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.

Xbox Live Vision

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.

277 Comments

  • DeathgiverX

    Posted Oct 5, 2006 7:22 pm PT

    Only would get to make custom GT pics, though I think my Ayane is fine.

  • Aeoxins

    Posted Jul 31, 2006 10:18 pm PT

    In Reply to NEv70, whats not to stop them from taking pictures of themselves in the nude. I think this idea could turn out to be very ugly.

  • Trev102

    Posted Jun 8, 2006 11:33 pm PT

    Everyone says they are worried about seeing people's faces. Ill be relieved if I see people's faces. BTW about the copying situation everything evolves.

  • Hoopin4thelove

    Posted Jun 2, 2006 10:28 am PT

    great idea cant wait to get it

  • CloudStrifeFFO7

    Posted Jun 2, 2006 3:50 am PT

    Thats pretty cool! I dont have a 360 but whenever this camra comes out I want to get it just for my PC and when ever I get a 360 I already have something to go with it!

  • soulknight63133

    Posted Jun 1, 2006 3:14 am PT

    just because someone has their camera on, doesn't mean you have to accept any live vid feed from them..some of you are real idiots for not realizing this.

  • Randomd00d

    Posted May 31, 2006 5:37 pm PT

    i dont think this is really that kool... imean its nice and interesting but i wouldnt buy it...

  • grave_rob

    Posted May 31, 2006 4:45 pm PT

    face mapping on some games will be kinda rad. & the whole overhead on R6 will probably be sick. just hope they don't overprice these things.

  • Disgaeamad

    Posted May 31, 2006 4:24 pm PT

    Interesting. I am planning on buying a 360 soon, so I could try and get this as well

  • MoopyD

    Posted May 31, 2006 4:11 pm PT

    It sucks because there is so much copying happenin......the only smart thing to do is to ignore this fact.....unless you are really towards a specific console

  • elcarnal17CR

    Posted May 31, 2006 4:01 pm PT

    Hahaha...why are PS3 fanboys calling this an eye-toy??

    We could by all rights call the controllers a no-rumble Wii controller ripoff. PS3 online.... "cough"Xbox Live ripoff!!!"cough"

  • Doomshine

    Posted May 31, 2006 3:27 pm PT

    everyone copies everyone in one way or another, hate it or learn to like it

  • mpeg3s

    Posted May 31, 2006 3:15 pm PT

    Yeah right, the Eye Toy had nothing to do with online.

    I bet Sony copies this!

  • joshterd31

    Posted May 31, 2006 3:14 pm PT

    thats such a rip off of eye toy

  • mpeg3s

    Posted May 31, 2006 3:13 pm PT

    In the beginning it's going to be a bit ruff.

    But I'm sure MS is going to have parent controls, video community optional age limits, an abuse report system, video buddy list, video invite, and public video disable.

    It can work, it's just like developing an EMU.

    Mpeg3s

  • Endracion

    Posted May 31, 2006 2:59 pm PT

    Wow, this update seriously looks awesome, I can see they're trying very hard this year, to make the Xbox 360 THE peice of necessary hardware.

  • grassgreener12

    Posted May 31, 2006 2:54 pm PT

    well....another way for pedafiles to get in contact with kids....well goodbye xbox360...hello ps3 purchase...hopefully michael jackson doesnt play on live....oh god!!!!

  • GloverD

    Posted May 31, 2006 2:51 pm PT

    Nahh i aint diggin this

  • Maquis_UK

    Posted May 31, 2006 2:43 pm PT

    it is kind of cool that Fony are having their hardware ripped off too, though. lol ooooh wow a USB camera.

  • krustykrew1

    Posted May 31, 2006 2:42 pm PT

    Now we can gaze into each other eyes when we are killing each other

  • Azzzel

    Posted May 31, 2006 2:41 pm PT

    hope ps3 get a webcam,

  • Lucifer013

    Posted May 31, 2006 2:08 pm PT

    Here comes the child predators...then the anti-game activists start saying that it is Microsoft fault, lol.

  • TensiNothing

    Posted May 31, 2006 2:05 pm PT

    oh... cool..

    God only knows the weird disturbing things people will take pictures of.... umm I'll wait for Wii..

  • vamroc

    Posted May 31, 2006 1:40 pm PT

    I'm glad because now we will know who all those punk b!tches are Xbox live.

  • blackmage0_15

    Posted May 31, 2006 1:12 pm PT

    Has anyone seen the movie Anti-Trust?

    That's what worries me.

  • lageasy311

    Posted May 31, 2006 1:01 pm PT

    Sounds boring. Why does microsoft think that LIve is where it's at? Alot of people (including me) hate playing live games. It's littered with stupid little kids that I can't stand b/c of their immaturity to have to make fart noises and stuff like that.......why would i wanna see these twerps live? Just gives me more of an excuse to punch my TV.

  • REforever101

    Posted May 31, 2006 1:00 pm PT

    cool, now we can see what everyone on the leaderboards look like.......

  • rokkuman09

    Posted May 31, 2006 12:41 pm PT

    the dude they use the eyetoy in several of the tony hawk ps2 games

  • ZERO52

    Posted May 31, 2006 12:36 pm PT

    cool ill get it...maybe

  • YEPEE00

    Posted May 31, 2006 12:23 pm PT

    great, more reasons not to get to xbox live and disvalue what they might have had.

  • yanks26wsw

    Posted May 31, 2006 11:39 am PT

    Price?

  • priest17

    Posted May 31, 2006 11:29 am PT

    I say its just a bad idea. Eyetoy was pretty stupid and adding the feature of seeing people (most likely nerds) while playing doesnt make it better.
    P.S. why would I want to see my friends while I play live???

  • joeinverted

    Posted May 31, 2006 11:28 am PT

    To all of the Sony fanboys/girls saying MS copied EyeToy, just stuff it! Webcams have been around for ages. It only makes sense that the console maker with the best online service would make the incremental upgrade from audio chat to video chat. There may be some interactive functionality in games, but this device is first and foremost a means to communicate with others. Connecting with your friends is what Xbox Live is all about.

  • S_Pac_316

    Posted May 31, 2006 11:26 am PT

    Well,this sounds like a cool thing. But how many of the users will actually use their faces?

  • thefutureofball

    Posted May 31, 2006 11:21 am PT

    wats up with the mouse

  • PoP-WW

    Posted May 31, 2006 11:10 am PT

    poor copy of sony
    why do they still bother
    and this looks so ugly

  • Azn_PlayBoi323

    Posted May 31, 2006 11:00 am PT

    awesomeness!!

  • j00n_

    Posted May 31, 2006 10:57 am PT

    Copying Eye-Toy..

  • theoxylo

    Posted May 31, 2006 10:47 am PT

    what, no video messaging? too much bandwidth, I guess. but I'm disappointed

  • PonJarker

    Posted May 31, 2006 10:36 am PT

    i wonder if my girlfriend would notice the hum of the fans and the green light

  • mbott1701

    Posted May 31, 2006 10:27 am PT

    What is the eye toy?

  • MONTE_BLK

    Posted May 31, 2006 10:24 am PT

    Great! Now people can see who is about to lay the SMACKDOWN ON THEM!!

  • XNG

    Posted May 31, 2006 10:11 am PT

    EYE TOY! Mykrosoft takes the concept of SONY's EYETOY and make a bad "suck-better-modification"... LOL mdr vraimen tro con c ricains...

  • XBOX360LIVE

    Posted May 31, 2006 10:08 am PT

    I guess I have to put clothes on next time I play LIve.

  • Agent_023

    Posted May 31, 2006 10:01 am PT

    If we could use the camera like in Minority Report when navigating the Xbox 360 dashboard, then hell yes I'd get it. Otherwise I'll have to wait and see whether it's worth the money.

  • Killian420

    Posted May 31, 2006 9:50 am PT

    so, wait, uhh, i'll have to turn the camera around to hit the bong, well i guess i don't have to

  • Squids-Ahoy

    Posted May 31, 2006 9:40 am PT

    Everybody get naked!

  • acummuta

    Posted May 31, 2006 9:24 am PT

    It seems like it could be a cool addition. Don't know if I care much yet. I'll wait to see the games.

  • Pastehunter

    Posted May 31, 2006 9:20 am PT

    SOOOOOOOOOOO PATHETIC . Cheap Eye Toy copy .

  • BrianC6234

    Posted May 31, 2006 9:15 am PT

    Wow Microsoft, a camera. Nobody thought of that idea yet.

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