NVIDIA offers up GeForce 3D Vision, takes WoW players further down the rabbit hole

Look for something to drive your new Samsung monitor or 120Hz 3D HDTV? Enter NVIDIA's GeForce 3D Vision package, loaded up with powered 3D glasses (no red / blue silliness here, charged via USB) and an IR emitter to keep everything synced between the display and your glasses. Left 4 Dead, WoW: WotLK and several other games are already compatible with more expected to come soon. CES had a quick demo and didn't notice any of the headaches sometimes associated with stereoscopic 3D, but at $399 for the display and $199 for this set when it's available in the next few days, we're not sure how close we want to get to those zombies, but WoW fans may see things differently.

[porn @ Jan 7th 2009 9:17PM]

porn?

[Flashpoint @ Jan 7th 2009 9:55PM]

These will go great next to my Sega Master system glasses

[Blastar @ Jan 8th 2009 6:05PM]

If you want to watch some pron I would suggest some more Private Option which is Real 3D 100% Private and much cheaper..
Yup there is such a thing and its called Vuzix

-The current windscreen model for 250$
http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/17/vuzix-rolls-out-first-widescreen-hmd/
-Or the newer one..
http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/02/vuzix-to-unveil-new-less-cool-looking-hmd-at-ces/

I think NVidia is too expensive for no reason at all.

[Blastar @ Jan 8th 2009 6:06PM]

Porn*

[hepcecob @ Jan 7th 2009 9:18PM]

I've owned a pair of 3D glasses for 4 years now, I remember playing UT2004 with them and having a blast. I bought them for $99 though. Granted they worked only with CRT monitors, but a $600 setup that will be obsolete in a year if not less with all the new 3D technologies being developed, I don't understand the justification of such purchase.

[wrabbit @ Jan 7th 2009 9:27PM]

No sure why you'd want to play WoW in 3D like that, but Left 4 Dead with this would be off the hook!

[grayaudio @ Jan 7th 2009 9:36PM]

3D WoW? Punch me in the face.

[Abushka @ Jan 7th 2009 9:40PM]

/pucnh

[Richard @ Jan 7th 2009 9:51PM]

/Punch Fail

[Zadillo @ Jan 7th 2009 9:58PM]

Any word on how people who wear regular prescription glasses would be able to use these, if at all?

[Tankyu @ Jan 7th 2009 10:33PM]

Wear contacts!

[LiQuiD_FuSioN @ Jan 7th 2009 10:53PM]

Give the man a prize!

[agrabren @ Jan 7th 2009 11:53PM]

The 3D glasses fit comfortably over most glasses.

[Arkenklo @ Jan 8th 2009 2:22AM]

The altered focus created by your regular glasses will change the percepted image into 4D. Since the human brain is not created to wiew time without protection (like, reality) your head will explode. Sorry about that.

[Nickwould @ Jan 7th 2009 10:20PM]

My friend's mom works with Nvidia, and I tried these four or five months ago. We were playing Portal, and trying to figure out how to optimize it, and then she kept asking "Is it 3D yet?" and i kept saying no, no, no. Then she actually flipped the switch and I nearly crapped my pants. IT WAS AMAZING.

[andres @ Jan 7th 2009 10:21PM]

are you sure Nvidia wasnt working on their new switch activated crapping mechanism?

[Brian! @ Jan 7th 2009 11:49PM]

Must be that merger between NVidia and Johnson & Johnson with the goal to move more Depends adult diapers.

[apburchell @ Jan 8th 2009 1:40AM]

mabe with the glasses the cake is no longer a lie.

maybe its real 0_o

[ChuChu @ Jan 7th 2009 10:22PM]

Helloooooooooo female night elves!

[edgore @ Jan 8th 2009 11:57AM]

+1, but only becasue your avatar pleases me.

[jay @ Jan 7th 2009 10:24PM]

I can't wait to buy these things. A 3D game in ACTUAL 3D is the next step in gaming. Now hurry up with the monitors...

[skift186 @ Jan 7th 2009 10:58PM]

hmm, for some reason i always hated tv glasses. But now they seem ultra cool. Maybe its the thought that your too cool to view the world as a normal joe, .......until you walk into a telephone pole.

[Sam Zebian @ Jan 7th 2009 11:03PM]

This sounds awesome, but it's way too much $$$ for a setup like this. When they're cheap I'll get one.

[Adam @ Jan 7th 2009 11:14PM]

I used to have a pair of 3d shutter glasses that came with nvidia hardware back in the day. They were awesome except for some bugs, e.g. game compatibility, certain decals would show up on a 2d plane, etc.

The reason I stopped using it was solely because I could not find drivers that would make it work on newer video cards as time progressed.

It was simply the newer nvidia card drivers no longer had the feature, so I had to stay in the past, eventually I stopped using it.

If Nvidia was committed to a level of support for these glasses, e.g. they will work for 2-3 generations of gpu hardware, then I would re-invest. But my overall experience before was mediocre, I had a great taste of 3d gaming, but lack of support kept me from eventually playing the games I wanted to play.

[Raptor007 @ Jan 8th 2009 3:08AM]

Yeah, I loved those things! I picked them up for about $40, and they worked perfectly with my Ti 4200 and 5600 Ultra! Oh man, Counter-Strike with those things was amazing.

I later tried to connect them to my 8800 GT (once I went back to using a CRT) and found no drivers available... what a let-down! :-( Still, I bet Nvidia dropped their support because most people don't use CRTs anymore.

[uclatommy @ Jan 8th 2009 12:17AM]

Is this compatible with Sexy Beach 2? If so, I'm sold.

[abe200x @ Jan 8th 2009 1:24AM]

This is the only engadget headline that has ever made me laugh out loud.

[i_am_god_666_no_u @ Jan 8th 2009 1:59AM]

Next thing you know WoW will be like .hack// where people fall into comatose from a game glitch which affects your brain and will eventually cause a SKYnet type telecommunications armageddon.

[Derek @ Jan 8th 2009 2:50AM]

want.

[jack @ Jan 8th 2009 6:35PM]

cool rocketship

[ijyt @ Jan 8th 2009 3:08AM]

So I'm guessing these won't work if someone is blind in one eye?

[Ryan @ Jan 8th 2009 4:15AM]

Full, detailed review of the technology here:

http://www.pcper.com/article.php?aid=656

[yuriythebest @ Jan 8th 2009 4:55AM]

FAIL! This solution uses shutterglasses while is an OLD technology. Polarized glasses rule!

[Ryan @ Jan 8th 2009 5:53AM]

FAIL!

RTFA!

[CosterMonger @ Jan 8th 2009 11:13AM]

but at 60hz!

[yuriythebest @ Jan 8th 2009 11:15AM]

these won't work at 60hz- I accidentaly placed my full reply below please read that

[CosterMonger @ Jan 8th 2009 11:25AM]

then why the heck would you need a 120Hz LCD?

FROM NVIDIA'S WEBSITE

Support for new pure 120 Hz LCD monitors
Unlocks crystal-clear, flicker-free stereoscopic 3D gaming, enabling 60 Hz per eye.

http://www.nvidia.com/object/product_GeForce_3D_VisionKit_us.html

[yuriythebest @ Jan 8th 2009 11:28AM]

right, 60hz PER eye- how many eyes do you have?

[CosterMonger @ Jan 8th 2009 11:38AM]

WTF did you think I was talk about?
RTFA!
most other shutter glass work at much less so with the advent of 120Hz LCD's and 60hz shutters Bob's your uncle.

[yuriythebest @ Jan 8th 2009 11:42AM]

now I'm slightly lost regarding what you're trying to tell me- all I'm saying is that these glasses will require 120hz LCD's, and will NOT work on regular LCD;s.

[yuriythebest @ Jan 8th 2009 11:43AM]

do you have msn/aol/yahoo Im/skype ? - this thread i getting too long :)

[CosterMonger @ Jan 8th 2009 11:55AM]

that's exactly what I'm saying!
shutters at 60Hz (with 120Hz LCD) is better the shutters at 30Hz (with 60Hz LCD)

I thought you were saying the glasses weren't not 60Hz.

[CosterMonger @ Jan 8th 2009 11:56AM]

one less not (smacks self)

[yuriythebest @ Jan 8th 2009 12:05PM]

hmm I somehow never saw the destinction between the hz of the glasses and of the monitor, but 60hz per each lens for each eye since the 120hz is divided between the eyes would be logical, but if you add up the refresh rates for each lens it's 120hz again :_ guess it all depends on the terminology. But yeah results on a 120hz LCD will be better than those on a 60hz LCD -that is, no results since even with old school shutterglasses it won't work :) But my overal point is that passive polarized glasses + 3d LCD monitor are better than even the _?_hz shutterglasses+120hz LCD monitor solution.

[CosterMonger @ Jan 8th 2009 7:19PM]

my whole point is that nvidia has been pushing 3d tech for years and are really trying to make it mainstream [$], it's nice to see them offering the complete package, as I stated in a post below, I would need to test and compare to other technologies before drawing to any final conclusions. (although I think the glasses should be cheaper and I'm still confused why this technology won't work with more 120Hz LCDs {like tvs}, maybe it comes down to response time).

rad racer in 3D!

[yuriythebest @ Jan 8th 2009 6:56AM]

I did- I have a pair of old school shutterglasses and a new iz3d monitor (in front of which I'm sitting) and not only is the 200$ price tag way too high but also they require batteries and a high refresh rate LCD or a DLP solution, plus no matter how good shutterglasses (active glasses like those of nvidia) are they will always cause some eyestrain and some headaches to certain ppl after prolonged use- that I can guarantee. On the other hand my iz3d solution that uses passive polarized is superior in that it doesn't cause headaches, glasses don't require batteries and look just like normal sunglasses plus additional pairs cost 10$ (the monitor costs 399$ and comes with 3 pairs). So if, say, someone sat on them it wouldn't be that big a deal. Plus the iz3d driver rulez!!

[CosterMonger @ Jan 8th 2009 11:20AM]

SOLD!
now I just need to try one out and buy it... wait I don't have money... :(

[Mr. RebeL @ Jan 8th 2009 6:48PM]

Once I get a pair will anyone want to buy my old 2-d glasses from me ?

[Luis @ Jan 8th 2009 11:29PM]

I tried these today while playing guitar hero at their booth, it looked incredible. Can't wait to play FPS with these.

[sadfaceman @ Jan 9th 2009 12:14PM]

they had farcry, left4dead, and mirrors edge right around the corner to the guitar hero. Now Mirrors edge in 3D was pretty awesome!