3-D TVs on display in Japan

Japan’s big-name electronics manufacturers are readying flat-screen TVs that can show high-definition movies and video games in 3-D for launch next year.

At the country’s biggest consumer electronics show, which opened Tuesday just outside Tokyo, all the major makers had large 3-D prototypes on display. Visitors to company booths at the show donned special electronic glasses and watched as soccer balls flew toward them in sports clips and virtual heroes moved deep into the background of video games.

Sony Corp. and Panasonic Corp. have said they will bring their first models to market next year.

Details about what will be available to watch on the new televisions are still sparse, though the companies said they wanted to begin with movies and games.

“Content is the most important thing,” said Masanobu Inoe, a Panasonic engineer who worked on his company’s new 3-D plasma sets.

The companies are working on standards for broadcasts and discs, which may end up as an enhancement of Blu-ray, the high-definition format designed to supersede standard DVDs. Sony, which also runs a large movie studio, plans to release selections from its holdings.

Some companies such as Sharp Corp. displayed 3-D sets but are waiting until more content and TV broadcasts are available before they set a product launch date.