You read that right, MTV is reporting that the upcoming Xbox 360 title, Avatar: The Game, will be the one of the first titles that actually require an HDMI connection for the full 3d experience. That means that not only will you need a compatible television, but an Xbox 360 capable of using HDMI. Early adopters of the 360 should take note, as their consoles are not equipped with an HDMI port. This is assuming your Xbox didn’t red ring at some point, causing Microsoft to send you a new system.  Assuming you have a PS3, HDMI, and a TV capable of displaying 1080p, you’ll be able to get the full 3d effects from the get go. Later model 360 users who also have the aforementioned should also be good to go.

The reason the developer is giving for the HDMI requirement has to do with the 1080p aspect ratio. Apparently the only way the 360 will be capable of properly rendering the effects requires that resolution via HDMI out. It should also be noted that the Wii version of the game will not be capable of the full 3d experience. Avatar: The Game is based on the James Cameron movie of the same name and is due out this December.

[Editor’s note: A reader pointed out–rather rudely, mind you–that the 360 is capable of displaying 1080p via RGB. I assume he meant through component, but rather than trying to argue the difference between rendering and upscaling, I’ll merely point out that these were the claims of the developer. I simply reported them. I also clarified as to what I believe he meant by changing the above paragraph to read “rendering” rather than “display.”]