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PC PeripheralELSA AG

ELSA 3D Revelator

ELSA AG · 1999 · PC Peripheral / Shutter Glasses
Stereoscopic 3D for your CRT. Cool as hell when it works.
Stereoscopic 3DLCD ShutterCRT RequiredDriver DependentOpenGL Support
3.5
out of 5.0
Good
POCG VERDICT
A wild stereo 3D trick that feels amazing when it works and exhausting when it does not.
The ELSA 3D Revelator is picky, flickery, and absolutely not essential. It is also one of the coolest PC gaming toys of 1999.
Read the Full Review →How to Get One Today
About This Hardware

The ELSA 3D Revelator is a pair of LCD shutter glasses designed for use with compatible 3D accelerator cards and CRT monitors. Released in 1999 by German manufacturer ELSA AG, the Revelator works by flickering each lens in sync with alternating frames on screen, creating a stereoscopic depth effect in supported games. It requires a compatible video driver, a monitor capable of running at high refresh rates, and game support via the stereo driver. At the time, it was one of the more technically serious consumer stereoscopic products available for PC gaming.

Specifications
TypeLCD shutter glasses
ConnectionWired (proprietary connector to video card)
Display RequirementCRT monitor at 100Hz+ recommended
DriverELSA stereo driver (Windows 95/98)
API SupportOpenGL stereo; Direct3D with stereo wrapper
Compatible CardsELSA RIVA TNT / TNT2 cards; some 3dfx with adapter
EraWindows 95/98
Hardware Info
ManufacturerELSA AG
CategoryPC Peripheral / Shutter Glasses
Released1999
MSRP~$80 at launch
Street Price$20-60 on eBay depending on condition and completeness (June 2026)
ReviewedJuly 30, 1999
How to Get One Today
Used / Collector Market
eBay is the only realistic source. Search 'ELSA 3D Revelator' or '3D shutter glasses 1999'. Prices range from $20 for loose glasses to $60+ for complete-in-box. Verify the connector matches your card before buying. The wired design means the cable and connector condition matters.
Notes & Warnings
This hardware requires a CRT monitor running at 100Hz or higher. It will not work on an LCD. It also requires a compatible ELSA video card and the correct period drivers. Setup on modern hardware is effectively impossible without a full period PC, period monitor, and period drivers. This is purely a collector and retro enthusiast item. The shutter mechanism can fail on older units. If buying used, there is no easy way to test functionality without the full setup.