Sony is
looking to ramp up on its hardware in an effort to compete in a market
that looks to finally be pushing them to make inroads where they have
hitherto been leery to tread. E3 saw the announcement of several such
devices: the launch of a USB headset for the PS2 with Voice Over
Internet Protocol and voice recognition technologies to enhance both
online and offline gameplay (being released in September at a suggested
retail of $29), a PS2 Online Pack (PS2 along with the Network Adaptor at
the same price point as the original PS2), the PlayStation Personal (PSP),
and what especially caught my interest, the Eye Toy.
The Eye Toy
is basically a USB camera that uses motion tracking technology to
project player images on screen for a unique interactive videogaming
experience. This technology was developed in conjunction with Logitech,
the pioneers who paved the way in webcam technology, and was over nine
and a half months in development. The device is around the same size as
a webcam and utilizes the same visual/aesthetic style as the PS2 for its
outward appearance. It sits on top of your television and can be
adjusted for players of different heights so that both parents and
children can play. And speaking of children, the Eye Toy was tested for
ease of use for kids. As Ron Festejo (a producer connected with London
Studios) told me, the device was designed to be "both elegant in design
and pretty much indestructible."
The Eye Toy was shown on the E3 floor using a white screen
background, but according to a spokesperson for Logitech, there is no
problem with any background from your own livingroom, but lighter
background colors will help to visually separate you from the action
onscreen. He did warn, however, that since the device uses motion
tracking technology, that other movement in the background (such as
blowing curtains, etc.) can interfere with your gaming.
The
Eye Toy games are apparently using just a small part of the technology
available and most everyone who saw the device being shown piped up with
a dozen or more possible gaming applications that it could be used for.
The beauty of this particular technology is that you can use any body
part to produce results in your game. It is designed to capture motion
from the waist up, but I saw one player do a high kick during a
cartoon-style Kung Fu martial arts game to beat off the bad guys. You
can use your head, your elbows
basically any body part that can produce
motion. I myself thought this would be the perfect system to design
dancing games for later on in its evolution. Festejo commented that this
device could be used to decrease sedentary gameplay, increase
parent/child interaction, and might some day have applications for motor
skills acquisition or rehabilitation. Much of what can be done with this
will depend on game developers. I asked if he foresaw problems with
fighting games using a persons image causing an uproar as it has in the
past, but he says that are always designers who are willing to take up
the challenge to give gamers what they want, and all such decisions
would be at the discretion of future developers.
There are twelve mini-games that will be sold with the device,
ranging from window washing races (watch the bird droppings!) to music
and puzzle solving. It seems the initial titles are attempting to be
non-age specific so as to be appealing to that aforementioned
parent/child interaction. The Eye Toy is scheduled to be released in
October for a suggested retail price of $39, and I am excited to see
just how far this technology will be taken.