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CES 2009: Nvidia shows off 3D glasses with Left 4 Dead

Nvidia was showing off its 3D gaming solution at CES this year with Left 4 …

We had a chance to briefly check out Sony's take on 3D gaming yesterday, but Sony wasn't the only company trying to get in on the action. Nvidia was showing off its own technology with its 3D Vision glasses, and unlike Sony's proof of concept display, Nvidia's setup was both playable and ready for purchase. The game on display? Left 4 Dead.

Unlike Sony's tech, which used passive glasses, Nvidia's rig relies on a combination of a relatively cutting-edge LCD monitor (with 120 Hz support), a compatible Nvidia graphics card, and a pair of $199 active glasses. It's a pricey setup, one that most modest PC gamers will be waiting on for quite some time until the price comes down substantially. Its undeniable, however, how cool the setup was in motion.

Like most stereoscopic 3D setups, there's a noticeable amount of depth and volume added to the scene, visible almost immediately upon donning the glasses. However, Nvidia's setup takes the concept a step further by allowing users to easily adjust the amount of depth perception with a small nob on the glasses' special dongle. With the knob turned all the way up, the game image seems to jump out at you, to the point where it can almost be distracting—especially in a game as fast-paced as Left 4 Dead.

As a bonus, here's a picture of Ben modeling the glasses:

We spent a few minutes ogling the in-game models and rotating the camera around our teammates slowly. What's so incredible about the glasses is that they take advantage of the pre-existing volumetric shader work coded into normal games to produce an uncanny volume and "heft" to the character models. One problem? The flat text above players' heads has a bizarre shimmering effect that proves distracting.

Despite that one flaw, though, Nvidia's setup is one to drool over. If the entry cost wasn't such a huge barrier, this would be a must-buy accessory. As it stands, though, this remains a lavish luxury that only the truly dedicated will be willing to purchase. This is the second piece of 3D technology that impressed us here; it works well, the glasses don't cause a headache unless you crank the depth all the way up, and you can buy it today. 

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