Sony brewing up 1:1 motion tracking sword game for PS2 and EyeToy

This makes sense on very many levels, but at the same time we've gotta think those long-suffering PS3 owners will be a bit "hacked off" by Sony's announcement of a motion-tracking sword game headed for... the PS2. The PS2's market saturation (every man, woman and child on earth has at least two), and the EyeToy's general success (10.5 million units sold) make the combo the perfect trojan horse for fighting the good fight against Wii world domination. Sony's using new (sort of) color tracking technology to beef up the EyeToy's motion tracking that will let it detect and track brightly colored objects, instead of just motion, for two new EyeToy: Play games due for the holidays this year. The one we've really got our eye on is the kiddie-oriented Hero which is a first person perspective sword fighting game that comes complete with a fluorescent toy sword for battling kinda-almost-evil antagonists. Of course, none of this would be disappointing in the slightest if Sony would just work PS2 backwards compatibility into its fully capable PS3, and hey, maybe they'll surprise us. Nudge, comma, nudge. Wink. Wink.

[Thanks, Seth B]

[Ignatius @ Aug 14th 2008 10:52AM]

Until Sony offers a current SKU with BC, they can shove it.

[NHAnimator @ Aug 14th 2008 11:01AM]

Current model PS398011 has BC. Shoving now ending.

[Jon Acheson @ Aug 14th 2008 12:45PM]

The MGS4 bundle doesn't count. Not everyone wants to pay a $100 premium for a game they don't want.

[TVGenius @ Aug 14th 2008 1:12PM]

Well, boo hoo. You all had plenty of notice. If BC was a big deal, you should have put your big girl panties on and bought a 60GB. For that matter, I swear I saw a brand new 60GB in a store just a few weeks ago STILL.

[Lars @ Aug 14th 2008 1:43PM]

There has always been at least one SKU with BC available since launch.

People always either use this as an excuse or the price... Pretty stupid since the 20GB unit (which has now been discontinued in NA) had BC and was $350. And when they started to clearance it, I was seeing them on sale for $300. Weak excuse if you ask me.


On a side note, I wish they would release that draw-your-own-tank game for the PS Eye. Or just anything other than the current use-jazz-hands-to-move-something PSN games. Oh well, at least there's EoJ, plus Burnout and LBP make good use of the Eye.

[Jon Acheson @ Aug 14th 2008 2:03PM]

I did get a 60 GB back in November, but I know others who were waiting for games that came out this year, then bought Wiis or 360s instead when they couldn't buy what they wanted from Sony.

Lars: No, the 80 GB was unavailable from sometime in early spring up until the launch of the MGS bundle.

[buu700 @ Aug 14th 2008 3:08PM]

So many acronyms!

[SOOPERGOOMAN @ Aug 14th 2008 3:37PM]

HA HA I GOT A 60 GIG! A launch day ps3 that has never had problems. I guess I'll be enjoying this little bit of eye toy bliss...

[schmitty338 @ Aug 14th 2008 10:54AM]

Would it not make sense to try and implement something like this into the current generation console in order to beef up sales?

*shrug*...I guess that is why I'm not in business...

[anonymousaversa @ Aug 14th 2008 11:07AM]

My guess is that it has something to do with the lowest cost of development for PS2 versus PS3.

Larger profit margin on PS2 titles + much larger install base globally = This comes to PS2 first.

But the the post author is right - anything out on PS2 should be playable on the PS3. Otherwise it's like getting a sack tap from Kazuo Hirai.

[SteveJ @ Aug 14th 2008 11:52AM]

I think the problem with making this for the PS3 is that Sony realizes that the PS3 can't win a casual game war - that war is over and lost for the current gen consoles. However, there are lots of casual gamers that still have a PS2 and don't have a Wii, PS3 or 360. So it makes sense to make this for the PS2. Also, if they put out a game that works like this for the PS3, people would scoff at it, calling it a weak attempt to counter the Wii's motion controls (and MotionPlus). By putting it out for the PS2 they stand a chance to make some money, all the while staying a bit off the radar with it.

[ralph @ Aug 14th 2008 10:57AM]

Fartworthy, but I don't need it on my PS3 just make a better psp!

[Nirmal @ Aug 14th 2008 11:12AM]

i'd settle for a PSP with a touchscreen!!

[SOOPERGOOMAN @ Aug 14th 2008 3:38PM]

Dual analogue nubs is my request.

[Technex @ Aug 14th 2008 11:05AM]

More Sony crap, joy.

[ShadowKain @ Aug 14th 2008 11:09AM]

When they come out with a 1:1 SW : Dark Forces lighsaber game im sold. But that'll never happen.

[CosterMonger @ Aug 15th 2008 12:29PM]

or any game with a lightsaber

[Dah Cheet @ Aug 14th 2008 11:16AM]

Does anyone else think that black knight thing looks like one of the knight dungeon stalkers from the Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass?

[neofolklore @ Aug 15th 2008 8:26AM]

this actually reminds me of a gameboy color "zelda link's awakening" knockoff, I think it was a disney game

[Anonymous Thinker @ Aug 14th 2008 11:45AM]

Yes! Lightsabers!

[SteveJ @ Aug 14th 2008 11:49AM]

I have an EyeToy with EyeToy Kinetic and I have never been able to get it to work well, or even much at all. I've also tried it with DDR (hand motions). It doesn't work well there either. I have to wave my hands wildly and for a while before it picks it up. The PS2 has a very difficult time "seeing" me. It seems that if you don't have a near ideal background to play against, it just can't distinguish the player from the background. Perhaps by having a toy sword that is fluorescently colored, that will make it see it much better. I certainly hope so, otherwise this will be another bust. I'm not sure if I'm willing to pay for it to find out whether or not I'll be able to play it at all.

[everclear @ Aug 14th 2008 12:01PM]

wow
surprise surprise
sony stealing another nintnedo idea
and then taking all the credit

[Mornelithe @ Aug 14th 2008 12:28PM]

@ Everclear - Motion sensing was originally slated for the PS2, but was ditched due to costs. In essence, Nintendo took that, and implemented it into their console. So...technically, Nintendo stole it. Additionally, I don't believe the Wii mote sensor, and the Eyetoy are comparable, as they're really two different bits of technology. The PSEye (PS3) for example, pretty much eclipses the Wiimote's ability...in theory. Just need Sony to work on developing and innovating on it's abilities more.


Morne

[r.u.serious @ Aug 14th 2008 1:23PM]

'The PSEye (PS3) for example, pretty much eclipses the Wiimote's ability...in theory.'

Except the Wiimote can sense motion in 3D and the PSEye can't.. that's fact not theory.

[Andre @ Aug 14th 2008 1:19PM]

@Mornelithe

If you want to get technical, Nintendo has motion-sensing planned for the GameCube...so who ripped off who hear? It's really a pointless argument.

Furthermore, the PS3's EyeToy, while capable of a few cool things, can't compare to the Wiimote capabilities, particulary when combined with WiiMotion Plus. The EyeToy's "motion detection" is restricted not just by line of site, but also ambiant light. Furthermore, it's framerate at the higher resolutions is less than ideal. Finally, it can't detect depth accuratly enough to be of any use -- the PS3 eyetoy is barely a step beyond the PS2's, which itself is quite limited.

[Michael Chastain @ Aug 14th 2008 7:35PM]

Geez, even the Dreamcast had a motion sensing prototype. Do we really have to play these "who was first" games all the time?

[Coasterfreakie @ Aug 14th 2008 2:07PM]

I have been reading for a while and finally had to chime in on this. I am tired of people complaining about not having backwards compatibility in their PS3. If they weren't so cheap and shelled out the extra money for the larger 60gb or 80gb models like some of us did, then they would have it. That's just one of the perks of paying more money for your system; Its a better system. Why should they get the same features we have so soon for less money? Case closed. Please quit complaining now.

[JayVe @ Aug 14th 2008 5:13PM]

Sorry.

Every PS3 should be backwards compatible. Every single one. Sony made a commitment to people stating that Playstation is a PLATFORM, and that consumers should feel good knowing that their software will always be supported. Since then, Sony has gone back on their commitment, and consumers looking to get a next-gen system aren't going to leverage their old software. This means that people upgrading have no reason to go with a PS3, and should get a cheaper system that has a larger library of games.

[Michael Chastain @ Aug 14th 2008 7:38PM]

"Why should they get the same features we have so soon for less money?"

I don't care (much) about backwards compatibility on the PS3, but that's a ridiculous statement. That's generally how it works with ALL electronics. If you can't handle it then too bad.

[dbam987 @ Aug 14th 2008 2:13PM]

It is precisely the fact that the PS3 isn't backwards compatible with PS1 and PS2 games anymore that I am reluctant to pick it up.

[Michael Schmitt @ Aug 14th 2008 2:22PM]

I really can't wait to see all the "damage pics" that come from this sword game. Wiimote controllers through TVs? The Sony pics will be THAT much better...

[SOOPERGOOMAN @ Aug 14th 2008 3:41PM]

Sony Sword impaled in your younger brother or something like that...

[required @ Aug 14th 2008 2:28PM]

Nudge, comma, nudge?

[Pilch @ Aug 15th 2008 10:09AM]

It should be read aloud as 'nudge comma comma comma nudge'

[SOOPERGOOMAN @ Aug 14th 2008 3:40PM]

All you BC complainers. Just go buy a ps2 for gods sake. They're only $30 at your local pawn shop. Sheesh, crybabies......

[JayVe @ Aug 14th 2008 5:10PM]

Here's the problem I encountered...

I got a PS3 with backwards compatibility, and then picked up a PS3 eye with Eye of Judgement. Now, EOJ is a terrible game, but that's not the main problem. The main problem is that the new PS3 eye does not work with the PS2 EyeToy software. As a PS3 owner, if I want to use any of the PS2 EyeToy software, I need to get a PS2 EyeToy.

Now my TeeVee has 2 eye cameras atop it, one for the PS3 and one for the PS2. Atop that, all games are really imprecise unless the lighting is PERFECT. I really wanted a number of the games to work well, but there are certain times of day where the lighting in the room make the games completely unplayable.

The eye games are great ideas, but I'd rather have my Wii remote any day since it is so much more damn reliable than the flaky responsiveness of the Playstation Eye games, and Sony's stupid move of making the PS3 Eye not backwards compatiable with PS2 software.

[JayVe @ Aug 14th 2008 5:22PM]

Oh, I forgot to mention that there us an issue with 2 eye cameras attached. When playing Eye of Judgment, I need to unplug aqll cameras and only plug in the PS3 eye. To play PS2 games, I need to swap cameras again and play the USB game. Things just just freakin' work. If the device is plugged in, and the light is on, it should work.

[divergent @ Aug 14th 2008 5:18PM]

When I was in grad school we had someone from Sony come in with a PS2 development kit to demo this exact thing. It used the camera to track what was essentially a Nerf sword with different colors at each end - and the tracking was amazingly accurate, as good or better than what I've experienced using the wiimote. As for the arguments that this is sony stealing an idea from nintendo, try again - this demo was in the spring of 2000...

[Daniel @ Aug 14th 2008 9:23PM]

This is a knock off of CamSpace. Any pc with a webcam and a brightly coloured object laying around and hey presto. Sony have really ripped this one off!
http://www.camspace.com/
Check it out. I smell lawsuit potential. Haha

[Coasterfreakie @ Aug 14th 2008 10:00PM]

"I don't care (much) about backwards compatibility on the PS3, but that's a ridiculous statement. That's generally how it works with ALL electronics. If you can't handle it then too bad."

Oh I can handle it, Sony never made a commitment to anybody for anything other than themselves to make a profit. To think anything less is only fooling yourself. Not only is the statement not ridiculous, but to assume that all electronics by nature should be backwards compatible is expecting something you were never promised. Just because I offer you something today, doesn't mean I HAVE to offer you the same thing tomorrow. The same holds true for backwards compatability and all electronics. I paid more money so I could have it, others did not and thus do not have it. Everybody has the same option though to pay for it if they want to or not. So to complain that your system doesn't have it is childish. You should have paid more money when you had the option and gotten it like the rest of us. But to expect something by nature without any justification for the expectation is ridiculous.

[Dave Chappelle @ Aug 15th 2008 4:59AM]

LUKE, I AM YOUR FATHER!!!!

this is teh shiiit. simple as that. i hope the eyetoy works better then the wii's motion and isnt price inflated

sorry about the first part, but i just luv star wars games, and this is teh next level.

[topveg @ Aug 15th 2008 7:46AM]

I have it on good authority that Sony will be releasing a new eyetoy for PS3 later in the year that's not only capable of colour detection but incorporates 3D depth tracking. From what I hear it is completely awesome and when you think about it, is the killer logical step to tackle the Wii market. If it's as good as they say, why use a controller at all?

[Yarx @ Aug 16th 2008 1:19AM]

Maybe it's just me, but this seems like a rip off of what CamTrax is doing with their CamSpace technology. Though I don't know who developed the idea first... :-/