tell you that driving a tank and flying a gunship are far more effective when you can SEE how large the vehicle is and exactly were your projectile is headed. Simply put, you have 3 points of reference vs 2, and this is an advantage in shooters.

I'm not too sure how motivated Nvidia is about stereoscopic gaming. I'd like to see something more open from them.

i had an old pair for mechwarrior 2 and it was awesome

I can attest (using 3d glasses long ago) that the effect is convincing and cool. Still, it's a gimicky thing, but a nice one (as option). I'm glad Nvidia have their own standardized 3D glasses (which hopefully work on all future games).

Damn I better sell my stock

Ok Nvidia - pack those in a limited edition box of L4D (in the design of the medpack) and I would actually rebuy the game!

Anyone remember the movie The Jerk? He sued and won!

I think I just dated myself :(

I'd love to try these things out. Sadly my monitor doesn't even come close to what you need to use these.

New from Nvidia
The Nvidia Migraine glasses.

I'm sorry but the Sega Master System 3D glasses were the coolest thing of the time when I was a kid. Missle Command 3D never got old.

Man, I've been waiting for a good set of 3D glasses for a long time. Too bad my monitor isn't up to the job. I look forward to picking up a set of these from the clearance table in about three years.

Will these ones indeed work? I remember getting a pair of 3D glasses I wanted so bad for Christmas one year for PC and they just didn't work... at all, with any software. Hopefully technology has come a long way.

Oh no. Gaming was just becoming a hip thing to do. This will send us back to the 80's.

http://iz3d.com/t-PaintedMonitors.aspx

Pimp my 3D monitor kthx

$550 for the monitor + $200 for the glasses.
I hope it comes with a jizz guard too because i just jizzed in my pants!