Sony Intros 3D TV for Gamers

Microsoft (News - Alert) isn't the only one making headlines at this year's E3 videogame trade show in Los Angeles. Sony put its stamp on day two of the conference by introducing a 24-inch 3D-enabled TV designed specifically with gamers in mind.

The still-to-be-named display differentiates itself from other three-dimensional televisions by being capable of presenting action in two player mode, where each gamer sees individual, unique images through their own 3D glasses.

Digital Trends' Geoff Duncan explains that the technology is a twist on the traditional 3D set up, but instead of sending separate images to a single user's left and right eye, the images are transmitted to different players. The separate images will only come though in 2D, but they will be broadcast across the full screen for each player. Viewers who aren't wearing glasses will see the two images ghosted against each other, so the supplementary accessories are a must-own.

The TV, which is meant to be paired with Sony's hallmark PlayStation 3 console, features a full HD LCD display and comes loaded with quad-speed frame sequential display technology. It has a 176 degree wide viewing angle and a 5,000:1 contrast ratio.

Sony's new display will be bundled with one pair of 3D glasses, an HDMI cable and a copy of Resistance 3 from Insomniac Games, which will support the two-player mode. The entire package will retail for $499.99 in the U.S. and will go on sale at some point this fall.

Sony will also sell additional 3D pairs glasses for $69.99. These three-dimensional frames sport a rechargeable lithium ion battery that can last for up to 30 hours on just a 45-minute charge. Impatient users can charge the glasses for just three minutes to get three full hours of gaming time.

For the new TV to truly take off, PlayStation 3 owners will need to consider it a near necessity. It would be difficult to believe that non-gamers would invest $500 in just a 24-inch display, even if it does provide 3D viewing.

Beecher Tuttle is a TMCnet contributor. He has extensive experience writing and editing for print publications and online news websites. He has specialized in a variety of industries, including health care technology, politics and education. To read more of his articles, please visit his columnist page.

Edited by Rich Steeves