3D Gaming - Please explain

[Supercow]

So Ive just read one of the games I've been looking forward to (black ops), will be in 3d. Now - call me stupid, but I just don't get the whole 3d thing, especially the need for a 3d TV.

So every high street store is touting 3D TV's, saying that it's the best thing since sliced bread, but do we actually need one in order to play 3d games?!

My only frame of reference of a 3D experience is watching Avatar at the cinema. There was no need for a special cinema screen, just the normal screen did the job, along with the goggles.

Why can't I play black ops, in 3d, on my normal HDTV... with some stolen goggles from Odeon on?
How will my console know whether I'm using a 3DTV or not?

 

[Supercow]

Wont make any difference to you if you wish to play it in 2D.

I know, but my point was that what if I wanted to play it in 3d, on a HDTV

The trick you've missed with the cinema is that it's not the screen that the image is projected onto that matters, it's the camera that's used to project the image.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3-D_film

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3D_television

Ta-da. Ofcourse you need new hardware, the cinema you went to would have had a new projector or at least an addon to existing system, and may of needed a new silver screen aswell.

Riiight, I'm with ya now, cheers guys