PS-EYE
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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%
Sony PlayStation Move Racing Wheel hands-on (video)
After Sony's PlayStation keynote last night here at E3, PlayStation.Blog made a sort-of-surprise announcement when it officially detailed the $40 Move Racing Wheel -- something we only caught passing glimpses of during our liveblog. Naturally, we decided to drop by Sony's booth to find out whether the peripheral might potentially pass muster for you serious virtual racers out there. Our verdict after some racing in LittleBigPlanet Karting? Definitely not, but it sure is interesting despite a few quirks. Join us past the break where we'll break it down with text and video. %Gallery-157252%
Sony reveals $40 PlayStation Move Racing Wheel for LittleBigPlanet Karting and more
We didn't spot it on stage during the pre-E3 2012 press conference, but Sony's PlayStation Blog is showing off a new PS Move Racing Wheel on the way. This framework apparently fits around the Move, featuring different grip styles with twist throttles and paddle shifters depending on what kind of racing you'd like to do. The "precise motion tracking" afforded by the Move appears to be targeted at titles like the upcoming LittleBigPlanet Karting, but it's hard to see how this will be real wheel, or even controller, alternative for serious gamers. It certainly seems to be fair competition for Microsoft's Wireless Speed Wheel that was introduced last year or the Nintendo Wii Wheel, but frankly we're surprised that's a battle anyone else wanted to be in. Either way, we expect to get our hands on it this week before it hits stores this fall for $39.99. %Gallery-156981%
Sony patents filed for Kinect-like PS Eye camera, backwards compatibility adapter
A new patent suggests Sony is considering -- or considered at one time -- its own take on a 3D depth-sensing camera. The patent in question was filed by Dr. Richard Marks, the inventor of the PS Eye and PlayStation Move, back in October.The filing calls for "a real-time three-dimensional interactive environment using a depth sensing device" that players would move in front of and interact with. "Embodiments of the present invention provide real-time interactive gaming experiences for users. For example, users can interact with various computer-generated objects in real-time." That sounds awfully close to Kinect, doesn't it? Another patent suggests Sony is also considering a separate set of hardware that would allow for better backwards compatibility. Rather than provide an on-board solution, this would plug into your game console and provide the hardware needed to properly run an older game. (Sound familiar?) Patents are quite a few steps removed from reality, but they might just give us a glimpse at how we might play our games in the future, whether they're new or old.
Sony's latest PS Move Bundles let you go Medieval, get your groove on
Good ol' gaming bundles can be enticing when you're on the prowl for a new console or accessory set, and we have to admit, we'd be excited to lay some motion-controlled moves down with Sony's latest PlayStation offerings. Back at E3, we had a chance to slice enemies with virtual swords in Medieval Heros: Deadmunds Quest, thanks to the PS Move's 1:1 tracking abilities. With the game releasing next week, Sony's decided to offer it in a $100 bundle, packing a PS Eye, Move controller and a copy of Sports Champions (which Deadmund shares its gameplay mechanics with). If you don't already own a PS3 -- and love getting your groove on -- the Everybody Dance bundle may be your $300 ticket to the wand-waving fun; it features a 320GB PS3 Slim, PS Eye and Move controller, along with a DualShock 3 for when Duty Calls. These likely won't be Sony's last PlayStation-related bundles to hit shelves before the year's through, but if it sounds like your kind of party you'll find more info at the source link below.
KinectNUI enables Minority Report style interaction in Windows sans gloves (video)
When Microsoft released its Kinect SDK we marveled at the impact it could have on desktop interaction; sure enough, Kevin Connolly's Kinect Natural User Interface has made our geeky pipe-dreams a reality. His inspiration for project? Not surprisingly, the Minority Report UI (aka g-speak). Similar projects like MIT's hack do exist, but it's brilliant knowing that another emulation has been made rather quickly with Redmond's tools. In a brief video using the Kinect on Windows 7, he demos various ways of manipulating on-screen content with hand gestures and body tracking -- neglecting his mouse in the process. It's still a work in progress, but the results are already quite striking, so take that ancient input device and click past the break for the full demo.
Kinect enabled head-tracking previewed in Forza 4 spotlight video, turns heads (video)
Ever since Johnny Chung Lee was snatched up by Microsoft's Project Natal team to work on Kinect, we've been curious to see how his Wii head-tracking skills would come to fruition on the device. This week, an Inside Xbox episode shows us how it will work with Forza 4, and the Kinect enabled head-tracking appears to run fairly smoothly compared to others we've seen (just try getting similar results on Gran Turismo 5 with a PlayStation Eye). There's no word about other titles planning to make use of this new feature, but we'll surely find out more while we're at E3 next week, and possibly get some hands heads-on time while we're at it.
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]
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]
'Play Factory' found on Curve Studios website
The PlayStation Eye is looking to get its own minigame compilation, much like the EyeToy's EyeToy Play launch title, if Curve Studio's website is to be believed. On the list of games the developer has made, it shows a title named Play Factory which includes "six individual games developed for the PlayStation Eye." There's no indication on when it's due out, or what sort of games we can expect to find on the disc, but it's nice to know that with this and EyePet Sony isn't just ignoring the PlayStation Eye. Hopefully we'll see something a little more advanced than the downloadable interactive screensavers we've seen so far.
New PlayStation Eye game announced: Eyepet
Download to PSP Do you love puppies and kittens? How about virtual puppies and kitties? If you do you, you might enjoy the new Eyepet game that's just been announced. Check it out in the video above.It's a virtual pet game that allows gamers to interact with their pet by utilizing the PlayStation Eye peripheral. If you put an object in front of the PS Eye, the pet will interact with it on screen. If you wave your fingers in front of the PS Eye, you can tickle your "loveable, simian-like pet." Eyepet is developed by SCEE and will be available in "late 2009" for PAL regions.%Gallery-30069%
Deal of the Day: Eye of Judgment pack for $47
It's almost like we were anticipating another deal by naming one "morning" and this one "day". We'll keep it quick so we can get this knowledge out to you ASAP. A lot of people have been on the edge of a fence when it comes to getting Eye of Judgment -- the big pack with the PlayStation Eye, a starter deck, and an extra pack of cards with the retail game. It was about $70, which turned a lot of people off since there was the whole collecting cards thing to worry about. Amazon has a special deal on the pack right now where you can get it all for $47, a small jump from buying the PS Eye by itself! If you've been on the fence, now is the time to jump off.
PlayStation Eye hacked for desktop VR use
The Wiimote may be spurring on the majority of desktop VR hackery these days, but at least one enterprising developer seems to be aiming to change that, and he's now showing that you can do more or less the same thing with a PlayStation Eye. As with the Wiimote, you need a pair of homemade IR-equipped glasses, but you'll also need to perform a couple of minor modifications to the PS Eye itself. That all-important detail consists simply of a homemade lens cap that houses some exposed and developed film, which lets the camera receive only the infrared signals from the glasses. Pair that with some custom-made software (now available for the taking), and you'll be giving unsuspecting visitors motion sickness in no time. Head on over after the break for a peek at the setup in action.
Two PlayStation Eye games available on the PSN Store later today
A new post on the PlayStation.Blog details two PlayStation Eye "games" that are finally on their way to the American PSN Store. Operation Creature Feature and Aqua Vita have been available on the EU Store for a couple of weeks now, but later today they'll be available to download from the American store too. Operation Creature Feature will sell for $4.99 and the interactive screensaver Aqua Vita will cost only $1.99. The former is definitely worth a punt, especially for the cost, but Aqua Vita can probably be left unless you're a huge fan of digital fish. No doubt more PS Eye games will be put up in the coming weeks and today's update should also include some other content. We'll let you know what's available once we've found out.
Kungfuruss reviews PlayStation Eye games on YouTube
While they may not be available on the US PlayStation Store, a number of PlayStation Eye games have been up on the EU store for a wee while now. A member of the PS3Forums community, Kungfuruss, has recorded a number of video reviews to let you know whether they are worthy of a download or not. All of these reviews are available on his YouTube account. Be sure to check them out if you're still on the fence about downloading the £1.99 titles. Or if you're not in the European territories, then be sure to watch them to see what you're missing. No doubt Kungfuruss will continue to record more video reviews as more PSN titles come out - we'll be keeping our eyes out for them.
Eye of Judgment set looks uber-nerdy, uber-awesome
User Shin-Ra at the PS3Forums has stumbled upon the entire package of the upcoming PlayStation Eye game, Eye of Judgment. Now sporting the subtitle Biolith Rebellion, the set comes with the PS-Eye, stand, card mat and starter deck all in addition to the game itself. While you might be thinking "wow, that's a lot of stuff ... it's probably really expensive," you'd be surprised to learn that the cost for all of this is only around 10,000 yen. If you translate that into US dollars, it's around $80. Around there. We think it's a great deal, especially for the innovative technology you'll be investing in![via PS3Forums]
Eye of Judgment's creatures and card types
PlayFrance recently sat down with Aurélien Poma, the Community Manager from SCEE and got him to spill the beans on the upcoming PS Eye title, the Eye of Judgment. Since the interview was in French, we had to rely on our friends at Gamers-Creed to do the translation and luckily they've done a great write-up on it. Utilizing the PlayStation Eye, the game is played using a pack of collectible cards (with varying rarities and upcoming expansion packs) and an included 'game mat' which you lay out in front of the PS Eye. Players draw five cards for use in taking over the playing field. By placing a card on the field, the camera will scan it and create the monster in full 3D on the TV screen. Additional information about your monster (strength, special powers, type of attack) can be found on the card itself, a nice touch which keeps the on-screen game from getting too cluttered.They've also confirmed that there will be online play, a fantastic addition for lonely hermits with no local friends to play with. It will be interesting to see how they deal with cheating though, seems like that would be a pretty bad risk in this sort of game. In another cool little tidbit, Sony mentioned that the game can be played entirely without the Sixaxis, meaning you won't be swapping back and forth from the gameboard to the controller in the course of a match.A ton of additional information about gameplay and card types was given in the interview, so check it out! Also ThreeSpeech has their own write-up of Eye of Judgment with even more info, so if you're a CCG fan -- you're in luck. It's information overload![via PS3Forums]
PlayStation Eye video quality is lookin' good
Games Radar has had their hands on the upcoming PlayStation Eye for a while and have posted an article with some quick impressions and a short video showing off the video quality of the PS Eye (embedded after the break). The video is on the small size, but even so it looks like the quality of the camera has definitely increased. A lack of compression artifacts make the image amazingly clear and smooth compared to the EyeToy of yesteryear. Hopefully GR will update their hands-on with more information soon - intrigued fans want to know more!
