Sony will supply free 3D games with its new 3D TVs.

APRIL 15, 2010 • To sweeten interest in its first 3D televisions in June, Sony Electronics has announced buyers would receive four free 3D PlayStation 3 titles: Wipeout HD, MotorStorm Pacific Rift, Super Stardust HD and Pain. Two free 3D Blu-ray movies will also be included: Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs and Deep Blue Sea. PS3s will updated by June to support the 3D TV sets.

Impact: Sony understands that convincing consumers to upgrade their televisions, and in some cases upgrading from recently purchased HD sets, will be a difficult task as 3D is not only expensive, but still requires glasses in the home.  Free 3D titles are a good idea to reward early purchasers of 3D TVs. But are these the titles that will sell 3D gaming to everyone else? To us, a game such as the upcoming Gran Turismo 5 would have been a much better choice.  We feel that initial consumer adoption in 2010 will be slow, particularly since new and compelling 3D content will not be initially available as the announced titles are primarily existing games redone in 3D.  On the technical side, it was also revealed that 3D in games takes more processing power, forcing down resolutions and screen refresh rates.