Do you think multiplayer works if you have to cope with split screen? I don’t. Even if you have a large TV you still have to game with the fact that the other player can see what you’re doing. If you’re not going head to head there’s still the chance that you’ll briefly peak at another split, get confused – just for a second – and make a mistake. I’m sure I’ve won and lost Super Mario Smash Brother games to that.
Sony have a new 3D TV set that hopes to solve this problem. As has been pointed out to me on Twitter this isn’t a new bit of technology but I think this might be the generation in which the two-player split takes off. By making use of the glasses required for the 3D effects the TV is able to show player one a completely different view from player two.
In Sony’s own words;
Special feature for two-player mode
Designed to deliver the ultimate gaming experience only possible on the 3D Display, it utilizes new, proprietary technology, that allows two players playing a multi-player game to see individual, unique, full-screen images of gameplay using the bundled 3D Glasses and supported software title.
To be honest, I’m not sure 3D TV will take off. I think 3D is more attractive for gaming but only just. It’s easy to imagine glasses that also bundle in microphone and earpiece – and once that happens you might as well play in 3D.
This new TV from Sony (which doesn’t seem to be officially called the PlayStation TV – yet) gives me a much more compelling reason to invest in the tech.
