AfterDawn: News

PS3 to get 3D support via firmware updates during summer

Sony's John Koller has confirmed today that the PlayStation 3 will be receiving 3D support over the summer, via multiple firmware updates.

Says Koller, via Pocket-Lint: "3D is a major part of our initiatives in 2010 and we're currently developing 3D stereoscopic games to come in conjunction with the launch of Sony's 3D compatible BRAVIA LCD TV in summer 2010. The amazing thing about the PS3's technology is that all PS3 units that exist in homes and markets will be able to play 3D stereoscopic games as well as 3D BD movies through separate firmware upgrades - something that other platforms are unable to do. We'll be announcing actual game titles separately later, but we think that 3D stereoscopic gaming has a ton of potential, particularly in placing consumers within the actual experience."



3D Blu-ray support will likely be activated first, with 3D gaming made available through the second update. The releases coincide with the release of Sony Bravia 3D HDTVs.

Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 11 Feb 2010 15:08

• Previous article

• No new free music from Warner says CEO

• Next article

• Facebook Chat now available through many IM clients

• 21 comments

• jhunter

  right on time for gee lets think...avatar to ocme out on blu ray.

  11.2.2010 17:16 #1

• geestar20

  This 3D feature will not benefit the user unless you buy the new tv's and who wants to spend a few thousand dollars for 3D? well some might.

  11.2.2010 17:48 #2

• djeazyg

  Is this 3D TV thing really worth it?

  11.2.2010 18:56 #3

• biglo30

  The PS3 is the ULTIMATE home entertainment device in the world right now.

  11.2.2010 19:13 #4

• biglo30

  Originally posted by geestar20: This 3D feature will not benefit the user unless you buy the new tv's and who wants to spend a few thousand dollars for 3D? well some might.Yeah thats true and it really sucks. Wish it could work on regular HD tv's.

  11.2.2010 19:15 #5

• munchiz

  Originally posted by geestar20: This 3D feature will not benefit the user unless you buy the new tv's and who wants to spend a few thousand dollars for 3D? well some might.Can't it be playd with a 120mhz lcd t.v ??
  mayby im wrong...

  11.2.2010 19:54 #6

• iRuler

  I think 120 htz is the MINIMUM for a 3D compatible TV. You can google for a list of TV's that will work.
  
  I keep waiting for Apple to announce if they will be using the 3D fad-tech anytime soon. I doubt they will. They usually just stick to two simple rules (unlike SOny and Microsoft):
  
  -Durable and Powerful devices
  
  -Gorgeous Form Factor and Delivery
  
  
  ... fads aren't on the list.
  

  Official Staff Writer and Apple Specialist of GameGamePOW.com
  
  "Think Different"

  11.2.2010 20:31 #7

• xnonsuchx

  Originally posted by iRuler: I think 120 htz is the MINIMUM for a 3D compatible TV. You can google for a list of TV's that will work.
  
  I keep waiting for Apple to announce if they will be using the 3D fad-tech anytime soon. I doubt they will. They usually just stick to two simple rules (unlike SOny and Microsoft):
  
  -Durable and Powerful devices
  
  -Gorgeous Form Factor and Delivery
  
  
  ... fads aren't on the list.Since Apple hasn't even yet added Blu-ray (even though they were an initial Blu-ray Consortium member) to any of their computers, I don't think they'll be jumping on 3-D anytime soon.

  11.2.2010 20:45 #8

• unknown21

  The 3D firmware update is nice but it won't do anything for me because I'm not going to buy a 3D TV until they can make it so we can watch 3D without having to wear the glasses. Plus, I just bought a new LCD TV a few months ago so I'm not planning to buy another TV anytime soon.

  11.2.2010 21:03 #9

• shaffaaf

  just goes to show that buying a PS3 for a blueray player was the best choice consumers could make. first having to buy a new one for the 2.0 profile and now people will have to buy a new one for 3d, IF they bougth stand alones, but the PS3 has it all :)

  11.2.2010 21:25 #10

• cyprusrom

  Originally posted by iRuler: I think 120 htz is the MINIMUM for a 3D compatible TV. You can google for a list of TV's that will work.
  
  I keep waiting for Apple to announce if they will be using the 3D fad-tech anytime soon. I doubt they will. They usually just stick to two simple rules (unlike SOny and Microsoft):
  
  -Durable and Powerful devices
  
  -Gorgeous Form Factor and Delivery
  
  
  ... fads aren't on the list.You are one sorry funboy...crApple IS a synonym fad FAD. That's all there is, pretty to look at...

  11.2.2010 23:49 #11

• KillerBug

  Quote:Originally posted by geestar20: This 3D feature will not benefit the user unless you buy the new tv's and who wants to spend a few thousand dollars for 3D? well some might.Can't it be playd with a 120mhz lcd t.v ??
  mayby im wrong...I think you might have meant 120hz? If so, it is about right. Do the math, and this is about 8MS refresh rate. I know a lot of people decided to save $10 by buying the 10MS screen vs the 5MS screen...and they screwed themselves in the process.
  
  Personaly, all my screens are 4MS and under, so I'm ready for 3D bluray as soon as sony releases the PS3 firmware upgrade...no need to buy a new screen...any screen in my house will work fine...and not one was sold as a "3D TV". I doubt I will have a large collection of 3D blurays any time soon, but I think 3D gaming has a real future.

  11.2.2010 23:58 #12

• xnonsuchx

  Originally posted by killerbug: ...I'm ready for 3D bluray as soon as sony releases the PS3 firmware upgrade...no need to buy a new screen...any screen in my house will work fine...and not one was sold as a "3D TV". I doubt I will have a large collection of 3D blurays any time soon, but I think 3D gaming has a real future.How are your non-3D TVs supposed to tell the shutters in the glasses to work if they aren't 3D TVs???

  12.2.2010 01:48 #13

• chris4160

  AFAIK any tv is 3D capable, if you wear the 3D glasses (I remember there being a 3D tv show a couple of weeks back). Maybe I'm wrong though.

  12.2.2010 03:48 #14

• Ryu77

  Why would a 120Hz refresh rate be needed for 3D Blu-ray content?
  
  Almost all cinema material is recorded in 24fps and when ported over to Blu-ray it is kept at this frame rate. When you play this on your Blu-ray player (as long as your TV supports it) it will actually be played at 24Hz to match the progressive frame rate.
  
  I sell TV's and Home Theatre equipment and I am not entirely confident that 3D will be a huge success but I will keep an open mind and see what becomes of it. However, I am interested to know if the Blu-ray player supports stereoscopic 3D, how is any TV not going to be able to display it?
  
  Please excuse me for not feeling entirely clear on all this 3D buzz but it is not like they had to replace the projectors and screens in every Cinema just to play Avatar. I think the technology that sets Avatar apart is more in the film making process.
  
  I am sincerely terrified that the marketing hype will try to milk this sensation for so much more than it's worth. Making consumers believe that they need to upgrade all their equipment to watch 3D movies. I think that the truth is that a "3D TV" will have processing technology to convert regular programming into 3D. However, if the film is natively recorded in stereoscopic 3D like Avatar was, then I don't see why any player paired with any TV wouldn't work with the stereoscopic glasses.
  
  I know you may think this is strange coming from someone that sells the above mentioned equipment, but I believe what sets myself apart in this highly competitive market is a genuine care for my customers needs. Of course I am there to make money but there is no way I am ever going to do it by telling people they need something when it will serve them no benefit.
  
  Can anyone clarify any of this in more detail and provide detailed technical information on how certain things work?
  

  "Great minds discuss ideas... Average minds discuss events... Small minds discuss people"
  
  PS3 compatible video creation thread... mkv2vob, tsMuxeR etc.: http://forums.afterdawn.com/thread_view.cfm/621809
  The complete HD (Blu-ray/HD-DVD) back-up thread.: http://forums.afterdawn.com/thread_view.cfm/639346

  12.2.2010 03:50 #15

• tjlmbklr1

  Originally posted by chris4160: AFAIK any tv is 3D capable, if you wear the 3D glasses (I remember there being a 3D tv show a couple of weeks back). Maybe I'm wrong though.3D Blurays as far as I know use Red/Green glasses. Good 3D quality comes not only within the TV but that most 3D Bluray don't use polarized glasses like the theaters. I only own one 3D movie (Coroline) and yes it does look great but what most people fail to realize is not all scenes of the movie are in 3D only certain scenes. This is where polarized is best. On the movie I have you wear the Red/Green glasses and this gets a bit annoying at times on the no 3D scenes.

  12.2.2010 15:06 #16

• xnonsuchx

  Originally posted by chris4160: AFAIK any tv is 3D capable, if you wear the 3D glasses (I remember there being a 3D tv show a couple of weeks back). Maybe I'm wrong though.Any color TV is capable of the original anaglyphic (Red-Blue/Cyan glasses) 3D. The "3D TVs" that are being talked about in this case are AFS (alternate frame sequencing) 3D...using glasses w/ shutters in them that sync to the TV (why a special TV is needed) to control which frames each eye sees.
  
  The other movie 3D format is polarized 3D, which is displaying both frames simultaneously (through a special projector lens), but for this to work on TV would require making polarized screens on TVs, which may not be able to display regular 2D TV that well.

  12.2.2010 18:23 #17

• error5

  @Ryu77:
  
  http://www.3dmovielist.com/3dhdtvs.html
  
  Most upcoming 3D capable displays will be using active shutter technology. A few models such as the LG920 will use circular polarized glasses.
  
  http://www.pcworld.com/article/187037/ge...th_3d_hdtv.html
  
  Quote:Shutter glasses--as the name suggests--have shutters in both lenses that alternate at a very fast rate and completely block one eye at a time from viewing the screen.
  
  The glases are in sync with an IR transmitter that tells the glasses which eye to block out according to the 3D image being displayed. The main thing that sets shutter glasses apart is that they are not a passive technology. Shutter glasses need a power source to mechanically alternate the shutters and to receive the IR signal. According to Gizmodo, these glasses may start at $70 a pair, so it may become quite the investment for a larger family.
  
  Shutter glasses also require a display with a high refresh rate. There has been some questions over whether 240Hz HDTVs make any considerable image improvement over 120Hz sets, but there's no doubt that such technology will be needed for a smooth 3D shutter glasses experience. The lower the refresh rate, the higher the chance that your eyes will be able to catch frame transition occurring on the screen and on the glasses.The 3D spec approved by the BDA allows for 2 1080p streams (one for each eye) to be sent to the display.
  
  Quote:The 3D specification will use Multiview Video Coding, a variant of the ubiquitous H.264 HD codec, for the enhanced visuals. MVC will present seperate 1080p pictures to each eye, yet it will only take up 50% more space on the disc. You will still need to use polarized 3D glasses to see the effect, but the experience should be quite close to your typical theatrical 3D release (minus the popcorn in your hair).http://www.pcworld.com/article/184993/3d..._your_gear.html
  
  The anaglyph (RED-BLUE) 3D that we're so familiar with is not part of the BD spec.

  12.2.2010 18:32 #18

• Ryu77

  Thanks error5...
  
  I have been so busy lately, I haven't had a lot of time to research upcoming development. I am still concerned that this will create more confusion with consumers.
  
  If things keep moving along so quickly, some may be put off upgrading altogether.
  

  "Great minds discuss ideas... Average minds discuss events... Small minds discuss people"
  
  PS3 compatible video creation thread... mkv2vob, tsMuxeR etc.: http://forums.afterdawn.com/thread_view.cfm/621809
  The complete HD (Blu-ray/HD-DVD) back-up thread.: http://forums.afterdawn.com/thread_view.cfm/639346

  14.2.2010 18:50 #19

• peluynati

  yeah sounds like another way of screwing up the ps3 file system!

  27.2.2010 15:24 #20

• ethan1066

  one nintendo game i would like to see metroid prime in 3-d ...this game is still amazing today..really

  2.3.2010 10:23 #21