What's fueling the 3D craze?

[Rayquarian]

Where is all this energy for "3D everything" coming from.  Is it all just from Avatar, or has this been in the works for a while?  How long do you think it'll be before this 3D craze dies down, or is it here to stay?

[Nayrman]

As far as staying power goes, it all depends on how games handle it, as they're the ones who're going to want to use it the most as it actually serves some purpose there. However, 3D TV and Movies will never work in the long run. They've tried three times before, and it's not going to work now. Simply put, it's too expensive, doesn't look all that great, and those GLASSES. So games...maybe, tv and movies, no.


The reason as to why everything is 3D now is a bit complicated. The biggest reason is that Hollywood wants to make a quick buck by scamming consumers into seeing a terrible product on the notion that 3D is KEWL (just like the 50's, just like the 80's...it didn't work). Also, Hollywood realizes that homes can get more or less the same experience nowadays with BIG tv's, High Definition and so forth. It's similar to how Hollywood jumped EN MASSE to big colorful productions in the early 50's once television started to become popular. It's simply a step to stay ahead of the home game. Yet they fail to realize that no one wants to see PIRANHA 3D because even with 3D it's still a piece of poop. Avatar was nothing special and once the great CG becomes common people will realize it as such.

Now, the 3D TV's comes from various directions. The first is that Hollywood is churning out 3D like no-one's business, and the TV makers want to capitalize on that by saying, "Hey, they got those spiffy 3D movies, now you can watch them at home! For...*ahem* two-thousand dollars...". Another reason I've been hearing is that HD is basically the new TV standard now, and most entertainment enthusiasts already have a big HD tv in their house. The market is more or less shrinking due to over-use. Basically, think of how cheap DVD players are now compared to how expensive they were at the get go. Everyone knew it was better, it was just a matter of time before it became standard. So, basically guys like Sony are just trying to "convince" technology early adopters that 3D is the new HD, and get people to once again spend tons of money on a brand new TV. Based on sales, it's not really working all that much. And I can't blame them, there's basically no content for it not to mention who wants to spend all that time watching tv with those horrid glasses?

[SkyMyl]

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[Silverhawk79]

Nayrman pretty much nailed it.
Companies just want to cash in on the novelty of the whole thing, and so far they're doing a great job of it. I just don't see 3D having much staying power once the excitement of it wears off.
$12 for a movie ticket for a 3D movie vs. $8 for a non-3D movie? I'd much, much rather see non-3D.

[Cornwad]

Things don't go away nowadays. 3D is here to stay.