Poll: Movies and games in 3D. Opinions?

[Saltyk]

So, I've had this discussion with some friends, and I was wondering what the Escapists think.
Basically, what's your opinion on 3D movies and games?

Here's my take on it.

It's a waste of time, money, and adds absolutely nothing to the experience 99% of the time. Hear me out.

First off, the first thing I saw in 3D, back when the fad started, was My Bloody Valentine. For those who don't know, it was about a miner who goes on a rampage killing people. It was one of the worst movies I have ever paid to see. But the 3D effects saved it. Something about having a pick axe thrown at you and actually jump out of the screen makes it so much better. Confused? Don't be. It was a gimmick. It added to the effect of the movie and actually made some things scary (not that it was that scary).

So why do I think 3D is a waste? Because every other movie that I have seen in 3D gained nothing from the technology. Case in point. Avatar. Great movie. I saw it in 3D and spent the first 20 minutes actively looking for the 3D effects. Eventually, I realized that I was more focused on making my investment in the cheapest pair of glasses in history worth something was detracting from the movie. After that I didn't worry about the 3D and just enjoyed the movie. Later, when I watched it on DVD in 2D, I still felt that it was an awesome movie. It was just as good in 2D as 3D. If not better. Just because something looks like it is kinda closer to you than other things, doesn't make the movie better.

And 3D in games? Do we need to have it look like the guns are actually in front of us? Will bullets and grenades buzzing past our heads make the game better? Of course not.

My point is this. 3D does not make a good movie better. Story, writing, and a talented director are what makes a good movie good and a great movie incredible. 3D is only cool as a gimmick. It will seem forced and unnecessary in most movies. And completely unnecessary in games.

And let's not get involved in the buy-in cost and required fashion sense that goes along with it.

 

[khiliani]

yeah, we got a new tv today, and while we were there i looked at the 3D demo ones. it was pretty and dramatic, but also something in the order of $1000 mopre expensive, plus you need the glasses and stuff. dont realy think its worth it

 

[AvsJoe]

I have seen more than my fair share of 3D movies now and I can say in full honesty that most of the time nothing is added to the experience. I have never played a game in the third dimension though so it may be different.

 

[Naheal]

It has potential, but until we actually attempt to get it to the point where it will add anything, it's a gimmick.

 

[CCountZero]

It has some cool gimmicks, but most of the time it actually messes up my experience rather than enhance it.

You play the game normally. When the 3D stuff kicks in, you suddenly get something new happening, and I find it distracting.

If they make a movie in full-3D, all the way through, I'll be all for it. But when it's just in certain scenes and at these specific "moments of awesomeness", it just ticks me off and ruins my experience.

 

[Kejui]

Mostly, to me, it's a gimmick. I mean, I've spent some of my 3D movie-going time just trying to track the movements of the people, because the action was much harder to follow than 2D.

I don't know, maybe it's just me, but doesn't it often make seeing the movie more difficult? Also, the glasses they use are often ill-fitting and poor in quality, so I never enjoy wearing them.

...I'll wait for holographic gaming and movies.

 

[Fenring]

Due to me wearing glasses, and two pairs of glasses being very unpleasant to wear, I'd only actually care if I had one of those nice glasses-less TVs they had at the THQ booth during E3. 3D, when it isn't completely built around (like many 3D movies are) can be very enjoyable and add to the immersion. This would work well for games, since they already exist in a 3D plane, and with new tech in games that makes 3D possible without a gigantic performance hit, I'd be happy to pay a couple hundred dollars for a glassesless 3D TV.

 

[FortheLegion]

I hate 3d so much
The glasses don't fit well over my own prescription glasses
and then the 3d doesn't really seem 3d to me
probably because I'm legally blind(legally not actually(but almost)) in one eye

 

[Mr. Omega]

It's a gimick. I admit, glasses-less 3D was cool-sounding at first, but then I realized my REAL issue with 3D: it adds nothing to the experience. Most of the time, the movie is made around 3D, not the 3D being beneficial to the movie, or as in Clash of the Titans, the 3D is completly pointless.

And as for games:
1: I don't know computers that well, but 3D has to be hell on the processor.
2: It requires a 3D TV, which nobody wants.
3: Once again, it adds nothing to the game.
4: This can lead to what I can only call 3D shovelware. It's like motion control shovelware: The game builds around the gimmick, not the gimmick building around the game. It's just there to say "HEY! look, our game is in 3D! Look at the 3D!"

 

[Fooz]

well i cant watch it due to me being blind in one eye (or at least i couldnt, not sure if they have made so you can see it through one eye, which i dont see them doing) but when i used to be able to see it i didnt like it much, like most people have said above me, the film/game is built around the 3d aspect not the other way around

 

[Limie]

I find the only time you really notice the 3d elements are when objects in the film etc. fly at you directly. This means that most films shoe-horn these elements into the movies and whilst everyone jumps the first time, you kind of know it was going to happen every other time. Also i find that because screens do not encompasse the entire human vision i.e. the peripherals, then it kind doesn't look entirely 3d and so breaks the immersion. Yes, 3d tvs are also ludricrusly expensive.

 

[Saltyk]

So far the results are not quite what I expected. Only one person has thought 3D was a boon (and they didn't comment). And not one person has selected the "joke" option.

Thanks for the feedback so far, but I'd like to see more. With so many companies pushing 3D these days, I really want to know what we, the people, actually think of the technology.

Also, I know I said:

And let's not get involved in the buy-in cost and required fashion sense that goes along with it.

But what I probably should have said is:
And don't get me started on the buy-in cost and required fashion sense that goes along with it.
(Sorry, I posted this just before I went to bed)

 

[Zirat]

I've always hated 3D movies, while they dont give me any hadaches they are sipmply a nice way to ramp up the price and make a lackluster project seem interesting.

For games my opinion will probably stay the same, the 3DS just seems like a nice way to milk the people and now consolse are trying to follow suite.

So all in all, I really dislike 3D in general, it simply doesnt add anything to the product.

 

[Space Spoons]

I think it has the potential to be interesting, but not before we've gotten past the "awkward" stage of technology. Right now, 3D is synonymous with uncomfortable, headache inducing glasses and cheap, gimmicky visuals that FLY RIGHT AT YOU OMG! Given time, I believe the technology could be improved to the point that glasses were no longer necessary, during which time filmmakers might learn to use 3D to their advantage somehow. From what I've heard of the 3DS, Nintendo's already making strides in this area. Other media can't be far behind.

As it is now, though, it's an annoying gimmick that I avoid like the plague. I already have to wear thick prescription glasses, wearing 3D glasses over them is damn near impossible and usually gives me a blaring headache to boot.

 

[sms_117b]

It'll pass eventually, or there will be a game that fully grasps it and makes everyone take notice, until that game comes out, it'll just be a passing fad as far as I'm concerned.

 

[Jark212]

I think that 3D has a lot to offer for both Gaming and Cinema, but the price tag associated it makes 3D very unattractive, for now...

 

[Eternal_Lament]

I wrote an artical about 3D (it was actually about James Cameron, but I talk about the use of 3D in film at the end) which you can find here:

http://cinematiccentral.tumblr.com/post/1093620526/james-cameron-leader-of-a-revolution-or-egotistical

In short, I find there isn't a whole lot to offer with 3D, so while I don't think it's pointless, I'm certainly not eagerly anticipating any news involving it.

 

[hermes]

Its a nice gimmick, but neither in movies nor in videogames I have seen anything that makes me believe it will be any better.

In fact, most things in 3D are worst than their 2D counterpart: they are more expensive, the effect is more distracting than anything else, lot of people suffer from headaches, people who already wear glasses can't see it, movies are less bright and colorful because of the opacity of the glasses you have to use, and games tend to be slower because they are forced to render everything twice.

 

[Animated Rope]

Some games/movies may benefit from it. But it's hardly color tv all over again.

 

[Tanis]

It's a waste of time and money...at least for now.

The technology is far too expensive for the average consumer and games cost mad cash as it is in order to make, at least in general.


Come back in 10 years and MAYBE gaming will be ready for 3D gaming...maybe.