LIVE from NVISION 08: Hands-On in the 3D Stereoscopic Arena

Here in our happy, enormous area known as the BYOC (Bring Your Own Computer), NVIDIA has set up a booth to feature the new 3D Stereo gaming technology.  With 3-way SLI video cards already capable of creating the most epic battles that we can dream of, what could be the next step? 3D, of course!  At first it seems a little ridiculous, but NVISION (bless their souls) have yet again shown us there is still more to see in the widely explored gaming universe.

Instead of uncomfortable gaudy plastic 3d glasses, NVIDIA has provided us with these sleek matrix-looking shades.  Due to the fact that I have no night vision, I was encumbered to continue wearing my glasses.  However, I was pleasantly surprised to find that the 3D shades fit comfortably over my plastic frame glasses.  How ridiculous did I look?  I’m not sure…but what I was seeing was pure undiluted AWESOME!
The booth has Guitar Hero, Gears of War, Age of Empires, and Unreal Tournament.  I took the first available rig, and tested out Unreal Tournament.    Normally, I get motion-sickness if I play FPSs for too long.  It may have been the NVISION UV lighting, or the fact that I was totally entranced in the joy of the game.  But for some reason, I did not get any motion sickness despite the 3D rendering my eyes were perceiving.

I was thoroughly able to enjoy the game and test out the 3D gaming feature.  It takes a minute of getting used to, but there is nothing like discovering where the sniper rifle is on the map to snap you into the zone.  With the 3D graphics, not only do you gain more perspective on shooting arc shots, but you can appreciate the eye candy goodness when someone is chasing you with a Bio Rifle.  With NVIDIA’s 3D Stereo gaming, you truly feel like you are dodging iridescent blobs hurling themselves at your face.

NVIDIA has also made their technology compatible with all of our favorite games. The official list!

This amazing tech can be yours, all you need is a 3D capable polarized monitor.  Only Zalman has them, and they come in 19″ and 22″.  Fortunately, you can change the display to become 2D so you are not in a permanent state of Matrix-wannabe-ness.

(That cord is to prevent us from stealing the glasses, because we desperately wanted to wear them around the event and see everything in ultra-3D.)