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EyeToy - Chat Turns PS2 Into Videophone

Posted by simoniker on from the eee-teeee? dept.

Thanks to GameSpot for its coverage of Sony Europe's announcement of Eye Toy: Chat for PlayStation 2, a piece of software that works with Sony's Eye Toy USB camera and "allows users to communicate with each other in four different ways, namely text, voice, video mail, and one-to-one video chat." It's also explained: "While engaging in a one-on-one video chat, users will have the option to play games against each other, including chess, checkers, and naval war." The article has further clarification on potential worries for parents: "SCEE is eager to point out that that it has been working very closely with several children's charities in order to ensure that EyeToy: Chat is safe for even the youngest PS2 fans to enjoy."

3 of 23 comments (clear)

  1. More and better board games by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Interesting

    I hope they have some more board games than the typical handful like chess, checkers, backgammon, and such. It would be nice to get some advanced German board games like Settlers of Catan, Puerto Rico, any of Reiner Knizia's games or El Grande since this is coming from Sony Europe. I know Capcom released a network version of Settlers for PS2 in Japan that they gave away. Surely SCEE can arrange to give them a buck or two each copy to include something a little more interesting that can be played with more than just two people.

  2. Re:EyeToy and Gestural Interfaces by nicky_d · · Score: 2, Interesting

    I picked up an EyeToy last week, and it's pretty impressive. The key to getting good results is lighting - there's a game with Play that has you cleaning suds off a window (the whole screen, basically). Our front room is lit by an eco-friendly bulb, which is a fairly soft light, and as you 'wipe' the screen the remaining suds clearly cling to shadowy areas that aren't picking up movement so well. Play with a bright light, however, and the system is good enough to allow for some fast and accurate gaming. Play comes with a version of PS2 launch title Fantavision, played entirely through gestures, and it plays well.

    In terms of picture quality, it's not that great. But at this stage, sheer novelty compensates for that. But I think it bodes very well for future efforts, with sharper images and HDTV resolution. And, being an 'ancient' gamer dating back to the 8-bit era, I'm given to stepping back every once in a while and trying to calculate how violently this would have blown my 12-year-old mind...

  3. Re:EyeToy and Metal Gear Solid by nicky_d · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Yeah, and then combine it with what Rockstar have already done in Manhunt - use a USB headset to hear instructions, and then if you accidentally speak out loud or make any noise, it alerts the characters in the game (you can also use it as a deliberate decoy tactic). That approach with the Eyetoy thrown in could be a real winner, though you'd really need to have it as an optional feature to have any commercial success - e.g. you don't NEED a headset for Manhunt, but it can add a lot to the experience.