The Future Of EyeToy - Spells, GUIs, Grooves?

Thanks to the New York Times for their article investigating future possibilities for Sony's EyeToy PlayStation 2 camera. The writer has a chance to see Sony R+D's experimental prototypes using the just-released USB camera add-on, which include manipulating Harry Potter-style onscreen spells with a wand "...made from parts of a hotel clothes hanger [that] has a brightly colored ball on one end", and an onscreen interface replicating "...the futuristic computer operated by Tom Cruise's detective character in the movie 'Minority Report'." Production has been ramping up quickly on the camera for the US, and Sony hope to replicate the success of the peripheral in the UK, where EyeToy: Groove, a rhythm-based game, is the first piece of expansion software released.

Comments

Kinda Fun

[Murrow]

I picked one of these up yesterday with next month's office Christmas party in mind. Last year people enjoyed DDR and I think this might be just as much fun (we're NASA contractors, go figure).

My limited experience with it is that it works really well. The motion detection is accurate and its fairly easy to get good results with the gadget. Lighting and any motion in the background can be an issue. I had to play a bit to give it enough contrast to be happy. It also seemed facinated with a ceiling fan that was in the background. Once I reaimed it a little it paid more attention to the player.

The eyetoy rocks

[dew-genen-ny]

Bought one about a month ago...

Every time people are round at our house it is always on. The point is that there are a lot of people out there that are uncomfortable with learning how to use a console controller and because with this there is virtually no learning it is a big hit.

Not your typical geek game though because it does actually raise your level of fitness...the first few times I played the kung-foo game or the boxing game the next day I ached so badly...

Can't wait to see what they can do with this - it's the future I'm sure!