LC Technologies StereoTek 3D glasses

[Gunstar]

I picked up a pair off of E-bay auction recently, I remember always wanting to try these out back in the 80's, but I had an 8-bit, not an ST.

So, I had to have them. Although I got a KILLER deal, IMHO, even for today, let alone what the glasses and software added up originally cost. it came to about $40 with shipping, but not only did I get the basic software that comes with the glasses, like a desk accessory for DEGAS to enable 3D, but I got just about every program that uses the glasses. Genesis molecule renderer, by Scott Legrand (some of you might recognize that name from Battlesphere fame), Break-Through 3D, Shoot the Moon and LCS Wanderer space adventure, plus a bunch of other accessories and smaller programs like slide shows. The only programs i didn't get, which I know DESPERATELY want are Maps and Legends cartographer, and Cyber Studio 3D package (CAD 3D, etc., etc., etc.-actually a line of compatible programs for art,cad,architecture and animation).

 

All I can say is it is pretty darn sweet. Maybe it's just sixteen color graphics and polygons, but the stereo depth is wonderful. Ghost images are at a minimum(residual image from flipping between two images) Its also full color and does it far better than the old red&blue 3D glasses (red&green for those on the east side of the atlantic). Plus, the games are good, both graphically and gameplay wise, although they wouldn't be impressive without the stereo imaging, but still good for the ST. I especially like Break-Through, it's very much reminds me of a Lynx game, but with better graphics and of course true 3D depth, not what we call "3D" on modern consoles, where the graphics move in 3 dimensions, but are still flat on the 2D TV/monitor. Shhot the Moon is your basic SpaceInvaders/Galaxian type game, but with a new twist, you move in all three dimensions, into and out of the screen as well as left and right; it's very cool, and harder. Wanderer is a cross between battlezone/StarGlider and Elite, although much more depth than the two former and much less depth than Elite. the Stereo 3D graphics rock though, I wish I could play Elite/Frontier on many of the other great ST 3D games with the Stereotek Glasses, it would ROCK! Think of it as a full-color Virtualboy without the headaches from the red color. and easier to use, since you were them like sunglasses and look at a monitor instead of having to deal with looking into some contraption that you just can't get comfortable with. Although you do have to get used to some flicker, a bit worse on American eyes than when we watch the 50hz PAL flickering, i won't complain about it anymore after getting used to the equivelant of 30hz refresh rate. but after about ten minutes i forgot about the flicker. After about an hour (as recommended in the manual) you'll need a break though, or you may end up with a headache. I HIGHLY recommend a pair of these glasses to anyone who has a chance to buy them, and the software for them, both of which were pretty much limited in release to the Antic Catalog back in the eighties, although I'm sure a few dealers had them back in the day too. So they seem to be pretty rare.

[Bodyshots]

10 years later, here is one on eBay for double the price in the above topic. Buy it now for 85 with original case and all the extra goodies. http://www.ebay.com/itm/vintage-atari-estereo-tek-tree-dimensional-glasses-/111353726548?pt=US_Other_Video_Game_Accessories&hash=item19ed330654

[Justin Payne]

I remember wanting these when I hot a chance to try them out but at the time they were just too expensive for me. Nice snag! It would be cool to code a game for them.

[VladR]

Wait. I never heard of this before. There were actual 3D glasses for Atari ST ?

 

How does it work ? Are those shutter-style glasses, where left/right eye gets shut and the actual tv screen keeps switching between left/right image 25/50 times a second ?

 

I'd be really curious to try this out as a developer. Is there a way to connect it to Jaguar, perhaps ?

 

Right now, all of my 3D-engine codebase for Jaguar is in C, so this would make porting to ST drop-dead easy. Now, granted, I have other dev priorities for Jaguar, but this could be a truly exciting dev endeavour.

 

I can imagine lots of fun demos being coded relatively quick - like space invaders (just in 3D), I'd be also curious to see current build of HERO 3D on this (although, I might probably have to drop the texturing/lighting detail) ...

 

 

EDIT : I found this: http://doudoroff.com/atari/history3.html

It does explain the technology a fair bit.

Edited May 16, 2014 by VladR

[walter_J64bit]

 

Gunstar , I've seen that E-bay auction too, this just to awesome the 3D glasses have a good home now. So you say you can play games with the glasses wow I've should had put a bid on them.

 

[TXG/MNX]

Wait. I never heard of this before. There were actual 3D glasses for Atari ST ?

 

How does it work ? Are those shutter-style glasses, where left/right eye gets shut and the actual tv screen keeps switching between left/right image 25/50 times a second ?

 

I'd be really curious to try this out as a developer. Is there a way to connect it to Jaguar, perhaps ?

 

Right now, all of my 3D-engine codebase for Jaguar is in C, so this would make porting to ST drop-dead easy. Now, granted, I have other dev priorities for Jaguar, but this could be a truly exciting dev endeavour.

 

I can imagine lots of fun demos being coded relatively quick - like space invaders (just in 3D), I'd be also curious to see current build of HERO 3D on this (although, I might probably have to drop the texturing/lighting detail) ...

 

 

EDIT : I found this: http://doudoroff.com/atari/history3.html

It does explain the technology a fair bit.

 

Better support this http://www.oculusvr.com/

[Bodyshots]

 

Better support this http://www.oculusvr.com/

 

They had these featured on the Tv Series, "Stephen Hawkings Science Of The Future" on episode 1 or 2 if I remember correct. I was very tempted to purchase these old 3d glasses, but Im waiting for something more epic

[+Stephen]

Unfortunately my eyes don't work properly so none of this 3D stuff does anything for me.

[Bodyshots]

A new listing has gone up, unfortunately someone put a reserve on it… http://www.ebay.ca/itm/Very-Rare-Stereo-Tek-3D-Glasses-For-Atari-ST-/181422298401?pt=US_Vintage_Computing_Parts_Accessories&hash=item2a3d9c9521&_uhb=1

[walter_J64bit]

A new listing has gone up, unfortunately someone put a reserve on it… http://www.ebay.ca/itm/Very-Rare-Stereo-Tek-3D-Glasses-For-Atari-ST-/181422298401?pt=US_Vintage_Computing_Parts_Accessories&hash=item2a3d9c9521&_uhb=1

Do they want sell them or hold on to them?

Edited May 28, 2014 by walter_J64bit

[VladR]

Better support this http://www.oculusvr.com/

Well, there is no fun to be had on PC coding compared to Atari coding so I have to pass.

 

Although, a proper 3D Descent clone would be cool for sure...

[Lynxpro]

Textronics made those 3D glasses.

[galax]

Well, there is no fun to be had on PC coding compared to Atari coding so I have to pass.

 

The Oculus Rift just accepts DVI Input, if the ST arranges the picture correctly, and the RGB converts to DVI OK, it should be possible, and for probably not much more than the cost of those StereoTek glasses. Might have to forgo the head tracking though...

Edited May 31, 2014 by galax

[VladR]

 

The Oculus Rift just accepts DVI Input, if the ST arranges the picture correctly, and the RGB converts to DVI OK, it should be possible, and for probably not much more than the cost of those StereoTek glasses. Might have to forgo the head tracking though...

That is an interesting idea. In that case, it should be possible to use Occulus Rift with any kind of game console that gives you RGB. I am just not sure how to go about the syncing without PC drivers, but I can easily imagine a manual method, where player would have to keep pressing either up / down on joystick to move the start of the frame up/down, thus effectively syncing left/right image with glasses within ~10 seconds, which would be valid for the given gaming session.

[galax]

The Oculus shows the left half of the image to the left eye, and right half to the right eye- no LCD shutter, no syncing, and no drivers as far as I am aware. The left and right images would have to be warped/distorted into the correct shape of course.

Edited June 2, 2014 by galax

[VladR]

The Oculus shows the left half of the image to the left eye, and right half to the right eye- no LCD shutter, no syncing, and no drivers as far as I am aware. The left and right images would have to be warped/distorted into the correct shape of course.

Wait, so all that Occulus does, is that it takes a video signal, splits it vertically into half and just shows left/right half on appropriate screen ? If that's the case, I can very easily imagine getting it to work with Jaguar (just would need to figure out the AV routing).

 

I was under the impression it's the same thing as iGlasses or VFX from ~1995.

[galax]

Yes, it shows one half of the screen to each eye, with lenses to expand the FOV of the specially distorted image. That's why it can simply connect over HDMI or DVI. http://www.garagegames.com/community/blogs/view/22225

 

The '90s LCD shutter technique is more like how 3D TVs do it now, there's no need for the screen to be right next to your eyes for that to work. 3D cinemas use horizontal and vertical polarization to give different images to each eye.