Ridge Racer 7 3D

September 13th, 2007, 21:40 Posted By: Shrygue

via IGN


There was a time that console owners looked forward to home ports of Ridge Racer arcade games. Now, the reverse is true. Bandai Namco is taking a home-based Ridge Racer game and turning it into an arcade attraction.

Ridge Racer 7 is being reborn as Ridge Racer 7 3D Version. The arcade attraction makes use of a special television that uses filters to make the images come out at players. You have to wear special glasses to see the effect, although different from classic 3D glasses, these look like standard single-colored shades. For bystanders, the game screen looks blurry, like two slightly displaced images overlain.

Technologically, the game makes use of a technique called Xpol. Developed in conjunction with NHK Technical Service, this technology promises 3D visuals without player fatigue. The technology works at 1080p and 60 frames per second.

Japanese site Impress Watch was on hand at a location test of the game at the Namco Wonder Park amusement center in Kanagawa Prefecture, just to the south of Tokyo. According to the site, the visuals produced by the game really do offer a 3D feel. HUD readouts, including your speedometer and positional information, appear to be right in front of the player, with the course appearing beyond.

Surprisingly, the PS3 version of the game was converted to the new 3D format in just one week. To make the 3D effect, the game moves the standard viewpoint a bit to the left or to the right, alternating with each frame. The only trade off, apparently, is that the game's framerate appears lower.

It's unclear if Bandai Namco will be giving this attraction a full arcade release. But there will be other chances to get a glimpse, at least if you're in Japan. Following the location test, the company plans on showing the game off at the CEATEC Japan event in early October, then at the Asiagraph shortly after that.

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