eye toy
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Creepy, laughter-tracking PS3 patent has us rethinking Sony's whole PlayStation Eye strategy
Don't they know people look at these things? A recently awarded PS3 patent includes this harrowing "FIG. 2," which portrays a fictional idiot laughing at some "Crazy Inventors" programming, while the PS3 tracks Mr. Laugh's every movement and sound through the PlayStation Eye. The brooding, spiteful console could theoretically pick up on different moods like sadness, excitement, joy and boredom -- before presumably changing up action onscreen to quell that pesky uprising of "emotion" in the subject. [Via Joystiq]
Sony's EyePet beta hands-on: it's probably the most adorable thing ever
We just got a brief glimpse at the new PlayStation Eye-based augmented reality EyePet game from Sony, which is on track for a holiday release on the PS3. It's no Project Natal, but what the game lacks in gesture-based interaction (though we were able to pet and play with the little guy pretty intuitively) it makes up for in extensive adorability. You can naturally play, feed, groom and customize your pet -- even teach the thing to draw shapes and bring them to life in a sense -- but it's surprisingly fun to just watch the little dude scamper around in seemingly real space. The title will be available both as a standalone game and as a bundle with the PlayStation Eye. Check out a video of the game in an early beta state after the break, and you can find Joystiq's E3 impressions of the game here.
PlayStation Eye gets utility boost, hacked to work as webcam
Remember that PlayStation Eye you purchased way back when? You know, that PS peripheral you used for all of 12 minutes before shelving indefinitely? It's time to break that bad boy back out, as a detailed hack from the NUI Group shows how to convert it into a working webcam within Windows. Make no mistake, this isn't the simplest hack in the whole wide world, but the long-winded instructions ought to guide you right through. What are you waiting for? Head on down and get to work![Via PS3 Fanboy]
Sony hires 13 PS2 game developers to increase sales in India
To give some perspective on the relative age of Sony's second console, think about this: if the PlayStation 2 were a human being, it would be a third-grader right about now, and would probably know more about long division than we do. While most eight-year-old consoles generally go the way of the Jaguar, Sony seems dedicated to the continued growth of their popular (though fairly aged) home console -- for example, in an attempt to extend their already impressive multinational reach, Sony recently hired 13 Indian game developers to create domestically-themed games and improve sales in India and the Middle East.Though nearly 3.3 million Indians already own PS2s, Sony is confident that creating games based on "Bollywood, mythology and culture" and featuring motion-sensing gameplay using the fairly neglected Eye Toy peripheral will further increase their dominance in the Indian market. Could these rupee-garnering efforts prolong the system's life until middle school, and the associated joys of puberty? Only time can tell.
Exercise without a shouting trainer [update 1]
Reuters discusses a trend of exercise games for people who want workout instruction without a personal trainer shouting slogans at them. While some of the article is overplayed and inaccurate -- DDR gets coverage and reportedly uses hands in addition to feet -- the PS2 game, Kinetic is also featured. Kinetic tracks player movements with the EyeToy camera while on-screen trainers direct the workout. Even though Kinetic was released almost a year ago, we've rarely seen it covered in the mainstream press. Anecdotally, people seem to like videogame workouts; we have friends who still use Yourself!Fitness. Maybe the exercise-game audience will expand as motion-tracking controllers become standard. We've contemplated controller-per-hand boxing game workouts. Maybe a developer will take it further with a barbell or rubber band kit for controller resistance. See also: W. Virginia to put DDR in all 765 public schools [Update 1: Thanks Sam and lolersticks for reminding us about the versions of DDR that work with the EyeToy.]
Behold, the eye... the Eye of Judgment!
Now, say that subject line to yourself in the voice of Dr. Byron Orpheous (of Venture Brothers fame). If that makes no sense to you, disregard that suggestion. IGN provides a summary of an interview with Mr. Watanabe, one of the brains behind the Eye of Judgment, an interesting twist on the card game genre. We'll do our usual and summarize the summary. "We use technology that can read 2D bar codes called cyber codes. The cards carry codes in this fashion. If the user lays it out in front so that it's picked up by the camera, it recognizes the code and can call out the character that's associated with the card's ID," says Watanabe. The game reflected Watanabe's movement in real time and even allowed him to "pet" the creatures on each card. Versus mode? There's a 3x3 grid where each player tries to take control of five spaces. There's also rumors of online services where you can battle people overseas. This will increase interest, so hopes Watanabe. Expanding the community, forming new interests... you know. Becoming more worldly, or something. "For people who've not played card games until now, we believe there are many who will take an interest from the visual impact and will want to try out the game. Also, we're making a real card game, so it will be something that core gamers can get a lot out of." Sounds interesting enough. Better than Uno? We'll see... The battle scenes use techniques like jet brushes and normal maps... not to mention a ton of particle effects. "The player selects the card, and puts it in a place where it can be placed. That's it. The controller is not used at all. Only cards. The cards are what you'd call the input interface." See, that's pretty cool. Watanabe's feelings about the PS3 are also conveyed: "The PlayStation 3 can be a new segment of digital entertainment that goes beyond the framework of previous consoles. We're at the point where designers, myself included, can realize ideas that we joked about before." So there you have it. A little bit of info and Watanabe's thoughts. Not much info about the actual game, regrettably, but it gives a little insight into the true power of the new Eye Toy. You can check out IGN's summary and a few cool screens, but we've got a feeling more new info will surface after the Tokyo Game Show.
Xbox's EyeToy -- oops, Vision
Sony isn't the only one utilizing the competition's innovations, as shown with the Xbox 360's new camera peripheral, hailed as Vision. Not the old "Captain America and the Avengers" Vision. Some may confuse the two. Some meaning one. The announcement of the camera isn't breaking news, but the price is right. About $40 nets you all the features of the old PS2 eyetoy, plus an extra feature or two. Consider Microsoft's little toy a mixture of the Wiimote and the PS2 eyetoy and you'll kind of understand. Other specs are detailed here.While this Vision thing doesn't exactly push the limits on its competition (Wii, PS3 EyeToy), it's still a sort of tool to limit the ability of the other consoles. Sort of a "we can do that, too, so just spend $40 instead of another $250 or, heaven forbid, $600." Not saying anything about stealing ideas, because in the business world, that's how advancement works. Of course, they don't call it stealing, but alas. If you had every next-gen console in your house (delivered by a stork made of gold... and chocolate), which would you use as a camera-esque toy of sorts?
PS3's Eye-Toy to incorporate 3-D mapping?
The Israeli company Prime Sense has been connected to Sony's upgraded EyeToy, boasting a new sensor and digital processor that provides real-time 3-D mapping. It essentially "perceives the world in 3D and derives an understanding of the world based on sight, in the same way that humans do." That's neat. You can read more about the link between Sony and Prime Sense at EETimes.The article goes on to explain how the EyeToy would see the user and the user can interact with things in the game without having to wear any equipment (pronounced: no Wiimote). Wouldn't it be neat to play a boxing game where your movements are monitored (juking and dodging) and you can physically (well, almost) punch your digital opposition? It's been kind of done at arcades -- you did have to wear sensor gloves, though. But the lack of equipment and using just a camera isn't all that great. The Wii does have a controller so you've got a little bit to work with. Which would you prefer: the Wii with a controller, or the EyeToy technology relying on a super-smart camera?
Sony's foresight prevents future patent-suit
According to StreetInsider.com, Sony has made an agreement with Collaboration Properties, Inc. to license an extensive patent worldwide. The agreement is for the standard terms and conditions for the field of videoconferencing. But this covers Sony's "video conference apparatus as well as other products including video-enabled personal computer products and Sony Computer Entertainment's PlayStation products." Let's think about this. Using video for computer products and possibly the PS3? This sounds like a preemptive strike to halt any future lawsuits from Sony's new EyeToy. Or maybe in response to this. So does this mean the PS3 will have the ability to videoconference, virtually slap the people on tv, or create Wii-like games? A lot of bases are covered, but there's always dirt covering the corners. Hopefully this helps a little bit, though.
