Sony "pinning its hopes" on 3D

Sony Corporation is making a concentrated push to bring 3D entertainment to the home in 2010, with it's technology applied to games such as LittleBigPlanet, Gran Turismo 5 and MotorStorm: Pacific Rift already impressing advocates of the format.

Firmware updates will add 3D gaming capabilities to the PlayStation 3 and 3D movie functionality to the Blu-ray player later this year, and alongside the launch of its own dedicated 3D TV channel, and the success of the billion dollar Avatar movie, 2010 could be a break though year for the format.

"3D is an added thing and it hits every division that Sony has got," said Andrew Oliver, chief technical officer at Blitz Games, speaking in an interview published today. "Sony is really pinning its hopes on the world wanting 3D and everybody is basking in the glory of Avatar."

Sony used CES earlier this month to show off LittleBigPlanet, Gran Turismo 5, Major League Baseball, MotorStorm: Pacific Rift and Wipeout to the crowds, along with other tech from the entire Sony electronics division.

"The Sony stand was big with 3D games. They had an enormous stand with a theatre at one end and cinema projectors that are made by Sony, movie cameras made by Sony and they were showing Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs – a Sony ImageWorks film – in 3D, they had a Blu-ray player playing 3D film and then the PlayStation 3's were showing various games," detailed Oliver. "They looked absolutely stunning."

A standard format for 3D and the glasses required to view it has been adopted by all TV manufacturers, putting an end to early signs of a format war that could have hampered the adoption of 3D in the home, and fears that viewing 3D can be uncomfortable for the user are fading, said Oliver.

"3D isn't being done badly any more. You do it right and everyone loves it. Everyone feels that they don't need to keep trying to convince people now, it's been done for us with Avatar.

"The TVs have got one good standard which is perfect and exactly what we want and what the film companies want. Every TV manufacturer is bringing out a 3D model and there's no talk of 'what if it gives you a headache'. If you can watch a three hour film you've passed the test."

Blitz has already released one game in 3D, the digital download title Invincible Tiger, and Oliver revealed that the company has now signed off on a big new contract currently under wraps.

"We have agreed a very big 3D deal which is very good for us," he confirmed. "There are some people out there who really want to push 3D but I think when it comes to more general publishers, CES and the Avatar film will have turned a lot of heads."

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