Sony Patents Alternative to Split-Screen Multiplayer
Skittles
Regular
A couple of patents published recently show that Sony's looking at stereoscopic video for more than just 3D gaming; it could take the place of split-screen local multiplayer.
Broke My Controller noticed the patents, filed a year ago and published on Thursday, that show a method for rendering separate images on the same screen, which are then filtered by glasses worn by player 1 and player 2. The glasses also look like they have earbuds, meaning players get a separate audio feed, too.
Ideally, this would allow both players the view of an entire screen, without either the distraction of their opponent's activity to the side, or the ability to cheat by looking at his screen to see where he is.
The drawback, of course, is you need a 3DTV. And you have to wear the glasses. But as something that's more functional than cosmetic, I could dig it.
Source: http://kotaku.com/5591038/sony-patents-alternative-to-split+screen-multiplayer
What do you guys think?
IMO its kind of an expensive solution to split-screen as you need a 3DTV and two pairs of these silly looking glasses. At least they're still thinking about split-screen and not just phasing it out entirely
Also, I've always wondered why they don't just put little screens in the actual glasses? Seems like it would be HEAPS cheaper than a 3DTV, and also there would be other possibilites of having it sense motion - i.e. you turn your head IRL, and the character in the game turns their head allowing you to look around.
Comments
Agreed it is a very expensive way around it but it's pretty cool at least!
I was thinking of this the other night. When I was younger there was always this kind of thing advertised in the catalogue, "See your films in 50ft!". I was thinking about how each screen could be one half of the 3D image.
Another point to think about; what about the social aspect. You couldn't eat pizza or socialise while watching a film if everyone was 'plugged' into the glasses/screens. The lenses allow for 3D viewing AND people interaction.
This console generation was all about HD: pushing graphics to the next level, I guess the next generation will be all about 3D.
Also, the Wii has proven this time round that non-online multiplayer gaming is not dead, maybe another gimic like this will give local multiplayer another revival, but for REAL games this time; not Mario and shit.
Consider this.
The glasses FILTER out the other portion of the screen.
That means you're only getting 1/2 the screen.
Or, 1/4 of it with four bros.
It's gonna look choppy.
Nah man, you see the whole screen, but the single screen is displaying two images.
Hiding video in video...nice Sony.
I don't mean as in you only focus on half the screen, I mean, you only get half the pixels, etc.
...? I assumed they meant they were going to use changes in frame rate to display the seperate pictures, and the glasses would be 'tuned' into one.
Anybody got a towel.
Rolf states that it would of been much greater if developed several generations earlier, before console multiplayer became largely online, but still, brilliant and downright sexy (in skintight fishnets) Sir Rolf shall give credit where credit is due, and credit is due.
On another not this will be pretty bamf and will really help when i inv friends over for some split screenin.
Dearest possible friend of Rolf, seek not to imitate the charismatic sexiness which is personified in the Rolf, for Rolf is the only Rolf, all pretenders are not Rolf, however, Rolf reminds you that Rolf is brilliance, therefore Rolf is inside all of you, yet none of you are Rolf.
Its so fucked up it actually makes sense. All I can say is fucking mindMelt man.
No, it displays the whole image but, one after another. The refresh rate is also doubled so that you still see the same amount of frames as you're used to (60).
I can see 3D gaming working but as for films, I really don't see it taking off. It distracts you from the content instead of adding to it. Avatar wasn't a great film and the only reason it sold so much was because it was this generation of 3D's flagship.