Technology Feast

LAS VEGAS — 3D technology is coming to the video gaming industry for real with Nvidia’s launch of a new accessory kit that will automatically transform more than 300 existing games into 3D experiences for users with PCs that have the company’s graphic cards.

Nvidia’s kit includes a pair of black 3D glasses, an infra-red emitter cables that will retail together for $200.

The kit doesn’t work with all HDTVs. It is compatible currently with the new Samsung and ViewSonic 120 Hz LCD monitors, Mitsubishi DLP HDTVs and DepthQ HD 3D projector by Lightspeed.

Nvidia’s 3D glasses still have the dorky feel to them though the company says they are modeled after modern sunglasses. The glasses are not tethered and offer up to 20 feet of wireless video viewing.

The USB-based emitter transmits data directly to the shutter glasses and has a 3D adjustment dial so users can adjust the depth in the game.

3D Technology is all the rage at CES this year. Panasonic is showing a full-HD 3D Plasma TV home theater system, while Samsung and Sony are offering concept 3D TV sets.

Nvidia’s 3D gaming accessory kit is the closest thing to reality that consumers can get right away– though it works only with the company’s GeForce graphic cards.

Game manufacturers don’t have to do anything specifically to make their games compatible with the 3D kit. The processing for 3D is done by the GeForce graphics cards, says a company executive.