Sony: 3D and Portable Devices Don't Mix

[ChromeAlchemist]

Why tell people such things like it's going to stop the 3DS from steam-rolling over the NGP? "3D is a shared experience", so does that mean all 3D games on the PS3 should be played with others? I swear the common cycle with Sony is "Nintendo uses technology>>>Sony slams technology>>>Sony uses variant of technology, saying they were gonna do it ages ago but decided not to".

Lol, sometimes I truly think Sony's PR manager is just trying to get fired.

SE Boss- "Yeah I'm just gonna tell everyone Nintendo's stuff sucks, that's okay right?"

PR Manager- "Huh? S'cool brah."

I think they should focus on what's important, bolstering NGP's line-up, before the next meme is "NGP has no gaemz".

 

[Treblaine]

I do not care about ANY 3D effects on film, TV, gaming at home or portable.

I do NOT need a crude emulation of the stereoscopic effect to tell what is close, and what is far. If the stereoscopic effect was THAT important then people who could only see out of one eye would constantly be falling down stairs as they misjudge distances.

Real life: stereoscopic is virtually insignificant and emulation of it causes far more trouble than it is worth such as:

-DOUBLING processing load as each frame must be rendered Twice (without artefacts)
-huge problems in application setting up: think tilt controls, portrait mode, neck strain
-common elements like a HUD/ overlay all of a sudden don't work, the parallax of the crosshair is far more trouble than it's worth
-For so many people this effect fails as their eyes do not work taking 50% from each eye and combining
-There are just too many variables to get Stereoscopic effect ACTUALLY looking like true 3D

 

[mjc0961]

Not to give undue criticism to Sony here, but didn't it also say similar things regarding force feedback in controllers (absent from the original Sixaxis) and motion control technology? If the 3DS sells like three-dimensional hotcakes, we could see a change in tune.

Yep.

The thing is, they put a touch screen on the front as well as the touch pad in the back. The 3DS taught Nintendo that you can't have 3D on a touch screen, because the smudges and things will interfere with the display's ability to show 3D. So that's why they made only the top screen of the 3DS do 3D, while the bottom is just a regular touch screen.
So, obviously, Sony couldn't do a 3D screen and a touch screen at the same time either. They opted for the touch screen, and now they are taking the opportunity that they couldn't have done effective 3D to take a jab at Nintendo. And no matter how well the 3DS sells and how many people end up liking the glasses-free 3D, they will keep using that. They will never say "We won't add a 3D screen to NGP because it's a touch screen and they don't work well together." They will say this crap about how 3D is a shared experience. Typical Sony nonsense, really. They need to be taking a lesson or two from that Nintendo bigwig in the UK who said nice things about his competition's achievements.

 

[Treblaine]

I'm with you on the 3D part, I can't really stand it. But your incorrect on the assumption the Move is more accurate than a Wiimote. All testing has proven they are basically the same. The only difference is the response of the system/games when it loses contact with the controller.

Do you have a source on that?

 

[Treblaine]

Not to give undue criticism to Sony here, but didn't it also say similar things regarding force feedback in controllers (absent from the original Sixaxis) and motion control technology? If the 3DS sells like three-dimensional hotcakes, we could see a change in tune.

Funny thing is I got a Dual Shock 3 eventually but I find myself using the Six-Axis more, the rumble IS really quite gimmicky, it doesn't really give any impression of the GAME WORLD shaking, only the controller shaking. That's kinda distracting from the immersion, IMHO. On 360 I turn off rumble as well, it never informs me of anything useful.

 

[euro2019]

The Move uses a camera that tracks a big colored ball +bluetooth , while the Wiiremote uses IR/bluetooth.

The camera proves to be far more accurate.

Not a big fan of either , but just because Nintendo brought the gimmick out first on a next gen console doesn't necessarily mean Sony "copied" their idea. They merely took the concept and made it better. All the while the Xbox Kinect pushed the limits even further making you the controller.

Not a big fan of motion controls, i just like a simple set of buttons to be honest. Glad they didn't go with the gimmick of 3D, its totally unnecessary. Especially on a small screen like that... but that's just my two cents.

Edit: I think bringing in another gimmick just makes way for about 50 other bullshit titles to be brought in whose gameplay will be less than mediocre.

I'm with you on the 3D part, I can't really stand it. But your incorrect on the assumption the Move is more accurate than a Wiimote. All testing has proven they are basically the same. The only difference is the response of the system/games when it loses contact with the controller.

As for your edit, I hope to god they don't try to do with 3D what they did with a the Wiimote. And by that I mean use the device in a "use just because it's there" capacity. There will of course be a large influx of uselessly 3D things for the first few months, but I'm hoping companies learned from the Wiimote fiasco.

Perhaps you're right on my assumption. I was merely going on the user reviews for different sites. But perhaps they are based more on a certain bias than actual proof. In that case I take back what I said. I should of done more research into that before just blurting it out haha .

As for the Wiimote fiasco, I'm really hoping as well. The Wii is still a very capable gaming console, but they need to fix certain things on it. But before I go off on a tangent (I only have two main issues with that, its the memory capacity and the fact that the classic controller can't directly connect to the console which I find baffling). There are so many BS games that came with the Wii's motion controllers, if you go to your nearest game store, how many of those games are worth buying? 20%? The rest is the whole gimmick game thing. And even the good games added in motion controls where not needed (for example Zelda: Twilight Princess), but I suppose the lack of buttons on the Wii remote added to that.

Either way, 3D-ness (its not a word but I don't care ) I can see ushering in a new era of BS games. I hope the 3DS succeeds but I don't know how much I can rely on the 3D aspect of it improving gameplay. That's what we play these games for, to immerse yourself into the gameplay. I know that on big screens you can immerse yourself with 3D, but I don't know if I can do the same on a 2.5 inch screen =( Either way, I think I'll still buy both the PSP2 and the 3DS if only just to have them haha... and of course play my favorite Nintendo games (which I don't know why I still love them but I do )

 

[blarghblarghhhhh]

Well the handheld lineup this generation is quite comparable to the last one. Nintendo has the new-age gimmick and Sony is trying to aim towards gamers. Not sure if Apples iPad should be considered a gaming platform as much as it is a micro-laptop.

you have to remember before the ds launched with a touch screen we all thought it was a gimic and now sony has one. I do have to say that I thought the touch pad on the back on the psp2(refuse to use other name) sounded dumb, but after seeing video of that game where your finger raises the ground i can see the potential.

 

[gigastar]

Well the handheld lineup this generation is quite comparable to the last one. Nintendo has the new-age gimmick and Sony is trying to aim towards gamers. Not sure if Apples iPad should be considered a gaming platform as much as it is a micro-laptop.

you have to remember before the ds launched with a touch screen we all thought it was a gimic and now sony has one. I do have to say that I thought the touch pad on the back on the psp2(refuse to use other name) sounded dumb, but after seeing video of that game where your finger raises the ground i can see the potential.

By 'gimmick' i refer to the 3DS's no-glasses 3D screen. Im not putting the 3DS or the old DS down in any way, but this time round the outset is more or less the same. Both systems have what no handheld can go without and both perform very differently.

Both systems also have new features for handhelds, the 3DS its no glasses 3D screens and its ability to save whole games to its biult in memeory. The PSP2 the second analog stick and digital game distrbution only.

That bieng said, the new 3D is still in its gimmick stage, we dont yet know if its going to flop like the last attempt or become standard.

 

[Aaron.R]

I don't like 3D at all and support Sony's decision to leave it out of their new handheld fully. To be honest if they lopped that feature in I wouldn't even consider buying it. 3D is a massive fad and an unimpressive technology from what I've seen so far (up to Avatar at the IMAX, which I believe is the standard set).

I read a few people saying that the DS pioneered the touch screen with that lame little stylus and forced, awkward gameplay mechanics. But really, I'd say that the iPhone and other smartphones have really served to develop the touch screen into something viable and desirable in regards to gaming.

 

[Sniper Team 4]

The amusing thing being that, of course, right below this story on the home page is that the Nintendo President saying that he'll be keeping his opinion about the NGP to himself. Ha ha.

 

[Tom Phoenix]

Of course, Sony doesn't reveal the real reason why NGP doesn't have stereoscopic 3D and that is so they can sell consumers 3D TVs. Unfortunately for them, I don't think that strategy is going to work out quite well as they hoped.

 

[Aaron.R]

Hmm maybe, but I don't really think that people would be using a little handheld in place of a television? Can you imagine, a little NGP in the middle of the family room sat on a big ass TV stand? Haha.

 

[ZakCanard]

Whether it's a good idea or not, both the 3DS and NGP/PSP2 are both interesting "toys" with their fair share of gimmicks.

Now I'm not a fancy big name analyst *pulls invisible braces*, but I'd say this portable generation isn't as clear cut as either Sony or Nintendo would ideally want it to be. Yes they'll sell, but whether they will sell in great enough numbers to make a dent in the combined efforts of the mobile gaming juggernaut that are the iPhone, Android, and WinMo7 app stores is a different matter entirely. In many ways I think Nintendo and Sony have lost their way. Portable gaming should be just that; little 10 minute timewasters involving flinging thoroughly miffed winged animals at poorly built houses habited by green pig-like creatures, not a multiplayer online first person shooter or something akin to a bad acid trip*. Besides, which would you get you more disconcerting looks from average Joe/Jane Public whilst waiting for a bus: an Angry Birds-like game, or teabagging and smack-talking some random noob in a portable Call of Duty multiplayer?

*Disclaimer: 3DS may not be like a bad acid trip.

 

[Exort]

Not having 3D just makes this more interesting to me.
The technology is great and all, but I don't have faith in long term development of quality titles for a 3D market.

I think there will be better quality 3D title in the future. Remember the time Game writing really sucks? Look now. 3D is the same. Back in those days, people have no idea how to write for games and simply do it the same as movie. Of course it failed. Now 3D just come out, developer still haven't learned how to use it well, but some day they will.

 

[Electrogecko]

I was hoping Sony would completely eff up their psp2, but it looks to be an impressive piece of hardware (we'll see how durable and comfortable it is) that gives all their fans exactly what they want (the ability to play CoD on the go the same way they do at home) while adding a rear touch panel that has a lot of potential. Now if they could just give their ass a rest and talk with their games....

 

[Souplex]

This is like that time Apple said "Computers and quality don't mix" isn't it?

 

[PureChaos]

wait, Nintendo's rival are mocking 3D handheld consoles soon before the 3DS comes out? MADNESS!

 

[krychek57]

Not having 3D just makes this more interesting to me.
The technology is great and all, but I don't have faith in long term development of quality titles for a 3D market.

I think there will be better quality 3D title in the future. Remember the time Game writing really sucks? Look now. 3D is the same. Back in those days, people have no idea how to write for games and simply do it the same as movie. Of course it failed. Now 3D just come out, developer still haven't learned how to use it well, but some day they will.

Possibly, but if the Movie market is any indication... It could be a while.

 

[Jumplion]

Yeesh, I feel this was a pretty hostile news report, seriously. On one hand you got Nintendo putting in 3D, the only 3D portable device in the world (that I know of), not fully been proven by the mass public yet, and everyone's going "OMG, no GLASSES!" and then when Sony doesn't put in 3D, the 3D that has people "rub their eyes from eyestrain" no less, you criticize them for not putting it in because "their tune could change" like it did with rumble? (this isn't going into the whole situation with rumble, Sony was in a legal battle at the time of that-BLAH, LET'S NOT GET SOMETHING STARTED HERE!)

Bleh, I just felt like it was unnecessarily hostile. May or may not be my "fanboyness", but I'd like to think that I've been a good boy so far And I am not biased towards any handheld, I don't like handheld gaming to begin with.

BUT, anyway, this is an interesting statement. From what I have read on the 3DS, you have to be in a specific place in front of the screen to fully utilize the 3D effects otherwise you get ghosting. Only time will tell if this will be a major flaw, as people do enjoy laying their arms around whatever is comfortable, but considering the specs that I've read up on the PSP2/NGP adding 3D would probably have added even more costs.

We shall see, however. We shall see...

 

[ranger19]

Honestly, I think Sony's wrong here. Everyone I've talked to about 3D televisions that require glasses, from my fellow technophile friends to girls who only care if the monitor can play Gossip Girl, think 3D with glasses is a waste of time and money. And it makes sense. What happens if you have some friends over to watch a movie on your super cool 3D television, but you don't have enough glasses? Either you forego the 3D effect or some of your friends miss out.

The fact that the tech exists to make glasses-free 3D but that it currently only works at a narrow field of view makes me think that the handheld is the clear platform of choice for its implementation. Think about it: when you're on a handheld you're usually playing on your own, so having a narrow range in which 3D works isn't a problem (as long as the 3D isn't so narrow as to make minor bumps and movements throw off the whole effect. That's a vital assumption to this whole thing.) And glasses-free 3D is cool, people want to try it. Those calling 3D a gimmick echo many who called the DS's touch screen a gimmick in 2004.