KEY POINTS:
The hyper-real future of gaming is going to be on show in Auckland at this month's Pulp Expo - and that's only a taste of three-dimensional things to come.
Pushing the edges of the graphic envelope is the new 22-inch iZ3D monitor, which is designed specifically with gaming in mind.
The passive-polarised dual-layered LCD has only just started doing the show rounds in the United States, so visitors to the Aotea Centre show will be among the first outside America to see the very cutting edge of 3D gaming.
A joint venture between 3D specialists Neurok Optics and Taiwanese LCD maker Chi Mei Optoelectronics, the monitor basically shows two slightly offset versions of the same video input, and the glasses do the rest.
It's not new technology by any stretch, but is a far cry from the cheap-thrill cheesiness of movies like Jaws 3D, without the horrendous costs and el-cheapo cardboard glasses.
When local company ICE AV releases the iZ3D before Christmas, it will retail for around $2000.
"Some of the hottest computer games and simulation software is available in many NZ stores right at this moment," says Kevin Andreassend of ICE AV, "but few, if any in NZ are able to take advantage of it or even aware it is capable.
A list of 80-odd compatible titles covers most popular games - and yes, there is good news for the millions who live in the World of Warcraft - both versions are compatible.
The iZ3D monitor is switchable between 2D and 3D modes - or between one and both LCD panels - and can push 1680 x 1050 resolution at a contrast ratio of 600:1.
It has dual inputs - one DVI and one DVI/VGA, and needs to be tied to a graphics card capable of running 3D at a decent frame rate.
Three-dimensional visuals are touted as being the next big thing in the electronics world, with Mitsubishi and Samsung both said to have consumer market DLP 3D projection televisions nearing launch-ready.
American 3D expert Chris Chinnock, president of Insight Media, says there are numerous specialist applications already using this sort of technology, but there is little cross-fertilisation between the very different industries.
"The bottom line is 3D is hot right now and advancements are coming very quickly in many sectors," he says. "The really exciting part is what is happening on the consumer side."
"The next big wave is going to be 3D TV. A year ago we thought this would take years to develop, but now, we see it taking off much faster. This year, Samsung and Mitsubishi will offer a wide line of stereoscopically-enabled DLP-based rear projection TVs to consumers. This will create an impressive installed base."
"The next piece is content and here we are also seeing big strides from companies like DDD and Sensio to convert 2D content to 3D. And what happens when Hollywood wants to take its 3D movies and offer them on HD DVD or Blu-ray?
"3D gaming in the home is already happening, but new monitors and the DLP TVs will make it easier for gamers to go 3D. And thats not all - cell phones, electronic picture frames, and digital cameras are all eyeing adding 3D capabilities".
