How is 3D gaming?

[Spongedaddy]

I was looking into 3D TVs and was wondering how good 3D gaming is? Thanks for any feedback.

[Blzer]

Re: How is 3D gaming?

Let me preface this by saying that I have seen ten Real3D movies in my life (UP, Avatar, Toy Story 3, Saw 3D, TRON: Legacy, Thor, Kung Fu Panda 2, Transformers: Dark of the Moon, Final Destination 5, Cars 2) during their theatrical runs.

About ten days ago, I bought the Samsung PN59D7000, which is a 59" 3D-ready plasma screen. I have two compatible glasses for it, and if you want me to give impressions on the 3D itself, there are ups and downs with it. The biggest problem I'm having right now is seeking the right perspective without getting eye strain/fatigue. I've never had this issue in theaters, and I've tried doing it for about a half hour straight to see if I could "get used to it." So far, I'm not having much luck with that. I don't know if it's the TV, the glasses, my PS3, or what... but I thought it would get better with true stereoscopic 3D content, as opposed to the TV just doing a 2D-to-3D conversion.

As for gaming, the only games that I've tried with it are Killzone 3, MLB 11: The Show, and Uncharted 3. I still have to work with the colors in 3D since the glasses tint it darker and greener than it should be, but the 3D is definitely noticeable. So far, it has yet to prove to me that the 3D will actually give use to helping you while you play (in other words, that the depth helps play a factor in reading a pitch, or detecting how long a gap is that you have to jump, etc.), and so far it mostly seems to be in for the wow factor. I'm about eight feet away from my screen, so it's not totally "in my face" as it is in theaters, so I don't know if that's a problem with it. The other issue is that I have yet to try a game that's a full 60 FPS (like Call of Duty) that would maintain its 60 FPS in 3D. The one big issue that I've noticed with all of the games I've tried, however, is that their resolution lowers significantly. It's like it goes from 720p to 540p or something, despite what the resolution says. That's just how it looks and feels to me.

Anyway, the 2D-to-3D conversion works pretty well for games. The television itself recognizes how far away objects are supposed to be in the game because they're already pre-rendered in the system, so it puts things in front and behind where they should be on a rather intelligible level. In that regard, you can play games in 3D that you otherwise wouldn't have considered, and you just might be okay with that (that way you don't get resolution or framerate hits). It won't be the same as native 3D, but it's a decent alternative. The biggest problem for me so far is eye fatigue, and I have yet to experience content on my own television in 3D that hasn't caused this. I am now a brand new owner of Toy Story 3 and Cars 2 in 3D, and recall that these were two films I saw in Real3D in theaters. I've tried them both at home, and I am still straining at times. I'll have to figure out what the main cause of this is, or what the best solution for this is, but so far that's the biggest issue I'm facing.

I know you're looking into 3DTV's, and I want to say that you should look into them anyway, even if you don't use 3D. The televisions themselves are superior to their 2D brethren, just by image quality alone. You can throw the 3D in from time to time like I do, but just know a few things:

1) So far, there doesn't seem to be any sort of tactical advantage to using 3D.
2) It may cause eye fatigue.
3) Converting to the game's 3D will perhaps lower its resolution and framerate.

If these are okay things for you, then bite the bullet. I've heard other people have better 3D experience than I have, and I have personally had better experiences myself in theaters. I need to figure out what it is that's causing me to have trouble in my own bedroom.

[Spongedaddy]

Re: How is 3D gaming?

Thank you. I was leaning towards the passive 3D TV because of the eye strain issue and how expensive active 3D glasses are.

[WildFan22]

Re: How is 3D gaming?

Thank you. I was leaning towards the passive 3D TV because of the eye strain issue and how expensive active 3D glasses are.

I think it's awesome for atmosphere. The best 3d game I have seen is Crysis 2 (couldnt go back to 2d after playing it in 3d).

Most games have sliders for the 3d effect so if it bothers you on the highest settings you can tone it down. I set my 3d slider in the middle andI usually don't have a problem.

Only 2 negatives for me:

- the downgrade in graphics in 3d mode is very obvisous for some games

- A few games give you walleye vision which makes you feel like your looking through a magnifying glass. (Killzone 3)

[Skyboxer]

Re: How is 3D gaming?

I love gaming in 3D. Crysis 2 was amazing. I've seen some really cool 3D movies also.
Getting the right perspective is key also. It really adds to the atmosphere.
I have a Samsung. The glasses are a tad expensive but I only bought 1 (rechargable) as 2 battery operated ones came with the TV. I've yet get any eye strain at all and have put many hours in at one sitting.
I dont mind the shutter glasses as even though they are bulky and expensive, they fit over my prescription glasses

From most sites ive been to it seems passive 3d image quality is not as good but you dont have to shell out the high dollar either.

Above all else though just make sure the tv itself is good quality regardless of what type 3D you decide on.

[WildFan22]

Re: How is 3D gaming?

I love gaming in 3D. Crysis 2 was amazing. I've seen some really cool 3D movies also.
Getting the right perspective is key also. It really adds to the atmosphere.
I have a Samsung. The glasses are a tad expensive but I only bought 1 (rechargable) as 2 battery operated ones came with the TV. I've yet get any eye strain at all and have put many hours in at one sitting.
I dont mind the shutter glasses as even though they are bulky and expensive, they fit over my prescription glasses

From most sites ive been to it seems passive 3d image quality is not as good but you dont have to shell out the high dollar either.

Above all else though just make sure the tv itself is good quality regardless of what type 3D you decide on.

Skyboxer and CaptainZombie practically sold me my T.V. and it's one of the best purchases i've ever made. I took their advice step by step and it worked out great. I went with a 3d Panasonic Plasma and it's just awesome.

[bukktown]

Re: How is 3D gaming?

Generally speaking, it is somewhat disappointing. There are noticeable artifacts.

[Blzer]

Re: How is 3D gaming?

Just a heads up, I played some more Uncharted 3 today in 3D, only this time I lowered the slider down to halfway (as opposed to the full 100% that they all seem to default at). No eye strain after playing for about an hour in it. It was much better.

I think if the Blu-ray movies had this as well (maybe they do but I gotta find them), I wouldn't have such a problem either. You would of course lose some depth, but I think that's exactly what it needs so I don't get headaches from watching TV.

[Skyboxer]

Re: How is 3D gaming?

Played some Batman AC and it played nice. Still tuning depth a bit as the fighting has a lot of "Blur" motion that gets me a bit.

Having the deoth especially when "flying" around is preety sweet.

I've played better 3D but its not too bad.

[Skyboxer]

Re: How is 3D gaming?

Skyboxer and CaptainZombie practically sold me my T.V. and it's one of the best purchases i've ever made. I took their advice step by step and it worked out great. I went with a 3d Panasonic Plasma and it's just awesome.

Cool man! If someone is in the market for a new tv i see it as a win win. These 3D tvs are still great 2d tvs just with added 3d funtionality. One of the better purchases Ive made the past few years

[WildFan22]

Re: How is 3D gaming?

I can say that Plasma has made a huge difference that I wasn't expecting. Suddenly I could in better in the show and my kill/death ratios in battlefield and Cod went up.

Movies look better and 3d is always available if I feel like something different. It's hard to play games on my DLP after playing on a plasma.