Since I get the feeling that the question will keep getting posted in other threads, I think that one should be started in the forum for the first 3D console game, Avatar the Game.

What is stereoscopic 3D? Its a way of viewing media with both eyes differently, displaying depth in a way that you naturally view real-world objects.

At one time the anaglyph (commonly red and blue, or sometines red and green) format was preferred, because it is the easiest to implement, using one filmstrip, or one printed image. It is still popular today for viewing some TV media and some computer imagry, such as B&W NASA 3D images of lunar surfaces, Mars images, etc. It also is used on just about every 3D DVD to date, as well as 1960s era exploitation flicks, and 1950s comic books. Since it crushes your sense of color, it is often seen as a gimmick for modern color media. I know that the upcoming game based off the movie G-Force will have an anaglyph mode and glasses, but this is not what the future holds for 3D, and I personally wish would stay in the past, for video material.

The most common method used in theaters today (made pupular recently by RealD, using DLP projection) is circular polarization. The polarized method has actually been used for 3D in movies since the 1950s, despite the common misconception that clear polarized galsses are a new idea. The old method of achiving this was to have two movie projectors running each image, each with linear polarized filter on each, with an opposed 90 degree angle, projecting on a silver screen. Newer technology uses a digital projector, a silver high-reflectivity screen, and a timed alternating circular polarizer in front of the projector. Circular polarizers keep the image stereo while tilting your head, while the older linear method did not. Some newer LCD HDTVs are able to duplicate this without the projection part. The strongest aspect of this technology is that the glasses become so cheap that they are basically disposable. We could someday soon see a major sunglasses manufacturer sell clear, polarized lenses with 3D capability. Gone would be the dorky flat models that they give you at the door in the theater.

The next method is the quickest to ever gain popularity, field-sequential 3D called the Eclipse Method. This is done with LCD "shutter glasses" that rapidly block each eye from seeing the other's image. Since they need to be wireless to be practical, there needs to be a transmitter and the glasses have a built-in reciver of that signal. What makes this technology so good, is the flexibility of beeing able to use any monitor that can process and pass 120Hz video. No polarization needed. These used to be very bulky in size and weight, but have now seem to be closer to looking like regular glasses than just a few years ago.

All curent methods for the home (except the proposed lenticlular models that will work without glasses) will need to be able to process 120Hz (120fps), as that will be the standard for alternating L/R frames. Anything less will apear to jutter.

What is needed for stereoscopic 3D in the home:

• compatible content
  
• a compatible HDTV or monitor
  
• compatible glasses, depending on monitor
  
• a capable video card or console with capable graphics processor

A list of "3D Ready" HDTVs and compatible monitors can be found here:
http://www.3dmovielist.com/3dhdtvs.html

Some 3D technology partners include Sensio, Nvidia, and RealD.

Excellent thread Gordo-San!

I picked up the nvidia glasses and samsung monitor bundle a month or so ago. Its nice to see a game that is ready to try the 3d effect properly. My experance with steroscopic 3d has been very very positive. From what i have seen, the more "objects" wether they are movable or not add to the effect of 3d. This game looks to have alot of stuff to walk around and look at. Anyways just here to say i am ready for this game in 3d and if u can demo a 3d unit, do it.

I would like to know what kind of 3D system they are using to achieve 3D w/ the non Nvidia glasses. How are they getting stereoscopic 3D with a regular 120hz TV and HDMI that doesn't require active shutter glasses but does require 120hz and HDMI?

Gordo-san - thanks so much for adding clarity to this mystery. Still, I am unclear about some issues surrounding the stereoscopic game although I am incredibly thrilled that Ubisoft is taking this huge leap for us!

First, will there be a separate game product (SKU) for stereoscopic support for the Xbox game or can I pre-order Avatar now and be able to play in stereo assuming I find the right monitor/glasses combo?

Second, the list at 3dmovielist.com is somewhat useful, but I am still confused about how the Xbox will be supported. I currently play Xbox games with a 52" Toshiba DLP which can certainly NOT do 120khz. So I am all set to buy WHATEVER IS NEEDED to play this game on the Xbox - and still waiting for Ubisofts Best recommendation for that!

Cheers and thanks again.
-james

Metal: 3D in Avatar is a feature that you can turn on or off in the game menu, so all Next-Gen (PS3, 360, PC) versions of the game will support it. No "specialized version" is needed.

We are still working on putting together the Best Recommendations list, but you will have it soon!

Hi Gabe

Thanks for the reply - I am watching for that list
-j

You and about a million other people, lol!

Believe me, I know this is a big question weighing heavily on a lot of people's minds... of course, it's a fairly new technology, so we want to be really careful before recommending anything specific.

While we all wait for the final list of compatible 3D technologies to be released, I can tell you that I was recently at a press event in Toronto where we had the game running on a Panasonic TV using Sensio 3D technology and used polarized light glasses as opposed to shutter-glasses. Previously, I had only seen the game using shutter-glasses, but I guess we can do polarized glasses as well!

I will dig further and see if I can root out some more details from our tech team.

Thanks Gabe!

I'm mostly set up for shutter glasses now. Hope the PC requirements aren't way out there.

So they are planning on using other forms of 3d. I was wondering about this as s3d is still very expensive to get into. So which version do u think was better? Is there any noticeable difference from polarized glasses vs. shutter glasses? Did they say anything about the screen used to display the 3d content? Is it a universal TV or use lendicuar screens. Was there any mention of what the consoles plan on using for their 3d version?

I had always thought the shutter glasses are better due to the syncing to the display to exactly shut out one image. The polarized glasses look great in the theater though due to the huge screen. I'm going to be testing the shutter glasses on an Optoma HD80 DLP 1080p projector this weekend and see how it fairs. The only consumer polarized 3d set up I have messed with was some glasses at Fry's Electronics. The effect was not good at all.

Hi folks. I get the sense that most of you saying you already have glasses are talking about computers, not the xbox console.

Does anyone have a clue on the xbox hardware needs?

I don't think it's been announced yet. I would guess some form of polarized glasses unless they are working with nVidia (or someone) to get shutter glasses to work. The fact that you have to have 120hz TV makes me wonder... There are very few real 120hz displays out there unless you're rocking a DLP or the handful of plasmas that are 3D-Ready or the even more rare TRUE 120hz LCDs.

This video interview talks about the 3D tech. They talk about the different types of stereoscopic 3D technology and say they'll "be using all of them". So... that's something..

http://www.gamerglotze.de/ViewMovie?flv_id=2693

Skip to 11:00 for the 3D part.