What 3D Movies Are Not On Apple Vision Pro (And Need to Be) February 20, 2024

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Apple Vision Pro, at launch, has literally reinvented the concept of a home theater experience. When the days of DVD came out, I remember needing to spend several hundred dollars to install a proper DTS-compatible surround sound amplifier and organize my room to account for all the speaker wire I would need to install. That equipment then needed to be fully replaced when Blu-Ray Disc hit the market, but thankfully my speaker wire and speakers would survive the transition. With Apple Vision Pro, I can now watch an entire theatrical release in full 3D 4K HDR with virtual surround sound in a room with no space for a television let alone an expensive speaker setup. The best part of it is Apple has made no issues with simply offering films customers have already purchased supported films on iTunes or Apple TV full 3D playback through Vision Pro with no extra purchases required.

That means recent 3D films such as Avengers: Endgame, Doctor Strange, Avatar, Super Mario Bros: The Movie and Ready Player One, can be watched right now on the Vision Pro Apple TV in a virtual experience nearly identical to its theatrical release. However, while these initial films are a great early set of offerings, that is not the extent of ALL 3D theatrical releases over the past ten years. Many beloved 3D releases, mostly from the late 2000s to early 2010’s, are not currently offered in 3D on the Apple TV service, and this needs to be investigated further. So, we thought we would put up a list of what we felt Apple needed to re-release in 3D. To start, we’re going to include some of the films from the first and second phases of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, which include among them some of the greatest films ever made.

Avengers – No brainer on this one. The biggest film release of all time (of its time) focused on an immersive 3D experience teaming up the main characters from the previous Hollywood blockbusters to fight the battles together they could never fight alone. Nothing beats watching the Battle of New York, where the legendary avengers assembled for the first time, in full 3D glory.

Avengers: Age of Ultron – I’m a bit confused why this hasn’t gotten a 3D release whereas some of its contemporary films, such as Guardians of the Galaxy, have. The second Avengers film may have a grander scale than the first, and marked the first appearance of the Hulkbuster armor, but many considered it to this day to be a more transitional film. Still, it’s a shame we can’t see it in 3D just yet.

Captain America: The First Avenger – Captain America’s first appearance in the MCU serves as both an origin story, a war film, and a period piece. I remember watching this film in theaters (I have with ALL of the MCU films to date), and to be honest I wasn’t impressed by the film’s 3D version, but the closing credits scene was pretty impressive.

Wreck-it-Ralph/Paperman – The original Wreck-it-Ralph was a love letter to arcades in the same way that Who Framed Roger Rabbit was a love letter to the 2D cartoons of yesterday. While you can get its sequel in 3D, neither the original film, nor the attached Paperman short, are in 3D on Vision Pro.

Thor – The original Thor proved to Hollywood that a connected cinematic universe of films could not only be produced, but encourage audiences to see films they wouldn’t otherwise have been interested in. While most people have argued the series did not find its stride until its third film, the film’s lead actors are incredibly charming, and its story of a lost God seeking redemption is absolutely timeless. The opening scene alone, where Thor is brought to Earth, if rewatched in 3D, would make it worth a re-release.

Coraline – An absolute modern classic. This stop motion adaptation of a beloved children’s book has been considered by many to be the de-facto standard for modern 3D releases. In fact, this film was a major must-buy for early adopters of 3D televisions.

PIXELS – The last major Adam Sandler film to get a wide theatrical release, PIXELS was meant to be a love letter to classic arcade games, but instead was a (mostly) unfunny mess due to a horribly a miscast lead. That said, I have a soft spot for the film, and ended up seeing it in 3D for its theatrical release. No reason to hold back on the 3D release of this film.

Silent Hill Revelations – Released in 2012 alongside Konami’s previously most recent push of the Silent Hill franchise, most people felt that Silent Hill’s sequel did not live up to the original film. I actually enjoyed it. As someone who actually saw the 3D version in theaters, it is an absolute shame that this has not gotten a 3D re-release on Vision Pro. While the movie itself is arguably terrible, its atmosphere was clearly improved by the 3D effects. Seeing ash fall across your face, and the hallways distorted behind you during terrifying chases, made you feel like you were in the film.

Doctor Who: The Day of The Doctor – Doctor Who’s 50th anniversary special episode sees Matt Smith’s 11th Doctor team up with two of his past incarnations as they seek to save their home planet from its fate. This well-known episode actually had a limited 3D theatrical run with exclusive preshow footage, and it’s an absolute shame that it’s not on the Vision Pro.

TRON Legacy: If you’re a gamer, you are aware of TRON. The second TRON film presented a whole new art style while still providing a story that honored the film that came before it, TRON Legacy released in 3D with specific scenes formatted for IMAX. While its original Blu-Ray release did port selected scenes using the film’s IMAX aspect ratio, neither that IMAX ratio, nor 3D support, is currently offered in the Apple TV version.

Did we miss any flicks? You’re free to include some below in the comments section. Hope you enjoyed the article, but we’re not done just yet! The Vision Pro also has an official IMAX application, and is currently offering IMAX films in its proper ratio for viewing and rental. What is missing from that application? That’s coming next time!

Apple Vision Pro – What We Know Vs What We Don’t Know January 3, 2024

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Six months ago, Apple announced their next major product will be the Vision Pro, an augmented reality computing device. In case you missed it, or wanted your memory refreshed about the Vision Pro, here’s the initial reveal video.

UPDATE: Apple has made some announcements earlier today. We are updating this list with some new known information. Updates will be emphasized.

UPDATE 2: Apple has made MORE announcements since preorders have begun. We will include those as well.

Since that videos’ release Apple has revealed nothing further about the Vision Pro. Rumors have speculated it could release as soon as the end of the month, but we have no official release date, and as of the time this article is being written, Apple has not done further promotion of the device. In the event the rumors are true and the Vision Pro will launch within the next month, we decided to offer our readers a look into what we currently know and what we currently don’t know about the Vision Pro. This way, consumers will have a better idea about the device, and will hopefully assist in their decision whether or not to purchase one.

What We Know:

Price – $3499US. This was set in stone at announcement.

Hardware – Vision Pro offers two Ultra High Definition (UHD) OLED displays running on an M2 processor promising full 360 degree 3D heads up display with facial, eye and hand tracking. The Vision Pro’s head strap includes two virtual 3D surround over the ear speakers.

Compatibility – Vision Pro is shipping with an internal M2 chip, which in theory is capable of running all programs that support Apple Silicon including apps made for iPhone, iPad and Mac. It will also offer 3D movie playback for supported films and applications. It will run a custom OS capable of running native applications such as Disney+, FaceTime, and Keynote. You will also be able to save and run 3D video files from iPhone 15 Pro to it using AirDrop.

Power – Vision Pro’s battery is (thankfully) external and can be swapped out and replaced with either an alternate battery or an AC adapter.

Bluetooth: It will also support external Bluetooth accessories such as a PS5 controller, wireless keyboard, touchpad or your existing AirPods.

Mac Integration: It can be paired to a Mac computer by simply glancing at its screen, turning the Vision Pro into a virtual external monitor.

What We Don’t Know:

Internal Storage – UPDATE: 256GB stock internal storage. An independent computing device capable of recording video and running independent applications requires internal storage. At this time, Apple has not revealed how much internal storage the Vision Pro will have. We are currently operating under the assumption Apple is only going to offer one model of Vision Pro at launch, and that belief, given its price point, and the fact it is unlikely Vision Pro will be able to expand its memory (as this is something Apple has not allowed for any of their devices for years), the Vision Pro will likely need to offer AN ENORMOUS amount of stock internal storage.

Battery – UPDATE: Around two hours of use on a fully charged single battery. Despite having a modular battery, we still don’t know how long the battery life or charging times for the Vision Pro will be. Apple has confirmed they will sell extra battery packs that can be swapped, giving it some extended battery life on the go, but I do have some concern “hot swapping” the external batteries will shut the Vision Pro off and force it to restart. UPDATE2: Apple will allow charging of Vision Pro while in use, theoretically this could allow hot-swapping of battery.

Applications – Apple promised only a few native applications were coming to Vision Pro during their initial announcement, but since the device was announced, they have offered development tool kits to third-party developers. Currently, Disney+ and ESPN are the only two third-party applications confirmed for Vision Pro, but Apple has confirmed applications you expect on your other Apple Devices such as Music, FaceTime, Keynote, and Mindfulness will be included. UPDATE: You will be able to use native applications including the ones listed above. iPad applications, with the exception of YouTube, Netflix and Spotify will be supported.

Games – The Vision Pro will support the Apple Arcade service, same as it is on existing devices, but we have heard nothing about any third-party games being made natively FOR the Vision Pro. This is a big issue, as 360 VR gaming would be a game changer on this device. I bought a Quest Pro for its compatibility with Quest 2 games, the fact that it plays well with productivity software was a nice bonus. The Vision Pro needs native games if they want to really justify its price. UPDATE: A dinosaur tech demo will be pre installed in all Vision Pro units.

Native Video Content – Disney+ has confirmed 3D movie support will be offered through their application on Disney’s catalog of 3D films. At this time there are no 3D films offered through the Apple TV+ service, but Apple confirmed they will begin selling 3D feature films purchased and rented through their digital marketplace. Personally, I would like to see original 3D films produced for the headset. I have asked around to some filmmaker friends what their opinions would be about making 3D short films for the headset, but no announcements of any independent Vision Pro video content have been made at this time. UPDATE: As listed above, Netflix, Spotify and YouTube will not have Vision Pro compatible applications at launch. Other providers are expected to either launch with a native application, or you will be able to use the iPad application on the Vision Pro. UPDATE 2: You will not need to pay extra to upgrade a previously purchased iTunes movie to watch in 3D if it supports 3D on Vision Pro.

Release Date – UPDATE: February 2nd, 2024. Apple announced the Vision Pro will ship in Early 2024, and heavily hinted about a late January/early February release. At this time, we have had no confirmation of an actual release date, but if Apple treats the Vision Pro similar to an iPhone/iPad release, hopefully we won’t have to wait much longer than a week from its announcement to its launch.

Why Are Iconic Songs Missing in The Official Final Fantasy Digital Albums? March 15, 2023

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For years, gamers have held the musical score of the Final Fantasy games in high regard. The series composer, Nobuo Uematsu, deserves major credit for that honor. There isn’t a gamer anywhere that wouldn’t stop and recognize when they hear Prelude, or tear up when they hear Aerith’s Theme. Meanwhile, Final Fantasy VIII’s Man with a Machine Gun is a regular song on my workout playlist and Final Fantasy X’s Blitz Off is my driving jam. I guess you could say the soundtrack to Final Fantasy is the soundtrack to my daily life, it is just iconic. Anyways, I could go on listing all the great songs composed for the series over the years, but that’s not what you’re here to read about.

For all the love gamers have for this great music, there is not much Square has done to capitalize on that love. In the US, it was difficult to find official music releases for Final Fantasy games. Music CDs imported from Japan will play fine in US stereos, but they are historically sold at high prices (about double what we pay in the US), and international customers are required to pay additional fees (shipping, import) to obtain them. In the US, you could say the best option to get Final Fantasy game soundtracks is to purchase them through a digital music store such as iTunes. This has been a great option for long-time fans that Square Enix has only recently made available, and while the albums are typically priced about the same as they would be if they had been purchased in Japan (around $24 US), it is usually due to the fact that the soundtracks contain enough songs that would back in the day require releasing the album on at least two or more CDs.

The problem with buying a Final Fantasy album on iTunes is that unless you go through the provided set list track by track and compare it to the setlist included in a game like Theatrhythm Final Bar Line, there’s no guarantee EVERY song from the game will be included in the official soundtrack. I first learned about this issue after finishing Final Bar Line on my Nintendo Switch this past weekend. Many of the game’s tracks, some of which had been locked behind the Deluxe Pass, are not included in their respective game’s official album release. To say I was not happy to discover this was an understatement. If I’m paying for a game soundtrack, no matter how good the game is or how much I care about if. I expect it to have EVERY song from the game that I remember, especially if they’re charging double the price for it.

So, what is missing from the major releases? I think the biggest one I’ve found to be missing was the iconic Final Fantasy VIII song Eyes on Me. I know the song has had its detractors, particularly from the one known as Spoony, but it was a major song that tied into the love theme of the game. It also has continued to be included in the game’s multiple remasters and rereleases over the years and has been included in several Theatrhythm games over the years.

Sadly, neither the English nor the Japanese versions used in the game could be found in the game’s official digital soundtrack release. This is a major omission, as it is a known fact that Eyes on Me was heavily imported by FF8 fans back when it was new, and has become nearly as iconic a game song as Simple and Clean from Kingdom Hearts.

The next major song omission I’m going to talk about is only going to be recognized by the international Final Fantasy audience, and that’s the omission of My Hands from Final Fantasy XIII. This incredible song, performed by Leona Lewis, was added by Square’s international localization team. It is a heartbreaking song chosen to play during a bittersweet moment of triumph, and in the US it plays during the game’s final cutscene.

While many critics, particularly MarzGurl, don’t consider this a Final Fantasy song due to the fact it was added by the localization team and isn’t in the original Japanese release, I absolutely do for two reasons. The first is the reason I already mentioned, the second is the fact the song was heavily pushed in the game’s marketing. My Hands would get used in FFXIII‘s television commercials. So, in the US at least, this song is iconically intertwined with the game. Take a look at this official trailer for yourself and tell me this is not one of the best game trailers of all time.

Moving on from the PS3 generation, let’s now talk about the last generation. In the lead up for Final Fantasy XV, Square localized an HD remaster of a Japan-only PSP exclusive, Final Fantasy Type-0. Like most players, I became aware of this game when the HD version was released and bought it to check out the demo for Final Fantasy XV that was included. However, after I was done with the demo, I found a cool game that was paced like the PSP games I loved. In Final Curtain Call, I discovered the soundtrack included the song Zero. It turned out this is a licensed track performed by the band Bump of Chicken and while there was a major physical release for the game’s album back in 2011, the current digital album release does not include Zero. What a shame.

And let’s not forget that as of the time this editorial is being posted, NO complete Final Fantasy X-2 soundtrack album exists for digital purchase on iTunes. Because of that, there is no option to get ANY original track from that game which essentially revolved around music and pop diva life in general. That means Real Emotion, We’re The Gullwings or my favorite Final Fantasy song, 1000 Words, cannot be purchased on iTunes at this time. That’s right, neither the English nor the Japanese versions of the climatic song, which was used in one of the best cutscenes produced in any FF game, can be legally purchased for digital download in the US. If you don’t know why I’m so upset about this, I’m going to put the scene the song is used in below just so you can watch it for yourself.

Some of these omissions could be chocked up to a rights issues. I do not accept that answer, especially given the high price of the albums in the current digital market. If they wanted to stop people from buying them outside of the album, iTunes does include the option for publishers to mark ALBUM ONLY tracks. Heck, the Theatrhythm games haven’t been able to include the English version of 1000 Words either (despite the fact the US version of the scene it was used in was separately created for English-speaking regions and is the version everyone in the US and Europe remembers).

My final disappointment is with the fact I haven’t seen a single Theatrhythm game include Leona Lewis’s My Hands from Final Fantasy XIII or the Florence and the Machine cover version of Stand By Me used in Final Fantasy XV. That said, Stand By Me can be found for sale on iTunes as a special singles release and is FANTASTIC!

Theatrhythm Final Curtain Call is out now for Switch and PS4.

PLEASE: Stop Putting Coffee Tables in Your Living Rooms, Gamers Need The Space February 4, 2023

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I grew up at a time when a furnished family room would include several essential components. This was typically the room which included the largest television in the house so everything in it revolved around the TV. Because of that, it would be typical to find a big couch (or sectional) and several bookshelves for print, music or movie storage flanking the opposite walls. Most people take for granted that while the TV would be the focus of the room, it would not be the center of it. If you look at the majority of home photos of people in their living rooms over the past fifty years, you’ll likely find a giant unused table somewhere between their couch and their television. This giant object was the coffee table, and I honestly can’t remember living in a home that didn’t have one.

For a while, things were good, as the coffee table could provide benefits for a home television room. The coffee table allowed a communal location for people to leave their beverages while sitting on their couches, as well as a communal resting place for things like the remote control or a magazine. In the days before on screen guides, television viewers relied on the weekly newspaper or TV Guide magazine to get the times for upcoming programming, so having a place to put that information was useful. Later on as this became less essential, it became trendy for people to decorate their coffee tables with interesting hardcover art books, which created the sub genre of art book many to this day call the Coffee Table Book.

However, things were not always good with the coffee table. Having an enormous THING in the middle of open space can cut down on the amount of useable space in the room, preventing more people from sitting or standing in it. It could also be a trip hazard, as most coffee tables are only knee-high and someone with low visibility could easily walk into it and injure themselves. In a time when remote controls required a point-to-point IR beam to function, the coffee table would be a common barrier between the television and the couch. Also, the vast majority of them were made of substandard material, as no matter how expensive it was, or how beautiful it looked in the showroom floor, there was no way of knowing if doing something as simple as putting a wet drink on it would destroy it. It is also too low to sit around comfortably, making it pointless to sit around to eat or play games at.

While it had its issues, for the longest time, they were considered minor and the coffee table continued on. In 2007, the Nintendo Wii was released, which was the first mass market gaming console that primarily used a motion-based controller. That meant the Wii required an unobstructed view between the player and the television sensor just to function. Previously, the coffee table’s worst transgression was the remote blocking. Since a Wiimote used very similar technology to what was found in a standard remote, unlike a remote it required precise pointing and direction to work correctly, having an obstruction between the couch and television started to become less practical. Also, games were no longer becoming passive experiences people could play from their couches. The Wiimote was just the first in what became a massive motion control arms race, with some requiring controllers, like the PlayStation Move or Joy-Con, and others like the Kinect, simply requiring unobstructed views between the sensor and the player.

What were the consequences of this motion control arms race? It meant a fundamental change in the structure of how gamers organized their gaming rooms. In the days of wired gaming controllers, it was common for players to sit close to the tv to play their games, as they could only sit as far back as their cables would extend. When wireless game controllers became standard for the PS3 and Xbox 360’s controllers, range was expanded and games could be played anywhere in a room, and obstructions were now meaningless. Following the mass adoption of motion controls came the creation of virtual sport and exercise games, which absolutely necessitated an open space to play. This continues on, as even my Apple Watch and Meta Quest Pro have the ability to track physical activities and can get you to use your body for everything from yoga to dance. Now, with motion games, you not only HAD to sit at a further distance from your television, any physical obstruction between you and the television could prevent your gestures from registering with the game. In the gaming space, this can be the difference between win or lose.

In the past two years we’ve seen a wide adoption of home Virtual Reality (VR) platforms. The first generations of these headsets required a wired connection to your PC or game console, as well as an external sensor for head and controller tracking. I can tell you from experience, playing a game in these conditions required not just a lot more open space around the player, but for the user to be a further than normal distance away from the screen. Otherwise, the tracking sensors would have trouble capturing player movement accurately. Having a VR headset on is tantamount to essentially playing a game blindfolded, and it is very easy for a user to lose track of their real-world position while in an active game. Nowadays, stand-alone VR headsets do exist, and many of them will allow you to set external boundaries upon startup, but you MUST have a reasonable amount of open space around you while you play to have a comfortable gaming experience.

So now that you have a better understanding of the current state of what is required to be a modern day gamer, you can see that space is important, and obstructions can be disastrous. So I ask again, why would someone want to limit both of these options just to have an obsolete piece of furniture, offering functions that can be replicated far more conveniently with other objects, in their way? What purpose do coffee tables honestly serve in the year 2023 other than to fill space? Even their original purposes, a communal space to keep your beverage, are no longer practical, as liquid easily damages most of them, and a simple end table next to the couch can hold your drink and your remote control just as conveniently. Heck, most couches made in the last fifty years have cup holders built in them! (ED NOTE: There are a lot of traditionalists who refuse to buy couches with cup holders out of some obsolete sense of aesthetic. Their opinions on the matter are wrong). Heck, due to its low height, the coffee table is useless for even non-electronic gaming, as most pen and paper or board gamers (who may prefer the name tabletop gamers) I’m aware of prefer to play on kitchen or dining room tables.

In the year 2023 VR and Motion controls are mainstream, and while it may no longer be essential for external sensors to be placed in your gaming space, having a wide open space to play games is now the required standard. This should be the beginning of the end of the coffee table, which only exists in the modern day to take up that essential gaming space. The books and magazines that they were meant to hold can be better stored in bookshelves. The remotes or drinks they were meant to hold can be better placed and more accessible on an end table or built-in armrest. So can we all agree the coffee table needs to go? I promise I won’t come for your floor lamps next.

VR Games That Should Come to Meta Quest 2/Pro January 17, 2023

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Since the beginning of the new year, we’ve been immersing ourselves in Virtual Reality, particularly using the Meta Quest Pro. This is a VR headset that can operate independently and has a full catalog of downloadable apps and games similar to a smartphone or tablet. This, coupled with its controllers ability to stay connected with a full range of motion makes it the VR headset I’ve always dreamed of using!

However, the Meta Quest line of headsets are not directly compatible with legacy VR Titles, including some of the first major VR titles of the platform that literally wrote the book on what is possible with modern-day VR.

Before we get started we will admit most of these games can be played on the Quest 2 or Pro with a cable link, but they would still require connecting the headset to a high-end gaming PC. After having played through Iron Man VR on Quest Pro, I will say that for VR to succeed to its ultimate possibilities, it should be able to function completely without wires.

Doctor Who: The Runaway – Starting light on this one. This free title is a real-time 360 movie which serves as a canonical episode of Doctor Who. Following the 13th Doctor (played by Jodie Whittaker) trying to figure out how YOU landed in the TARDIS.

Okay I’m a bit biased on this one since it can be played for free on YouTube, but I still think it’s a shame a native port hasn’t come to Quest yet. The Quesr 2/Pro should absolutely be able to replicate these graphics.

Half-Life: Alyx – Valve’s only Half-Life game of the past decade and a half, Half-Life Alyx told the backstory of the fan-favorite character Alyx and showed what life in City 17 was like before the return of the One Free Man.

Since it was released as a Steam VR exclusive I haven’t been able to play it myself (which as someone who is still waiting for Half-Life 2 Episode 3 is a shame). However, this trailer seriously has helped tide me over until it (hopefully) eventually gets announced.

Batman: Arkham VR – This time, YOU ARE BATMAN. Set in the Batman: Arkham universe, which have produced some of the best games ever made, Batman: Arkham VR let’s you explore what it’s like to wear the cowl and be the world’s greatest detective.

This game released on PSVR, Steam VR and Oculus Rift. How it hasn’t come to the Meta Quest is beyond my comprehension.

Psychonauts: In the Rhombus of Ruin – Tbis was a big deal when it was first announced as it was the first ever game that followed up on the plot thread from the original Psychonauts we had no idea there would be a full sequel to the fan favorite original game.

I will say this was the first VR game I played back when I plugged in my PSVR for the first time. It SOLD me on VR as an enduring concept. While it was first announced as a PSVR exclusive, the game has since been ported to Steam VR and Rift. The issue is since this game was released Double Fine was purchased by Microsoft, and it might make development of ports difficult.

Wilson’s Heart – This was developed by one of my (at the time) favorite independent studios, Twisted Pixel, who fell into my heart after producing Comic Jumper and LocoCycle. After being bought by Microsoft, the studio produced Wilson’s Heart, a send off of classic horror films. Oh and did I mention it included the voice work of Peter Weller?

As I mentioned earlier, I LOVE the work of Twisted Pixel and have wanted to play this game for years. It was a huge release for the Rift back in the day and cemented what could be possible with modern VR controllers. No idea why Meta hasn’t ported it to their newest systems yet.

So those are just a few of the games I’d like to see rereleased for the Quest 2/Quest Pro. Are there any I missed? Post a comment below with what you would like to see?