Shutter opened on 360 camera
[UPDATE] Xbox program manager reveals September 19 debut date for Xbox Live Vision; other details include dashboard theme, music player visualizer, game interactivity.
Microsoft has been busy making sure that its Xbox 360 is up to speed. The most recent evidence of this is the massive dashboard update announced last week, which includes Web-cam support. Though the update will mean Xbox 360s are ready for the camera, it doesn't mean that the camera is necessarily ready for the Xbox 360.
The camera will be ready in September, however, according to Aaron Greenberg, group marketing manager of Xbox Live. On a podcast hosted by coworker and director of Xbox Live programming Larry Hryb, better known as Major Nelson, Greenberg said the camera will be released simultaneously in North America and Europe on September 19. [UPDATE] On his blog, Hryb corrected the European release info for the Xbox Live Vision. The camera will be available on October 2 in Europe and Asia (excluding Japan). Release dates for Japan, Australia, and New Zealand have not yet been announced.
"We're adding eyes to Live, if you will," said Greenberg, when detailing the function of the camera. The USB 2.0 peripheral, named Xbox Live Vision, will be compatible with PCs, and no drivers will be required for either machine. Greenberg also said that other Web cams won't work with the Xbox 360--the Xbox 360 cam was designed specifically for the 360.
The camera will show off some features even when gamers aren't actively using it. On the 360 dashboard, a new setting will let gamers set the background of the dashboard (like themes) and interact with it. Waving hands in the view of the camera when it's on its "watery" setting will cause the background to "undulate" and ripple as if underwater. Other options include an "edgy" setting (likened to a "bad music video" by Hryb) and a "dotty" setting.
A similar feature can be used with the visualizer in the Xbox 360's music player. The psychedelic effects will be set atop a background image that captures what's going on in the room for an instant dance party with personalized visuals.
The camera will also be used in several games, such as Activision's World Series of Poker: Tournament of Champions, Ubisoft's Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Vegas, and several Xbox Live Arcade games, including "some gesture-based games, a pinball game, and TotemBall." For WSOP and RS: Vegas, the camera will model users' whole heads, with both portrait and profile shots being used to help add depth to the mapped image.
Messages will also include photos taken with the camera. When the camera is released later this year, gamers will be able to message each other with text, voice, photos, or all three.
To listen to the entire interview, head over to Major Nelson's Web site.
Hot Stories
Newsmakers
-
Dragon Age: Origins Interview with Ray Muzyka
We chat with Ray Muzyka about some of the features in Dragon Age: Origins. Full Story
- Posted Jul 8, 2009 4:06 pm PT
-
Left 4 Dead 2 Doug Lombardi Interview
We talk to Doug Lombardi about Left 4 Dead 2 at a recent preview event in London. Full Story
- Posted Jul 3, 2009 4:42 pm PT
Featured Stories
-
Sony dismisses Activision threats, PS3 price cut rumors
Sony Corp. CEO Sir Howard Stringer brands third-party publisher's comments as "noise," SCEA CEO Jack Tretton says other consoles don't deliver the same value. Full Story
- Posted Jul 8, 2009 1:15 pm PT
- 960 Comments
-
PS3 MGS4/Killzone 2 bundle now available
Best Buy begins offering rumored $400 retail configuration, which packs in 80GB console with nearly $90 of top-rated games. Full Story
- Posted Jul 7, 2009 11:19 am PT
- 481 Comments
-
Battlefield 1943 suffers server snafu
EA Dice's multiplayer-only downloadable shooter experiencing matchmaking technical difficulties after Xbox 360 launch this morning. Full Story
- Posted Jul 8, 2009 12:48 pm PT
- 142 Comments
-
Blizzard: Free-to-play WOW 'possible'
Lead designer Tom Chilton says the multiplatinum MMORPG champion could abolish monthly subscription plan by adopting microtransaction system. Full Story
- Posted Jul 7, 2009 12:43 pm PT
- 342 Comments
-
Square Enix retires Eidos publishing label
Japanese pub consolidates operations in Europe and NA, confirming some headcount reduction; British company's name will live on through dev studios. Full Story
- Posted Jul 7, 2009 11:15 am PT
- 138 Comments
Related Game
- Ubisoft
- Ubisoft Montreal
- Modern Tactical Shooter
- Release: Nov 20, 2006 »
- ESRB: Mature
Related Games
Recent News
Site Blogs
-
Sony gets Netflix streaming...for Bravia HDTVs
Ever since Netflix video streaming came to the Xbox 360, Microsoft has been touting it as a major advantage over its competing consoles....





277 Comments