3D Movies And Games VS 2D, by Greg Tingle - 19th September 2010

3D movies and online casino games are all the rage, but is 2D better, at least sometimes? Media Man and Gambling911 don the 3D glasses and take a look at the sector dominated by such brands as Avatar, 20th Century Fox, MGM, IMAX, Marvel Entertainment, PartyGaming, and PKR...

The Avatar movie (and perhaps game) is now legendary. "Alice in Wonderland" is a blockbuster and "How to Train Your Dragon" looks like it's a sure thing.

MGM and associates are giving mixed messages as to if or when the next James Bond flick will me in 3D, and Marvel Entertainment and Sony Pictures are understood to be giving Thor, Captain America and The Avengers the 3D treatment, but nothing in this world is 100% until it happens.

Numerous media commentators and a host of experts now say that some games and movies are better left "flat".

Should most movies be in 3D? Which are right for 3D? Will the conversions from 2D prove effective or will only the "high-end" process pay off? Will the early days of 3D play out like the start of Technicolor or will the studios embrace?

In the online casino world PKR was one of the first to offer 2D poker, soon to be 3D, and a few months ago PartyCasino released the Heist 3D online slot, in a collaborative effort with Betsoft Gaming - Slots3.

Media Man research indicates that many online casino players and insiders don't want to see casino classics like Cleopatra, Wheel of Fortune and Monopoly go down the 3D path. Maybe the original is best, just like movies such as Jaws, Crocodile Dundee, Mad Max, Iron-Man and you get the idea.

There's a lot at stake here - in both the movie and gaming genre, and these days bean counters are frequently looking at both this mediums to keep getting their return on investment back, and lots more.

Some harsh words have been written and said about "Clash of the Titans"..."Trash of the Titans" now... thank you Warner Bros. for rushing its "low-end" conversion in an attempt to steal theaters away from "Alice" and "Dragon." By contrast, Universal went with a 2D "Robin Hood" despite the urgings of director Ridley Scott. Maybe Australia's Russell Crowe may have some creative influence, such is his swing.

Folks, insiders ponder if the genre can survive the flying projectiles of "Jackass 3D" (from Paramount Pictures in October) or "Cats and Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore" (from Warner Bros. in July). Bound to be a "dog" or not? Time will tell.

There are economic bait factors to jump movies to 3D, since exhibitors are increasing ticket prices by up to 26% in some markets. Hence the first cycle of 3D flicks is under massive pressure to deliver or face audience backlash.

Movie studios were extremely cautious about the advent of color 50 years back in time, confining the process mainly to spectacles and showcases of foreign locales that offered a contrast to TV. When TV went to color in the 1960s, the major players quickly panicked and embraced the technology pronto.

Based on the 3D movie release schedule, filmmakers are being more aggressive. The 3D agenda in coming months is packed with obvious goodies like "Toy Story 3," "Harry Potter 7" and "Shrek Ever After" but also more risky titles like "Drive Angry," "Puss in Boots," and "The Smurfs."

Disney (parent of Marvel Entertainment these days) wants most of its flicks in 3D, however the outfit is instantly becoming Hollywood's answer to Procter & Gamble if you follow. Its main product may run the risk of becoming a brand in search of a movie.

Jeffrey Katzenberg of DreamWorks Animation believes filmmakers, using the proper tools, will catch on that 3D provides "an immersive experience" that amplifies audience feelings. That means shooting in true 3D, not rushing into 11th-hour conversion. Certainly he's proved that in animation: When the dragon soars in "How to Train Your Dragon," with the kid riding atop him, the movie itself starts to soar.

Katzenberg says he would like to have seen "Hurt Locker" in 3D. He feels that film could have been even more stirring in that format.

But slot down...some believe "Alice" was more effective in 2D than in 3D.

The failure of "Green Zone" provides another example of a decent flick that bombed trying to be a blockbuster rather than a tightly budgeted thriller carrying less-expansive expectations.

Green Zone, a stirring movie about Iraq, was shot like a $100 million "Bourne" sequel, starring Matt Damon. As such, it was reminiscent of "Valkyrie," which became a Tom Cruise megavehicle rather than a more rounded success. The same might be same for last year's Russell Crowe thriller "State of Play."

What's the lesson: Some movies deserve to be small, and some online games are better left basic or flat.

Ok, we hear you - you want sports and Underbelly. Network Nine's State Of Origin was well revived in 3D, but it cost our Bondi Beach - Crown Limited - TV friend, David Gyngell, about 10 millions bucks to do. 'Underbelly', mostly or totally (depends upon the source) is shot in 3D. Fact is 'Underbelly' is always going to be a ratings winner, whether they show boobs, illegal gambling dens, men's privates, or whatever. The cult following is huge and the brand now sells itself, much like the James Bond franchise. Having said that, the marketing still needs to be watched closely, and financial bean counters still need to do the sums.

Swing into igaming and the likes of PartyGaming, Virgin and PKR are set to ramp up 3D offers, but flat games like Cleopatra are hear to stay.

What we do know for sure is that some movies are perfect for game adaptions. As they say with Thor, Spider-Man, The Incredible Hulk and the Fantastic Four - Don't just watch the movie, play the game.

Yet, frequently original is best. A few months back Google released the original arcade classic Pac-Man onto the website portal, becoming one of the world's most popular games within days of its launch.

Folks, its horses for courses. At least we have the technology. Insert coin, play for free or play for money, the battle for the entertainment and gambling dollar says options rule, but if the original was awesome, usually its best to stick to tradition. Ok, that's entertainment. See you on the internet as well all continues to enjoy our 15 seconds of fame, and be watching out for Media Man TV - soon on the way onto your laptop computer and god knows what else. As Marvel icon Stan Lee would say, Excelsior!

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Readers... er, punters, what's your preference? 2D or 3D, or back to pure basics? Tell us in the forum.

*Greg Tingle is a special contributor for Gambling911

*Media Man http://www.mediamanint.com is primarily a media, publicity and internet portal development company. They cover a dozen industry sectors including gaming.

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