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EyeFX 3D (Version 2.30)
Score: 72%
Developer: Splitfish Gameware Inc.
Device Type: Video


Function:

Most PS2 games are 3D games, but they're all displayed on the 2D screen of your television. That means your right eye sees what your left eye does. Boring!

EyeFX 3D is a pair of plug-and-go goggles that will make many of your existing PS2 games come to life in 3D... without any special programming. And it does this with nothing more than a pass-through for your controller. No kidding!


Performance:

Hmm... yeah. This one takes more discussion than a simple line or so...

In the progression of video games, they've evolved from 2D games into games that feature 3D graphics. Mind you, the graphics are still displayed on a 2D display device, but internally, the game is composed of three dimensional models in a three dimensional environment. These 3D games were part of what made the original PlayStation so fascinating.

These 3D graphics are, however, eventually shown on a 2D monitor. Your left eye and your right eye see the same image. This image is a flat image. Your mind can perceive that the 2D image is representing a 3D environment and it can extrapolate this data to "fill in the blanks" and, voila! -- you're playing a game in a 3D environment. Even though you acknowledge that the environment of the game is 3D, however, it has a flatness to it, as your eyes see the same image.

The way to give a 3D feel to the game is to show something different to each eye. The reason we can perceive depth of field is because we process visual information from two different views of the same thing. One view is from a slightly different point as the other (the other eye) and the difference between the two images allows us to determine distance away from objects. The trick, then, is to find a way to get different views of the game to each of your eyes.

The EyeFX 3D achieves this feat through two functionalities: LCD Shutters and rapidly oscillating controls injected as controller input. The liquid crystal shutter system alternates between eyes, always having one eye opaque and the other eye clear. This means that you aren't actually seeing the screen with both eyes at any given time. If your eyes aren't seeing the screen at the same time, then your eyes can actually see different images. This effect causes a perceived lessening in brightness and can cause noticeable flicker, depending on your environment. For one setting, that is the end of the story. The fact that your eyes are seeing the screen at different times means that your mind can (under certain conditions) better create a 3D feel. The effect when using the shutters alone is not phenomenal, but can provide an observable - if not measurable - difference in the 3D feel of the game.

The other function of the glasses - injecting alternating inputs rapidly to the PS2 - is what can actually create an honest-to-goodness 3D view in a game. The trick is to select the correct mode so that the EyeFX is sending signals that will shift the view left and right a bit. Depending on the game, this could be by simply stuttering the camera itself left and right, or by actually starting to rotate your character left and right. When the view is changed slightly in this manner, things that are far off near the horizon will move more quickly than things that are closer to the camera. With the shutters synched up with this effect, your left eye will see what it's supposed to and your right eye will see what it's supposed to, creating a true feeling of depth in the game.

The final word? With certain games and the right settings, the effect can be amazing. Nothing seems to come out of the screen, but things will look like they go off deep into the television set. Mainly, this requires a lot of trial and error to find out what games work best.


Features:
  • LCD Shutter Technology
  • Compatible with All PS2 Systems
  • 1 Year Warranty
  • No Batteries Required
  • Works With any CRT Television*
    *HDTV Adapter available for using with HDTV, LCD or Video Projectors - Sold Separately.

Drawbacks & Problems::

While the idea of a 3D viewing system that doesn't need any changes to the game is interesting, to say the least, the actual results in this case are highly subjective. Your results will vary - as did mine.

Fluorescent lighting can cause visible flicker, due to the frequency that the shutters alternate at. Selecting the appropriate settings for a game is mostly trial and error. Plugging the EyeFX 3D is easy, but adds another cord - one going from the console to the glasses on your head. Since, at any given instance, one of the lenses is opaque, the screen appears to be half as bright as normal. This flicker will bother your eyes - each person has their own tolerance levels; my wife was bothered by it immediately, but I don't start feeling any effects until after about an hour or so of usage. If you thought video games might cause an epileptic fit before, the chances probably go up when using the EyeFX 3D.

If you have a PS2 and a wide selection of PS2 and/or PS1 games... and you are a 3D technology fanatic, you'll want to add the EyeFX 3D to your collection, without a doubt. Otherwise, you might want to find a friend who has them to try them out first.

I think the EyeFX 3D glasses are worthy of an award for most innovative hardware concept. Unfortunately, this really cool concept has translated into a product that simply doesn't have a lot of practical use.


-Geck0, GameVortex Communications
AKA Robert Perkins

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