That experimental broadcast of an NFL football game in 3D we told you about last month took place last night in specially-equipped theaters in Los Angeles, Boston, and New York. After a couple of lost satellite feeds and some jarring camera moves that showed the limitations of the nascent format, the rest of the broadcast (okay, narrowcast) ran smoothly. Journalists were there to describe the experience:

"It's amazing ... technically they obviously have a little ways to go, but once they work out all the kinks, it's definitely the new era of television." Said another reporter, "The experience wasn't jaw-dropping, but it was noticeably better than a conventional broadcast. The game was drama-free, yet the novelty of 3D made it hard for me to take my eyes off the screen... The effect was subtle at times, but just as compelling as in "U2 3D," 3ality's concert film of the Irish rockers. The most striking thing in both cases was how much more you could see in three dimensions than in two."

Too bad everyone had to wear those goofy glasses. We're not that enthusiastic about 3D TV and movies, judging from the variety of 3D attempts we've seen lately and in the distant past. What do you think, readers? Is 3D The Next Big Thing, or is it just another gimmicky attempt to sell more TVs and movie tickets?

Yahoo, via Engadget