Sony Announces PlayStation Eye Camera, Hasbro Deal

Author: by Staff

Sony has announced the PlayStation Eye camera for the PlayStation 3, the latest iteration of its EyeToy USB camera peripheral, and due to debut this summer with bundled EyeCreate software. According to the company, key features of the upgraded peripheral include a more sophisticated microphone (4 channel audio, 48kHz) with the ability to reduce background noise and focus on spoken word for smoother, more accurate speech recognition, and a re-engineered lens with higher resolution input (640*480 at 60fps) to better perform in low-light conditions. In addition, the PlayStation Eye sports faster frame rate than the original EyeToy - for improved tracking, responsiveness and smoothness, a two-position zoom lens for close-up and full body options, and ships with free EyeCreate editing software, which allows users to save, edit, and add visual effects to photos, video and audio clips. In addition, EyeCreate also enables user to capture videos and audio clips directly to the PS3's hard disk drive and access a range of different capturing modes, including slow motion and time-lapse. Pricing for the peripheral has not yet been revealed. Announced simultaneously, it's been revealed that Hasbro's Wizards Of The Coast will work with Sony by providing content for one of the debut titles to use the PlayStation Eye, the camera-based CCG The Eye Of Judgment. WoTC already produces major CCG Magic: The Gathering, and under the agreement, Hasbro will create, manufacture and distribute the trading cards associated with The Eye Of Judgment video game. In the game itself, through use of a 3 x 3 board and trading cards, each encrypted with CyberCode, players conquer the field by selecting a card and placing the coded card in front of the PlayStation Eye for their respective creatures to come to life and battle. Each creature has various skills which will determine the outcome of the battle. Players take turns placing cards as they jostle for control of the board; the winner is the first player to conquer five of the nine fields. The game is slated for release in fall 2007.