Webcam Wars: Comparing the PlayStation Eye with the Xbox LIVE Vision

Although both high-definition consoles currently have camera peripherals out on the market, it seems Sony and Microsoft have two rather different strategies regarding the integration of cameras into the console entertainment experience. Join The Exploding Barrel as we compare the cameras' features, the roles they play for the two consoles, and the the variety of applications that take advantage of these ocular add-ons.

[heyheyhey]

yeah the PS Eye is great, although it looks kinda weird

and once again, another feature is done better on PS3 with more capabilities and quality and the software to go along with it- Trials of Topoq is great fun

and it will be great fun when Sony implement that feature that lets you control the XMB with the Eye

[InYourMom]

I can't argue with you here. Sony has done so much more with there camera than MS has. It seems like MS is using theres primarily as a communication device while Sony is using it for both communication device and game peripheral.

[heyheyhey]

yeah man i don't know why you hate the PS3 so much

in a couple of your posts you said stuff like KZ2 is one of your most anticipated titles of 08 and you like stuff like the eye

it seems to me that you like your PS3 more than you let on

[MaximusPrime]

i got PS Eye.

Love it. It has great look too.

[Mr Blings]

consoles, but neither of the cams. I have considered picking up one of them however. It sounds as if the ps3 model is better, but all my friends are on live, not psn so that kinda sucks. does the ps3 cam plug into a usb like live vision? that would be another downer because I have the 40 bg ps3 which means only 2 usb and both on the front. I guess the same could be said for my 360 though because i have wireless adapter plugged into the back of my 360. thanks for the write up, gives me something to ponder...def think its cool up to 6 people can have web chat at once on the eye, this is a feature we've been asking 4 4ever on live

[donalbane]

Yeah dude, it's USB, but you should be able to get a cheap adapter at Radio Shack. May go for a powered adapter, just to be safe... and I'm not sure if the mic will work if you go through a passthrough. (USB extension cords don't allow sound data to pass through, I hear.) Good luck though.

The Eye is a must have though. The Vision is really just a fun extra, but the Eye is fantastic. So long Blue-Tooth headset!

[kwicksandz]

it works on PS3, but the ps3 wont work with 360.

[Harry190]

i get a standalone pseye?i need one.

[Mc187]

Gamestop, Best Buy, Circuit City.

[MaximusPrime]

i got one from local ebay seller. i couldnt find it at all UK's store. They were all out of stock.

[PSWe60]

That this article appears just when i was considering getting a PS Eye...how strange.

I also love the part where it said " instances of flailing your arms around like a jackass", who wasn't thinking of the Wii...COM'ON!

[jack who]

ok leme get this out the way playstation eye looks ugly

[Carbon]

With the Bright Blue Led letting you know when its in standy and the Bright Red Led letting you know it's in action, its preety sweet looking in my opinion. I used to think it was ugly looking though, that Microphone is bretty big looking though.

[DARK-GRIM]

The PlayStation Eye is a must-have.

[meepmoopmeep]

wow, i was just looking at getting a PSEye too. found one $10 cheaper at my movie store than walmart so i will most likely pick it up when i return the movies i got today.

[proArchy]

i got a PsEyeand it is very nice, i didn't know about the psp remote view, thats effing awesome

[donalbane]

Yeah, it's technically not an official feature, but I was curious and tested it out, and it works! You just go to the menu and act like you want to change your settings while connected remotely.

Also, due to trouble with the site, the link to the article has changed. Go to: http://theexplodingbarrel.c...

Sorry about the error... but if someone could kindly add an 'alternate source' to the article, it would be greatly appreciated.

[athlon770]

I purchased the Vision for my 360 since I have Rainbow6 and wanted to put my mug in game...very cool btw! Then I purchased my PS3 and didn't think too much of the PS-eye. Untill I purchased Burnout. I connected my vision to the PS3 and it works great, but I have to switch back and forth with each system. I was going to purchase another vision not knowing the eye is autofocus. This article just changed my mind.

[darthv72]

I tried it out on my xp machine and it makes a nice clean image and smooth video. I think the ps-eye can plug into pc as well. I have not yet tried the camera on the 360 but I am thinking it would really only work if you play with others who have the camera as well. I like uno but if I am the only one with the cam then it defeats the purpose.

[TheMART]

Sony cam has some more use, but it looks like outdated old 80's equipment.

I have the 360 with cam and tomorrow I'll buy the GO!Cam for my Ceramic white PSP to use it's mic for Skype. Does anyone know if the cam also gives video in Skype on PSP anyone who knows?

[heyheyhey]

yeah like the article said- it looks like some defense turret

but lets not be superficial here eh- Eye has some great uses like the eye create thing and voice chat in games- which meant i didn't need to buy a pricey bluetooth set

[TheMART]

It's already pretty stupid that the PS3 out of the package has no headset so one can't jump in online 100% in this next gen online area PLUS that there is no HD cable included in this next gen HD area.

So actually I don't see that as a plus from the cam, I see that as a dumb choice from Sony. A mic on a cam picks up any sound from the room.

I love my 360 headset that comes with my 360 on my HD screen with HD cables that came with the package. Plus my Vision cam that looks white, small, nice, from this time not from the 80's.

Anyhow, does anyone know the GO!Cam and Skype use, only audio possible or also video?

EDIT

@ that meepbeepcreep below

Wrong. One can dislike a company and it's behavings but like CERTAIN products.

I dislike Sony for overpromissing and underdelivering. ALWAYS. Even for the PSP. They launched the PSP and even after years it almost has no games. At last in 2008 they deliver with God of War and Patapon. Anyone will agree.

I have my PSP mostly for homebrew. That's not thanks to Sony. That's because of Dark Alex.

I dislike Sony for overhyping stuff. Like they overhyped the PS2 it would be 10 x more powerfull then a supercomputer and a lot better then it's rivals. It wasn't. Emotion Engine didn't do much besides making me cry.

Same with the PS3. Overhyped, the 360 and PS3 can do about the same, but the 360 is just easier to program period. The PS3 isn't so mighty, it was a way to push their videoformat, not the best gaming device choices they made.

Again: delaying, overpromissing, underdelivering.

Thus ask before you judge. My opinion has legit facts beneath it. You judging without knowing says a lot about the stupid, ignorant meepbeepcreep you are

[meepmoopmeep]

you own a psp and look at your avatar. says a lot about the kind of stupid person you really are.

[gambare]

Hey mart, don't copy paste your fanboy comments, I saw your flame word by word in another topic, if you are going to flame at least try to be original.

[Kleptic]

Mart...please...why do you always make yourself look stupid...

the PS3 has no headset out of the box...so you can't '100% play online out of the box'...yet XBL charges you $50 up front for the first year of XBL...so you can't '100% play online out of the box' either...

a standard bluetooth headset can easily be found for cheaper than a years worth of XBL...who is the idiot?...

stop saying the PS3 isn't a better value...it is...its been beaten into everyone's head now over and over...we can just let it go...there is no denying that you get shanked more by MS with the 360 and XBL than you do by Sony and the PSN...end of discussion...even some of your diehard fanatic friends have finally admitted that...

[TheMART]

@ Gambare

Go compare them and then come back. You talk donkey sh!t

@ Kleptic

Yes you can play out of the box 100% online. There is a card included for XBL Gold, which gives you three months (most people think one, but you can activate 3 accounts after each month).

I got 3 XBL subscriptions for 12 months each for the XBOX 1 that work on the 360, 60 Euro's in total. With a premium online service that's ok.

But having no headset or HD cables right out of the box is just pretty lame and stupid.

Plus 95% of the multiplatform games run best on the 360 and the best and most high rated exclusive games are on the 360. So no the PS3 isn't better value. Yeah as a cheap BluRay player it is, you're right.

[Percy]

I bought the halo 3 edition version and it did not come with xbox live no free trial no nothing

[TheMART]

Percy, I would check the box again.

I am speaking what I see and know from The Netherlands. Every package has a free membership included overhere except for the Arcade (Core).

Haven't you missed it? Sounds pretty strange to me. Premium, Elite, Halo 3 package, as far as I know and heard all have the free membership

[kalistyles]

I have the PS Eye and it's really cool. Having a video chat with multiple friends is awesome. Also if you have PSP and use the remote play feature you can hook up to any wifi spot and check in on your room with the PS3. Its like having a security camera in your room when your not there. But one thing I still want to know is if you can have a video chat with remote play on the PSP. You can invite friends and see them on your PSP but you cant hear them. I wonder if the PSP mic would work. Anybody know?

[Blade Runner]

The PS3 camera needs a LOT of light to get a good picture compared to the 360 camera. I know the Eye camera works in low light. But I have tried both and to get the same picture quality out of the PS3 I ran 2 800 watt work lights just to light up the room enough to get a non grain look out of the picture. I suppose if you are set up in a room with white walls and a lot of natural light or some very bright house lamps you can get a very nice picture. However I took back the eye camera due to the fact that my home theater room was just not the ideal set up for the PS3 camera and kept my 360 vision camera. Good luck either way. I dont make coments on here often but I thought I at least could speak to the poor abilty of the PS3 camera to deliver a good low light picture.

[whateva]

where did you get some 800 watt lights from anyway.

go to this link to see for yourself

http://www.stage6.com/onQ-N...

[Blade Runner]

However I see that most of you filming was done with white walls. But as soon as you brount something dark near the camera you can see the graining I was talking about. The problem for me is that the room I was trying to use the eye camera in has dark walls. So just for my application it is better to use the 360 vision camera. Oh and the 800 work lights are from Home Depot. 400 watts each on a stand. Take care and good luck with your eye camera.

[BigKev45]

I own both. Nice for mooning folks, haha.

[titntin]

Ps3 eye is an absolute essetial. Completeley eliminates the need for using a blu tooth headset, and I wouldn't use my Ps3 without it.
Haven't got the live cam for the 360, but without the mic functions, I wouldn't find it that useful....

[Fishy Fingers]

Same, looking at it i probably bought it mainly for the mic. I like some of the eyetoy games mind.

[GametimeUK]

Funnily enough i use my X-box vision cam on my ps3... works in video chat and Burnout

[Fishy Fingers]

Yep, pretty much any webcam works with it. The PS cam is much better quality mind.

[-EvoAnubis-]

However, the games that require the PS Eye (PSN titles, EoJ, EyeCreate) won't work.

[GametimeUK]

thats the reason i love sony... ps3 is compatible with so much stuff... i would expect ps cam to be better quality but i cant complain since i have a cam that works on both consoles :-)

[cokzilla23]

not having a headset included is not that big of a deal. i prefer not having a headset included with my console than having to pay to play online.

[themyk]

what am i going to do with out hd cables and a headset. lets see go spend 20 bucks on a headset. check. go spend 20 to 40 for HDMI cables. check. but you know what we did get right out of the box? BLU RAY. and FREE online play. so go spend your 50 bucks to play online and i'll spend my 50 and get a blu ray player free. thanks for the stupid comment. may i have another.

[DJ]

I get a crisp picture, and the Microphone function is amazing. Like, I actually have little use for my warhawk mic now. Don't buy Mezmerize though; it's a waste of money. Trials of Topoq is a lot of fun when relatives come over though.

[TUFFnNYC]

Well lemme first say that Mart makes good points but i can go back and forth stating both pros and cons about each system. I love my PS3. He loves his xbox. Who cares anymore. Anyway, all i know is that out of the box, my PS3 worked. No red ring aftr a few months. Secondly, i didnt even know the xbox had a cam. But, i still prefer the PS Eye. It seems as though Sony will use it for everything its got. Peace

[DFresh]

There's no comparison the Eye is the best.
I can play games w/ it great interactivity w/ the body.
I can make movies up to half an hour long.
There's voice settings you use to make your online voice sound custom either high, low, or normal. Sound as high pitched as a baby or sound as low as Darth Vader all really cool.
Perfect online voice chatting and video chatting all perfectly clear in 1080P.
Games are also super fun. (Trials of Topaq, Mesmerize, Creature Features, etc.)
PS3 FTW!!!!!!!!!!!!