Stereoscopic 3D has always been of interest to a lot of people.
The problem has always been the fault of the people whom were behind the wheel.
With PC 3d hardware:
With the hardware being specific to certain graphics cards, or certain video card drivers... developers do not want to support it with software efforts.
With over-pricing of the glasses - Especially in reguards to the low-tech nature of them, in a time where the tech was already cheap as hell to produce.
Poor software included (or none at all), that was NOT a Must-Buy - to hook people into the whole environment. (such as how Super Mario Bros singlehandedly pushed sales of the NES thru the roof)
The arguments for flicker, as well as having to wear glasses, have always been a way to shift the blame of the real reasons.
With 3d Tv:
- The 3d tech was not standardized
- The 3d glasses were all over the map, as far as quality, comfort, different compatibility, as well as too high of a cost.
- The content was too expensive. Movies priced at like 4 times the standard cost... was asking way too much.
- Severely Limited Content. Brodcasters did not have the tech, and were not going to invest millions for it.. when there was no massive base of users.
And, even if you forget about prices... there was not a lot of 3d Releases worthy of watching / buying. One great 3d re-release, was Predator. That should have been right out of the gate, and included with the TVs. Heck, maybe something even more iconic... like T2, ROTJ, Indiana Jones, etc...
- Screen Sizes. The 3d depth is limited, on a smaller screen. Imax puts an object about 5 ft in front of your head... due to its Massive screen size... and how close you sit to it (vertical stadium seating) For smaller LCDs, you have to sit much closer, and even then... its still far less of an experience. Watch something on a decent 3d home projector however... and its just like the Imax experience. Flippin amazing.
- LCD issues. LCDs have gotten better over time... but they still had a lot of lag issues. This causes problems with timing on shutterglasses, and image / depth quality + motion blur, and ghosting problems. Then you have stupid frame-fillers, that compound the issues... making unrealistic looking movements. (uncanny valley effect) Additionally, color depth lackings, field of view, possible glare, and ease of setup / use issues...
- DVD / Blueray 3d hardware support issue. You could not just plug your existing blueray / DVD player into, and use it to view 3d content. They could have left this open to the hardware of the glasses and tv to take care of... as a last resort... so anyone could simply try it out as-is. Instead, they locked it down into a need for a specific new player. Further turning people off, with more expenses... and little content to justify it.
- Time. Mfgs are famous for pulling a plug way too early. Expecting large gains, in quick timeframes. Not allowing the people, to eventually catch up to the tech... and the base then generating a lot more sales in the future. They shifted focus to HDR and 4k. Both are great and desired options. But, 3d HDR + 4K... would be even better...
One thing VR can do, is potentially open up 3d movie conversions and sales... as they could be great personal viewing devices. The issue however, is the format. It needs wide, and non distorted FOV... as well as a higher resolution. A single wide display, with flickering eye lens lcds, would be Heaps better than the method used now... at least, for movies and general pc type use. ** Or use of two displays mounted on the sides, with a periscope like mirror setup to reduce space + give wide and full HD resolutions.
Turns out that many of the entertainers of the early years, actually had things like DVD music, with interactive content... ages ago. It did not catch on... but why?
It was released too early, where more CD drives were a commonality. Poor to Zero advertising. And, again, did not wait long enough. DVD Audio, should be the standard.
Cds are antiques, providing far more limited audio quality and reproduction... let alone limited size and durability. And yet, CDs are still the physical media of sale, for audio. It boggles the mind.
VR will get big eventually. But it might die again, if the mfgs. do not get their acts together. Cost are too high. and nothing I see out there screams "I cant live without this in my life" yet...
As to note... Ive used / seen Stereoscopic 3d on:
- The Sega Master System (Missile Defense 3d, is da bomb! Worthy of picking up the hardware, just for this game)
- PC hardware around the 90s era
- Got to see / use some later pc hardware revisions at friends house
- Watched movies at a friends affordable 3d home projector, about 2 yrs ago... that blew me away (as good as the Imax experience)
- A used Virtuaboy heh
- And in the 80s arcades, on Continental Circus. (That is an Awesome 3d experience! Tires, car wreckage parts, and smoke trails... flying out of the screen! )
and some other lesser devices not worthy of mention...
I am very curious to see what Jerry's CastAR will do...
And Id love to see one of the current VR devices (my phone is barely able to power the most mildest of VR play. GN2)