EyeToy Creator Discusses Product's Genesis

Thanks to NewsObserver.com for reprinting an L.A. Times article discussing the genesis of Sony's inventive PlayStation 2 EyeToy USB camera hardware/software. According to the piece, the hardware designer behind the peripheral is Richard Marks, a "...Stanford avionics PhD who built cameras that guide one of the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute's underwater exploration robots." He comments on low initial expectations: "If there's one thing that's been hammered into my head over and over... it's that peripherals don't sell, and the camera is a peripheral", and explains the early development of the quirky add-on at Sony's Foster City studios, as he "...bought a Web camera and hooked it up to a computer that fed video to a PS2 prototype." Concrete sales figures for the popular, 'mass-market' accessible EyeToy are also revealed: "By the end of 2003, it had sold more than 2 million units in Europe and 400,000 in the United States. Sony estimates it will have shipped 4 million units by March 31, the end of its fiscal year."

Comments

This is really a software story - right?

[teknikl]

I mean the hardware involved isn't specialized to finding changes in the CCD output each frame or outlining the human body. If thats the case, then why don't I see games with camera input for my PC? I have a camera, have for years. I suspect many PC owners do. Yet no games take advantage of it. The mental leap made here is to create the software (the game) to use the camera. I'm pretty impressed that this came from Sony. Usually its Nintendo that makes the big usability/accesability advances. And now, once again I look longingly at the consoles latest fashion item and wonder if the PC platform will catch up.

Re:This is really a software story - right?

[FrenZon]

If thats the case, then why don't I see games with camera input for my PC?

Webcams used to come with such games - I remember basketball games and so on, all pretty similar to what the Eyetoy has (although less polished). Problem is, these sorts of games are really dead boring, and it's just not as exciting seeing yourself sitting in a chair in front of a monitor as it is dancing around in front of the telly.

--
http://freelook.org/ - A Free Webcam-based Headtracker for Computer Simulation and Disabled Access.

Re:This is really a software story - right?

[PirateMeep]

I belive so.. Any of you guys remeber the old IBM Webcams? (pc cam pro or something) Remeber the games that came with it? Yea. same thing.

Re:This is really a software story - right?

[silentbobdp]

I actually have an old intel cam that came with these softs...I don't have the games anymore though, because they're boring. But I really am sick of hearing about how innovative EyeToy is...it's nothing special.

Sony Camden

[semaj]

The article doesn't mention the conversion of the technology demo'ed by Richard Marks into an actual product, which took place at Sony UK's Camden studio. That's where they added the fun gameplay that turned it into something worth buying. It's not a big deal, but it's strange that it's not mentioned at all in the original article.

It's quite cool reading about the initial presentation of the technology to a bunch of awestruck developers. :-)

I agree with the article.

[Sklivvz]

I own one of these cams and I gotta say, I totally agree with the point of the article. It's a totally new way of interacting with games, and it attracts non gamers a lot, because it's so simple. I have had my whole family (ages 9 to 57) playing with Groove.
Also it just works (TM). One would think that a thing like this would have some problems recognising your movements, but I found that it works perfectly right out of the box.
I hope that more innovative ways of interacting with computers/consoles come forward in the near future (Matrix anyone? ;-P)

Re:I agree with the article.

[DAldredge]

It isn't new. I saw tech like this in CompuUSA about 2-4 years ago. It cam with the Intel WebCams they where selling.

peripheral?

[johndoejersey]

The camera is used as part of a game - to call it just a peripheral isn't entirely accurate - are the bongos used in Donkey Konga a games controller, peripheral or musical instrument?

The camera appeals to many different kinds of people as its a bit different, entertaining and something new at the same time.

Was bundling a significant factor for success?

[mpr]

By the end of 2003, it had sold more than 2 million units in Europe and 400,000 in the United States.

Here in the UK the EyeToy was bundled with PS2 consoles at many major retail outlets for a long time. For a new gizmo like this I think bundling is a great idea and could well be how it got so popular.

Many times in the past I've received a bundled game that I wouldn't have bought outright and ended up loving it! e.g. Tetris on GameBoy and ChuChu Rocket on Dreamcast.

All it takes is for the person that gets an EyeToy bundled with their PS2 to get some mates round and show it off, and then they go off & buy their own. Whereas without the bundle none of these imaginary people may have seen/bought it, because as the parent quotes, "peripherals don't sell".

Re:Was bundling a significant factor for success?

[bigman2003]

Thanks for the info. I was wondering why there was such a huge difference in the number sold betweeen Europe and the U.S.

Do they sell this in Japan?

Re:Was bundling a significant factor for success?

[PainKilleR-CE]

The other reason for the difference in sales is that it was out for quite some time in Europe before it was released in the US, and though it's been selling well in the US, it isn't selling as quickly as it did in Europe.

It doesn't appear to be on any of the Japanese charts, yet, so either it's not selling there yet or it's not selling well.

Re:Was bundling a significant factor for success?

[dackroyd]

It was also number 1 in the games charts for quite a while.

I think the difference is from the fact that it was released much earlier in the UK (late autumn?) rather than just before Christmas in the US and so the sales built Joementum*.

In fact both Eye Toy:Play and EyeToy:groove and still in the top ten.
http://www.elspa.co.uk/about/charts/charts.a sp?d=2 0040124&chartType=17

*Your American politicians are funny.

Re:Was bundling a significant factor for success?

[PainKilleR-CE]

I think the difference is from the fact that it was released much earlier in the UK (late autumn?) rather than just before Christmas in the US and so the sales built Joementum*.
*Your American politicians are funny.

Funny, I hadn't even heard that until you mentioned it. I guess I don't watch CNN enough, or maybe it's simply because the primaries have been on TV 24/7 for 3 weeks and I stopped caring who the Democrats nominate.

In fact both Eye Toy:Play and EyeToy:groove and still in the top ten.
http://www.elspa.co.uk/about/charts/charts.a sp?d=2 0040124&chartType=17

Just to clarify, it's the top 10 for PS2 (and that link doesn't work for me). Play is #9 overall (and I still find it funny that the UK charts can't filter out Norton Internet Security (and Office and Anti-virus if you check the PC list)), and Groove doesn't show up in the top 20.

I've always wondered why so many charts don't show the unit or sales numbers, but then at least the UK and Japanese charts are usually fairly easy to find up-to-date. The best I can find for North America is from last month.

So, can this help with exercise?

[hey!]

I don't let my kids have video games because (my son at least) would spend all his time playing it (or I'd spend all my time fighting with them over playing time).

However, if the games made the kids get up and move, I might reconsider. First, because they'd get some exercise, Second, because they'd get tired and do something else, instead of spending hours in trance-land.

Anybody out there have feedback on these games and the couch-potato-kid syndrome?

Actually, I think one cool thing to do with this would be a kind of virtual personal trainer. If you wore a couple of velcro patches, it could check your form; it could break up the exercise routine with games.

Re:So, can this help with exercise?

[PainKilleR-CE]

I don't let my kids have video games because (my son at least) would spend all his time playing it (or I'd spend all my time fighting with them over playing time).

I hope you don't let them have televisions, then, because at least their brains are active while they're playing a game, whereas brain activity while watching television is lower than while sleeping.

However, if the games made the kids get up and move, I might reconsider. First, because they'd get some exercise, Second, because they'd get tired and do something else, instead of spending hours in trance-land.

It could until they figured out how to cheat it, which would allow them to minimize their effort. Something else to consider would be DDR, as stated in an article sometime last week, though dance pads could get expensive. At the very least, there are features in many of the DDR games geared specifically towards exercise.

Re:So, can this help with exercise?

[Decaffeinated Jedi]

If you're looking for a game to get your kids up and moving, I'd suggest picking up Dance Dance Revolution for the PS2. Whereas a decent chunk of the EyeToy games consist of simply waving around your arms, DDR actually serves as a decent calorie-burning workout.

Re:So, can this help with exercise?

[N0decam]

It can help out, for sure. Yes, it's mostly upper body, but DDR (as suggested by someone else) is mainly legs.

After playing Kung Foo on the hardest difficulty level for a while, your arms get so tired that you can barely lift them over your head.

Plus, it's fun for everyone, not just kids.

I do think it's only a matter of time before the rhythm mats get combined with the eyetoy for a crazy physical workout game.

Inventive??

[WinnipegDragon]

I fail to see how anyone finds the EyeToy to be 'unique' or 'inventive'. Did no one here own a Logitech QuickCam? They had motion capturing games on the PC in the late 90's that shipped with the camera. I distinctly recall playing some horrible basketball game on a demo system at the store where I worked.

It was pointless, un-fun technology then, and I doubt it's any better now.

Re:Inventive??

[N0decam]

The trick is that the EyeToy games are fun. Granted, not all of them are, but just about anyone can enjoy playing WishiWashi, despite how lame it sounds. People who want more action tend to like KungFoo.

Being first to do something doesn't make something noteworthy.

Being the first to do it well, however, does. This is apparently the case with the EyeToy.

Re:Inventive??

[Anonymous Coward]

Intel had similar PC cameras with similar games.

EyeToy is as innovative as the Xbox hard drive and just a bit more uninteresting, I'd say.

Re:Inventive??

[caitsith01]

I agree - it doesn't strike me that this is inventive at all. Basic motion tracking has been around for years, which is really all that this machine is doing. Unless the tracking is really precise and high-level then it's not especially hard to do and combining it with some crappy PS2 game is hardly an 'inventive step' either.

Needs plenty of light

[Teh Suq]

My son has one of these and we have to bring in extra lamps in order for it to work. I was suprised at how much light it needed shining on him in order for it to pick him up properly. In addition, the games it came with are too boring for my 6 year old, maybe they have come out with some better games for it?

Re:Needs plenty of light

[imperator_mundi]

What is shipped with the camera is more a demo than a game, but eye toy groove is for instance pretty much funnier... some sort of Dance Dance Revolution but with the big plus your neighbour won't make voodoo rituals against you because theirs ceiling lamps tremble whenever you play ; )

Re:Needs plenty of light

[Empty_One]

Have you gone to the options settings? There are settings for how bright your room is. If it's dark, set it to dark. You'd be supprised how much of a differenct it make when the settings are correct. Also, there is an sensitivity setting you can change.

RTFA

[John Harrison]

Did you read the article? It mentions Marks moving to the UK for three months to work with Festejo.

Obviously the mods didn't read the article either or they wouldn't have modded your post as informative.

Hey

[otis_amber]

Your lighting must be pretty dim if you need extra lamps, because the Eye Toy doesn't need much light. It's also very fun and addicting, so I don't know whatcha guys are talkin bout.