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After watching their readership drop from 3.5 million to 1.5 million in four years, Playboy is selling its magazine in 3-D in the hopes that larger proportions will bring a larger circulation.
Playboy's first move from 2-D to 3-D will begin with the publication's June issue. On CNBC's Power Lunch, anchor Dennis Kneale thinks the magazine waited long enough.
KNEALE : "Playboy introduces its first ever 3-D centerfold in the magazine's June issue. The biggest thing I'm wondering guys, is well, what took so long?"
Sue Herera: "Hugh Hefner said that he wanted to do it for the very first issue of Playboy..."
KNEALE: "Like 100 years ago?"
Herera: "Yeah, but he didn't have enough money to include the glasses in the magazine."
But a writer for The Stir is not impressed. She says 3-D in movie theaters and on TV is great, but on paper — not so much.
"I'm having a hard time getting excited about a 3-D magazine no matter how naked it may be. Now, 'How to Train Your Dragon' in 3-D is awesome! You feel like you're flying. But a 3-D piece of paper? Meh."
Reporter Chip Yost of KTLA-TV, a CW affiliate in Los Angeles, also wasn't blown away by the issue. He says, just because some things are bigger, doesn't mean they are better.
BUCKLEY: "I am curious though, when you wear the 3-D glasses and look at things other than the interviews, is it a different experience?"
CHIP YOST: "Not so much. [laughs] You can see a little difference I guess. There was even an interview with Hugh Hefner, the AP got an interview with him, and he basically said he's more of a 2-D guy. All the same, he still hopes this helps the sales out. He likes it any way he gets it I guess."
But a writer for The Hollywood Gossip disagrees. While some think the idea is anything but original, he says it's genius.
"Hugh Hefner and company have come up with a novel approach to nudity... three dimensions of nakedness! Give the man credit: he's old, but his brain clearly still works.
But as for the bigger picture — a Mashable blogger says the move is just another sign of the current struggles of magazines. While the idea may be interesting in print, it's been done online for years.
"Rich media and video content can be delivered on the web without bar codes or augmented reality gimmicks, so these magazines are struggling to match what web publications already offer."
So do you think the 3-D issue of Playboy is a good idea? Can the success of 3-D onscreen transfer to print?
WRITER: Victoria Uwumarogie