Is 3D Mania Losing Steam?

For years, 3D has both excited and hassled consumers. Will it ever be more than a fad and a fiasco?

By John Dvorak

The hot ticket in the world of 3D is the Nintendo 3DS, but is anyone actually using it with the 3D turned on? That's a big question.

3D was brought back into the theaters for a few gimmicky movies and a new digital technology that allowed one projector to project the two images necessary for 3D. It re-triggered a 3D fad that has come and gone and come and gone over the years.

Key to the idea that it's again receding is the simple fact that nobody is bothering to buy 3D TVs for their home. The few who do have the 3D TV seldom watch anything in 3D. It's too much of a hassle and still seen as a gimmick. A fun gimmick perhaps, but a gimmick nonetheless.

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I gave up reading after I read this:
'what good is 3D in any gaming situation if there is not 3D joystick or any use for the third dimension, except as window dressing?'
Uh huh... so what use is higher resolution graphics in gaming, except as window dressing?
I guess some people will still choose a Nintendo Wii over an xbox 360 for a reason other then price. I think that some people will like it, others won't. If the effect is barely noticeable, my guess is most will not bother with it.

Depends what you mean by losing steam?

What I will say though that, along with many others, I've been appalled by how the recent revolution of mainstream 3D has been handled. Apart from a few good 3D films the whole treatment has been a fiasco over the past 2 years...yes 2 years! In that time we have seen the introduction of expensive propriety equipment and services, in an attempt to milk the market for all it's worth, there has been no compromise in this and little or no effort has been made to offer 3D (in the home at least), to less financially well off consumers. We have been subjected to awful conversions, 3D Lite in several big real 3D films and a seemingly total lack of interest in the release of classic 3D movies in any format whatsoever. The whole 3D revolution has been a fiasco right from the start and has exemplified the worst elements of the Capitalist system....basically milk the market for as much as you can while the interest is there. I am a huge fan of 3D but I have found the last 2 years of it's mass introduction (or lack of it) to have been hugely frustrating. Don't companies realise that if they catered a bit more across the board, they would probably make more money in the end? I would buy so many 3D films if they where available in any other format other than 3D Blu-ray, because that also requires an expensive upgrade which personally I can't afford......bills come first. I'm sorry guys but it has to be said. The introduction of 3D has been an excuse by manufacturers to try and sell new TV's and Blu-ray players etc to those who already have decent HD equipment and in some cases, 3D capable PC's etc. They have had the attitude of " buy this expensive equipment if you want 3D in the home otherwise you ain't going to get it at all". That's fine if you happen to be a rich consumer or have more money than sense but how about the average person...the hard working man on the street who has little disposable income and so can't afford all these exclusive deals? It's an "all or nothing" proposal by manufacturers. So in the end, you have a cooling off period, a stand-off between the manufacturers and consumers until either one caves in....e.g. prices come down or consumer gets into more debt. When will manufacturers ever learn? No wonder the world is in such an economic state. Cater to all walks of life, not just to the well off and you might see your profit margins improve with more people spending smaller amounts rather than few people spending huge amounts. Because not everyone can justify buying a new 3D TV or new 3D Blu-ray player how about releasing some of these films in 3D field sequential or making more 3D movies available to purchase for download? This slowness of introduction and an attempt to milk the market for all it's worth, along with poor 3D films generally will probably cause the mainstream demise of 3D in the end. So in the end, we'll end up with 3D gamers, endless short online 3D clips (some good some bad) and probably an increase in pirated versions. Well handled Hollywood and manufacturers around the world!

OK, rant over.

Gae43

Well the 3D Blu-Ray version of Avatar is selling for $150 on Amazon right now, and has sold for far more on eBay. I think that about sums it up.