Sony Sacrificed the PlayStation 4 Camera to Beat Microsoft on Price
Options
How the camera was cut last minute and left with an uncertain future.
When Sony announced that PlayStation 4 would be priced at $399 to an uproar of applause from the audience at its E3 press conference, it secured a critical edge over the Xbox One. But the advantage came at a cost: the PlayStation 4 camera (formerly known as the PlayStation 4 Eye). According to multiple sources, in the months leading up to E3, Sony nixed plans to include the camera add-on with every system and shave $100 off its originally planned price of $499. Most importantly, it did so quietly, informing its retail partners only of the removal of the camera, not specifying the lower price so as not to tip its hand to Microsoft.
But in its efforts to undercut the Xbox One, Sony has damned the accessory to a future of fragmented consumer adoption and inconsistent software support. The decision has also rendered a major design element of the DualShock 4 controller — the built-in LED Move tracker — largely useless.
Microsoft's decision to bundle a Kinect with each Xbox One and require it for use may be unpopular, but it guarantees that every user will have the option to try Kinect-enabled games and experiences. For developers, it means that Kinect integration is no longer a costly gamble on a small subsection of Xbox owners — motion-detecting and voice-sensing elements can be anything from a small optional game enhancement or the primary control method.
By relegating the camera to a $59.99 add-on, Sony has ensured the opposite — a climate of codependency wherein PlayStation 4 camera adoption will hinge upon compelling software, but compelling software will only arrive after PlayStation 4 camera adoption.
What's worse, the DualShock 4's integrated LEDs are now good for little more than visual flair. Per Sony, the light-up panels will help indicate the player associated with each controller and, when supported, react to in-game cues, such as blinking red when a player is low on health. Ultimately, the limited functionality of the LEDs without the aid of the Eye won't impact the player experience or even drastically diminish the overall battery life of the controller, but it's a lingering reminder of Sony's failure to support the tech.
It's possible that Sony has long-term aspirations for the PlayStation 4 camera and the DualShock 4's integrated Move technology — the PS4 is likely to be a 10 year console, after all — but launch window support is likely to be non-existent. The device was little more than a footnote at the console's debut in February and of the more than 40 demos Sony showcased at E3, Drive Club and a tech demo Playroom were the only PlayStation 4 titles were camera-enabled.
At present, Sony's abandonment of the Eye in favor of a lower priced PlayStation 4 seems to be paying off — the company claims to be boosting internal sales estimates and online retailers are reporting record breaking pre-sales — but will it be able to incentivize consumers and developers to adopt the device in the future? The odds are seemingly stacked against it, but perhaps Sony has a killer app waiting in the wings.
Update: An earlier version of this story stated that there were no camera-enabled games at E3. The copy has since been updated.
Comments
-
They could've still done the camera included but gone $449.99.
-
i can live with that.
-
The article pretty much says it all. It's a decision that doesn't make sense and will have negative repercussions for the device. With that said, The Eye can't compete with Kinect on a technical level anyway. Has it even changed since the PS2?
-
motion controls are a dying/dead gimmick and should not be forced on the consumer to milk more money like microsoft is doing. i'd rather a more affordable console and spend that extra hundo on games.
-
grumpy_new_yorker wrote: »motion controls are a dying/dead gimmick and should not be forced on the consumer to milk more money like microsoft is doing. i'd rather a more affordable console and spend that extra hundo on games.
I bought the move bundled console and used it on the first day only.
Then I bought the gun ................. and used it twice playing KZ3.
That's it -
grumpy_new_yorker wrote: »motion controls are a dying/dead gimmick and should not be forced on the consumer to milk more money like microsoft is doing. i'd rather a more affordable console and spend that extra hundo on games.
I bought the move bundled console and used it on the first day only.
Then I bought the gun ................. and used it twice playing KZ3.
That's it
exactly.....I'm glad sony is not investing in all those useless peripherals.....motion controls is a fad thats getting ready to bite the dust.....and I give no ? about the playstation eye...... -
grumpy_new_yorker wrote: »motion controls are a dying/dead gimmick and should not be forced on the consumer to milk more money like microsoft is doing. i'd rather a more affordable console and spend that extra hundo on games.
I bought the move bundled console and used it on the first day only.
Then I bought the gun ................. and used it twice playing KZ3.
That's it
my wii got like 5 inches of dust on it.
think i used it more to play gamecube games with component output than anything else. -
themadlionsfan wrote: »grumpy_new_yorker wrote: »motion controls are a dying/dead gimmick and should not be forced on the consumer to milk more money like microsoft is doing. i'd rather a more affordable console and spend that extra hundo on games.
I bought the move bundled console and used it on the first day only.
Then I bought the gun ................. and used it twice playing KZ3.
That's it
exactly.....I'm glad sony is not investing in all those useless peripherals.....motion controls is a fad thats getting ready to bite the dust.....and I give no ? about the playstation eye......
If the Kinect has to be on with the XB1 it will most likely be facing the wall. And I'll be picking up two normal controllers with the Wii U -
it's not a major component of the ps4 of the moment so ? it.makes it real easy to make homemade porn on 55inch t.v. though
-
Except...Kinect 2.0 is not just "motion". Its motion, voice, video chat/skype, illumiroom, heart rate and muscle detection, player tracking, etc....not to mention, already a success. There are many applications and possibilities, especially with the improvements and bundling. If Sony expects anyone to finally take Eyetoy seriously then they have to as well, or else just drop it altogether.
-
Except...Kinect is not just "motion". Its motion, voice, video chat/skype, illuroom, heart rate and muscle detection, player tracking, etc....not to mention,
it also detects ghosts in paranormal 3! (focus is giving me a wack as your reading this)
Either your delirious or this is one of those "only on the IC" things cuz noone in the real world is using kinect..i know so many people with an xbox and only 2 of them have kinect and they dont even use that ? ..its ok microsoft makes mistakes sometimes you can admit that it'll be ok man i promise.. -
I fail to see the appeal of this camera motion sensor stuff. I'm glad they got rid of it. My kinect creeps me out.
-
Except...Kinect is not just "motion". Its motion, voice, video chat/skype, illuroom, heart rate and muscle detection, player tracking, etc....not to mention,
it also detects ghosts in paranormal 3! (focus is giving me a wack as your reading this)
Either your delirious or this is one of those "only on the IC" things cuz noone in the real world is using kinect..i know so many people with an xbox and only 2 of them have kinect and they dont even use that ? ..
LOL. So that means they didn't sell 25 million of them? Because the 2 people you know with 360's don't have one? Ok.
Look, i'm not a fan of the original Kinect either, but i'm not short sided enough to think I represent everyone in the whole world...or "real world" (whatever that means?). Even though I personally didn't like it, I never thought the original Kinect was a bad idea, just bad execution in my opinion. But every impression I've read or seen of Kinect 2.0 has been positive and nobody here has actually used it to say otherwise.
-
Just because they sold them.. doesnt mean people are using that ? . I know plenty of people that got the Kinect and played with it a few times, then unplugged the ? out that ? .
-
major pain wrote: »Just because they sold them.. doesnt mean people are using that ? . I know plenty of people that got the Kinect and played with it a few times, then unplugged the ? out that ? .
Yep, and i'm one of them...means nothing in the grand scheme of things though. I don't live in an anecdotal reality. Just because you or I or your friend don't like something that is popular, that doesn't suddenly mean everyone doesn't like it. Only M$ knows how many people use their Kinect, and they are choosing to invest in it. Plus we talking about two totally different pieces of tech from the original Kinect to Kinect 2.0. The fact is, no one will know if either decision payed off until months/years from now. I'm just not a jaded gamer. LOL.
So anyway...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bpLwxaQ7gws -
major pain wrote: »Just because they sold them.. doesnt mean people are using that ? . I know plenty of people that got the Kinect and played with it a few times, then unplugged the ? out that ? .
Yep, and i'm one of them...means nothing in the grand scheme of things though. I don't live in an anecdotal reality. Just because you or I or your friend don't like something that is popular, that doesn't suddenly mean everyone doesn't like it. Only M$ knows how many people use their Kinect, and they are choosing to invest in it. Plus we talking about two totally different pieces of tech from the original Kinect to Kinect 2.0. The fact is, no one will know if either decision payed off until months/years from now. I'm just not a jaded gamer. LOL.
So anyway...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bpLwxaQ7gws
I don't think they are pushing the Kinect 2 or Sony is pushing the Move 2 because those peripherals were particularly successful. I think they are doing it because it is a segment of the market they want covered. The motion sense gameplay pretty much made the Wii the best selling system of this generation. M$ and Sony are smart to at least try and cover that market for the next generation even if they didn't do particularly well with the tacked on features included late in this generation.
-
grumpy_new_yorker wrote: »motion controls are a dying/dead gimmick and should not be forced on the consumer to milk more money like microsoft is doing. i'd rather a more affordable console and spend that extra hundo on games.
How can they be dying when they were never "alive".
We are on ye dawn of motion control. A year or so from now it will be standard with decent TVs. It's already standard with the Xbox one.
It may fail on PS4 because developers can't e guaranteed that ever owner wil have the "eye. So they may not support it.
Xbox can guarantee developers every user has a kinect. Making them more likely to support it and make great games for it. -
I never cared for those extra gaming peripherals, nor have I ever met anyone who did. I would much rather get the price break than for them to include some ? that I probably won't use & charge me for it.
-
Motion control is dying ......Lmao they should have never gave u ? internet..
-
ParallelRhymes wrote: »Kinect is far more functional on the Xbox that's why they are pushing it and bundling it with all consoles.
PS didn't concern themselves too much with the eye for the next gen so it'd be pointless to force people to get it.
I don't think that's true at all. Based on what they said when they first announced the PS4 and released info, they put a lot more effort into the Eye 2. That's why the DS4 is compatible with it and why the UI can be controlled through motion controls. They also said they pushed it to developers relatively early, so that they could figure out ways they wanted to implement it into games from the start.
It was a strategic move on their part. I don't think they mean for the Eye 2 to be as integral to the system as the Kinect 2 is to the XB1, but I don't think it's quite correct to say they didn't concern themselves with it either.
-
LOL @ cats loving stagnancy. So we gonna be using the dual shock in the PS5, 6, and 7, right? At some point, gaming companies gonna master touch/ motion controls in the near future. There is no going backwards at this point. We may even see virtual reality at some point in our lives, if people decide to keep on innovating.
-
the following day he was forced to sell it on craigslist.major pain wrote: »Just because they sold them.. doesnt mean people are using that ? . I know plenty of people that got the Kinect and played with it a few times, then unplugged the ? out that ? .
Yep, and i'm one of them...means nothing in the grand scheme of things though. I don't live in an anecdotal reality. Just because you or I or your friend don't like something that is popular, that doesn't suddenly mean everyone doesn't like it. Only M$ knows how many people use their Kinect, and they are choosing to invest in it. Plus we talking about two totally different pieces of tech from the original Kinect to Kinect 2.0. The fact is, no one will know if either decision payed off until months/years from now. I'm just not a jaded gamer. LOL.
So anyway...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bpLwxaQ7gws -
Yea, just look at the debut for XBOX One. In that reveal...the first time they ever showcased anything about the new console, they turned it on, navigated every menu and demoed every feature for a full hour...without ever touching anything or picking up a controller.
-
ParallelRhymes wrote: »The Lonious Monk wrote: »ParallelRhymes wrote: »Kinect is far more functional on the Xbox that's why they are pushing it and bundling it with all consoles.
PS didn't concern themselves too much with the eye for the next gen so it'd be pointless to force people to get it.
I don't think that's true at all. Based on what they said when they first announced the PS4 and released info, they put a lot more effort into the Eye 2. That's why the DS4 is compatible with it and why the UI can be controlled through motion controls. They also said they pushed it to developers relatively early, so that they could figure out ways they wanted to implement it into games from the start.
It was a strategic move on their part. I don't think they mean for the Eye 2 to be as integral to the system as the Kinect 2 is to the XB1, but I don't think it's quite correct to say they didn't concern themselves with it either.
They haven't even pushed the Eye 2 hard though...was it even mentioned at E3 or the reveal?
Hard for me to believe it's such a huge upgrade if they aren't really pushing it.
Don't let people fool you. A lot has been released about the Eye 2.
Sony gave brief explanations about what it was supposed to do and gave specs shortly after the reveal.
http://www.playstationlifestyle.net/2013/02/20/playstation-4-eye-specs/PlayStation®4 Eye, a newly developed camera for PS4 incorporates two high-sensitive cameras that have wide-angle lenses with 85-degree diagonal angle views which can recognize the depth of space precisely. This enables PlayStation®4 Eye to cut out the image of player from background, or to grasp players’ position in front and behind, further broadening the ways to enjoy games. Incorporated four microphones are also capable of accurate sound detection and source origination. In addition, users will be able to login to their PS4 with face recognition and are capable of using their own body movements or voices to enjoy games more intuitively. Furthermore, PlayStation®4 Eye senses the color of DUALSHOCK®4’s light bar to judge the positions of multiple players, and set characters in the same positions or let a character talk to a particular player, enabling players to enjoy games in new way PlayStation®4 Eye also supports PlayStation®Move motion controller. It detects the motion of PS Move more precisely, and reflects players’ in-game motion more accurately than ever.
External Dimension - Approx. 186mm x 27mm x 27mm (width x height x depth)
(tentative)
Weight – Approx. 183g (tentative)
Video Pixel – (Maximum) 1280 x 800 pixel x 2
Video Frame Rate – 1280×800 pixel @ 60fps
640×400 pixel @ 120fps
320×192 pixel @ 240fps
Video Format - RAW, YUV (uncompressed)
Lens – Dual Lenses, F value/F2.0 fixed focus
Capture Range – 30cm～∞
Field-of-View - 85°
Microphone – 4 Channel Microphone Array
Connection Type – PS4 dedicated connector (AUX connector)
Cable Length – Approx. 2m (tentative)
If you look at this quote from them and go to that site, you'll see that the Eye 2 supposedly improves on the Eye a lot, and not only that but it also has a lot of the functionality that everyone is getting all excited about with the Kinect 2. So, it's not that Sony didn't put any work into it. I just don't think they are pushing it very hard right now because they chose to relegate it to a secondary peripheral in order to beat M$ on the price point.
This was a tech demo that was released before E3, likely created before they made the decision to not include it in the Eye 2 with the system.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=oO5cE4eELKc
Then there is this site which claims that the PS4 was supposed to come bundled with the Eye2 and Knack and sell for the same prices as the XB1. They dropped that in order to drop the price, but I could still see them releasing this as an extra bundle.
http://www.vg247.com/2013/06/27/ps4-bundle-with-ps-eye-camera-and-knack-leaked-report/
How the Eye 2 stacks up against the Kinect 2 still remains to be seen, but I don't think they are as far apart as some believe. A lot of people on this site are getting the business choice of fully integrating the Kinect 2 into the XB1 instead of keeping it as a seperate peripheral like the Eye 2 with the belief that the Kinect 2 is more functional and advanced than the Eye 2. That's not really a supported assumption at this point. -
^ That just looks like glorified augmented reality to me. Theres too much smoke and mirrors to understand whats really happening. We know a robot is not going to pop out of the PS4 and start flying around us in 3D space and lighting our hair on fire, so I still don't know exactly what Eye does. I didn't see anything in that video on the level of this.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bydLSVVuaRM
