AMD introduces counterpart to Nvidia’s 3D-Vision

AMD has announced the Open Stereo 3D Initiative. With this, the company competes with Nvidia’s 3D-Vision system. Both techniques use a 120Hz screen in combination with special glasses.

AMD announced the plans at the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco. Unlike Nvidia’s system, multiple companies in the Open Stereo 3D Initiative are supposed to work together to offer different configurations and solutions. Nvidia developed its 3D-Vision system itself and sells it as a kit. AMD has already found several partners, including Samsung and LG, who will be involved in the manufacture of suitable 3D glasses and screens. ATI’s EyeFinity technique, which allows the image to be spread across multiple screens, will also be supported.

AMD’s system doesn’t require users to purchase the latest video hardware: the technology already works on DirectX 9-era cards. By making the technology public and aiming for the development of standards, AMD hopes to bring down the costs for stereoscopic gaming. In addition to games, the technology should also support the new Blu-Ray 3D standard.

It is not yet known when the technology will actually come to market. AMD does give its users a foretaste with the addition of anaglyph rendering in version 10.3 of the Catalyst driver, which should be released this month. Games are displayed in red and cyan. The user can then create a 3D effect with simple glasses.