Xbox's EyeToy -- oops, Vision

by Nick Doerr { Aug 22nd 2006 at 10:00AM }

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?

Tags: eye toy, EyeToy, Playstation 3, Playstation3, PS3, vision, Xbox 360, Xbox360

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

ZENegade @ Aug 22nd 2006 10:30AM

When the EyeToy2 comes out at launch in November, the 360 fanboys are going to be all over the similarities between the two cameras, claiming that Sony is copying Microsoft. That when we came first. yarg.

Sonyguy @ Aug 22nd 2006 10:44AM

Umm how exactly did we come first? MS has been talking about it for a long time and you can already buy it at some Toys R us stores. Can you buy the EyeToy2 yet?

pkilla @ Aug 22nd 2006 11:10AM

@ 2, That was a dumb comment. The PS3 is not out yet so MS can just put one out and say that there first only because their system is out.

mgs0lid @ Aug 22nd 2006 11:31AM

so I really don't see the comparison between the eyetoy and the 360 camera... there are no games avalible to the public that actually need the camera to play the game.. its just a webcam for now, so no one is really copying any one. on another note microsoft has been developing the xbox web camera since xbox live first came out.

Duscrom @ Aug 22nd 2006 11:42AM

Yes, I guess you could say MS copied Sony on this one... technically. Currently the Vision is makreted more towards XBL's chat service than for games, with a possible future use in games. It's kinda like a webcam+Eyetoy.

Which reminds me... What ever happened to Eyetoy Chat?

insane_cobra @ Aug 22nd 2006 11:45AM

Hate to be bursting bubbles, but before Eye Toy there was Sega's Dreameye.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dreameye

Still, let's forget about this who-came-first bullshit, it's not that important (and it's not the real reason why people got mad at Sony for implementing their own version of motion sensing, but as I said, let's leave that alone now). Eye Toy was a great product and hopefully both Live Vision and Eye Toy 2 will surpass it in every way.

Geof @ Aug 22nd 2006 2:43PM

this is pretty halarious. A post about MS copying something from Sony....haha. oh the irony.

K so if we were keeping score on who copies, this would be it:

Nintendo-I
MS-I
Sony-IIIIIIIIIIIIIII

lol, yes, make your little snide comments.

Just so we can all be aware, I will make a quick list right off the top of my head what Sony has copied/borrowed/used/taken from other companies:

Two CPU pricing plan
HDD as a standard
Motion-sensing controller
XBL-like service
XBL arcade service
Guide button
Spiderman font

anyway...

Silver R. Wolfe @ Aug 22nd 2006 3:09PM

@ Geof

As you've heard before the Motion-Sensing Controller was patented back in 1999 and the Guide button appeared as the "Home" button on the PSP. That's all I have to say about that. ^-^

As for the Live Vision camera, it's a solid camera, much like the EyeToy was before it. For any not in the know, the EyeToy functioned as a webcam if you hooked it up to your PC and a damn nice one at that.

When the EyeToy2 comes out, if it can do everything they've said it can do, I personally think it can wipe the floor with the Live Vision.

sputnik @ Aug 22nd 2006 3:13PM

I don't think the eye toy has let you watch friends while playing Xbox Live arcade titles online such as UNO and Poker. Microsoft will be the first to put a camera to good use. Frankly that's all that matters.

I'm still waiting to see what playing online with the PS3 will look like...yet alone using a camera to chat and view friends.

insane_cobra @ Aug 22nd 2006 4:46PM

When the EyeToy2 comes out, if it can do everything they've said it can do, I personally think it can wipe the floor with the Live Vision.

Really? What's it supposed to be able to do? This is an honest question, btw.

Silver R. Wolfe @ Aug 22nd 2006 5:04PM

@insane_cobra

It's rumoured to be supporting 3D mapping, translating 2D images (like what would be recorded) into a 3D image within the game.

http://digitalbattle.com/2006/07/19/playstation-3-eyetoy-in-3d/

It would use flashes of light to determine the distance from the camera to yourself and then accurately make a contour map, essentially a complete 3D image of yourself.

Having a feature like that would enable the PS3 to do the same types of things that the Wiimote and the Wii would be able to do.

Given, it's all rumoured still, but Sony does have a patent out on it, and seeing as how they made use of the 1999 patent for their motion sensitive controller, they very well might be making good on this patent to for the PS3. We can only hope.

insane_cobra @ Aug 22nd 2006 5:13PM

@Silver R. Wolfe

Thanks, that certainly sounds interesting. However, Live Vision will supposedly offer similar functionality:

http://www.gamasutra.com/features/20060818/cifaldi_01.shtml

Silver R. Wolfe @ Aug 22nd 2006 5:57PM

@insane_cobra

That is something I didn't know. Thanks for showin' me.

It didn't look like it used the same process, but if it gets the job done, it doesn't really matter does it?

pythn2005 @ Aug 22nd 2006 9:11PM

dude insane_cobra what you showed was cool but i don't think its anything the eye toy for ps2 can't do the totem game was cool but it wasn't 3d mapping the guy couldn't actually take a step back just raise his hands up and down what the eyetoy 2 is hoping to establish is determine someones actual steps on a 3d play altho the totem game was cool how you raise your hands and it goes foward and you lower one side to turn its not like the eyetoy 2 in which (in rumor) you would be able to punch and see the punch on screen or jump back and in game you jump back( that totem game looks awsome tho its just the eyetoy 2 would,in theory, make it a lot more interactive

Tom @ Aug 22nd 2006 10:45PM

Nick Doerr, why are you making posts deliberatly designed to incite flame wars? Just report that the MS Cam came out and that it's $40. No one here is your enemy. I own an Xbox 360, and I don't plan on getting a PS3, but only because it's $600, not because I have some irrational hatred of Sony. Who cares about copying? And if you do care... WHY do you care? Everyone just knock it off you're acting like children.

ndoerr @ Aug 22nd 2006 11:34PM

@ Tom -- I appreciate your unbiased nature, but the whole "war" is more humorous to me than it seems to you. I report the news -- there is a new camera for the 360 and it is $40. I had a much longer response, but it was kind of convoluted. Essentially, I don't think of any of what Microsoft, Sony, or Nintendo are doing as "stealing"... as I said in the post, the companies are only "utilizing the competition's innovations" and I feel that's how many of the world's businesses work. I'm not trying to incite flame wars, just a little debate. I can't control what other people say and I wouldn't want to. Everyone has their own voice and can use it as they want (debate preferred though)! Hope that clears things up a little.

CK @ Aug 23rd 2006 2:28AM

Geof: you're a terrible troll. D minus - must try harder.

pythn: Got punctuation?

Ali @ Aug 23rd 2006 9:33AM

Eyetoy isnt new But sony were the first to implent it into a Console
But I dont mind lolz I aint $ONY OR M$

Roofus @ Aug 23rd 2006 10:14AM

To anyone saying Microsoft doesn't steal,

"Have you ever seen Windows?"

SuicideNinja @ Aug 23rd 2006 11:39AM

Instead of "stealing" complaints, there is a much more important thing to mention:

The Vision camera is likely to outsell the original EyeToy, even though the PS2 has a bigger installed base than the 360 at this time.

Why? Online ingame video chat of course. The Playstation brand still isn't associated with online gaming whatsoever, so a camera makes a lot more sense for the Xbox 360 than it did for the PS2 and it's handful of silly Eyetoy games.

The PS3 and it's respective Eyetoy may change this, but as it stands, I see the 360 camera doing well.

Brian @ Aug 23rd 2006 12:07PM

Vision fucking ruled. Plus he hooked up with the Scarlet Witch. Sure she went crazy and broke up the Avengers and remade realitity in two well publisized, but very shitty, story arcs - but she was hot while doing it.

Geof @ Aug 23rd 2006 2:47PM

Oh no no no CK, I'm no troll. I just thought I point out the halarious irony in this post.

Using ideas is part of business, and I understand this fully. It just seems to me that sony "uses" more ideas than any other company.

And Suicide, I think that is a very astute and probable prediction.