EyeToy
The EyeToy is a color webcam for use with the PlayStation 2. Supported games use computer vision and gesture recognition to process images taken by the EyeToy. This allows players to interact with the games using motion, color detection, and also sound, through its built-in microphone. It was released in October 2003.
The camera is manufactured by Logitech, although newer EyeToys are manufactured by Namtai. The camera is mainly used for playing EyeToy games developed by Sony and other companies. It is not intended for use as a normal PC camera, although some programmers have written unofficial drivers for it. The EyeToy is compatible with the PlayStation 3 and can be used for video chatting. As of November 6, 2008, the EyeToy has sold 10.5 million units worldwide.
History
The EyeToy was conceived by Richard Marks in 1999, after witnessing a demonstration of the PlayStation 2 at the 1999 Game Developers Conference in San Jose, California. Marks's idea was to enable natural user interface and mixed reality video game applications using an inexpensive webcam, using the computational power of the PlayStation 2 to implement computer vision and gesture recognition technologies. He joined Sony Computer Entertainment America that year, and worked on the technology as Special Projects Manager for Research and Development.Marks's work drew the attention of Phil Harrison, then Vice President of Third Party Relations and Research and Development at SCEA. Soon after being promoted to Senior Vice President of Product Development at Sony Computer Entertainment Europe in 2000, Harrison brought Marks to the division's headquarters in London to demonstrate the technology to a number of developers. At the demonstration, Marks was joined with Ron Festejo of SCE Camden Studio to begin developing a software title using the technology, which would later become . Originally called the iToy by the London branch, the webcam was later renamed to the EyeToy by Harrison. It was first demonstrated to the public at the PlayStation Experience event in August 2002 with four minigames.
Already planned for release in Europe, the EyeToy was picked by SCE's Japanese and American branches after the successful showing at the PlayStation Experience. In 2003, EyeToy was released in a bundle with EyeToy: Play: in Europe on July 4, and North America on November 4. By the end of the year, the EyeToy sold over 2 million units in Europe and 400,000 units in the United States. On February 11, 2004, the EyeToy was released in Japan.
Design
The camera is mounted on a pivot, allowing for positioning. Focusing the camera is performed by rotating a ring around the lens. It comes with two LED lights on the front. A blue light turns on when the PS2 is on, indicating that it is ready to be used, while the red light flashes when there is insufficient light in the room. There is also a microphone built in. A second, newer model of the EyeToy provides similar features, but sports a smaller size and silver casing.Use with personal computers
Since the EyeToy is essentially a webcam inside a casing designed to match the PlayStation 2 and it uses a USB 1.1 protocol and USB plug, it is possible to make it work on other systems relatively easily. Drivers have been created to make it work with many computer operating systems, however, Linux is the only OS which has drivers installed yet no official drivers have been offered by Namtai, Logitech, or Sony for Microsoft Windows, Mac OS, or Linux. The type of driver required depends on the model of EyeToy camera. There are three different models:- SLEH-00030
- SLEH-00031
- SCEH-0004
In these custom drivers, the red LED that normally signals inadequate lighting is used as the active recording indicator. The blue LED is lit when the EyeToy is plugged into the computer.
Games
Designed for EyeToy
25 Games require the EyeToy for them to be played. All but the 2 Korean-exclusive ones were released in PAL Regions, while only 8 titles were released in North America.| Game title | Year released | Developer | Publisher |
| ' | July 2003 November 2003 | SCE London Studio | Sony Computer Entertainment |
| ' | November 2003 April 2004 | SCE London Studio | Sony Computer Entertainment |
| U-Move Super Sports | July 2004 October 2004 | Konami | Konami |
| ' | August 2004 March 2005 | SCE Japan Studio | Sony Computer Entertainment |
| Nicktoons Movin | October 2004 November 2004 | Mass Media | THQ |
| Sega Superstars | October 2004 November 2004 | Sonic Team | Sega |
| ' | November 2004 March 2005 | Harmonix | Sony Computer Entertainment |
| ' | November 2004 August 2005 | SCE London Studio | Sony Computer Entertainment |
| Disney Move | November 2004 | Artificial Mind & Movement | Buena Vista Games |
| EyeToy: EduKids | January 2005 | SCE Korea Arisu Media | Sony Computer Entertainment Korea |
| ' | February 2005 | SCE London Studio | Sony Computer Entertainment Europe |
| EyeToy: Tales | March 2005 | SCE Korea | Sony Computer Entertainment Korea |
| YetiSports Arctic Adventures | July 2005 | Pirate Games | JoWooD Productions |
| ' | September 2005 November 2005 | SCE London Studio | Sony Computer Entertainment |
| SpyToy | October 2005 November 2005 | SCE London Studio | Sony Computer Entertainment |
| November 2005 | SCE London Studio | Sony Computer Entertainment Europe | |
| Rythmic Star! | April 2006 | Namco | Ignition Entertainment/Namco |
| Clumsy Shumsy | October 2006 | Phoenix Games | Phoenix Games |
| EyeToy: Kinetic Combat | November 2006 | SCE London Studio | Sony Computer Entertainment Europe |
| EyeToy Play: Sports | November 2006 | SCE London Studio | Sony Computer Entertainment Europe |
| Bob the Builder | August 2007 | Atomic Planet Entertainment | Mastertronic Group |
| Thomas & Friends: A Day at the Races | August 2007 | Broadsword Interactive | Mastertronic Group |
| EyeToy Play: Astro Zoo | November 2007 | SCE London Studio | Sony Computer Entertainment Europe |
| EyeToy Play: Hero | 2008 | SCE London Studio | Sony Computer Entertainment Europe |
| EyeToy Play: PomPom Party'' | 2008 | SCE London Studio | Sony Computer Entertainment Europe |
Enhanced with EyeToy
These games may be used with the EyeToy optionally. They typically have an "Enhanced with EyeToy" or "EyeToy Enhanced" label on the box.- AFL Premiership 2005
- AFL Premiership 2006
- AFL Premiership 2007
- AND 1 Streetball
- Buzz! The Music Quiz
- Buzz! The Big Quiz
- '
- Dance Dance Revolution Extreme – EyeToy mini games, players can optionally see themselves dancing, additional mode with 2 camera targets.
- DDR Festival Dance Dance Revolution – EyeToy mini games, players can optionally see themselves dancing, additional mode with 2 camera targets.
- Dancing Stage Fusion – EyeToy mini games, players can optionally see themselves dancing, additional mode with 2 camera targets.
- Dance Dance Revolution Extreme 2 – EyeToy mini games, players can optionally see themselves dancing, additional mode with 2 camera targets.
- Dancing Stage Max – EyeToy mini games, players can optionally see themselves dancing, additional mode with 2 camera targets.
- Dance Dance Revolution Strike – EyeToy mini games, players can optionally see themselves dancing, additional mode with 2 camera targets.
- Dance Dance Revolution SuperNova – EyeToy mini games, players can optionally see themselves dancing, additional mode with 2 camera targets.
- Dance Dance Revolution SuperNova – EyeToy mini games, players can optionally see themselves dancing, additional mode with 2 camera targets.
- Dancing Stage SuperNova – EyeToy mini games, players can optionally see themselves dancing, additional mode with 2 camera targets.
- Dance Dance Revolution SuperNova 2 – EyeToy mini games, players can optionally see themselves dancing, additional mode with 2 camera targets.
- Dance Dance Revolution SuperNova 2 – EyeToy mini games, players can optionally see themselves dancing, additional mode with 2 camera targets.
- Dance Dance Revolution X – EyeToy mini games, players can optionally see themselves dancing, additional mode with 2 camera targets.
- Dance Dance Revolution X2 – EyeToy mini games, players can optionally see themselves dancing, additional mode with 2 camera targets.
- Dance Factory – players can optionally see themselves dancing, additional mode with 2 camera targets.
- DT Racer – Take a photo using the EyeToy camera and use as driver licence photo in-game and during races in first-person view you can see your reflection in the rear-view mirror.
- Formula One 05
- '
- '
- Get On Da Mic – players can see their performance
- Gretzky NHL 2005
- Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban – features EyeToy minigames
- Jackie Chan Adventures – features Eye Toy minigames
- Karaoke Revolution Party
- '
- Lemmings
- L'eredità – used for player avatars
- LittleBigPlanet – Although released on the PS3 and designed for PlayStation Eye, it is EyeToy compatible. Players can take pictures to be used as in-game stickers for placement on walls and other surfaces
- LMA Manager 2005 – players can have their pictures on in-game newspapers
- MLB 2005
- MLB 2006 – used to create a player
- '
- '
- '
- '
- '
- '
- NBA 07
- ' – Used to capture textures to be used as car stickers in the bodypaint interface
- SingStar series – singers can optionally see themselves when singing
- The Sims 2 – players can take pictures of themselves, then put it on the wall or make their Sims paint it
- '
- The Polar Express
- '
- ' – players can have their faces on in-game billboards
- This Is Football 2005
- Tony Hawk's American Wasteland – Used to import the player's face onto a created skater.
- Tony Hawk's Underground 2 – Player can capture an image of their face and map it onto their character.
- Vib-Ripple — Players can take photos, and use them as stages.
- YetiSports Arctic Adventures – EyeToy multi-player games
- Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? Party Edition – players can have their 'mugshots' on a winning check
- World Tour Soccer 2006
Cameo