Andrew Oliver is CEO of the UK's Blitz Games, developer of the world's first fully stereoscopic 3D game for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.
Most people tend to see 3D as a bit tacky. A bit '60s. A bit faddy. Actually the first 3D film came out in 1922, and the technology is far from new. And yes, there was a resurgence (of a sort) in the '50s and '60s but most people are simply unaware of the recent phenomenal improvements in 3D technology.
In fact, one of the biggest problems we're coming across at Blitz Games is that people are failing to see the sheer progress made with this technology over the last 87 years and also failing to understand what it can do now.
Back in the so called 'golden age' of 3D cinema in the '50s film-makers still used two projectors to create 3D images, which effectively destroyed the quality of the picture in the process.
The much more recent IMAX films were a step in the right direction, but still used analogue technology and were a far cry from the results we're now getting with stereoscopic Digital 3D.
There is no doubt that 3D has fully come of age in the film industry; all Disney, Pixar and DreamWorks films are now beginning to be made in 3D as a matter of course.
In fact all CG films will soon have 3D as a de-facto feature, with many recent 3D movies like Disney's Bolt and DreamWorks's Monsters vs Aliens already having hit 3D versions.
Games will lead 3D technology into our homes
Video game developers have always learnt an awful lot from the film industry and 3D is no exception. But people may not realise that it will be games that will lead the march of 3D into our homes. And you don't just have to take my word as a game developer for it, according to DreamWorks' Animation CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg: "3D in the home will be led by gamers."
One major problem we face before this can become a widespread reality is the lack of technology needed to display 3D games – 3D TVs. But we are closer than you may think and if you've recently bought a new high-end TV, the chances are it will already be 3D-Ready.
As we have seen from IFA 2009, 3D is now being embraced by the likes of Sony, Panasonic, Samsung and other major TV brands and manufacturers.
Some other encouraging signs are Sky's recent 3D TV trials, working towards creating a new service that requires a special TV but can be accessed through the standard HD box. According to reports, Sky has also come up with an inexpensive method of filming live action in 3D.
There are no dates set for when it will be rolled out, but Sky has already carried out test recordings of sporting events and the new series of Gladiators.
SAMSUNG PS50: One of the first 3D-capable HDTVs already on the market
3D gaming is also far from new as a concept and many PC gamers have been playing in 3D for some time now. There is, however, a big difference between driver-calibrated 3D effects and games developed with 3D in mind.
The games industry is only just now coming to realise that the current generation of consoles is powerful enough to support full stereoscopic Digital 3D. A year and a half ago I was listening to a talk where a leading industry veteran said outright that it wasn't possible, which of course I took as a challenge!
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