So there is this little known independent film called,”The Avengers” that is currently playing on a select number of theater screens in North America. It is a flick that is going to pave the way for no-name actors such as Scarlett Johannson, Jeremy Renner, and Samuel L Jackson. Oh and that Robert Downey Jr? That kid has got real potential. It is a cute little romp that, if you can even find it, should be sought out. Now in its modest budget of $220,000,000, the director Joss Wheden (Again with the rookies) was able to procure the services of RealD for its 3D visual effects. This company has been the leader in the 3D market for a few years and has now teamed up with Epic Games as part of its Integrated Partners Program. What this means is that the same 3D technologies that give today’s movies their 3d look, is coming to Epic’s Unreal 3 engine.
For those of you who may not follow such things closely, Unreal 3 is the engine that powers a lot of games today. Popular titles such as Bioshock (the good one), Batman: Arkham Asylum and the Gears of War series. It is one of the most widely used and licensed technologies, and with RealD joining up in their partners program, you will be able to see even more games with 3d capabilities. For those of us who posses a 3D display, go check out a game called SOL: Exodus by Seamless Entertainment. This is a space flight combat simulation in the same vein as X-wing or the original XCOM. You can get the game on Steam now, and check out the 3d capabilities that is on offer there.
I have only seen 3D games on the show floor of a Best Buy, and while that is never enough for me to go and actually get a 3D tv, it certainly will be interesting to see if RealD can bring it to the next level and offer a truly immersive 3D experience. Should RealD make 3D a truely more fun way to play my games, it would definitely influence my decision to buy a 3D display. Now if you will excuse me, I have to go see another indie darling in 3D, Titanic, something about a boat…
