Are 3D games really 3D games??

[offsidewing]

I mean are they?  Really?  I play them on my TV and Monitor.  TV's and Monitors don't display in 3D.

Well, I play my 7800 on an HDS, but other than that...

[Turbo D]

3D is a mindset. Games are only 3D if you think they are.

[Kitsunexus]

Dude, it's like looking out a window. While what's outside is very 3D, through the window you only see a 2D representation of it. The difference is, you can't open the TV and see the 3D world around you.

How do we actually know that the world is 3D? It could just be a very fast Z-buffer that hides the angles we can't see normally.

[Joe Redifer]

Some of my Sega Master System games are truly 3D.  They require crazy glasses from the future, though.

[Kitsunexus]

But isn't stereoscopic 3D just a projected 2D representation? If this is true, there IS no true 3D.

[Tatsujin]

Dude, it's like looking out a window. While what's outside is very 3D, through the window you only see a 2D representation of it.

but that's just not true. if you watch through a window, you still have the stereotyped view. if you close one eye, then you have almost the result of  flat 3D.

[Turbo D]

Those master system glasses are crazy tho! Its like you can reach out and grab the 8-bit gameplay 

[offsidewing]

But isn't stereoscopic 3D just a projected 2D representation? If this is true, there IS no true 3D.

Then why the f*ck did I need that Ti-92 in college!  All lies.

[Tatsujin]

But isn't stereoscopic 3D just a projected 2D representation? If this is true, there IS no true 3D.

in fact the definiton of 3 Dimensions (Lenght*With*Depth) is not tied to mono or stereoscopic view.

[Keranu]

Vectrex was the first system to offer 3D goggles, just another reason why it's the best system ever made.

[Dark Fact]

It also makes me question games like Wolfenstein 3D, Doom, and Duke Nukem 3D as whether they are true 3D?  From what I've seen, I'd say those games are just 2D sprite games with a 3D movement interface.  The game environment itself isn't real 3D.  The "3D" gimmick was probably just used as a selling point for game companies back then to attract gamers.

[Keranu]

I don't think a game necessarily has to use polygons or anything to be 3D, so games like Wolf 3D or Space Harrier count as 3D to me.

[Necromancer]

I'll have some of what you guys are smoking. 

1)  Current 3D games are composed of 3D environments with freedom of movement in the x,y,z planes, but we view them on a 2D screen.  Has anyone else caught themselves leaning to the left to try to see around a corner on screen?
2)  Old 3D games (Wolfenstein) were composed of flat maps with scaling and perspective.  The environments weren't quite 3D either, as movement was limited in the z plane - the x,y plane could be shifted up or down, but no two objects could share the same x,y coordinates regardless of z location.
3)  Televisions screens are not 3D, nor are stereoscopic images.  No matter how much you move, the image looks the same.
4)  The view out a window is 3D.  When you move, the view changes as your relationship to outside objects changes.

In short, there are 3D environments (either real or digital) and we view them on screen as a series of 2D images.

[Kitsunexus]

It also makes me question games like Wolfenstein 3D, Doom, and Duke Nukem 3D as whether they are true 3D?  From what I've seen, I'd say those games are just 2D sprite games with a 3D movement interface.  The game environment itself isn't real 3D.  The "3D" gimmick was probably just used as a selling point for game companies back then to attract gamers.

They are classified as 2.5D. If you don't believe me google "2.5d shooters" and see what comes up.

[Keranu]

I'll have some of what you guys are smoking. 

1)  Current 3D games are composed of 3D environments with freedom of movement in the x,y,z planes, but we view them on a 2D screen.  Has anyone else caught themselves leaning to the left to try to see around a corner on screen?
2)  Old 3D games (Wolfenstein) were composed of flat maps with scaling and perspective.  The environments weren't quite 3D either, as movement was limited in the z plane - the x,y plane could be shifted up or down, but no two objects could share the same x,y coordinates regardless of z location.
3)  Televisions screens are not 3D, nor are stereoscopic images.  No matter how much you move, the image looks the same.
4)  The view out a window is 3D.  When you move, the view changes as your relationship to outside objects changes.

In short, there are 3D environments (either real or digital) and we view them on screen as a series of 2D images.

IS THE VIRTUAL BOY IN 3D!?

What about that one expensive VR arcade system?