Xbox 360 to get motion-sensing camera

By Ellie Gibson Published 13 May, 2009

So says the Wall Street Journal, anyway.

A motion-sensing video camera is in development for Xbox 360, according to the Wall Street Journal.

The newspaper reports it will "allow players to control games with the movement of their bodies". You won't need to hold any peripherals, apparently - just stand in front of the camera and it will track the movement of your hands, legs and head.

Yes, it sounds an awful lot like EyeToy. But "people familiar with the matter" said Microsoft's camera uses 3D technology, "which gives players more accurate control over games than earlier game cameras did".

Microsoft recently acquired Israel-based company 3DV Systems, which sources said has developed a 3D camera and owns related patents. 3DV bossman Zvika Klier told the WSJ, "Unfortunately I can't comment on the rumors surrounding this deal... We will provide more information when we can."

The WSJ reckons the camera could be unveiled at E3 next month, but won't be released until next year. It'll be available as a standalone product and perhaps later on as part of a hardware bundle. There's no word on price just yet.

Microsoft declined to comment.

UPDATE: This isn't the first time such a camera has been rumoured. Eagle-eyed readers have pointed out we ran a similar story earlier this month. Thanks, readers, and keep those eyes eagly.

Picture of Ellie.

About Ellie Gibson

Since joining Eurogamer in the mid 2000s, Ellie has written about subjects as diverse as the fall of Gizmondo, the rise of Hollyoaks actresses in Red Alert games and the noise a bear makes under NSFW circumstances.

Read more articles from Ellie by visiting the Ellie Gibson archive page.

You may also like...

Comments (61) Latest comment 3 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Innes #1 3 years ago

    First.

  • Wastelander #2 3 years ago

    Cock Pong.

    You heard it here first.

  • Domovoi #3 3 years ago

    Why would someone buy it as a standalone product? Nobody would go out to buy just a Wii Balance Board.It needs to be bundled with some appealling game to actually sell.

  • SHPanda #4 3 years ago

    Slow day at the office EG? This was reported by various sources about two weeks ago, along with a photo of the actual device, it looks a bit like a Wii Sensor Bar, but all white and has the same stand as the Vision Camera. It was a bar with a camera and two sensors built in, the sensors apparantly gave the camera depth perception per se.

    Here's the image - [link url=http://cache.gawker.com/assets/images /kotaku/2009/05/xbox_360_body_rock.jpg
    ]http://ca che.gawker.com/assets/images/ko...[/link]

    @ Innes - Why do you care that you're first? Is it some sort of achievement? Mong.

  • Xerx3s #5 3 years ago

    Sigh.

  • Dizzy #6 3 years ago

    The tech is pretty nifty but I do not like camera based motion tracking since the lighting in your room must be optimal and you need to stand in the perfect spot. In my place this will almost certainly fail since I have back lit window and sit far from TV.

  • Eighthours #7 3 years ago

    If MS has bought the company, then this is almost certainly real. There's a video from last year's CES of the camera in action.

  • Skandalle #8 3 years ago

    God i hate peripherals like this! you cant beat a controller, so dont try.

  • Steroyd #9 3 years ago

    I'm confused... what was that Xbox camera they released a few years ago then?

  • keyboardmonkey #10 3 years ago

    @Steroyd

    A waste of cash apart from getting your face in R6v and for pics in Burnout Paradise

  • oreillymj #11 3 years ago

    "Microsoft recently required Israel-based"

    I'm guessing you meant acquired.

  • des #12 3 years ago

    @Dizzy

    "The tech is pretty nifty but I do not like camera based motion tracking since the lighting in your room must be optimal and you need to stand in the perfect spot. In my place this will almost certainly fail since I have back lit window and sit far from TV."

    This camera doesn't need light,it makes it...

    See this http://ww w.3dvsystems.com/technology/tec...

  • nickfernando #13 3 years ago

    Damn I just bought the Live Vision camera bundled with You're in the Movies (£14.99) from HMV for my daughter (I swear!). Guess that'll be relegated to webcam duty next year...

    Does anyone know if you can use the PS2 Eye Toy games with PS3 Eye? I'm hoping to persuade the family to get a 60Gb PS3 from Computer Exchange for my birthday. My daughter loves all the Eye Toy games but the slim PS2 I've got is acting very erratic lately, so it'd be great to be able for her to play them on the PS3.

  • brainbird #14 3 years ago

    I can't wait for TotemBall 2!

  • Dizzy #15 3 years ago

    >This camera doesn't need light,it makes it...

    Still how well will it deal with back lit rooms?

    Maybe in the future we will all have to game in a room with grid wallpaper ;) That would make WoW 3 run awesome! Swing that sword!

  • JensonJet #16 3 years ago

    Agree with the comments about the camera. I also have one, and have only ever used it twice I think. Microsoft haven't really worked out why the Wii sells well, have they? Why they don't understand that peripherals sell very well when combined with games that are either original or make good use of the product is beyond me.

    Admittedly, like most, I'm a convential console gamer. I don't need gadgets or care for the extra cost of motion control technology, to enjoy gaming. I just want quality games that work perfectly with the joypad. In fact if anything, I'd rather have a decent mouse/keyboard to connect so I can play first person shooters properly. I really hope this product fails because Microsoft has already taken enough money from us with that camera of theirs. I geniunely thought more games would've allowed you stick your own face on game characters at least, let alone make clever use of the camera. Microsoft should at least help if not partly finance developers to include the use of that camera into their games. Sometimes they come across as so desperate for our money, they forget to give us something back in return!!

    Although I'm not interested in the Wii, I have to admit, the tea-lady at Ninentdo is probably more creative than the collective minds at Microsoft. I guess it's always been the policy of Microsoft to buy out other companies or copy the competition. No wonder they don't endear themselves to many. While some of their products are good (their joypad being outstanding in my opinion) I'm not surprised we rarely hear anyone say "I love Microsoft". They're just not a company you can really feel any emotional attachment to... unless you love banks, accountants and the taxman.
    Edited by 1 at 13/05/09 @ 10:07

  • DocRobotnik #17 3 years ago

    Why are Microsoft so bad at keeping secrets?

    I don't remember the 'big reveal' they made that wasn't plastered all over the internet at least a month in advance!?

  • woodnotes #18 3 years ago

    Why would someone buy it as a standalone product? Nobody would go out to buy just a Wii Balance Board.It needs to be bundled with some appealling game to actually sell.

    And how the hell do you know that it will be sold as a standalone product anyway?

    The tech is pretty nifty but I do not like camera based motion tracking since the lighting in your room must be optimal and you need to stand in the perfect spot. In my place this will almost certainly fail since I have back lit window and sit far from TV.

    Lighting is irrelevant, it works out everything using IR. The camera part is just used to display your image on screen when required.

  • Vistrix #19 3 years ago

    Sony have made a huge success in Europe from the eye toy, with the eye camera yet to take off properly. People seem to forget this.

    Perhaps Microsoft are expecting Sony to release a large amount of games at E3 geared towards the eye camera?

  • Domovoi #20 3 years ago

    The tech is pretty nifty but I do not like camera based motion tracking since the lighting in your room must be optimal and you need to stand in the perfect spot.

    So, you've already used this system, then?

  • siro #21 3 years ago

    @SHPanda: Check Innes user recent post activity. :)

  • DUFFMAN5 #22 3 years ago

    Piss off
    The 360 controller is excellent and does a fab job.

  • Domovoi #23 3 years ago

    And how the hell do you know that it will be sold as a standalone product anyway?

    It wasn't easy, and I fully understand if people missed the subtle clues that were laid out, but I cunningly figured this out by reading the article, in which it is plainly stated that "it'll be available as a standalone product and perhaps later on as part of a hardware bundle."

    Lighting is irrelevant, it works out everything using IR. The camera part is just used to display your image on screen when required.

    Still, it might go wrong if too much direct sunlight (which is also infrared) blasts onto the camera through the windows.
    Edited by 2 at 13/05/09 @ 10:22

  • Domovoi #24 3 years ago

    I don't want to be forced to stand in one particular spot to play a game.

    Earlier reports said the system would be able to pick up on hand gestures too. That would mean being able to just lie on the couch, gesturing with one hand, or just swinging your arm while the rest of your body remains comatose.
    Edited by 1 at 13/05/09 @ 10:32

  • octo #25 3 years ago

    The motion sensing Wii works because the entire experience is based around motion control. The guitar hero guitar sells because it is bundled with a game that people really seem to like I think asking "what happened to the last camera idea you tried" is a valid question. They brought it out and then completely forgot about it.

  • ocmerius #26 3 years ago

    For the people actually interested in this, here are some demo's from the company MS bought.
    Looks pretty nifty imo.

    http://ww w.3dvsystems.com/gallery/galler...
    @ Ashen.
    Just check out the video's, it's definitely possible
    Edited by 1 at 13/05/09 @ 10:47

  • Domovoi #27 3 years ago

    Agreed. They can't suddenly make all 360 games motion controlled, because then what about the people who don't have the peripheral? So motion control in 360 games will either be optional, which means only a handful of games, or motion controls will hamhandedly be tacked onto games that have control schemes suited to the 360's primary controller. Even the Wii only has a couple of games that use motion controls well, the rest are mainly using motion because it just happens to be the way you control it, not because it adds anything to the experience that a regular controller wouldn't.

  • mcmonkeyplc #28 3 years ago

    This is going to make a mess in my room if it works!

  • Domovoi #29 3 years ago

    Not wishing to sound condescending, but how can you possibly believe that claim?

    I don't believe it, I'm saying that that's what was reported, and those reports are the only thing we have to go on. The device isn't even confirmed yet, for pete's sake. Even the involvement of 3DV's technology is little more than a rumor based on a recent acquisition.There's not much sense in instantly dismissing everything reported about it, when you're not even sure what kind of tech it uses. That's about as nonsensical as immediately taking wild reported claims as truth.

    Even military level image recognition technology would be unlikely to be able to track a small, low-contrast object like a hand with any kind of accuracy.

    Sources?

    You can imagine the amount of processor power needed to scan and identify objects in even a narrow field of view at distances of up to, say 2 meters, which is what would be required for hand tracking. That kind of processing and image recognition software is not going to be affordable and certainly wouldnt fit in a sensor bar.

    So, what image processing hard/software have you worked on that you can make these claims with such certainty?
    Edited by 3 at 13/05/09 @ 10:54

  • Vistrix #30 3 years ago

    @Ashen-Shugar

    You've misunderstood me. The eye toy has been a huge success and has taken off massively in Europe. The eye camera (the PS3 eye toy) has yet to make it big with some games coming out this year geared towards the camera (the eye pet game for example).

    Camera control in video games can work extremely well (Burnout Paradise uses it to take a screenshot of the user when they crash their car for example). Its in its very early stages though and developers are overdoing it.
    Edited by 1 at 13/05/09 @ 10:57

  • slayaz #31 3 years ago

    @siro

    Rofl, nice find!

    What an absolute cock, deserves a ban!

    On the matter of the camera, it must come down to the developers to integrate it into their games. I mean what ever happened to voice control? This will go the same way as all the other peripherals if it is not supported properly, and i don't just mean for obvious Wii copies but real games.

  • MrChuckles #32 3 years ago

    I know someone who works somewhere where this is being used and they tell me it's definitely a LOT better than the Eyetoy. It's probably MS aiming at some of the Wii's users, but with a much higher quality of product. (That is not a dig at the Wii remote, this system has a very different feel...if it works)

  • Vistrix #33 3 years ago

    @MrChuckles The eye toy is old PS2 tech... Sony has the eye camera already for the PS3, its far better than the eye toy.

  • MENTAL1ST Verified Senior Software Engineer, Picsel UK Ltd. #34 3 years ago

    Still how well will it deal with back lit rooms?

    Since it's based on infra-red LEDs, one might assume that it'll work as reliably as your TV remote control.

    I just hope that someday one of these motion-control solutions will bring us a home conversion of Mazan: Flash of the Blade. Which, incidentally, used multi-point infra-red light detection, albeit via a big red metal hoop.

  • Vistrix #35 3 years ago

    @Ashen-Shugar you're basing its success on the fact that you havent seen many of them around?

    I know its gimmicky, but the eyetoy is hugely successful, its sold over 10 million units worldwide. There are some upcoming games on the PS3 that look extremely promising for the updated eye camera. Im sure Microsoft have realised this and just want to get a share of it. Casual gamers will lap it up to begin with.

    If integrated well enough though, a camera in games can be great. Look at LittleBigPlanet for example.
    Edited by 2 at 13/05/09 @ 11:30

  • MrChuckles #36 3 years ago

    @Vistrix - Sorry, what i meant is that it is already being used for applications and games that none of the other current camera systems can do. Then again, i expect it won't be able to do some of the things the Wii does as well as it is pretty different.

    I expect it will impress a lot of people at E3, especially people who don't normally play games, hardcore gamers will likely go 'it's impressive, but i don't like the games it has', a bit like 95% of Wii titles.

  • ThePissartist #37 3 years ago

    Can't say I'm excited about this.

    How would you be able to play tennis two (or even four) player in the same room?

  • Kazzahdrane #38 3 years ago

    @nickfernando:

    For what it's worth, the Live Vision camera makes a really good webcam for PC :)

  • BigE0n #39 3 years ago

    Ashen you need to actually take a look at what this camera is capable of...

    [link url=http:/ /www.3dvsystems.com/gallery/gallery.html
    ]http://ww w.3dvsystems.com/gallery/galler...[/link]

    It is defiantly a massive step forward from the eyetoy type camera's of old and I can see how Microsoft can see this as being a contender for the wii's motion capture system

    But of course what this all really boils down to is how good the games are that use this interface

  • glaeken #40 3 years ago

    As I am reading this its nothing to do with image recognition. It's actually mapping the room you are in and everything in it with infra red. It's constantly updating its map and it compares the differences to judge movement. It's basically firing off infra red and measuring the time it takes to bounce back to its sensors to build its 3d image. It's actually far simpler than image recognition because its keeping track of 3d objects and does not even need to be aware of the colour or lighting on the object.

    I like the tech but there is still no way I am standing in the middle of my front room waving my arms around like a loon.

  • bad09 #41 3 years ago

    Yep. definitely dreading E3 now, I sense another MS "look we are casual and fun as well! Look you can jump around like a wally to crap software with XBox to!" event like last year.

  • Dizzy #42 3 years ago

    "The tech is pretty nifty but I do not like camera based motion tracking since the lighting in your room must be optimal and you need to stand in the perfect spot.

    So, you've already used this system, then? "

    Yes I have used similar stuff at conventions for this kind of stuff and I have seen this one actually in action (in ideal conditions).

    But apparently this one uses IR.... that would probably work. I didn't know that.

  • influenceuk #43 3 years ago

    They will release it, release 2-3 games, then not bother with it again just like the xbox vision! And from the picture people have posted, it looks bloody awefull!

  • woodnotes #44 3 years ago

    Ashen, do you work for Sony? You seem to be putting an awful lot of effort in to this comment section.

  • nickfernando #45 3 years ago

    It may not be all that bad. They probably thought they were onto something when they got that touchless sdk thing by hiring that kid who created it as a university project...oh wait that does seem bad. Then again they have got a massive number of software engineers and developers on tap to make it better. Erm, that didn't help Vista much. Maybe this is a peripheral for the NextBox much like Vista is a good OS for a 6GHz 16-core Nehalem EX+ with 64GB Ram and a 4 billion transistor GPU...

    Touchless is nice though...

  • Domovoi #46 3 years ago

    "The tech is pretty nifty but I do not like camera based motion tracking since the lighting in your room must be optimal and you need to stand in the perfect spot.

    So, you've already used this system, then? "

    Yes I have used similar stuff at conventions

    So you didn't actually use it.

  • Dizzy #47 3 years ago

    >So you didn't actually use it.

    I HAVE used the one made by the company that MS bought. Have I used the one that is RUMORED to be coming out? No. Now Fuck off. It is easy to post replies like this on random websites.

  • Domovoi #48 3 years ago

    I HAVE used the one made by the company that MS bought. Have I used the one that is RUMORED to be coming out? No. Now Fuck off. It is easy to post replies like this on random websites.

    Not quite as easy as posting "I haven't used this device or know anything about it but here's why it won't work", though.

  • busboy33 #49 3 years ago

    @ashen:

    This is for the millions of people that don't like gamepads, the people that find circle-strafing while manipulating triggers, bumpers, and face buttons frustrating and off-putting. The same people that got a Wii because now they can play games without having to "learn" anything. My brother-in-law has a 360 -- won't play anythying that doesn't use a guitar or steering wheel controller because he doesn't have the hand-eye co-ordination. My mother loves to watch me play games, gets interested, then when I try to pass her the pad she slinks off . . . even for Uno.
    That's the market Ninty is raking the cash in from . . . not because the general public just luvs them some animal crossing, but because the general public believes that they are capable of actually using the damn thing.
    Will this thing be 1-for-1 virtual reality? Probably not. But if this thing works as good as people are saying, this could be a real good move for MS.


    Oh, btw . . .
    "The Wiimote works very well for a lot of motion sensing applications"
    ??? you meak the TV remote looking thing, right? the thing that lets me play the entirety of WiiSports by literally juggling it? Yeah . . . its gangbusters. I completely understand how you fear something you describe as "wave and pray" when there's such an accurate alternative out there now.
    Fun Wii remote story -- my nephew bowled a 197 in Wii sports, with 3 strikes. He's two. He used the remote to beat his sister's PoundPuppies figurines that were sitting on the couch while the game was on.

  • glaeken #50 3 years ago

    You know I am not too keen on this for games but it does give us the possibility of a Minority report style GUI control on the 360. That would be fairly cool though if the 360 has the application to use it is another matter. Possibly such an interface might work well for RTS games if they can get it to work so that I can be sitting down and relaxing and also using it.

  • Domovoi #51 3 years ago


    1) I can sit down to use it.
    2) I won't have to be dead center of the camera.
    3) Multiple people can play at the same time


    Still you keep stating it as a fact that these won't be the case with this rumored new system, despite having nothing to base those conclusions on.
    Edited by 1 at 13/05/09 @ 16:03

  • Machiavellian #52 3 years ago

    I actually saw a demo of this Z Cam with the person sitting down and moving just his fingers and hand to move objects around. From the vidoes you have seen, why do people feel you would need to stand in order to use the device. Once it detects your hand or other body parts, it will constantly track it weather you are standing or sitting. There is a demostration where people are sitting on a couch and playing a racing game just using their hands as if they were griping the steering wheel.

    The only problem I see with this technology is the speed. If MS can get the speed to a smooth performance then I would definitely be interested in this tech.

  • LowEnergyCycle #53 3 years ago

    I agree with everything Ashen-Shugar says on this - and that's not just because he has an awesome name.

    I don't understand why MS are wasting their time with this. I guess they see the success of the Wii as inspiration, but surely a motion-based controller would be better.

    EyeToy was fucking rubbish.

  • Britesparc Verified Creative, ITV #54 3 years ago

    Personally I'd rather MS made a remote-device just to use as a pointer in games (rather than "waggle";), but I don't see why this COULDN'T work. If the vids on the website are to be believed, it looks like good tech and MS have been banging the drum for a while now about motion-sensing cameras (even if the software support for the Vision was notable by its lack of friggin' existence).

    The key is: software. If they have a good lineup that reinforces the strengths of the hardware, then that's fine. But if they leave it hanging, like with the Vision, then it's neither use nor ornament. Literally.

  • mkreku #55 3 years ago

    My eyes are eagly as hell!!

  • JensonJet #56 3 years ago

    "I cunningly figured this out by reading the article, in which it is plainly stated that "it'll be available as a standalone product and perhaps later on as part of a hardware bundle."

    and

    "The tech is pretty nifty but I do not like camera based motion tracking since the lighting in your room must be optimal and you need to stand in the perfect spot.

    So, you've already used this system, then? "

    Yes I have used similar stuff at conventions

    So you didn't actually use it.



    Domovoi, your sarcasm made me laugh. Thanks. Funniest messages I've read today.
    Edited by 1 at 13/05/09 @ 17:48

  • ThePissartist #57 3 years ago

    Oh Microsoft, please don't do it! I just checked the 3DV videos and the device looks rubbish!!

    Hold back!! Use a motion controller instead...

    *quivers at the thought of it*

  • Xerx3s #58 3 years ago

    "I never put that you fucking scumbag, farticusmaximus.

    Piss off and troll another website with your bullshit. "

    Charming.

  • man.the.king #59 3 years ago

    @Xerx3s

    "Charming"

    Yes.

    And what did you think of the post to which evilfoxhound was replying?
    Edited by 1 at 13/05/09 @ 23:04

  • ChoedanKal #60 3 years ago

    Nintendo may be telling us they're not competing with Microsoft and Sony, and M and S they ain't competing with the big N.
    This is of course not true since they all want both the core audience and the casual gamers. Sony admitted not long ago they misjudged the market and didn't capitalised on the fanbase they'd been growing with the singstar and Buzz-games and therefore lost their grip on the people that found themselves attracted to the thing Nintendo is now doing with for example Wii Fit, wich is exactly the type of thing that audience is finding entertaining.

    Therefore M and S may now take smaller steps in the direction Nintendo went to try out if consumers would find it interesting on their platforms. And a motionsensing camera would be a safe bet since cameras for consoles have been tried and successful before, like the Dreameye for dreamcast and sonys Eyetoy.

  • Bravestinsane #61 3 years ago

    [link url=http://www.3dvsystems.com/
    ]http://www.3dvsystems.com/
    [/link]

    Perhaps you should research the technology thats rumoured to be behind it before you start to criticise...