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Joystiq hands-on: Xbox Live Vision camera (or: IT BEGINS!)
A small, plain box arrived unexpectedly from Redmond over the weekend containing nothing more than the diminutive Xbox Live Vision camera floating in a sea of amniotic packing paper. No retail box here, just the tiny little camera and its accompanying PR fact sheet ("Microsoft Corp.'s line of Xbox 360™ Authentic Products continues to grow while ..."). The sheet does detail the two bundles that will be released on September 19th, clipped after the break.We hurriedly grabbed some snaps before hooking up the Vision to the ol' 360 and taking it for a spin around the UNO block ... where IT happened. We've grown (abnormally) accustomed to the sort of blue language one finds while playing outside of the confines of your Xbox Live friends list -- this is of course, entirely different than the blue language you enjoy while playing with your friends, but we digress -- but it wasn't ten minutes before we had our first PG-13 exposure. Read on for the entire, sordid tale (with NSFW pictures!).
Toys 'R' Us jumps the gun on Xbox 360 camera
It seems one forgetful Toys 'R' Us out there has begun stocking Microsoft's Xbox Live Vision camera out on store shelves a wee bit early -- by a whole month actually. With visual proof posted on Flickr, one lucky guy has walked away with a peripheral that many 360 owners are very much looking forward to.In case you're wondering what was inside the package, here's what it offered: A headset, the camera, codes for one month of Live Gold and a registration key for Uno. We guess TotemBall isn't really coming with the camera as previously reported, unless it is available in a totally different bundle option.[Via Engadget]
Free game coming with 360 camera
Gamasutra has received confirmation that the Xbox Live Vision camera for the 360 will come with a free game: TotemBall.TotemBall is controlled almost entirely through gestures; that is, the game tracks a player's arm movements to control a rickety, wheeled totem pole tower around each level, collecting items and trying to reach the exit within a time limit. Microsoft's Jeff Stone also tells the site that "more gestural games are in early development." Coming out on Sept. 19, GameStop has unofficially listed the camera's price at $39.99. With that price point and the integration of the camera into a myriad of games currently out and on the horizon -- such as World Series of Poker -- this seems like Microsoft's must-have peripheral for the 360.
Current XBLA to be updated for use with camera
Speaking to Godfree at Gamertag Radio, Xbox Live Arcade Manager Aaron Greenberg confirms that some of their current XBLA offerings will be updated to make them compatible with the Vision Camera, including Spades, Bankshot Billiards 2, and "other classic titles." The aforementioned games will be joined by UNO, which is already compatible with the camera.The games will be Vision-compatible via updates when the Vision Camera launches on September 19.
$40 XBL Vision camera & UNO bundle detailed by MS source along with prices & dates for other 360 accessories
Our friendly anonymous source at Microsoft has provided us with a few more details concerning the 360 accessories announced back at E3.Perhaps the most important involves the bundling of the Xbox Live Vision camera with a wired headset, the popular Live Arcade title UNO, and a month of Live Gold service for $39.99 when it releases in the States on September 19, 2006.Granted, this is still an unofficial report (based on a leak of "official" info), so understand that you're probably not gonna get much confirmation from MS until they're good and ready to give it. If you'd like information on what other peripherals are coming out "Holiday 2006" (so sometime in the 4th quarter) and at what price, read on for more.
Xbox Live cam tester caught on camera
Even though the Xbox 360 camera ain't dropping until September, recent Xbox Live Arcade title Uno features Vision camera support. Cheap Ass Gamer daphatty ran into a camera beta tester while playing a game recently, only to fumble when trying to record it for posterity proof. So what did he do? He laid in wait, finally capturing (on camera) his prey. Camera tester Maestro1 had the camera turned on but -- in what was surely an attempt to psych-out his opponent -- had the camera directed not at himself but at his dog. Is Maestro1 invisible? Is the dog playing? Did he travel into the future to get the camera? Draw four? Aww shucks!(Blurry cam) video embedded after the break.[Thanks, SickNic]
Xbox Live Vision camera coming mid September
Major Nelson has revealed that the Xbox Live Vision camera is all set for a simultaneous European and North American launch on the 19th of September. The forthcoming Xbox Live update will be adding support for the camera, so once this little gadget is released you should be able to plug it straight in and talk face-to-face with your gamer buddies or bet your life away in a virtual game of Texas Hold 'Em. There's still no official pricing but earlier rumors suggest that the cam will be priced from around $20-40 depending on whether or not you opt for a bundle that includes a headset, a month of Xbox Live and an XBLA game.[Via Engadget]
Xbox 360 camera plus poker equals immersion
After the Microsoft keynote we managed to spend some time with one of the games supporting the 360's camera peripheral, World Series of Poker: Tournament of Champions. In this game, the camera is used to take a frontal and sideways shot of the player's head, which is then turned into a 3D representation of the player.The process takes about three minutes, and is a little rough around the edges, but the immersiveness from seeing your opponents' faces both in 3D and in a superimposed webcam display is undeniable. The PMS Clan ladies demonstrating the game were impressed, describing it as a way to increase the addictiveness and realism of online poker, and wondering when they'd see their own faces in their favourite FPS. However, we find the concept of seeing our own dead bodies disturbing enough without adding our faces to it.
360 cam to usher in home surveillance?
eHomeUpgrade.com has big plans for the forthcoming Xbox 360 USB camera. Forget video chat, face-mapping, snapshots, and motion-capture gaming ... what about home surveillance?! Wow.Imagine if you will, a network of wireless, motion-tracking cameras stationed throughout your home. Now imagine your Xbox 360 is the hub. And now, there you are, secure in your living room, clutching your controller and ... watching ... watching every twitch on your 42" plasma.
Xbox 360 camera unveiled at XFEST
A loyal tipster dropped some exclusive shots of the Xbox 360 camera on the desks of the Xbox 360 Fanboy team this morning (lucky bastards). Taken during XFEST, the pictures showcase three functions of the camera: video chat, face mapping (presumably used to create an in-game character in your likeness), and games that incorporate live video feeds. The tipster also noted that the camera would be released this fall, not in May as speculated last month.
Leaked scans reveal new look Xbox Live Camera
Yesterday, new details about the Xbox Live Camera emerged, revealing its still-taking and gesture-initiated capabilities. Today, we catch a glimpse of the newly remodeled peripheral, courtesy of some leaked scans from an Xbox 360 publication in Hong Kong. According to the scans, the camera will be released in May.The scans also feature the Quick Charge Kit, which includes a charging dock for two rechargeable battery packs-also to debut in May.
Xbox 360 camera sighting
According to OXM.co.uk, a game developer recently tipped off CVG.com after seeing Microsoft's elusive Xbox 360 camera in action. The developer claimed to be impressed by the videochat feature. However, no comment was made about other possible functions of the camera-and no, users will never be able to customize their gamer pictures with the device. Is Microsoft finally ready to release this peripheral? Since unveiling the camera last year at E3, Microsoft has been reluctant to offer up any new details-suggesting that the idea might have been shelved. Many sources speculated that the recent dashboard update was going unlock the camera peripheral, but that hope has since come and gone. The delay is certainly associated with a concern for what the camera can be used for. Considering how one media outlet recently sensationalized the danger of the DS's Pictochat application, think of the media circus that would ensue an Xbox 360 peep show. Definitely not the kind of PR Microsoft is looking for. It may be an "impressive" device, but the Xbox 360 camera could never get past the inner offices of Xbox's most trusted.Visit Xbox 360 Fanboy for more details.
Xbox 360 peripherals get their close up
If you've been pining for some high-resolution shots of Xbox 360 accessories for desktop wallpaper then you should get help. Then head on over to Team Xbox where they have some shiny pics of the camera, headset,memory card and remote. I'll admit the remote is a nice piece of hardware. If it's programmable it could be the only one I use. The site also has a good run-down of the devices' features. I don't know about you, but the original list of Xbox 360 features was a bit overwhelming. They say there were 360 bullet points, but I didn't count. It's nice to see things summed up nice and easy.
