PLAYSTATION Eye Camera

[Shin-Ra]

PLAYSTATION Eye Camera Brings Next-Generation Communication to PS3

Scheduled for October release in Europe, the United States and Canada, PLAYSTATION Eye is an essential accessory for voice, video chat and online gaming that will enable gamers to enjoy their PLAYSTATION®3 (PS3™) experiences like never before.

Designed specifically for PS3 and featuring huge advances in USB camera and microphone technology, PLAYSTATION Eye is set to revolutionise the experience of online communication on the PLAYSTATION®Network. Expanding on the market-leading heritage of the EyeToy® USB Camera for PlayStation®2, the sophistication of the PLAYSTATION Eye naturally complements the advanced features and capabilities of PS3 – all in one slickly designed, unobtrusive unit.

Designed specifically to work with the next generation of social gaming titles and new services being developed for PS3, key features of the PLAYSTATION Eye include:

• A sophisticated microphone with the ability to reduce background noise and focus on the spoken word for smoother, more accurate speech recognition and transfer
• The ability to capture videos and audio clips directly to your PS3’s hard disk drive
• Engineered to perform well even in low-light conditions
• A range of different capturing modes, including slow motion and time-lapse
• Faster frame rate for improved tracking, responsiveness and smoothness
• Two position zoom lens for close-up and full body options
• A range of eye-catching visual effects to apply to photos and videos
• Bundled with EyeCreate™ editing software, which allows users to save and edit photos, video and audio clips

David Reeves, President of Sony Computer Entertainment Europe said, "PLAYSTATION Eye is a great example of how we have moved forward so significantly with our technology. PLAYSTATION Eye has four times the resolution, twice the framerate and double the sensitivity of its predecessor EyeToy USB Camera. With the technology that we now have at our disposal we will be able to dramatically improve the communications experience enjoyed on PS3". EyeCreate software EyeCreate editing software, bundled free with PLAYSTATION Eye allows you to save photos, video and audio clips to your PS3 hard disk drive and apply eye-catching visual effects to your images. Different capture modes like time-lapse and slow motion open up a world of possibilities to be explored further in EyeCreate’s editing suite, where you can turn your media into professional looking movies.

New Microphone Functions

An all-new four microphone array, incorporating multidirectional voice location tracking, enhanced echo cancelling and background noise suppression allows for clear audio chat in even the most noisy of environments, without the need to hold or wear a headset.

Next-Generation Camera Features

A frame rate of up to 120 frames per second allows for super-smooth video and sophisticated low-light operation means that the room doesn’t have to be brightly lit for the camera to deliver crisp, perfectly exposed video. The adjustable zoom lens features a 56º field of view to capture head and shoulders action for close-in audio-visual chat, and a 75º field of view to capture the whole body for a fully physical gaming experience.

Technical Specification

• 4 channel audio input:16 bits/channel, 48kHz, SNR 90db
• 56º to 75º Field of View zoom lens
• 2.1 F-stop, <1% distortion, fixed focus (25cm to 8 at 75º FOV)
• 640 x 480 at 60 frames/second
• 320 x 240 at 120 frames/second
• USB2 high-speed data transfer
• Uncompressed video or optional JPEG compression

[Shin-Ra]

Not exactly high-definition but in terms of the specs given, a definite improvement over the EyeToy and Vision cameras. The 360 Vision cam achieves SVGA 1280x960 for still pictures using software interpolation so it's not a true hardware spec. The PS3 could do the same easily if the results made it worthwhile.

[BLu-Balls]

120 FPS is pretty fricken sweet. That looks like a good piece of kit

[Shin-Ra]

It does look like a well-made bit of kit. Hopefully it's heavy enough that the cabling doesn't drag or tip it.

[Shin-Ra]

PLAYSTATION EYE - Q+A from ThreeSpeech.

Future software and games planned for use with the Eye will include Eye of Judgement, Ember, Skyblue and Aqua Vita, but the list will grow considerably over time.

Sony are actually supporting their camera with GAMES!

[DezNutz]

I am disappointed it does not support Blu-tooth. I mean c'mon wirless keyboard, wireless mic, and why not wireless camera?

[Shin-Ra]

Eye of Judgment devs believe the PS Eye has immense potential

[Gamekid]

I think that the eyetoy camera idea will expand what we will be able to do with our ps3's

[ps3andlovinit]

Originally Posted by Gamekid

I think that the eyetoy camera idea will expand what we will be able to do with our ps3's

The eye camera was always the reason a Wii didn't grab me that much...this was much a more interesting and natural way to connect people to the "phenomana" going on inside a game.

And it also provides video/audio chatting etc, take pictures and videos, and possibly a remote security camera with the PSP remote play..positional audio included and filtering of background "noise" as well.

[chris89]

Hey you can use the eyetoy from the PS2 for the PS3 and if anyone has one and wants to know how to use it, send me a friend invite my username is biggiesmalls89 on ps3.

[Gamekid]

Originally Posted by ps3andlovinit

The eye camera was always the reason a Wii didn't grab me that much...this was much a more interesting and natural way to connect people to the "phenomana" going on inside a game.

And it also provides video/audio chatting etc, take pictures and videos, and possibly a remote security camera with the PSP remote play..positional audio included and filtering of background "noise" as well.

I'm curious as to how the camera will grow in terms of what you can do with it. What you're saying is absolutly correct about what you can do with the camera. Do you think that by adding the camera as an accessory with the ps3 will boast sales of the console? I think so.

[ps3andlovinit]

Originally Posted by Gamekid

I'm curious as to how the camera will grow in terms of what you can do with it. What you're saying is absolutly correct about what you can do with the camera. Do you think that by adding the camera as an accessory with the ps3 will boast sales of the console? I think so.

It broadens the appeal on multiple fronts so yes. Few examples..

1. All those folks that are into card games like Eyes of Judgement will have one console choice at this point - a PS3.

2. Given 1..will something like Monopoly or Trivial Pursuit embrace this technology and maybe even extend those traditional games in new ways. IF that were to happen it would be huge from a "casual" gamer perspective.

3. Allowing more freedom and flexibility and direct interaction than the Wii wand is potentially a big deal from a marketing perspective..it would be possible to make the Wii look "hokey" in comparison..taking some of the current "cool" shine off and redirecting it to the PS3.

4. The reaching "inside" your t.v. and effecting the objects in a game has so much potential it's scary IMO. This is the most exciting part to me..from an innovation perspective and widening the market one as well.

[Shin-Ra]

Standalone PLAYSTATION Eye camera to cost $40.

[u_nick]

Great news.

[Ascended_Saiyan]

That's a GREAT price for a standalone camera, but I've got to get Eye of Judgement pack.

[DezNutz]

When is this released?

[Luis_A51]

game oct 3

That looks like a really cool game. Although it gets no hype (ive only barely heard about it before) it looks like it has incredible potential: theres absolutely nothing else like it on other consoles, the interactivity aspect is phenomenal.

Im really interested in this, and ive never liked card battle games. I wonder what the single player mode will be like.

[Shin-Ra]

EOJ's out on the 23rd so maybe then.

[Aaron]

Only complaint is the resolution. C'mon, it should take 1.3MP stills.