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PlayStation 2 Eye Toy
- USB digital camera makes the player the "star" of the game; camera unit is 2.25" tall by 2.25" wide by 3.5" deep
- Motion-tracking technology instantly translates body movement into on-screen interaction
- Comes with twelve mini-games, including: Wish-Washi, Beat Freak, Kung Fu, Soccer Craze, Boxing Chump
- Can also be used to instantly create personalized video messages
- Funky Playroom feature (visual effects) and multiplayer options make EyeToy the perfect party peripheral
The Editors Desk:
Video game makers have been experimenting with live-action video in games since the early 1980s but EyeToy (a digital camera for PlayStation2) marks the first time it's been done right. The device magically superimposes video-game graphics onto a player's image and translates his or her movements into controlling elements of the game. It is the best improvement of video game controls since the joystick. | | | The EyeToy camera plugs into your PS2 | EyeToy has two components: a digital camera that plugs into one of the USB ports in the front of the PS2 and a disc of party games. In the EyeToy games--there are 12 on the disc, but some of them are little more than variations on the same theme--your image is at the center of the action. The game is totally controlled by moving your body in front of the camera. For example, in one game where the object is to beat back invading hordes of kung-fu fighters who come at you from the four corners of the screen, you must move your hands (or elbows, head, hips, whatever) to connect with the fighters onscreen and slap them away. Unlike most contemporary video games, EyeToy is so intuitive that most users will be able to play in a matter of seconds--even toddlers and senior citizens. Watching someone play EyeToy is fun: onscreen, the games are like the fanciful mix of live action and animation á la Who Framed Roger Rabbit, and off-screen, the player's movements are almost as goofy as those playing Dance Dance Revolution.  | | EyeToy is best enjoyed by groups | Setting up EyeToy is simple--just plug in the camera and drop in the disc--but fine-tuning it for your game environment takes a little effort. First, you'll need to have adequate, well-balanced lighting. We found that a bare 60-watt light bulb positioned behind the EyeToy camera worked pretty well. Next, you should clear away as many objects as possible between you and the EyeToy camera. Not only can extra objects impede the camera's function, they can present hazard when playing the game. A uniform background helps, too; we found that a light-colored wall worked better than a dark background. Before you drag the couch out on the lawn and pull pictures off the wall, try out the camera in different positions to see if you can find something that works without redecorating. The recommended placement of your EyeToy camera is right on top of your TV, but if your PS2 is situated farther than the 72-inch attached camera cord, you will have to get creative. We tried pointing the camera up at us from a coffee table and it worked fine. The EyeToy games, while fun, are too simple to keep solo gamers interested for long periods of time. EyeToy is best as a party game played with groups of friends, or as a way to show off your PS2. And as a peripheral for future games EyeToy holds a lot of promise. Let's hope that Tony Hawk and John Madden find a use for this little camera. --Porter B. Hall Pros: - Totally unique approach to video game design
- Great for groups
- So intuitive that anyone will be able to play it immediately
Cons: - Only the pathologically vain will find lasting fun in this as a solo game
Avg. Customer Review: 
Incredibly Fun Alone or with Friends
I was on a gadget kick last week and bought myself a PlayStation 2 Eye Toy Camera. I admit I thought it would be silly - but it has turned out to be AMAZINGLY fun!We got the EyeToy bundled with a copy of EyeToy Groove - a dance game. I know that the regular games that come with the base Eye Toy system are sort of cheezy, but EyeToy Groove is SUPER fun. The song selection and movements are great single player and multiplayer. It's like a dance pad for the top half of your body! I'm going to review Groove separately, so let me just talk about the Eye Toy component here. The camera was incredibly easy to use and install. You just plug the cable into the USB port beneath your controller spot, and POOF it's on. A red light lets you know if its too dark in the room, but we didn't have any trouble using it day or night. A ring lets you focus it so you are crisp and clean on the screen. We played many multi-player games and it had no problem at all sensing our movements and creating really cool video effects around us. I can easily see that this camera will be useful in all sorts of games and applications, especially as more PS2 Online games come out. Highly recommended - especially if you can get your hands on the Groove software!
Fun interface, fun for family
The Eye Toy is a great interface - you and family and friends will start laughing when they see images of themselves on the screen thanks to the USB camera. It's fun to wave your arms to interact with the game instead of the controller. Always a kick when we break this out at parties. Guys like the Kung Fu and Boxing games. Girls like the Window Washing games- they will all make you sweat. I bought this along with DDR MAX2 and Karaoke Revoluion so now we have 4 ways to interact with the PS2: arm waving, dancing, singing, and regular controller. The only thing is, the graphics are a little chunky compared to most PS2 games, and the games are very simple. So this game is a good break/novelty factor for crowds with short attention spans rather than a game you'll spend hours trying to beat.
Great gift for Everyone
This was a fantastic present that the entire family enjoyed. It had plenty of things for the children and the adults to do. The adults had lots of fun doing the dance and disco moves, it was very fun and very competitive. The children played for hours on it with all of the games-soccer, kung fu, etc. It was fun to watch too. This is a great place to start for the beginner's as far as dance moves go. <br />
I would highly recommend it!
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