
Stereoscopic 3D generally still requires a 3D capable TV for it to work and that is still expensive. I did get to try out Gears of War 2 on a dev kit using an "aftermarket" 3D solution where the code was modified, allowing it to be viewed in 3D on a traditional HD television using glasses. This solution from Darkworks functioned, but wasn't that impressive. Darkworks also let me play Gears of War 2 in 3D on an actual 3D Samsung television (and using a different, more expensive pair of Samsung 3D glasses) which I admit did look much better. Still, the 3D did not make the game much more fun. While I did not expect any amazing console 3D gaming without glasses, it was still somewhat disappointing that no other company came out of the woodwork with a solution that could pull it off. Maybe at GDC 2011? Anyway, the best looking 3D console content was on an actual 3D TV.
Based on the above, Sony was generally the place to be for trying out 3D gaming. The first game I checked out was Sony's fighting game for the Move controller which, interestingly, was also in 3D. (This is what MBA students call "synergy.") I'll save the problems with that game and Move for another post, but the 3D took several tries to get working and once it did it failed to impress. I know the code was not final, but as someone with 15 years of martial arts training including many types of boxing, this game was a big let down and the 3D looked bad.
But the fighting game was the lowpoint at Sony's booth. After that disappointment I finally played Gran Turismo 5 in 3D. I must say graphically the game looked great in 2D, but what else would you expect from this franchise? The 3D looked crisp but it did not have as much punch as much as I would have wanted it to. After a few minutes I didn't notice the 3D anymore and I was actually wanting to play it in 2D so I could ditch the glasses and focus on the game.
By far the best looking game in 3D at Sony's booth was Killzone 3. For one, the 3D seemed to calibrate faster and function better once it got going, but that may have been due to the person running the demo station on the second floor of the Sony booth knew what he was doing. Killzone 3's use of 3D looked stunning, though again it did not immediately appear to have an impact on gameplay.
Also at Sony's booth I played a generic feeling racing game that actually re

As for Microsoft, 3D was not part of its messaging or anything it pre

As for Nintendo, that's coming in a future blog post.
The final takeaway about console 3D gaming: it's going to happen but it's going to take a while for highly compelling content comes out, particularly content that has 3D as part of the gameplay and not just as eye candy.
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