See your 3D games in 2D!

MerkabaMerkaba Digital Harmony Join Date: 2002-01-24 Member: 22Members, Retired Developer, NS1 Playtester
edited November 2006 in Off-Topic
<div class="IPBDescription">Is it just me?</div>I've discovered a way to make my brain think its looking at a 3D image whilst playing computer games. For me, it really works!

It's very very simple. Cover up one eye.

I've been playing Thief with a folded bus pass hooked over one side of my glasses to cover up my eye, and things really do look 3D - so long as they're moving around. If you're looking at a static picture the brain can't tell what's in front/whats behind because there is no perspective, but with moving objects on screen your brain can tell what is near, what is far, etc - and makes it appear that way!

I've never heard anyone try this before, and I've suggested it a few times to people but I don't think they ever followed it up.

So please, give it a go. If you wear glasses it'll be so much easier as you can find something to cover up your eye and then focus on the game. Playing HLDM I found it a bit troublesome as one eye is doing all the work of looking around, but for a passive game like Thief it works really well.

I must know if I'm just fooling myself or if I have actually found a way to make things seem 3D, even if they're not. Give it a go!

[edit]
As a safety footnote, doing this for extended periods of time might result in eye strain <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":)" border="0" alt="smile-fix.gif" /> (I have it myself at the moment after taking the card off my glasses)
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Comments

  • GeminosityGeminosity :3 Join Date: 2003-09-08 Member: 20667Members
    this is actually not far off how 3DNOW glasses work. They have a sorta lcd screen inside each lense that blacks them out for a fraction of a second only allowing one eye to see at a time. This tech is further enhanced however by your PC flashing pictures in synch with the glasses, with one adjusted image for each eye (one is the normal pic, the other is slightly off center in 3D like your eye is).

    Of course, those glasses can hurt your eyes too.

    Personally I think I'll wait till they develop something that doesn't damage my lovely eyesight <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tounge.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":p" border="0" alt="tounge.gif" />
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  • TychoCelchuuuTychoCelchuuu Anememone Join Date: 2002-03-23 Member: 345Members
    Eye strain is probably the most annoying result of this, plus your field of view is understandably cut down, so it's tough to see people sneaking up on you while you're playing NS or something.
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  • TalesinTalesin Our own little well of hate Join Date: 2002-11-08 Member: 7710NS1 Playtester, Forum Moderators
    There *are* 3D glasses rigs available, rather than the 'shutter glasses' style that Gem is noting. But they aren't cheap, each having an 800x600 (or for really pricey ones, 1024x768) micro-screen for each eye. Games don't generally support them though; the only system I'm aware of that does is a plugin for 3D modelling programs like Maya, Softimage, or Lightwave.

    That and they run like two grand for a good basic pair, without motion sensitivity. The top-end ones are five digits, but most do provide motion sense so you can just look around and have the picture track; useful for games with POV hat capability, I guess.
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  • BlackMageBlackMage [citation needed] Join Date: 2003-06-18 Member: 17474Members, Constellation
    virtual reality mittens!
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  • a_civiliana_civilian Likes seeing numbers Join Date: 2003-01-08 Member: 12041Members, NS1 Playtester, Playtest Lead
    The reason blocking one eye might result in a better sense of depth is that it removes the depth cues of binocular disparity and convergence which tell the brain that the images you see on the screen are only as far as the screen itself. Without these, the brain has to rely more on the pictorial and motion depth cues of the image.

    3D glasses go beyond this by actually providing artificial binocular disparity.
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  • AlignAlign Remain Calm Join Date: 2002-11-02 Member: 5216Forum Moderators, Constellation
    But why would I want to do that? I play 2D games to get away from the awfulness of 3D.
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  • SidSid Corwid of the Free Join Date: 2003-01-28 Member: 12903Members, Constellation
    I'm blind in one eye, have been for all my life. :/

    It really, really sucks.
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  • MerkabaMerkaba Digital Harmony Join Date: 2002-01-24 Member: 22Members, Retired Developer, NS1 Playtester
    <!--quoteo(post=1577183:date=Nov 14 2006, 09:27 PM:name=Sid)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Sid @ Nov 14 2006, 09:27 PM) [snapback]1577183[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
    I'm blind in one eye, have been for all my life. :/

    It really, really sucks.
    <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    I'm sorry to hear that, Sid. Do you get eye strain, out of interest?
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  • BelgarionBelgarion Join Date: 2002-07-19 Member: 973Members
    <!--quoteo(post=1577183:date=Nov 14 2006, 05:27 PM:name=Sid)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Sid @ Nov 14 2006, 05:27 PM) [snapback]1577183[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
    I'm blind in one eye, have been for all my life. :/

    It really, really sucks.
    <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    I have a friend like you from my last college. He'd been born without eyesight in one eye (preme i think. he was a bit of an oddball... i miss him). One of our instructors came up with a thing called "3D Shadow". No matter who it was, the first time they saw it they all jerked their heads back as they thought something was being thrown at their faces. Awesome device. But it also needs both eyes to work properly or it just looks stupid. Everyone would always say how awesome it is and he'd be like "maaan... i can't see it lol"
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  • [WHO]Them[WHO]Them You can call me Dave Join Date: 2002-12-11 Member: 10593Members, Constellation
    A new option in the world of 3D gear. Uses polarized glasses and a special monitor instead of shutter glasses.


    <a href="http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,2048863,00.asp?kc=PCRSS02129TX1K0000530" target="_blank">http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,20488...2129TX1K0000530</a>
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  • SidSid Corwid of the Free Join Date: 2003-01-28 Member: 12903Members, Constellation
    <!--quoteo(post=1577193:date=Nov 14 2006, 02:48 PM:name=Merkaba)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Merkaba @ Nov 14 2006, 02:48 PM) [snapback]1577193[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
    I'm sorry to hear that, Sid. Do you get eye strain, out of interest?
    <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    No, not really. I guess I might be used to it or something. I'm still a hardcore gamer, and I Love the flashy graphics just as much as the next person. Although it's kind of sad that I'll never get to experience true 3D. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tounge.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":p" border="0" alt="tounge.gif" /> Oh well! <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":D" border="0" alt="biggrin-fix.gif" />
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  • KaineKaine Join Date: 2002-08-07 Member: 1096Members, Constellation
    <!--quoteo(post=1577350:date=Nov 15 2006, 05:18 PM:name=Sid)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Sid @ Nov 15 2006, 05:18 PM) [snapback]1577350[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
    No, not really. I guess I might be used to it or something. I'm still a hardcore gamer, and I Love the flashy graphics just as much as the next person. Although it's kind of sad that I'll never get to experience true 3D. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tounge.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":p" border="0" alt="tounge.gif" /> Oh well! <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":D" border="0" alt="biggrin-fix.gif" />
    <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    i don't want to sound insensitive, but i'm really interested to know if you have problems with depth perception. I strongly believe that our brain has the ability to adapt to permanent/genetic problems like yours. I actually have better depth perception than most people, but my color vision suffers.

    so o/t, but hey, where better than in Off-Topic?
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  • ThaldarinThaldarin Alonzi&#33; Join Date: 2003-07-15 Member: 18173Members, Constellation
    <!--quoteo(post=1577360:date=Nov 15 2006, 07:22 AM:name=Kaine)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Kaine @ Nov 15 2006, 07:22 AM) [snapback]1577360[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
    i don't want to sound insensitive, but i'm really interested to know if you have problems with depth perception. I strongly believe that our brain has the ability to adapt to permanent/genetic problems like yours. I actually have better depth perception than most people, but my color vision suffers.

    so o/t, but hey, where better than in Off-Topic?
    <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    I believe it can/has adapted. My mates mum lost all her sight in her left eye 2 years ago. She can still drive and everything normal.
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  • SloppyKissesSloppyKisses omgawd a furreh&#33; Virginia Join Date: 2003-07-05 Member: 17942Members, Constellation
    <!--quoteo(post=1577172:date=Nov 14 2006, 03:46 PM:name=Black_Mage)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Black_Mage @ Nov 14 2006, 03:46 PM) [snapback]1577172[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
    virtual reality mittens!
    <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->


    omg you and mittens !_!

    ATTOCK
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  • SidSid Corwid of the Free Join Date: 2003-01-28 Member: 12903Members, Constellation
    <!--quoteo(post=1577360:date=Nov 15 2006, 12:22 AM:name=Kaine)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Kaine @ Nov 15 2006, 12:22 AM) [snapback]1577360[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
    i don't want to sound insensitive, but i'm really interested to know if you have problems with depth perception. I strongly believe that our brain has the ability to adapt to permanent/genetic problems like yours. I actually have better depth perception than most people, but my color vision suffers.

    so o/t, but hey, where better than in Off-Topic?
    <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    Hey, no probs man. That's not insensitive. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":)" border="0" alt="smile-fix.gif" />

    To be truthful, if someone hands me something, and I have to grab it with my hands, sometimes I'll miss - I'll grasp above or sometimes below the offered object. It can be kind of embarrassing, but it doesn't happen much. In fact, I don't really notice any problems. I go ATVing, driving, Motorcycling... *Cough* Scooting. *Cough*

    *Shrugs* <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":)" border="0" alt="smile-fix.gif" />
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