Microsoft Exec Calls 3D a "Science Experiment"

[Logan Westbrook]

Microsoft Exec Calls 3D a "Science Experiment"

Certain companies are pushing 3D gaming, but Microsoft's Phil Spencer thinks there's a way to go before it's ready for prime time.

Microsoft Game Studios corporate vice president Phil Spencer thinks that Sony is jumping the gun with 3D gaming by trying to push it when so few people have the equipment to actually enjoy it. He said that, as an entertainment company, MGS was focused on making things that people can enjoy now, rather than in a few years when they replace their TV.

Spencer said that Microsoft wasn't going to ignore 3D, but didn't feel that a room full of people sitting around wearing expensive glasses was mainstream enough to warrant making it a big focus just yet. Spencer made oblique suggestions that Sony - meaning the entire company, not just Sony Computer Entertainment - had ulterior motives in promoting 3D, and said that unlike "other companies" Microsoft's business model didn't involve trying to sell you a new TV.

Spencer wasn't against 3D gaming in general, he said that he liked the 3DS - or the idea of it anyway, as he hadn't actually had a chance to see it first hand - because it didn't require glasses or a new TV to work. He added that the Xbox 360 did have some 3D games, including a version of Rocksteady's Batman: Arkham Asylum [http://www.amazon.com/Batman-Arkham-Asylum-Game-Xbox-360/dp/B003C1I0CO/ref=sr_1_2?s=videogames&ie=UTF8&qid=1287570087&sr=1-2 ] that came with a pair of 3D glasses, but said that at this early stage it felt more like "a science experiment" then something that would "touch millions."

Obviously, as a Microsoft executive, everything that Spencer says has a certain degree of spin on it, but his comment about other companies wanting to sell TVs as well as games has a certain ring of truth to it. The likes of Killzone 3 [http://www.amazon.com/Killzone-3-Playstation/dp/B002I0K6DG/ref=sr_1_1?s=videogames&ie=UTF8&qid=1287570054&sr=1-1 ] and Gran Turismo 5 [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002BSA1C6/ref=s9_simh_gw_p63_d0_i1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=0G30BDHHADJ5W19265H0&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=470938631&pf_rd_i=507846 ] will undoubtedly look fantastic in 3D, but it's naive to think that Sony's only motivation for including the option is just to make a compelling entertainment product.

Source: CNN [http://edition.cnn.com/2010/TECH/gaming.gadgets/10/19/xbox.3d.games/] via Eurogamer [http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2010-10-20-microsoft-3d-like-a-science-experiment]


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[Delusibeta]

The tech is too expansive and impractical at the moment for 3D to have any hope of reaching the mainstream. Of course, that was pretty much the argument that was made around the time it was decided that Nintendo shouldn't advance the Wii's graphics, and look how well that did.

 

[Andy of Comix Inc]

It's less of a science experiment, and more of a marketing experiment. 3D has matured to the point that you don't need to go around putting "3D" at the end of a film title to show it's gonna be in 3D; so the only question left is, will audiences dig it?

I think that's what he was trying to say, not a "will this work" scenario, but a "will this work [under these conditions]" thing. But this is pure speculation of course, he could have meant science experiment literally. I suppose.

 

[Aurgelmir]

I do agree with him, but I still ahve a feeling that they are saying this because the 360 is not a good candidate for 3D. (Lack of HD storage and all that)

All in all I hate 3D, it lowers the quality of a film/game imo, and we JUST finally got HD up and running around the world, and they want to change it again...

 

[vxicepickxv]

It's less of a science experiment, and more of a marketing experiment. 3D has matured to the point that you don't need to go around putting "3D" at the end of a film title to show it's gonna be in 3D; so the only question left is, will audiences dig it?

I think that's what he was trying to say, not a "will this work" scenario, but a "will this work [under these conditions]" thing. But this is pure speculation of course, he could have meant science experiment literally. I suppose.

I guess we'll just conveniently ignore Saw 3d and Jackass 3d then.

Color me shocked that the makers of the most expensive home electronics companies wants to sell more stuff in 3d, especially their stuff.

Perhaps I'm not being sarcastic enough in that last statement.

 

[omerg1993]

very interesting statement by Spencer, i do believe that 3D gaming will not take any actual hold on the industry until the 3D hardware will be available to the general public, and even then will you really want to sit with the 3D glasses while playing?

the 3DS is different selling you the 3D hardware with the console itself and eliminating the need for the glasses making it the preferable 3D console at the moment, unless 3D TV's prices drop dramatically till the release of the 3DS and then Sony will be able to get to a larger audience.

i can understand Microsoft not jumping in the 3D market yet, its not well based an it doesn't show as much promise or success as the motion control which is what Microsoft is focusing on right now.

i personally dont see 3D gaming coming to every gamer living room until at least 2013 (just guessing here).

 

[aPod]

I think i'll pass on the 3d generation, I want holograms. Then i want to see what The Japanese do with it

 

[Don't taze me bro]

My video card and monitor have been 3d capable with some games for a while now. It's impractical for me to actually use this feature, and I'm unwilling to spend the cash on it. I also know my PS3 is now capable of 3D. I'm also not prepared to invest in another TV after only buying one just over a year ago that was full HD. This feature will likely remain dormant for me for quite a while.

Some tech heads will be early 3D adopters and love what this can do. For the mass market though, it's going to take technology like Nintendo's 3DS to get 3D technology into people's homes on a wider scale. IE. Something around $300, that doesn't need dorky glasses.

 

[steamweedlegoblin]

Why would we want something in our homes that induces a headache in most people after while but really has no use.

That is the exact same thing that I used to say about my ex-wife!

 

[Dublin Solo]

3D is a real gimmick, and I hope (against all hopes) that the fad will fade.

The damn glasses are a pain in the ass, and the rule of thumb is you'll end up breaking them, or not having enough pairs for everyone (though that argument doesn't necessarily apply for gaming, though I sometimes just like to watch someone else play).

And even the "holy" technology that supposedly allow you to see 3D features on a screen without glasses doesn't sound good. I'm pretty sure you'll have to sit quite still in order to be able to look at something 3D and not vomit-inducing.

 

[Brotherofwill]

I don't really see what 3D ADDS? What does it DO? The only reason i saw both UP and Toy Story 3 (both mindblowingly fantastic films) in 3D was becuase the projection was so much better. UP arguably has the best done 3d in a film and even then it was becuase you never really noticed it.

I agree here. Up's 3D was amazing. It wasn't that 'in your face, nauseating, bullshit' 3D, it was just nice and simple background renderings (the scenes on the hill were nicely augmented by it). It had the added effect that people were able to hide their tears behind the glasses in the heart crushing relationship montage.

Spencer made oblique suggestions that Sony - meaning the entire company, not just Sony Computer Entertainment - had ulterior motives in promoting 3D, and said that unlike "other companies" Microsoft's business model didn't involve trying to sell you a new TV.

Oh really? No shit Sony wants you to buy a Sony 3D TV when they sell you 3-fucking-D games. Jesus.

This isn't some kind of conspiracy. It's what everyone is doing so get off your high horse MS, you aren't an exception. Just so happens that like "other companies" MS's business model is trying to sell gimmicky hardware in the form of Kinect so they'll probably add gimmicky bullshit to their mainstream games too so they can be Kinected.

Are they releasing fitness and dance games to make shut-ins any fitter or for the sake of entertainment? No, they're making it to push a platform, just like Sony is pushing their 3D TVs with their software.

 

[spartan231490]

3d is a gimmick. Not even a very good one at that. glad to hear someone in the business understands that.

 

[TheTinyMan]

Microsoft Exec Calls 3D a "Science Experiment"
He said that as an entertainment company, MGS was focused on making things that people can enjoy now, rather than in a few years when they replace their TV.
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Dammit, Microsoft, I got an HDTV *just* because I couldn't read the friggin' text on my friggin' 360 using a friggin' SDTV! >.< That's a good attitude to have, but I don't completely buy it

 

[lapan]

It's in it's childstage, much like motion technology (Kinect). that doesnt make it bad, but i still wont invest that much money in it.

 

[Echo136]

Thats ironic coming from the company trying to push the Kinect.

 

[Antari]

It was an experiment in the 1950's and it still is. So much for Darwin being right ..

 

[mjc0961]

Nope I agree with Microsoft on this one. 3D is just a science experiment, and hopefully one that will blow up in Sony's face soon and they'll move on to something else. No game will look better in 3D, but it will be the leading cause of more headaches, empty wallets, and wasted game potential because they were spending valuable development resources on 3D nonsense.