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The viewing technology we use for gaming and simulation has had a few false starts. Whether that be the hardware with various types of sci fi headsets or software. I was interested to see what Sony's new headset was like. It looked pretty "tech cool" but does it work. I brought a Vusix VR290 Headset and it was crap. Before I got it going it required a firmware upgrade which required sending it back to the factory at my expense and waiting up to 6 weeks. I did manage to get the screens initialized so I could see the screens. The field of view was limited and the were uncomfortable. I'll come back to my views and precditions on screen technology in a latter blog but lets take a look at what the tech writer Steve Tilley for the Torotno Sun had to say; As any Star Trek: The Next Generation fan can tell you, blind U.S.S. Enterprise officer Geordi La Forge wore a hi-tech visor that allowed him to see all kinds of light and energy spectrums. Here in the boring old 21st century, we wear hi-tech visors just to watch movies in 3D. After generating huge buzz at various technology trade shows this year, the Sony HMZ-T1 Personal 3D Viewer ($799.99 via sonystyle.ca) is finally on sale in Canada. This unabashedly futuristic head-mounted display is one of the most interesting products we’ve seen in ages, if perhaps not the most practical. The Personal 3D Viewer is essentially a 3D TV for one person. Once you get all the straps and cinches tightened to secure a perfect fit on your head, you plug the unit’s switching box into anything with an HDMI output – Blu-ray players, TV set top boxes, game consoles and even most newer laptop computers – then sit back and enjoy the equivalent of a 150-inch screen as seen from about four metres away. It doesn’t monopolize the video source, either – if someone wants to experience Avatar inside their own little glossy white visor world, others in the room can still watch the same content on the TV screen. I’ve been using the Personal 3D Viewer for everything from watching high-definition episodes of American Horror Story (not recommended – you never know if Rubber Man might be creeping up behind you while you’re oblivious to your surroundings) to playing Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception on the PlayStation 3 (you can almost feel the 3D water lapping at your toes as you battle your way out of a sinking cruise ship.) Without the polarized glasses needed for most 3D viewing, the Personal 3D Viewer avoids the dimming effect that too often plagues 3D entertainment. And because there are two distinct, crisp OLED screens, one for each eye, there’s none of the “crosstalk” phenomenon that can make images on 3D TVs look fuzzy or ghosty. |
The Personal 3D Viewer also pumps out simulated 5.1 surround sound through its attached, adjustable headphones. It’s no substitute for an actual home theatre system, but the sound is surprisingly decent. Watching movies or playing games with a chunk of electronics on your noggin takes some getting used to, though, and while I’ve become a little more accustomed to it, there are still a few drawbacks with this gizmo. The first is the weight of the thing. It’s comfortable enough to wear while reclined, but you wouldn’t want to watch an entire movie sitting up straight with the Personal 3D Viewer on. At 420 grams it’s not heavy, exactly, but it’s weighty enough that you won’t forget it’s there. And when you take it off, you’ll have some interesting temporary marks where the pads were pressing into your forehead and the bridge of your nose. The second and more significant problem is it’s difficult to get a perfectly focused image. The Personal 3D Viewer has a nice wide field of view, and there are slider switches below the eyes to adjust the focus. But no matter what position the sliders were in, I had to either settle for some blurriness at the edges of the screen (especially noticeable in video games with text in the corners) or some headache-inducing fuzziness in the middle. It’s not something everyone will notice, but it’s there. I have to give kudos to Sony for coming up with something as novel and daring as this gizmo. Well-heeled early adopters will love it, if only as a conversation piece, and folks who live in shoebox apartments but crave a big-screen 3D entertainment experience might find it practical. But the average family would be better off putting the $800 towards an actual 3D TV. And maybe a Star Trek: The Next Generation boxed set. Sony HMZ-T1 Personal 3D Viewer Price: $799.99. See www.sonystyle.ca for more info. Verdict: While novel and cool in a sci-fi way, this head-mounted 3D display isn’t quite perfect enough (or comfortable enough) to be much more than a niche product for technophiles. |
The VisionRacer Blog |
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Sony HMZ-T1 Personal 3D Headset Viewer
Playstation 3D TV UK & Euro Release in Autumn
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Sony has confirmed that its 24-inch Playstation-branded 3D TV/ monitor will be arriving in the UK and Europe this autumn. First unveiled at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) 2011 back in June, the tri-dimensional display is meant to provide an accessible entry point (read: a cheaper alternative to a full-fledged 3D-capable HDTV) for 3D gaming. Equipped with edge LED backlight and active-shutter 3D technologies, the Playstation 3D LCD monitor/ TV features the company’s proprietary “SimulView” functionality which allows two players to view two different full-screen pictures on the same screen, which is likely to contribute to a more exciting multiplayer gaming experience. To enjoy this feature both players will have to wear compatible 3D eyewear, but fret not, because Sony has thoughtfully included two pairs of 3D glasses with sets sold in the United Kingdom and Europe. |
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Sony Will Soon Have a 24-inch PlayStation 3D Monitor (CECH-ZED1)
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Can’t say I’m surprised by the fact that Sony is getting back into making smaller displays after being gone for a while from that market and of course their return will be with a PlayStation themed 3D monitor. The PlayStation 3D Monitor (CECH-ZED1) Specifications:
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It is interesting to note that the LCD panel will be a VA type and not TN as currently all of the active 3D LCD solutions on the market rely on the cheaper TN panels due to their faster response time. And using VA type of LCD panel with good enough response time would mean better color reproduction and wider viewing angles. |
Lucas Ordanez Drives LMP2 with Sony
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Winner of the first GT Academy, Lucas Ordoñez, has just been announced as a driver with Team Signatech Nissan, to compete in the 2011 International Le Mans Cup – including the 24 Hours of Le Mans! He’ll be piloting their ORECA O3 LMP2 car at ILMC events around the world, starting with the 12 Hours of Sebring next month. This is an awesome step forward – not just for Lucas, GT Academy, and the Gran Turismo series, but for sim-racers everywhere. Here’s what Darren Cox, European Marketing Manager for Nissan Sports Cars, had to say about the announcement:
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Official GT5 Nurburgring “Reality Check” HD Video
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Sony Germany has published an official HD video comparing Gran Turismo 5’s Nurburgring with the real “Green Hell” |
CES Show Sony "3D" Comentary
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Given Playstations GT5 is 3D enabled its interesting to see what they have planned for the future. 3D without glasses has been mentioned. Lest take a look at one of the early reports.
3D TV - 'chicken and egg' Howard Stringer acknowledged that 3D had not sold as well as TV makers hoped last year but he said part of the reason was the lack of content, an issue that is slowly disappearing. "There's always a little chicken and egg with new technologies, people sit on their hands, but it's inexorable once the experience becomes richer for the customers," he said. "I don't think there's any issue with 3D once you have content and I think it's a rich experience." Shoot home movies and stills in 3D In the meantime, Sony has unveiled still cameras, handycams and a small video recording device called the Bloggie that can shoot 3D pictures and home movies. These can be played back on a 3DTV, 3D-enabled laptop (a Sony Vaio model was unveiled at CES) or the screens built into the cameras, which show 3D without needing glasses. The handycams are essentially two regular high definition handycams stuck together, providing full HD for both eyes. "Imagine watching your child's soccer games in 3D," Stringer said. Phil Molyneux, president of Sony Electronics USA, said: "The dynamic of the 3D market is really propelled again because we're allowing consumers to generate their own compelling content in 3D." One new 2D Sony handycam has a built-in projector that can beam video up to 1.5 metres wide. Glasses-free 3D TV At its booth, Sony, like Toshiba, also showed off 46-inch and 56-inch LCD TVs that can display 3D without glasses. However, these are further away hitting stores. |
"The market is widening and the consumer acceptance of 3D is really moving up," said Molyneux. "3D will become a feature; you won't say should I buy a 3D or a regular set, 3D will be part of it," he said. "When you start showing Law and Order or CSI Miami in 3D then you will ignite the audience. But again, like colour television, it's not an overnight thing, you just have to keep at it - eventually the audience will become accustomed to it and scepticism will die." 'No science-fiction gimmick'
Yesterday at Sony's press conference, Stringer entered the stage in a car from the upcoming 3D movie The Green Hornet, alongside the stars of the film, Seth Rogan and Jay Chou. "3D is far more than a science fiction gimmick designed to make special effects dominate the storyline and bedazzle the viewer, 3D simply mirrors the experience of the viewer itself," said Stringer. "We don't see the world around us in 2D, we see it in living 3D." One Sony concept product at the show that is more than a science fiction gimmick is a head-mounted 3D display featuring two Sony OLED screens, one for each eye. "You can enjoy a theatre-like experience on the couch or in-flight with a virtual large screen and perfect sound," said Sony's Hiroshi Yoshioka. Another prototype was a portable 10.1" 3D Blu-ray player that does not require glasses. "These two prototypes provide freedom from the living room and the movie theatre," he said. Asher Moses travelled to Las Vegas as a guest of Sony. |
Sony planning personal 3D headset display
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Sony is working on a visor-like personal 3D display known as the Headman, which enables game playing without the need for a TV - 3D or otherwise. The firm's executive deputy president Hiroshi Yoshioka revealed he had been using the headset to play Gran Turismo 5. "Nobody - not even my wife - interrupted me, so I could get the highest score," he claimed at CES last night. The device, which does not yet have a release date or price, contains two small displays, one per eye, and built-in earphones. |
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3D Blu-ray and Facebook update for PS3 live
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Sony has released the 3.50 software update for its PlayStation 3. The
latest of its regular firmware revisions most notably adds support for
3D Blu-Ray movies.
The much-anticipated firmware had originally been delayed until October
1, which speculation claiming this was to build in preventative measures
for the notorious PSJailbreak mod. Instead, the update went live today. Also included is access to Facebook profiles – which also applies to developers, who are able to access users' pages and friend data (if authorised) in their titles, in an as-yet unspecified fashion. |
"Once compatible PS3 titles are available," read the update notes, "PS3
users can choose to access public information on Facebook – including
user name, profile, uploaded photos and friends list – to enhance their
gameplay experience."
Additional features include using a PS Move Controller as a makeshift mouse in the web browser, a revised PS Plus interface and the option for report PSN players for unwanted or abusive messaging. |
3D Limited to 720p on PS3
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Sony's official guidelines state that developers may not create 1080p
versions of their 3D PlayStation 3 games, due to frame-rate limitations.
The confirmation was made by Simon Benson, senior development manager of
Worldwide Studios' stereoscopic team, at the Develop conference last
week.
According to Joystiq,
Benson claimed the higher resolution made it harder to maintain 60
frames per second, and that any games already running at 1080p would be
downscaled to 720p.
While, following a firmware update due later this year, the console will
be able to play 3D Blu-Ray discs at 1080p, stereoscopic content at the
higher resolution is limited to 24 frames per second, the frame-rate of
film projectors. Digital Foundry has clarified to GamesIndustry.biz that this is a necessary requirement of the HDMI connection, not of the PlayStation 3 particularly. |
"It's simply the case
that the new stereo 3D support built into
the HDMI 1.4 spec is specifically designed for Blu-Ray movie playback at
a movie standard of 24 frames per second, making the full HD mode a
poor fit for gaming. In a world where games are created to run either at
30 or 60 frames per second, dropping down to 24FPS means a jerkier
image and a more muted response from the controls. "There's
certainly no lack of support from the PS3 itself either, as even in the
current 3.40 firmware - which doesn't support Blu-Ray 3D movies - the
mode is clearly recognised and available for use by the console." While Benson said Sony currently strictly limits all 3D game output to 720p - with previously 1080p title Super Stardust HD being downscaled for its stereoscopic remake - it was possible that a slower-paced, "more cinematic game" would allow some relaxation of the rule. |
Sony SCE Boss interview on the next technology wave.
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At this year's E3, Sony put a significant push behind 3D home
entertainment, new motion controller Move, and also announced an upgrade
to the PlayStation Network with a paid subscription service. Here, in part of the interview with GamesIndustry.biz, Sony Computer Entertainment's European president Andrew House discusses the importance of 3D to the Sony Corporation as a whole, showing third-parties what it's possible to achieve with 3D, the balance of offering multiple business models, and lessons learned from the PSPgo experiment. Q: 3D took centre stage at E3 this year and Sony is going all-in to incorporate it into the Sony entertainment package. How much does that increase costs and time, and is it a significant investment on top of already large development budgets? Andrew House: It's hard to put a number on because it depends on the architecture of the game in question and how it's being built. I think what we've done is created a centre of expertise for 3D based in the UK but servicing our worldwide operation. They've been able to garner a fair amount of expertise which they are sharing as part of the SDK process. I think the reaction we've hard so far, and certainly from our internal teams, is that it's been less onerous than they expected, especially for a game that's being built at a high frame rate and a high spec to start with - it's an easier process. I don't think it's a radical overhaul and I don't think it's a major impact in development costs – there's some impact obviously – but really as with all of these processes, it's about an upfront investment and an understanding in the technology and how that's going to impact the game. What we're starting to find is that there are going to be 3D experiences that are built from the ground up. Killzone 3 is going to be a banner showcase for that sort of development process in games. But there are ways in which you can add 3D to certain genres and games just as an enhancement to the overall experience and I think both of those are completely valid. Q: It's not just Sony Computer Entertainment that's going big on 3D, but the entire Sony Corporation's entertainment divisions. How much is SCE being pressured from higher up or from outside of the SCE division? Andrew House: It's been a two-way process. Senior management at Sony Corporation very correctly identified that this was going to be a major new wave in technology and entertainment. What Sony has needed is areas of focus where the whole company can come together and 3D was clearly identified as an opportunity. We're very uniquely placed from the whole of the TV pre-production process through to the devices themselves. If I'm honest for us it was a process of discovery. We were intrigued by the idea and it's been very much driven by our internal teams and developers becoming excited about what they can do with 3D technology. Where Sony Computer Entertainment fills a very critical role is - and I've been around the technology business for more years than I'd care to mention - it's very rare to see a new wave of technology impacting the way people experience entertainment. And we already have 35 million of these devices in people's homes that are ready to embrace 3D technology and will become the source of playback for that content, movies and games, and that's very unusual and special. It gives Sony a very unique leg up in terms of building a 3D portfolio. |
Q: When the PS3 first
launched it was expensive and you made no bones
about it being a luxury item. Since then the price has come down, but
now to experience the entire PS3 offering - 3D, PlayStation Plus, Move –
that's a significant investment once again. Isn't that asking too much
of your loyal user and off-putting for new customers? Andrew House: I'd take that point and absolutely turn it around the other way. I'd say that what we've done very effectively is build a very future-proof high-end machine. This is a critical factor right now if you look that our sales are up year-on-year amongst the consoles that are out there right now. The consumer is gradually seeing more and more value built into a device that has now come down in price, and we're laying on more services, a different variety of experiences that you can have on the console - and with 3D it's becoming more special. But I think we've done the reverse and that's unusual but it's a model for how technology adoption is going to be successful in the future. The critical thing there is you've phrased that question as if there's a push to consumers to buy all of those features and options. What we've done is create a set of choices. There's the basic level PS3 with good value games for it if you're interested in getting on board with PSN. Let's not forget that the very full-featured experience on PSN is free at the point of entry which is unique versus one of our competitors. What we identified is there is a group of consumers who are saying "I want more, I want early access, I want to be part of a club that's somewhat differentiated". The value proposition we've created with PlayStation Plus is a very good one. If you add up all of the content you get access to it's a pretty good deal but by no means are we saying you have to be part of that. Q: Obviously your first party studios are all over 3D, but how are you finding the response from third party developers and is there any friction from those that may think it's to early, too soon to offer 3D in games when its unproven? Andrew House: That's a question that's better answered by developers and publishers themselves. There will be a fair amount of variety in the adoption at the publisher level. If you talk to the games publishers that have a link into major Hollywood studios, they're also all over it because whether it's coming corporately from their parent organisations or whether it's the fact that the franchises they're just looking to build are going to be built in 3D, it's natural. There's another tier of publishers that want to and need to position themselves as cutting edge and need to be seen to be delivering the highest experience - you know who those guys are. They're going to jump on it for that reason. Am I suggesting that every game shipped is going to have a 3D component? No, I don't think it will. As all of these new waves of technology do, it'll impact the higher end experience and users first, and there will be a trickle down effect as learning takes place. That's perfectly natural. The role of a successful platform holder is to provide the right creative palette to provide those experiences and as you correctly point out with internal studios it's important to show what's possible. |
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