Xbox Live Vision Camera
Posted August 22, 2006
The Xbox Live Vision Camera is an intriguing tool at increasing communication within the Xbox Live community. The $39.99 package includes the camera, an Xbox Live communicator, a redeemable code for Uno, and 1 month of Xbox Live Gold service. While the communicator was useless to me, it's plausible that people who want to use the Xbox 360 as a means of inexpensive video conferencing would need a headset as well. Uno is a nice bonus as well for those who don't own the full version. No sign of Totemball, but that may be offered for free at a later date.
Functionality:
The incorporation of the camera into the dashboard is beyond my expectations. The first visual effect that jumps out is the motion background that occurs upon the dashboard. Similar to a ghosting effect, the camera captures the current video and lightly displays the video feed upon the background of the dashboard. Also, the ghosting effect works behind any theme that's being used. It's really a snazzy extra that offers a bit of visual flair to the 360.
The camera can be setup in the system blade. After plugging in the camera, a new Camera option is created in the system menu. This submenu will allow for focus, lighting, and room adjustment. The lighting options range from fluorescent to daylight and the room can be changed from dark to light. The most natural look seems to be auto for the room and daylight for the lighting, but it's all customizable to your preference.
Once the focus is set up, you can go take a personal picture in the Edit Gamer Picture section of your Personal Settings. This picture can be viewed by people on your friend's list only, not the entire Xbox Live community. The countdown timer is a little quick at 3 seconds, but posing seems more natural anyway. Once the picture is taken, you can modify the picture with 15 visual effects. These modifications range from blurs, mirrored images, black & white, color bleeding, negative effects, and shades of color. I can appreciate the addition of such artistic nuances, but none of the effects were that impressive.
Camera shots can also be used when sending any message over Xbox Live. Identical to the Capture Personal Picture menu, capturing a quick shot and sending it along to a friend is quite entertaining. Additionally, you have the option to zoom in before snapping the picture. I'd imagine this feature will be abused with a variety of body shots to unsuspecting Xbox Live users.
Video chat is perhaps the most useful tool for communication purposes. While you can only chat with one other person, the feed is high quality. An interesting feature that may be disturbingly abused is the controller vibration effect. During a video chat, holding down the triggers on your controller will cause your chat buddy's controller to vibrate. It's a neat extra, but totally useless for regular conversation.
Build:
The small, but sturdy base holds the camera at the proper angle without varying the angle. The camera can be rotated forward and backward, but not left or right. The flat base can easily be placed on top of a television or computer monitor without disruption. The USB cable attached to the camera seems extra long, perhaps 12 or 15 feet, and should be more than enough length for any setup.
While only the size of a large jawbreaker, the camera is encased in a white plastic shell. The lens is about the size of a dime and it can be focused with the grey slider encircling it. When the Xbox 360 is active, a lime green ring around the camera illuminates as it powers up. This ring stays on while the camera is being used and it automatically turns off when playing a game that doesn't have camera functionality.
Gameplay:
I played several rounds of Uno, including a round with a PMS girl (That's the PMS clan for those unfamiliar). I only mention PMS Angel, because she seemed the most vocal about wanting a Vision camera. The camera feed was exceptional on my end and everyone raved about the quality on their end. Listening to people's reactions was very entertaining. The feed appears within the lobby menu and during the game beside your cards.
Upcoming games that will take advantage of the camera will be World Series of Poker (Digimask technology), Rainbow Six Vegas, and the arcade gesture-based title, Totemball. Also, arcade games in the Hardwood series and Bankshot Billiards will be updated to include camera capabilities. At the current release of Texas Hold 'Em, it's without any camera functionality. Perhaps a later patch?
Graphics:
The video feed is quite sharp and certainly up to snuff compared to the myraid of webcams available for personal computers. There is very little motion blur and the variety of video filters adds an element of fun into the mix.
Audio:
There is no microphone built into the camera, hence no audio. It's obviously not required as the Xbox Live communicator does the job admirably.
Conclusion:
Is the camera worth the 40 greenbacks? If solely used for communication, I'd say absolutely. The camera video quality is excellent, perhaps better than most PC webcams. If looking for increased game functionality, I'd say hold off for a few months. Having my picture displayed around Uno is cool, but only a novelty. I'm hoping to see a "Camera Only" option for setting up a Texas Hold 'Em game which would be the first real incorporation into actual gameplay.
Functionality:
The incorporation of the camera into the dashboard is beyond my expectations. The first visual effect that jumps out is the motion background that occurs upon the dashboard. Similar to a ghosting effect, the camera captures the current video and lightly displays the video feed upon the background of the dashboard. Also, the ghosting effect works behind any theme that's being used. It's really a snazzy extra that offers a bit of visual flair to the 360.
The camera can be setup in the system blade. After plugging in the camera, a new Camera option is created in the system menu. This submenu will allow for focus, lighting, and room adjustment. The lighting options range from fluorescent to daylight and the room can be changed from dark to light. The most natural look seems to be auto for the room and daylight for the lighting, but it's all customizable to your preference.
Once the focus is set up, you can go take a personal picture in the Edit Gamer Picture section of your Personal Settings. This picture can be viewed by people on your friend's list only, not the entire Xbox Live community. The countdown timer is a little quick at 3 seconds, but posing seems more natural anyway. Once the picture is taken, you can modify the picture with 15 visual effects. These modifications range from blurs, mirrored images, black & white, color bleeding, negative effects, and shades of color. I can appreciate the addition of such artistic nuances, but none of the effects were that impressive.
Camera shots can also be used when sending any message over Xbox Live. Identical to the Capture Personal Picture menu, capturing a quick shot and sending it along to a friend is quite entertaining. Additionally, you have the option to zoom in before snapping the picture. I'd imagine this feature will be abused with a variety of body shots to unsuspecting Xbox Live users.
Video chat is perhaps the most useful tool for communication purposes. While you can only chat with one other person, the feed is high quality. An interesting feature that may be disturbingly abused is the controller vibration effect. During a video chat, holding down the triggers on your controller will cause your chat buddy's controller to vibrate. It's a neat extra, but totally useless for regular conversation.
Build:
The small, but sturdy base holds the camera at the proper angle without varying the angle. The camera can be rotated forward and backward, but not left or right. The flat base can easily be placed on top of a television or computer monitor without disruption. The USB cable attached to the camera seems extra long, perhaps 12 or 15 feet, and should be more than enough length for any setup.
While only the size of a large jawbreaker, the camera is encased in a white plastic shell. The lens is about the size of a dime and it can be focused with the grey slider encircling it. When the Xbox 360 is active, a lime green ring around the camera illuminates as it powers up. This ring stays on while the camera is being used and it automatically turns off when playing a game that doesn't have camera functionality.
Gameplay:
I played several rounds of Uno, including a round with a PMS girl (That's the PMS clan for those unfamiliar). I only mention PMS Angel, because she seemed the most vocal about wanting a Vision camera. The camera feed was exceptional on my end and everyone raved about the quality on their end. Listening to people's reactions was very entertaining. The feed appears within the lobby menu and during the game beside your cards.
Upcoming games that will take advantage of the camera will be World Series of Poker (Digimask technology), Rainbow Six Vegas, and the arcade gesture-based title, Totemball. Also, arcade games in the Hardwood series and Bankshot Billiards will be updated to include camera capabilities. At the current release of Texas Hold 'Em, it's without any camera functionality. Perhaps a later patch?
Graphics:
The video feed is quite sharp and certainly up to snuff compared to the myraid of webcams available for personal computers. There is very little motion blur and the variety of video filters adds an element of fun into the mix.
Audio:
There is no microphone built into the camera, hence no audio. It's obviously not required as the Xbox Live communicator does the job admirably.
Conclusion:
Is the camera worth the 40 greenbacks? If solely used for communication, I'd say absolutely. The camera video quality is excellent, perhaps better than most PC webcams. If looking for increased game functionality, I'd say hold off for a few months. Having my picture displayed around Uno is cool, but only a novelty. I'm hoping to see a "Camera Only" option for setting up a Texas Hold 'Em game which would be the first real incorporation into actual gameplay.