Hollenshead cautious over 3D impact
id boss cools heels over potential take up rates of new 3D technology
id Software executive Todd Hollenshead has revealed that the Doom and Rage developer is less optimistic than some about the potential impact of 3D technology in the near future.
Speaking to Eurogamer, Hollenshead intimated that id wouldn't be investing in 3D until the price of 3D-capable TV sets had fallen enough to encourage decent market penetration.
"At the very uber end of the videophiles, those guys are going to adopt that," he said of 3D TV. "But that's not going to be wide enough adoption to create substantial change within the gaming market.
"It has to be more pervasive and more widely adopted before it makes sense for videogame development companies to invest.
"You may have one or two that are like, oh, we're going to fly the banner of this and we're going to make our name on this one thing. But to have really meaningful differences is going to require some more time. The price is going to have to come down and you're going to have to have more widespread adoption."
Hollenshead admitted that as a consumer he was impressed by recent tech, but still felt uncomfortable viewing 3D for long periods.
"My most recent, oh, okay, this is really cool experience with 3D was with the movie Avatar, which everybody has seen. Even then, I was a little annoyed that I had to wear these glasses for two hours in a movie. My nose hurt by the end of it.
"I know the stuff in your living room is different. You can get higher quality glasses that fit. But you still gotta sit in your living room wearing these glasses. And then if you're playing games and move your head then it can get out of phase, which is a major issue," he told Eurogamer.
"And, also, the TVs are f***ing expensive. Is there enough content to justify?"
His cautiousness mirrored remarks made by EA Sports' boss Peter Moore to Eurogamer earlier in the month.
"It's just cool," said Moore. "Is cool good enough in our world where this is not an inconsiderable expense, and in a world where you expect us to deliver FIFA every single year? Do I have to hire more people to do 3D, and then can I sell more copies of the game?"