'Avatar' game requires HDMI for 3D effects

by Xav de Matos { Jul 31st 2009 at 9:30PM }

Avatar, the upcoming Ubisoft title based on the film James Cameron could not stop talking about during E3 2009 will require an HDMI port for 3D effects, leaving early Xbox 360 owners out in the cold. Luc Duchaine, senior international brand manager for the game adaptation of James Cameron's Avatar confirmed to MTV Multiplayer that a full 1080p setup will be required to play the game with 3D effects.

Although all Xbox 360 consoles are now capable of upscaling content to resolutions as high as 1080p, the Avatar game requires a native 1080p output which is only achievable through HDMI (something that is common knowledge for 3D geeks, we're told). Users with an HDMI equipped console now only need a pair of 3D glasses included with the game and a compatible 3D 1080p, 120Hz TV set! If 3D isn't an option, the game is still playable the old-fashioned way; however, the 40-minute introduction video starring James Cameron explaining the entire Avatar universe that we expect to see when the game inserted into our console will be slightly less awesome.

Gallery: James Cameron's Avatar (Concept Art)

Tags: 3d, 3d-display, avatar, hdmi, james-cameron, james-camerons-avatar, ubisoft

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

PlayerGames @ Jul 31st 2009 9:59PM

You have to be kidding me.

Sujay @ Jul 31st 2009 10:07PM

No, and this seems to be more of a premium 3d experience, not like those anaglyph 3d glasses.

Actually needing HDMI seems less important than needing a set capable of 120hz playback, which might be more restricting to gamers.

I'm glad though in a way, I'd rather have good 3D than anything to be honest.

Really looking forward to the game and the movie.

Sujay @ Jul 31st 2009 10:22PM

Additionally I think its the bandwidth needed to send two stereoscopic images that is the reason for the HDMI requirement.

eddyk @ Aug 1st 2009 12:09AM

How the hell are they going to render a game at 1080p @ 120FPS ? ... I mean when did the 360 get a second GPU ?

8complex @ Aug 1st 2009 9:21AM

And somehow, I don't consider myself losing out on anything here...

AnnoyingPoster @ Aug 3rd 2009 12:04AM

it has nothing to do with the fact that you need 1080p, its that you need 60 hz output which can't be done on old RCA jacks.

why would the resolution of the picture matter whatsoever. 3d is 3d whether its pixellated or not.

anyway, i highly doubt the xbox 360 is going to be the limiting factor here, i guarantee almost nobody has a television that can support the technology.

hint: dont make retarded headlines for articles and then try to make a company look bad when its not their fault.

schwal @ Jul 31st 2009 10:04PM

VGA, (wich is how I connect) is capable of native 1080p. sucks to be me. or it would if i had any desire to play this game.

colostomeboy @ Jul 31st 2009 10:12PM

so i got a question, i have the cable in my xbox, that hooks it up to my hdtv, but im not sure about the whole thing. what i am wondering is if my tv can do the 3-D, it is 32 inch, and i think that i have the correct cord, but i am not entirely sure, if anyone knows specifics that would be appreciated.

pete @ Aug 1st 2009 12:01AM

most likely not. the 120Hz TV's are pretty much brand new so unless you recently dropped a few thousand bucks on a top of the line tv recently, you probly don't have the setup

meth0dical @ Aug 2nd 2009 1:21PM

Misinformation, I have a 120hz 1080p tv from last year that only cost me $1200. LG42LBX

meth0dical @ Aug 2nd 2009 1:22PM

note, 240hz is the new top of the line... and even then, they don't cost "a few thousand bucks"

Highimpact1 @ Aug 4th 2009 12:13AM

Personally I think this game could be amazing, I love games which push graphics beyond what we're used to; and the 3D experience could be exactly that.

meth0dical ~ http://www.amazon.com/LG-47LH55-47-Inch-1080p-240Hz/dp/B001VKYAMM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1249358692&sr=8-1

Well it's not a "couple thousand" I guess.

TheDrizzle @ Jul 31st 2009 10:31PM

Ugh.......I have a launch 360 so that means no HDMI.

UnluckyBastrd @ Jul 31st 2009 10:39PM

Wow, 3D. Almost as gimmicky as Natal.

pete @ Aug 1st 2009 12:02AM

exactly. people don't understand that there have been several waves of 3-D media over the past century and each time it has failed miserably.

Rhamsey @ Aug 2nd 2009 7:02PM

I dont know, sure we wont be seeing every game with 3d capability, but just one a year doesnt sound like a bad thing. especially if its as well done as this things supposed to be.

ben murray @ Jul 31st 2009 11:14PM

i can haz 1080i??

Glen Quagmire @ Jul 31st 2009 11:27PM

heh wish they made porn in 3D

o riight!

Alex @ Aug 1st 2009 8:16AM

I'm sure they do somewhere. Probably Germany.

psychohog @ Aug 1st 2009 10:20AM

That would make for some scary money shots.

Whocares @ Aug 1st 2009 10:38AM

Remember Internet Rule #34 - If it exists, there's porn of it.

WhoDatNinja @ Jul 31st 2009 11:32PM

yeeeahhh......ok

MystileArmor [Wiizer Sweatshop Bathwater and Sam Raimi Specialist] @ Jul 31st 2009 11:51PM

What's up Lil' John?

Mouthsmasher @ Jul 31st 2009 11:46PM

I'm not sure how I feel about gaming in 3D. I saw Aliens vs. Monsters with this current 3D technology (Which the Avatar movie, and apparently the game, will be using) and I think I'd rather watch a movie or play a game without it. The 3D is actually quite stunning, but the downside is that the image looses tons of its sharpness.

In short, I'd rather have a crisp, sharp 2D image than a less crips 3D image.

ChomskyKnows @ Aug 1st 2009 12:19AM

My 1080p HDTV is supposed to be "3D gaming ready". It isn't 120hz. Would you like me to hold your cock while you pee James Cameron? What the fuck ever...

Peter @ Aug 1st 2009 2:28AM

Your HDTV is a DLP, which does stereoscopic 3D via creating a checkerboard pattern. The TV needs a way to communicate with the GPU system to do this (NVIDIA 3D vision comes with a cord that does this). I don't know if this game will have the necessary hardware to use 3D on DLPs.

120Hz LCDs only need HDMI/DVI for it to work.

Musashi @ Oct 23rd 2009 9:29AM

Peter - Why do you assume the TV is a DLP? There are also 3D capable plasmas out there and they are faster than 120Hz. ChomskyKnows didn't say if the TV was faster or slower, just not 120Hz.

Ed @ Aug 1st 2009 12:20AM

Most interesting.

Now let's see how the 3D looks and plays...reviews will certainly determine whether this is a rent or buy.

mike @ Aug 1st 2009 12:43AM

My tv can do 1080p over component, vga and hdmi

outlaw640 @ Aug 1st 2009 5:28AM

well done

Evan @ Aug 1st 2009 7:32PM

Same here, I love my HDTV because it accepts 1080p over component. It frees up one of my hdmi slots for my PC.

mike @ Aug 1st 2009 5:33AM

I was simply pointing out that HDMI is not not the issue but having the TV

Have a cookie

Cube @ Aug 1st 2009 5:58AM

I still don't get "3D" (It should be called 3DV or something...just calling it 3D is confusing). It still looks tacky IMO.

travis @ Aug 1st 2009 9:16AM

It will work for me, my vga cable has 1080p and my monitor is 1080p and 2 ms response time. 2ms response time is probably faster than 120hz.

Bob S @ Aug 1st 2009 12:11PM

LOL, what?

Rollins @ Aug 1st 2009 6:50PM

Wrong.

R (XBL: Esoteric Lord) @ Aug 2nd 2009 12:55AM

Response time =/= refresh rate. Do some wiking my friend.

Tann @ Aug 1st 2009 9:45AM

my tv is 100hz
:(

shaolin cochino @ Aug 1st 2009 1:01PM

That is some stupid ass shit!

Jedediahjl @ Aug 2nd 2009 2:21AM

dont worry, all the 360s without HDMI have had RRoD already

Ian @ Aug 3rd 2009 9:40PM

shut it, i have a 3 year old xbox and has never had one.

CubeGuy @ Oct 26th 2009 7:05PM

The problem being that when they repair the HDMI-less boxes, they ship you another one without HDMI. Completely stupid.

Tucker James Rowan @ Aug 3rd 2009 8:31PM

Anyone else think this movie is gonna tank?

Pantsparty @ Aug 2nd 2009 10:36AM

Well, My launch 360 just broke for the 2nd time. I don't have a warrenty anymore so I guess I'll get an Arcade unit. I guess it's a good idea if this game turns out to be good, or even exists.

Christopher @ Aug 2nd 2009 11:47AM

Just word for the wise, you television\Xbox might say they you are outputting at 1080p using component cables but that would not be true. Component cables have a max resolution of 720p\1080i. HDMI cables, however, can produce 1080p signals. So, sorry guys, but you'll need to get HDMI cables before experiencing true 1080p. You can actually tell the difference by looking at the Xbox icon when signing online - a component cable causes the ring the look a bit blocky on the outside of the circle, while the HDMI signal will give you a smooth, non-blocky outside edge. You can see it other places as well but that's the most easily noticeable difference when doing a quick comparison.

AL7AIR @ Aug 3rd 2009 7:55AM

Component cables can output 1080p just fine, but most standalone high definition players don't support it, this however is a Hollywood issue not a technical one: See Analog Hole and AACS. Game Consoles are not limited/crippled by this, and therefore will support 1080p over Component if the TV excepts it.

Christopher @ Aug 3rd 2009 11:28AM

Oops, you're right. I forgot about the AACS\analog output connector issue and BR demands. Disregard original comment. : - ) Thanks for setting me straight.

AnnoyingPoster @ Aug 3rd 2009 12:06AM

asssssshole, asssssshole, asssssssshole.

Michael Paul @ Aug 3rd 2009 9:29AM

So when my no-HDMI no-1080p HDTV dies, I'll have like 10 minutes to buy the latest technology before THAT becomes obsolete.

120hz is ALREADY so last week? Sheesh.

Meanwhile, I guess if the game is OK I'll get it, but the special stuff had better not be The Reason to get it...