3D and Children
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 240
Likes: 0
From: Chicago, IL
Vehicle: 2000 Elantra
3D and Children
http://kotaku.com/5566671/nintendo-testing...ren-to-avoid-3d
I haven't seen much discussion about this, but I'm interested in hearing what everyone thinks about this subject. Apparently Nintendo is doing testing and working with health experts to help understand the effects of 3D displays on consumers. So far, they claim 3D is safe for users after extended play sessions, but they left one market segment out. "Very young children." When asked about the approximate age cutoff, Reggie said that age 7 is the minimum age at which Nintendo will recommend the 3D feature of the 3DS be utilized (the same age suggested for the Virtual Boy). The reasoning is this:
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>"That's because, [in] young children, the muscles for the eyes are not fully formed... This is the same messaging that the industry is putting out with 3D movies, so it is a standard protocol.</div>
Now I find this interesting on two fronts.
First the gaming side of things. If the 3D feature of the aspect is hazardous to the eyes of younger users, then shouldn't Nintendo be focusing any marketing for the 3DS towards a teenage or adult crowd and even go so far as restricting game development of "child-centered" games which appeal to younger users? As a gamer, I hate to advocate the restriction of any sort of game development (bring on the rape games, gorefests, and adult games), but for a company to warn against a certain age group use, then cater games directly towards that marketing segment (and most likely will use child actors of questionably 7-and-under age) seems rather double-faced to me.
I will withhold my final judgement until I see the 3DS marketing campaign and learn more about the possible health hazards of 3D displays, but I must say I do not like where this is heading.
On my second point, I am even further alarmed. Reggie's declaration that this is "standard protocol" for the 3D industry shocks me. Personally, I have never seen a 3D movie or 3D-capable theater advertise the warnings of 3D use. I have never seen the FTC issue a statement on whether 3D is safe for audiences to use.
Quite frankly, that alarms me. Given the release of Toy Story 3 and Up in 3D, I think it is flat-out negligent for studios not to advertise the health concerns of 3D viewing in younger users. Both of the movies listed are catered directly towards younger audiences (arguably those younger than 7). If this truly is "standard protocol" for the 3D industry (as Nintendo claims), then I think it's high time that prominent warnings are required for any feature, advertisement, or mention of 3D entertainment.
Thoughts?
I haven't seen much discussion about this, but I'm interested in hearing what everyone thinks about this subject. Apparently Nintendo is doing testing and working with health experts to help understand the effects of 3D displays on consumers. So far, they claim 3D is safe for users after extended play sessions, but they left one market segment out. "Very young children." When asked about the approximate age cutoff, Reggie said that age 7 is the minimum age at which Nintendo will recommend the 3D feature of the 3DS be utilized (the same age suggested for the Virtual Boy). The reasoning is this:
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>"That's because, [in] young children, the muscles for the eyes are not fully formed... This is the same messaging that the industry is putting out with 3D movies, so it is a standard protocol.</div>
Now I find this interesting on two fronts.
First the gaming side of things. If the 3D feature of the aspect is hazardous to the eyes of younger users, then shouldn't Nintendo be focusing any marketing for the 3DS towards a teenage or adult crowd and even go so far as restricting game development of "child-centered" games which appeal to younger users? As a gamer, I hate to advocate the restriction of any sort of game development (bring on the rape games, gorefests, and adult games), but for a company to warn against a certain age group use, then cater games directly towards that marketing segment (and most likely will use child actors of questionably 7-and-under age) seems rather double-faced to me.
I will withhold my final judgement until I see the 3DS marketing campaign and learn more about the possible health hazards of 3D displays, but I must say I do not like where this is heading.
On my second point, I am even further alarmed. Reggie's declaration that this is "standard protocol" for the 3D industry shocks me. Personally, I have never seen a 3D movie or 3D-capable theater advertise the warnings of 3D use. I have never seen the FTC issue a statement on whether 3D is safe for audiences to use.
Quite frankly, that alarms me. Given the release of Toy Story 3 and Up in 3D, I think it is flat-out negligent for studios not to advertise the health concerns of 3D viewing in younger users. Both of the movies listed are catered directly towards younger audiences (arguably those younger than 7). If this truly is "standard protocol" for the 3D industry (as Nintendo claims), then I think it's high time that prominent warnings are required for any feature, advertisement, or mention of 3D entertainment.
Thoughts?
