avatar-360Avatar hasn’t hit theaters yet, but companies aren’t wasting any time in preparing the consumer media blitz.  Avatar: The Game (for the Xbox 360, PS3, and Wii) is nearing release and ArsTechnica took it for a spin and find that much of the fancy technology that’s being used to make the film so appealing will appear in the game as well.

Like the film it’s based on, the 360 version, which will be the same as the versions hitting the PlayStation 3 and PC, will support 3D visuals. Displayed on a not-yet-available television utilizing Sensio 3D technology, Avatar: The Game looked absolutely stunning.

The lush, alien world of Pandora really pops, with fog and smoke swirling just off the screen. But by far the most impressive bit of visuals were the flying sequences. The 3D rendering of the helicopter looks great, and I had to fight the urge to reach out and grab the tail of the craft as if it was actually in front of me.

But while I was able to view the game on a $4,000 3D enabled set, I was told that it would also run on TVs that are 120Hz capable and have an HDMI output.

With so much of the movie being done in “virtual space” (CG and 3D models), I’m sure the game designers were thankful that so many of the models and designs were already in a suitable form for rendering.  As movie assets are translated into video game assets, and video games increase in realism and detail, how long before the two are seamless?  (Fans of Final Fantasy might argue they already are.)

via Using gimmicks properly: hands-on with Avatar The Game.