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NBA 2K15 scans your face, thinks you're beautiful
NBA 2K15 will feature the ability for players to scan their faces into the game and onto the bodies of digital athletes. 2K Sports revealed the feature in a tutorial video, which instructs prospective virtual basketballers to hold the PlayStation Camera six to 12 inches away from their faces. After slowly turning their head both ways, players will find their mapped mugs in the game, at which point they can fine-tune their features. Created players can then be used in MyCareer mode, where they will likely get dunked on by cover star Kevin Durant. While the tutorial mentioned the PlayStation Camera by name, 2K says the feature uses "first-party camera hardware." The publisher also doesn't specify whether the feature is locked to a given console, indicating that Xbox One players can use the Kinect to scan their faces as well. NBA 2K15 will launch October 7 for PS4, Xbox One, PS3, Xbox 360 and PC. [Image: 2K]
Sony's next update for Playroom will bring custom AR broadcast sets
Sony's odd augmented reality demo/broadcasting tool, Playroom, is getting some new features. At its E3 2014 event, Sony announced the PlayStation app would be updated with custom broadcast sets, just in time for the addition of YouTube. That could help your trip to broadcast stardom, unless you choose to take a slightly less savory approach to content, which helped get the app banned from Twitch. Update: For a better look at what's in store, check out the trailer for "Set Maker" embedded after the break.
PS Camera attach rate around 15 percent, 'severely supply constrained'
Sony says it underestimated demand for the PlayStation Camera, and the PS4 peripheral currently has an attach rate of around 15 percent worldwide. That's according to SCEA's Chris Norden; SlashGear reports the senior staff developer revealed the figure during his GDC presentation yesterday. Sony recently announced it sold more than 6 million PS4 units, so doing the math that equates to around 900,000 PS Cameras sold at least. GameSpot adds that Norden asked consumers to "please be patient" as Sony seeks to increase stock, but he didn't put a timeline to the peripheral's future availability. The PS4 Camera retails for $60 in North America, and it isn't included as standard with the console, unlike Kinect for the Xbox One. [Image: Sony]
Ninja Bots invade PlayStation 4's free Playroom app
The PlayStation 4's free Playroom app has been updated with a new gameplay mode, allowing players to send their virtual robotic pals on a deadly trip through an augmented reality ninja training course. Ninja Bots is a brief, autoscrolling platformer in which up to four players compete for coins while fending off enemy ronin bots. Players tilt to control lateral bot movement and flick shuriken at approaching enemies by swiping the DualShock 4's touch pad. The latest app update also introduces a new set of unlockable trophies exclusive to the Ninja Bots mode. Note that The Playroom requires a PlayStation Camera in order to function -- potentially a tall order, as the device is now in short supply at multiple retailers. If you need some tips on corralling your virtual critters, our own Richard Mitchell showed off the Playroom's features prior to the PS4's launch last year, and only a few bots were seriously hurt in the process. They seem to enjoy music, so bust our your ukulele if you have one handy. [Image: Sony]
PS4 voice commands limited at launch
Voice commands aren't going to wake up newly purchased PS4s from standby, nor will they do anything with the console's third-party apps. As Sony reps told our friends at Engadget, more interface functionality will be added eventually for the add-on PS Camera and its microphone, and they "hope" to integrate apps with it in due course. However, at launch it seems your vocal cords won't do all that much with this next-gen console. According to Engadget, new PS4 and PS Camera owners will be able to switch off their consoles using voice commands, as well as open games. The Camera's facial-recognition tech will also work for logging in, but ti's unclear if there are other voice commands that will be available at launch. In contrast, Microsoft is pushing strongly with its in-the-box voice integration, showcasing the Xbox One's array of quickly activated commands in a 12-minute real-time demo of the user interface. As Engadget notes, Sony' isn't looking to match Microsoft's focus on camera and microphone input at launch, not at all surprising given the Camera isn't included with the PS4, unlike Kinect with the Xbox One.
Not every headshot will make it to PlayStation 4 profile pics
Oh, cruel fate! The PlayStation Camera – previously known as the PlayStation Eye – can't be used to create a PlayStation Network profile picture for the next-gen PlayStation 4. Although having your real name displayed is happening, the only way to pull real-world photos of yourself for the profile pic is through Facebook integration. We speculate it has to do with Facebook's anatomical detecting algorithms. For those who don't have a Facebook account (or don't want to use it), they'll have a selection of Sony avatars available, like things are now for PlayStation 3 and Vita. Also, if somebody wants to be your PSN friend, searching by your real name (even if you've selected to use your real name) won't be an option. To find you, they'll need your PSN ID. So, please try to keep it simple. You know who you are, xXxZOMGPUPPAYZxXx. [Image: Brian A Jackson via Shutterstock]
Sony abandoned plans to bundle Eye camera with PS4 to keep price down
Sony attempted to include the PlayStation 4 Eye camera peripheral with the console at launch but dropped its plans after costs proved prohibitive, Sony Computer Entertainment president and Group CEO Andrew House revealed this week. SCE Japan senior vice president Masayasu Ito notes that the company was determined to reach a $399 price point for the PlayStation 4 at launch, putting it $100 under the Kinect-bundled Xbox One. At the same time, Sony executives wanted to minimize loss on each console sold, driving the company's decision to release the PS4 Eye separately at $59.99. House downplayed the Eye's importance to PlayStation 4 buyers at launch. "Certainly for the earlier part of the lifecycle, the vast majority of the audience that we speak to tells us that their primary wish is for the full controller interface and there's not necessarily a huge emphasis being placed on camera interaction," he said. House hinted at plans to "adjust messaging" regarding the peripheral over the PlayStation 4's lifespan, suggesting that the PlayStation Eye could be included with future PS4 bundles.
Sony confirms PS4 camera supports commands via voice, face recognition
You can order your PS4 about without picking up a controller, thanks to the console's add-on camera. Revealed by Sony Senior VP and Business Division President Masayasu Ito at the Tokyo Game Show, you can use its voice and face recognition tech to do things like loading up Knack. Although, sadly, you'll still have to get up and grab a controller to play it (we were so close to the future). The news isn't a great surprise given the leak from earlier this month. It's still unclear how these commands work in practice, but we expect Sony to show off the tech soon enough. The PS4 camera will be priced $60. Ito also revealed another interesting tidbit at Sony's keynote, namely that the PS4 supports video capture over HDMI, something the PS3 did not. SCE America VP of Publisher & Developer Relations Adam Boyes took to Twitter afterwards to say there'll be "more details to follow down the road." The PS4 launches on November 15 in North America, November 29 in Europe, and February 22 in Japan. Sony estimates by the end of March 2014 it'll have shifted 5 million units of its next-gen console.
Report: PS4 to support voice commands, recognition with camera
The PlayStation 4 will support "navigational voice commands" and "facial recognition" through the PlayStation Camera, according to YouTube user lex1020's recording of a slide from Sony's presentation at GameStop Expo 2013. At the GameStop Expo, SCEA's Group Manager of Retail Training and Advocacy Sean Coleman described the camera's ability to "track your body movements in games or even recognize your face for easier system navigation." A Sony Computer Entertainment spokesperson confirmed with Polygon that the PlayStation Camera "allows for voice recognition" and that more details will be shared "in the lead up to the launch of the PlayStation 4."
PlayStation 4 uses both real names and PSN handles, DualShock 4 charges in standby
Chris Norden, Senior Staff Engineer at Sony, just concluded a talk about development on PS4 here at GDC. While mostly aimed at the improvements to the development environment over its predecessor, Norden also offered some interesting factoids for those of us lacking the know-how to create games. For example, the upgraded Blu-ray drive spins discs at three times the speed of PS3. Norden's talk didn't offer much on the PS4 architecture that we didn't already know, but he elaborated on the DualShock 4 and PS4 Eye peripherals. The DualShock 4 features enhanced dual vibration over the DualShock 3, with lower latency and reduced dead zone – the area surrounding the center point on the analog sticks where the console doesn't pick up input. Unlike the PS3 buttons, the face buttons, L1, and R1 on the DS4 are digital. DualShock 4 controllers will also charge now when the system is in standby mode – not possible with the DualShock 3 on the PS3 – and he said every PS4 will include a headset in the box, another thing Sony avoided with the PS3. The new ID system was also demonstrated, where each PS4 player will have two identities. There's obviously the requisite online handle, but also true names for friends pulled from Facebook and through true name search on PSN. By default, true names will not be displayed. Finally, Norden said that per the PlayStation 4's ability to capture game footage and share online, the system itself will automatically record your last few minutes of gameplay at all times. If you did something interesting or impressive by accident, you can hit the Share button and retrieve that footage; each clip is broken down into chapters that are labeled right in the video editor suite.
PS4 Eye has two cameras: One to watch you, one to make you pretty
Sony's PlayStation 4 Eye has two cameras each with a max resolution of 1280 x 800, four microphones and a field of view of 85 degrees, and all of these aspects work together in new ways, Sony Worldwide Studios president Shuhei Yoshida tells Engadget. The cameras, for example, mark a departure from the current PS Eye's single lens, and they each have specific tasks: One is in charge of capturing the setting and ensuring a quality picture, and the other handles motion tracking. The cameras will triangulate the 3D space, recognize gestures, enable Kinect-style body tracking and will work with Move functionality embedded in the DualShock 4 controller. Sony's goal is for players to be able to snap 3D pictures and video and store it on the PS4. The microphones will be incorporated into PS4 games, though Yoshida was tight-lipped about their role in potential voice-control functions for the console itself.%Gallery-179477%
Take a closer look at the DualShock 4 and PS4 Eye
Sony has sent out some glossy close-up shots of today's newly-unveiled PS4 controller, the DualShock 4. It features a largely similar setup to its predecessor, the DualShock 3 – save for that front touchpad, light bar on top of the controller, redesigned analog sticks and the fact that it has no start button. Sony also sent over shots of its new PS4 Eye peripheral, a log-like improvement over the single-lensed PlayStation Eye camera that currently exists on PS3. The PS4 Eye has two cameras built in that can gauge player distance from the television and the like. %Gallery-179397%
