3D gaming will reach 40 million by 2014

Research company Insight Media reckons 3D capable televisions will spread like wildfire and number around 40 million by 2014.

Today, like HDTV a few years ago, the new technology is supported by few games - Avatar and Invincible Tiger: The Legend of Han Tao are two of only a handful.

"We have spent considerable time on our forecasting methodology and believe we have created something that is truly new, innovative and ground breaking," said Insight president Chris Chinnock of his The 2009 Stereoscopic 3D Gaming Report.

"We have played Stereoscopic 3D games for hundreds of hours and can report that the latest technology does not result in eye strain or fatigue," added Dale H Maunu, lead analyst on the report.

"Our experience leads us to believe that S-3D gaming is more immersive and compelling that traditional gaming on a 2D screen. We spoke directly with gamers, game developers, and game publishers as well as display makers to build a complete picture of the future of gaming, along the way going from sceptical middle-age display veterans to 3D gaming fanboys."

The first signs of a 3D future can be seen in the games industry already. NVIDIA already offers a package that can retroactively apply 3D settings to most PC games, and it really works - as you'll have seen at the Eurogamer Expo 2009 had you been there.

But, as Blitz Games (maker of Invincible Tiger: The Legend of Han Tao) boss Andrew Oliver pointed out earlier this year, we're unlikely to see 3DTV saturation until Sky or Blu-ray fully support the technology.

Full details of the report and its content can be found on the Insight Media website.