Contact Information: For more information, visit http://www.mtbs3D.com or contact: Carol Warren, Principal Antarra Communications Tel. 714-891-3660 Cel. 714-865-6735 Toll Free 866-268-2772 Email cwarren@antarra.com
Customers Set the 3D Record Straight: Gaming Rules
Meant to Be Seen Finalizes Results of U-DECIDE Initiative, More Than Triples Performance
| Source: Meant To Be Seen (MTBS)
TORONTO--(Marketwire - January 6, 2009) - Meant to Be Seen, the foremost authority group on
stereoscopic 3D (S-3D) gaming and home entertainment has announced the
completion of the U-DECIDE Initiative, the most credible study of what
customers think of 3D entertainment technologies and why. Neil Schneider
will be present at the Consumer Electronics Show, and meetings can be
scheduled through MTBS' press contact listed below. A brief synopsis of
the additional contents of the U-DECIDE Initiative report will be made
available at the iZ3D Inc. meeting room #25118M in the Gaming Showcase
downstairs, South Hall 2, Las Vegas Convention Center.
"While CES is going to be filled with a lot of ideas and wishes for the 3D
industry, dreams can only be made into reality if demand can be
demonstrated. We now have the smoking gun to accomplish this from the only
people whose opinion matters -- our industry's customers," said Neil
Schneider, President & CEO of Meant to be Seen.
Stereoscopic 3D refers to the ability to display true volumetric 3D content
through 2D media. Examples include explosions that pop out of the screen,
and a sense of depth that makes viewers think they can reach inside the
display.
Made possible with the assistance of AMD, iZ3D, Blitz Games Studios, The
Game Creators and Guild Software, the U-DECIDE final report will determine
what customers think of 3D entertainment, and will dispel the leading myths
and assumptions about the technology.
Customer opinions were captured in two separate online surveys. One was for
traditional gamers who don't yet own 3D display equipment, and the other
was for experienced stereoscopic 3D gamers and consumers. Each respondent
was required to answer 26 multipart questions, and there were well over
seven hundred surveys completed (60% 2D, 40% S-3D gamers).
A staggering 65% of 2D respondents find 3D "intriguing" and 27% more say 3D
is "must have" technology. Less than 4% think 3D is "tacky," and just over
5% think it "sounds uncomfortable" -- very low compared to what is often
assumed of consumers.
3D glasses are regularly cited as a handicap to the at-home 3D market, yet
only 12% of 2D customers object to 3D glasses for video games -- content
that is widely available today. This climbs to almost 30% for 3D broadcast
television, with Blu-ray movies falling in-between with 16% glasses
objection. Experienced 3D customers are more forgiving with just a 3%
objection level for video games, 4% for Blu-ray, and 12% for broadcast
television.
All respondents were nearly unanimous about video games with an 87%
suitability rating by 2D, and nearly 96% rating by experienced 3D gamers.
Without yet owning the technology for themselves, 93% of 2D customers want
game developers to officially support true 3D in their games, and this
climbs to 99% amongst 3D gamers. Suitability of 3D Blu-ray movies and 3D
broadcasts were far more selective, and an in-depth analysis will be found
in the final report.
Other findings include brand awareness of twenty different
products/companies in the 3D marketplace according to both 2D and S-3D
gamers. For example, the awareness range for products with 2D gamers was
4% to 54%, and Meant to be Seen scored over 40% amongst 2D gamers. This
climbed to over 60% amongst S-3D gamers in a possible range of 8% to 68%.
Leading brands surveyed include iZ3D, NVIDIA, Mitsubishi, Samsung, RealD,
Dolby 3D, DDD, Philips, Texas Instruments, Viewsonic and more.
"This is a bombshell. First, the game developers are only now waking up to
the possibilities of 3D, and the manufacturers are disproportionately
spending their resources on the home 3D cinema market. Second, there is
clearly a disconnect between what customers think and what many believe
they think. And third, the content makers are weighing their futures on
distant glasses-free technologies that consumers aren't asking for. It's
clear that the sooner we all listen to our customers, the better,"
Schneider explained.
Nearly 60 participant winners have been drawn for a wide selection of
prizes including iZ3D 3D monitors, ATI GPUs, and a wide selection of video
games by Blitz Games Studios, The Game Creators, and Guild Software.
Graphics charts are available for download from mtbs3D.com in the U-DECIDE
sub-menu, and the complete report is expected to be available for
distribution on January 26th, 2009.
Committed MTBS partners and qualified game developers who accept
complementary MTBS Certification can get the report for free. There will
be a 5% discount to MTBS members (free registration), and interested
parties can email udecide@mtbs3D.com for more information on the report's
contents and pricing. This release is a small sampling of what has been
learned.
MTBS is pleased to report that 2008 was a record year with its monthly
traffic growing almost 360% in less than 12 months, and more than doubling
its registered membership in the same period.
Meant to be Seen is made possible by unrestricted education grants from
iZ3D Inc. and TDVision Corp. Non proprietary and independently owned and
operated, MTBS welcomes additional industry involvement to help grow the
popularity and effective use of consumer stereoscopic 3D technologies.