'Avatar' videogame releases in 3D, more to follow

(All rights reserved - Ubisoft)

With the release of Avatar: The Game on December 1, two weeks prior to the release of the much-anticipated film, director James Cameron helped create the first videogame that uses stereoscopic 3D.

Working with Montreal development studio Ubisoft, the story acts as a prequel to set up the film about the past of the alien moon, Pandora, with players choosing to play as a native Na'vi or human.

Cameron sent Ubisoft the creatures, plants, mountains, forests, vehicles, and characters from the film, in order to recreate the environment and experience, as well as using the same computer system used for the film.

Sigourney Weaver does the voice for her character Dr. Grace Augustine for the game along with other actors, such as Stephen Lang, the antagonist Col. Quaritch. A bonus "Pandorapedia" teaches players about the world of creatures, plants, and natives.

The game is available on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii, PSP and Nintendo DS, however not many players and televisions are 3D-ready. Even with glasses the effect will be missed, but the game can be played in standard 2D format.

Yet the groundwork is laid and poised for the technology to match the content in the near future.

Sony, for instance, expects that 30 to 50 percent of all televisions will be 3D by early 2012, according to PC Magazine, and is working on games and its movies with PlayStation 3 upgrades.

http://avatargame.us.ubi.com/

RC