Stereoscopic 3D (S-3D) Gaming Standards & Advocacy Group Formed As Top Game Developers Present S-3D Technology Demos at SIGGRAPH
As a technology demo, Electronic Arts Inc. worked with Dynamic Digital Depth (DDD) to give a flawless glimpse of what their upcoming award-winning title, Need For Speed™ SHIFT, will look like when played with stereoscopic 3D drivers. Other technology demos included Crytek’s CryEngine3 running in S-3D with native support, and a showing of Blitz Games Studios’ Invincible Tiger: The Legend of Han Tao, arguably the first console game to support modern stereoscopic 3D technologies. To add to the fun, all demos were presented on a huge RealD projection screen as part of SIGGRAPH’s Computer and Animation Festival.
According to the U-DECIDE Initiative, a well received study of modern gamers, 93% of survey respondents want to see game developers support stereoscopic 3D technology. The industry’s answer is to start development of The S-3D Gaming Alliance, an organization that is 100% focused on making stereoscopic 3D gaming possible through standards, education, and product adoption.
Some of S3DGA’s founding companies include Blitz Games Studios, DDD, iZ3D, Jon Peddie Research, TDVision Corp, XpanD, and more. The President and CEO of S3DGA will be Neil Schneider, best known for his pioneering work on Meant to be Seen (www.mtbs3D.com), the world’s leading website focused on stereoscopic 3D gaming and entertainment.
“I personally love to game in stereoscopic 3D, and it’s about time this became a mass market technology. We have a great team of expert companies, and with additional industry support, yes – S3DGA is going to make this happen,” said Neil Schneider.
High immersion S-3D gaming experiences include explosions that pop out of the screen and a sense of depth so real that players think they can place their hands inside the display. S-3D technology is growing popular in the home with products like LCD shutter glasses, 3D monitors, and several new and developing 3D HDTV and projection solutions.
“Neil Schneider, via MTBS, has done a great job of supporting the rapidly-growing S-3D market. There are some amazing creative opportunities in this new field and having the support of a community such as his is a powerful resource for anyone working in this area. We are therefore happy to support and encourage his ongoing work with the newly-formed S3DGA and look forward to its success,” said Andrew Oliver, Co-Founder of Blitz Games Studios.
“MTBS, and now S3DGA, works with our early adopters, and while other organizations may claim to be able to speak to gaming, Neil and his group actually take the time to play the games. XpanD is very interested in participating in the S-3D Gaming Alliance’s next steps,” said Ami Dror, Chief Strategist for XpanD.
The effect of a standards group such as S3DGA is to accelerate the adoption of technology by presenting a forum for members to express, test, and agree on ideas and approaches to educating consumers.
“Stereovision (S-3D) gaming is here,” said Dr. Jon Peddie of Jon Peddie Research (JPR) “It is affordable, accessible, and playable, and is in need of a consolidating agency to be the clearing- house for ideas, standards, products, and consumer education. S3DGA is the alliance that has answered that call. We will be working with them to help drive this forward.”
Getting Started in 3D Gaming
An introductory S3DGA meeting will be held during the 3D Entertainment Summit. Founded by Bob Dowling, Former Editor in Chief of the Hollywood Reporter, this conference is considered the largest of its type, and features industry leading names including: James Cameron, Jeffrey Katzenberg, and countless more. S3DGA meeting attendees qualify for a 25% discount on summit registration when they use the “S3DGA” discount code. Attendance will be confirmed.
“I am overwhelmed by the progress made in the last year in the 3D gaming world, and we are excited to be part of the next logical step by helping launch the S-3D Gaming Alliance at this year’s 3D Entertainment Summit” said Bob Dowling, 3D Entertainment Summit Founder.
To help interested organizations get started in S-3D, S3DGA is making available the extensive U-DECIDE Initiative Report at a discounted price of $995 USD. For organizations that also join S3DGA, the price of the report will be credited against the organization’s membership fees. AMD, Blitz Games Studios, Guild Software, iZ3D, Meant to be Seen, and The Game Creators, made U-DECIDE possible.
The S-3D Gaming Alliance, S3DGA, is a 3D gaming and entertainment industry standards and advocacy group charted to accelerate the adoption of 3D gaming and display technology by providing for standards discussions, consumer promotion, education, and awareness. Membership is comprised of organizations and individuals with an interest in developing 3D solutions.
