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3DS

Seeing in Three Dimensions for the First Time

by J.P. Corbran - August 16, 2011, 4:55 pm EDT
Total comments: 10

J.P.'s recent eye surgery had an unexpected benefit.

I was very excited to get my 3DS, having pre-ordered the system months ahead of time and braved the cold while unable to walk, still recovering from a broken ankle, to attend a midnight launch event. Even before playing it, though, I knew there was a good chance I wouldn’t be able to see the 3D effect. My eyes have trouble focusing, and often don’t point in the right direction consistently, and I figured that might screw with the effect. I was right.

Even though I couldn’t see the effect, I really enjoyed the system. I own more 3DS games than any sane person should at this point in its life, with 10 retail releases and a whole lot of download titles. It didn’t upset me that I couldn’t see the 3D, as it was never what attracted me to the system and I knew going in that it was likely I couldn’t.

My eye troubles have gotten worse over time, to the point that my doctor suggested surgery to adjust the muscles in my right eye. Last Wednesday I went in and had it performed; everything went well and the doctor seemed very happy with how it went. The next morning, when I removed the eye patch and began to see out of the eye again, I noticed that my depth perception seemed significantly better than before. 

Being the gamer I am, it didn’t take long for me to think of the 3DS. If my depth perception in real life was improved, I thought, maybe I could also see depth better in that way. Sure enough, I opened my 3DS, turned on Ocarina of Time 3D and pushed the 3D slider up for the first time since launch, and I could see it.

Not having anything to compare it to, it seems like I may not see the effect as well as some people, but I can definitely see it. It’s subtle, at least to me, but it’s pretty cool. I still haven’t gone back and tried it out with some of my other games (I really need to pop in Pilotwings), but I like what I’ve seen so far. I don’t know if I’ll play with it on all the time, but I’ll definitely make sure to at least try it with everything I buy. I was really enjoying my 3DS already, happy with my purchase even before the awesome Ambassador Program announcement, and this just makes it even better.

Talkback

AVAugust 16, 2011

I think this would be an excellent blog that has updates from time to time  :cool;

That's awesome, JP. Since depth perception is partly cognitive, I would definitely like to read an update sometime later if you notice any ongoing improvement.

Chocobo_RiderAugust 16, 2011

Glad the procedure went well, sir! Welcome to the third dimension! =P


SeaNetAugust 16, 2011

I spoke with the RFN crew on 250, and I'm glad I'm not the only one who has had trouble with  3D. That is great you got it fixed though! Congrats on that.
And the fact that you have so many games, regardless of that tells me that maybe it's not all about 3D to begin with :) I did pick up a 3DS myself to get the Ambasador program. ;)

SundoulosAugust 16, 2011

Great news on all accounts!  Happy to hear that your surgery went well. 

TanookisuitAugust 16, 2011

Awesome! 

Mop it upAugust 16, 2011

I can't see the 3D very well either, coming from a family of bad depth perception. Was the surgery covered by insurance? Maybe I should get me some of that.

The surgery was to get the eye pointed in the right direction, not anything specific to depth perception. My right eye had a tendency to veer way off on the vertical axis.

Quote from: Sundoulos

Great news on all accounts!  Happy to hear that your surgery went well. 

Yeah, the surgery went quite well. The doctor used a local anesthetic, so I didn't even have to recover from going under. Had a nice conversation with him and the nurse while he performed the procedure.

KDR_11kAugust 17, 2011

Underwhelming, eh? I still don't understand what made journos flip out at E3.

CericAugust 17, 2011

On the Twitter Feed I would have used.

"J.P.'s eye surgery is Awesomer then he thinks..."

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