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'Second Sight' turns PSP camera into an augmented reality learning tool

by Griffin McElroy { Mar 20th 2010 at 2:00AM }

We've recently seen augmented reality used in some pretty clever ways in the gaming space, but Sony subsidiary ConnectedED has come up with a way to turn real-time graphical overlays into an educational tool. Using a PSP equipped with a camera, the "Second Sight" technology allows tags embedded in textbooks or magazines to cue relevant audio or video clips directly on the PSP.

The program can also create interactive 3D models which the user can examine by changing the orientation of the PSP. Check out the video after the jump to see a video demonstration of what we're talking about, and then imagine how awesome school is going to be in like, fifteen years.

[Via Siliconera]

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Interview: EyePet's Nicolas Doucet discusses Move integration

by Andrew Yoon { Mar 16th 2010 at 12:00AM }

We were starting to worry that SCEA had forgotten about EyePet when its planned holiday 2009 release came and went. Sony's Eye-enabled virtual pet simulator made a surprising reemergence recently, now featuring PlayStation Move support. We chatted with EyePet producer Nicolas Doucet about implementing Sony's motion controller into the game, and what that means for gamers, new and old.

By removing the Magic Card, and replacing it with motion controls, isn't this new version of EyePet, essentially, a brand new game?

Especially for North America and Japan, as well. It's going to be the first release, so yeah it's a brand new game. We've really made a lot of effort to make sure that whatever we converted from the Magic Card for the Move wasn't just a port. We deconstructed and reconstructed things to really make it feel like a Move-dedicated game. Obviously, to begin with it wasn't. We put a lot of effort into that. We've extended the development by another nine months to really give something special to players.

Will it be a PlayStation Move launch title?

Yes it will be, this Fall.

Gallery: EyePet (Move)

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RE5 'Lost in Nightmares' Easter egg: the classic cam

by David Hinkle { Feb 19th 2010 at 2:30PM }

There's a neat throwback to the first time Jill Valentine and Chris Redfield went stomping around a creepy old mansion in "Lost in Nightmares," the new DLC episode for Resident Evil 5. By going to the front door of the mansion and attempting to open it a few times (remember what happened the first time you tried that?), you'll eventually get a "?" message and the camera will shift to Resident Evil's classic, isolated point of view.

More than anything, the Easter egg is a nostalgic reminder of the olden days of survival horror, before Chris Redfield had to juice up just to get out of bed in the morning.

Popular Science explains the making of Project Natal

by Mike Schramm { Jan 13th 2010 at 12:01AM }

Vaunted science magazine Popular Science got to check out Project Natal at CES, and has posted its own take on the project over on its site. While most of the coverage we've seen of Microsoft's motion controller has been from the gaming press, Pop Sci comes at it from a software engineering perspective. Essentially, Microsoft is trying to build a sophisticated AI that can look at video of what you're doing in front of a camera, and translate that to information the game can use.

To accomplish that, the coders behind Natal took lots and lots of reference pictures and videos, and they're still "teaching" the software what it looks like when you try to hit a soccer ball or wave at Milo. It's fascinating stuff -- thirty "guesses" per second at your body's location and movement based on what the computer "knows" about what bodies look like and how they move, and lots of calculations based on that data. Hopefully by the time it's supposed to release later this year, Natal will have figured out what it looks like when we melee with a battle rifle.

[Thanks, Wonderflex!]

Two Japanese DSiWare games with clever camera uses

by JC Fletcher { Dec 11th 2009 at 1:45PM }

The upcoming Japanese DSiWare game Katamuction uses the system's cameras in a unique way: to simulate tilt control. Using Motion Cortex, technology originally designed for motion-based browsing on cell phones, the game uses camera information to sense the direction in which the DS is moved. And what is that technology used for? A game about running away from a dinosaur! Katamuction will be out December 24 for 500 DSi Points.

Fight with Pictures: Photo Fighter X from Nintendo uses the camera to create fighting game characters: you take photos of yourself in various poses, and the game makes a fighter out of it! It's out in Japan next week for 200 points.

Hands-free: Camera-controlled Racquet Sports

by James Ransom-Wiley { Dec 10th 2009 at 6:50PM }

Call to mind Wii Sports' tennis, and you don't have to stretch your imagination too much further to arrive at Ubisoft's Racquet Sports. If you own a Wii, you already own this experience, to which Ubisoft has added some variety, including ping-pong, badminton, squash, and beach tennis, and a more fleshed-out art direction than Nintendo's pack-in or even its sequel, Wii Sports Resort. There's no Mii support, but Racquet Sports offers its own dollish avatars, customized with unlockable trinkets. There's a derivative multicultural vibe, too, as the characters and playing courts span the globe in classic and fantastic scenarios. Grandma vs. dashiki-clad boy in an aquarium squash court? Yes.

Of course, the experience you don't own is "tennis" played with a motion-tracking camera. No, not Natal -- not at all. Ubisoft's USB camera, first bundled with scarcely-reviewed Your Shape (featuring Jenny McCarthy), might be on the cutting edge of a revived and revamped gaming tech trend, but its implementation in Racquet Sports is painfully dull.

Gallery: Racquet Sports (Wii)

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Nyko Zoom Case for DSi unleashed upon the world

by James Ransom-Wiley { Oct 29th 2009 at 3:00AM }

Click for 2x ZOOM!

The last of Nyko's Big Three from E3 has hit the marketplace, and it's a doozy. The "Zoom Case" is, uh, well, it's a protective case for the DSi with, yep -- that's a gigantic camera lens attached to it. And would you look at that? Nyko saved up enough for a real-life model. She really helps to sell the image of a social networking enthusiast. Don't you think?

No, seriously, the Zoom Case "improves upon one of the landmark features of the DSi, enabling gamers to take higher quality images, which is perfect for the growing suite of social networking capabilities available on the platform," says Nyko marketing director Chris Arbogast.

Ohhh ... that explains it!

Gallery: Nyko Zoom Case (DSi)

The very serious story of Invizimals

by Andrew Yoon { Aug 19th 2009 at 1:02AM }

Invizimals was one of the biggest surprises for us at E3. Shown only behind closed doors, we were captivated by its unique camera-based, Pokemon-inspired gameplay. It felt "magical," and we think you'll agree once you see this story trailer. As you can see, these critters are real, only visible through the PSP camera. But what if the energy of these invisible animals could be weaponized? Terrifying, isn't it? As the trailer shows, this is serious, Academy Award-winning stuff. You will not witness truer human drama.

Eye of Judgment seen on PSP

by Andrew Yoon { Aug 18th 2009 at 2:10PM }

There's yet another game coming out that will take advantage of the PSP camera beyond Invizimals. SCEE announced Eye of Judgment will make its way to the PSP, and will be playable at GamesCom. Originally a PS3 game, Eye of Judgment allows players to use real trading cards in a dueling game not unlike Yu-Gi-Oh!. The creatures printed on the cards are detected by the camera and rendered on-screen in 3D. While unconfirmed, the PSP version is likely to operate in the same way.

We do have a few questions regarding the PSP version of Eye of Judgment. For example, will PSP owners be able to use the same cards from the PS3 version? Will PSP owners be able to compete online against PS3 owners? Hopefully, all will be answered later at GamesCom.

Sony's earliest Motion Controller plans included Teletubbies, X-Men

by Andrew Yoon { Aug 3rd 2009 at 12:00PM }

The PlayStation Motion Controller was one of the big highlights at this year's E3. However, it shouldn't have come as a surprise -- considering Sony's been working on the controller since the beginning of the millennium. A look back to GDC 2001 reveals a presentation from Richard Marks about "using video input for games." Noting that "simpler interfaces are needed to reach a broader audience," Marks wanted to create an interface for casual non-gamers, one that would be "intuitive, simple, enabling and enjoyable." Sound familiar to you?

Some of the prototypes developed by the EyeToy team include "Misho the Witch" (pictured above), a virtual pet simulation that has players using a ball-and-stick controller to play with the on-screen witch. Ideas from this demo have ended up in both EyePet and the upcoming Motion Controller itself. Other ideas thrown around included a magic duel, where players could write spells using gestures, and games inspired by Casper the Friendly Ghost and the Teletubbies.

While gamers have been spared from a motion-sensing game based on the Teletubbies, another idea seems to have been left on the wayside: games based on various superhero properties. Marks' presentation revealed plans to recreate the powers of the Fantastic Four and the X-Men through the PlayStation camera. We're not sure how far those ideas went, but a superhero game that takes advantage of the Motion Controller would make perfect sense as a launch game for when the controller (finally) debuts next year.

[Thanks, Bradley M.!]

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Iwata: Nintendo passed on camera technology

by JC Fletcher { Jun 10th 2009 at 11:00AM }

For all the talk about Microsoft's Project Natal, one man isn't impressed -- in fact, Nintendo president Satoru Iwata told the Financial Times that he's quite literally seen it before. Or, at least, he's seen motion-sensing cameras before.

Iwata told FT that Nintendo had previously experimented with camera-based motion sensing, but found better results with the accelerometers that became the basis of the Wii Remote. "Until they say when they're releasing it, how much it costs and what software it comes with," Iwata said, "we won't know whether that is the route we should have taken. However . . . I think they couldn't choose to release exactly the same thing."

Of course, it must be noted that pretty much everyone has seen motion-sensing cameras in games before, because Sony sold a lot of them starting in 2003. The idea isn't new, and thus it's not at all surprising that Nintendo has tried it. It's even less surprising that Iwata is psyching out Microsoft by downplaying the technology.

[Via Seattle PI]

Impressions: Invizimals

by Andrew Yoon { Jun 8th 2009 at 7:00PM }

While conducting some tests for SCEI, a researcher at Sony's HQ in Japan realized that the PSP Go!Cam could see a visual spectrum far beyond human vision. Scattered throughout the world is a mystical energy that only the PSP camera could detect. Clearly, this is the beginning of something big!

However, what if this energy fell into the wrong hands? Couldn't someone harness the energy for the purposes of evil? What if someone were to create a weapon with this mysterious energy?

This meta-story sets the stage for Sony's upcoming camera-required PSP game, Invizimals. Those lucky to see the behind-closed-doors demonstration at E3 were charmed by its high-tech devilry and innovative concept that many have been quick to call "Pokemon ... on crack."

Gallery: Invizimals

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Impressions: EyePet (PS3)

by Andrew Yoon { Jun 4th 2009 at 8:30AM }

It's real, folks. We first learned of EyePet over a year ago, and approached it with both excitement and skepticism. When we had a chance to see EyePet running on PS3 live, we were blown away at how what we originally thought was a concept video had been completely real all along.

For those not in the know, EyePet is a virtual pet simulator that takes advantage of the PlayStation Eye. With the addition of a "magic card," players will be able to play with a virtual monkey that lives in augmented reality. The television will display what the PlayStation Eye sees: you, and your body. Your on-screen pet will then be able to respond to all your actions. You'll be able to virtually pet the creature on the head, grab a bowl of food and feed it, and play a variety of mini-games. The tactile sensation of owning a pet will be gone, but in its stead will be an unworldly adorable creature that uses tech that feels like it's from the future.

Perhaps it's best summed up with video, as EyePet truly needs to be seen to be understood. You can do so many things with the critter, and his incredibly detailed and lifelike animation makes this "game" all the more believable. For example, you can try sweeping your arm across the bottom of your TV view, and the pet will jump over your arm. When your pet goes to sleep, you can clap loudly and get it to wake up ... (although it might be grumpy!)

Gallery: EyePet

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Your Shape determines your shape with a camera

by Mike Schramm { Jun 1st 2009 at 10:22PM }

Ubisoft has revealed a camera-based fitness game, coming this holiday season for the Wii. Your Shape comes with a custom USB camera that plugs right into your Wii, and will use the visual input to determine whether you're slim or sloppy, and then give you a trainer-based workout designed to send you in the right direction.

It's a good thing Ubisoft is being so innovative here -- the Wii fitness market is virtually untapped so far. Could a game with a casual interface designed with the promise of a more healthier lifestyle actually sell? We'll have to wait and see -- the bundle is due out sometime this year.

WSJ: Microsoft prepping Xbox 360 motion control camera

by Jason Dobson { May 13th 2009 at 8:35AM }

Rumors of Microsoft's intent to ride on Nintendo's motion-sensitive coattails are nothing new, and while nothing has been announced, the Wall Street Journal suggests that a new motion-detecting camera from Microsoft could be unveiled as early as next month's E3.

Citing unnamed sources reportedly close to the project, the rumored camera captures a player's body motion and translates it onto the screen. The functionality reads more like the EyeToy than the Wii, though the WSJ's sources say that the rumored peripheral will offer "more accurate control over games" than other cameras. Microsoft was said to be in talks to purchase 3D camera company 3DV earlier this year, tech the sources say is behind the camera. Whatever the case, the camera, if true, is likely a ways off, with the WSJ's sources further noting that the device won't see the light of retail until sometime next year.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

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'Second Sight' turns PSP camera into an augmented reality learning tool