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| Xbox Live Vision Camera Review | // review |
| I was tasked with the assignment of reviewing the Xbox Live Vision Camera and as most of you are aware I relish a challenge. Before I get into the nitty gritty of the review though, I thought I'd share a couple of experiences that I've had while using the newest piece for kit for the Xbox 360. The vision experience A very good friend of mine that is based in the United States recently attended the 'Games for Windows' event in New York City. Usually when he gets back to his office, he sends an email or pings me on Windows Live Messenger to provide a briefing of the event, such as what games were showcased, what type of hardware was on show and which companies he managed to get in contact with, just in case I know them or have had previous dealings with them. This time, we decided to do the briefing on Xbox Live via the Vision Camera. Surprisingly, it worked extremely well. Over the past few years, a number of companies have developed landline phones that enable people to have video calls (video conferencing) in our homes. While this type of technology is pretty cool, the uptake has been somewhat dire. Mobile phone operators such as 3 have launched a number of mobile handsets into the marketplace which allow live real time chat, but from the people I've spoken to about the service, it seems more gimmicky than a service they would use all the time. Plus of course, the cost of video conferencing is rather expensive. However, the Xbox Live Vision Camera offers a totally different yet unique experience as you are able to virtually invite your Xbox Live friends into your home. Partying Remotely via Xbox Live A few weeks ago I hosted an Xbox House Party which a friend of mine won via a competition on Xbox.com. Before the party had started, I decided to virtually invite a few friends to the party by using the Xbox Live Vision Camera to show them what was going on. Not only did the party attendees think this was a neat idea but the people watching really enjoyed it as they were able to see everything going on. At one point the camera was pointed at someone playing Project Gotham Racing 3 with the new Steering Wheel, which was pretty cool as it was the first time the virtual guests had seen the hardware in action.  What is in the box? When I purchased my Vision Camera I was quite keen to see how it would work especially within games that use face mapping technology. As with most of Microsoft's hardware products for the Xbox 360 the vision camera proved rather tricky to remove from its packaging. (I understand that some products should be child proof but do they really need to be adult proof as well?) After a few minutes attacking the packaging with weapons like my trusty pair of scissors, I finally got the hardware out of the packaging. What else is included apart from the camera? Well, you get two promotional codes for a couple of Xbox Live Arcade titles: TotemBall and Uno. Also, depending on which retail option you go for, you can buy the Vision Camera with a one month trial subscription to Xbox Live or for a few extra quid you can get the Vision Camera with a twelve month subscription.  Connectivity The Xbox Live Vision Camera can be hooked up to an Xbox 360, obviously. You can use it to talk to friends on Xbox Live in real time. The interface is pretty slick and very user friendly. I suggest watching this video of Larry Hyrb (Major Nelson) demonstrating the Vision Camera when it was first released in November 2006. The really neat thing about the Vision Camera is that it is compatible with Windows XP and Windows Vista PCs. Attaching it to the USB port of a PC will automatically begin installing the relevant drivers onto the computer so you can use the Vision Camera as a webcam. It works well too as you can use it with Windows Live Messenger.  Interacting and socializing As I mentioned in this review you get a couple of promotional codes for TotemBall and Uno which you can download via the Xbox Live Marketplace. TotemBall will have you flapping your arms around like crazy trying to steer the ball over numerous icons throughout the game. There are also a number of mini-games included in TotemBall such as pinball and juggling which will keep you entertained until you can't lift your arms up anymore. Uno is a fun card game that can be played against three other players. The idea of the game is to be the first to play all your cards. All the cards are in different colours and have different symbols. I was mainly interested in using the Vision Camera with games that utilised face mapping technology but obviously that view has changed since I started using the video conferencing a lot more. One of the great aspects of the Vision Camera is that with a limited number of games you can use the face mapping technology to scan your face and place it in-game. Rainbow Six: Vegas was the first game to make use of this cool technology and adds an extra element of immersion as YOU can now be shot in the game. Also, Electronic Arts has announced that the Vision Camera will play an important role with the publisher's plans for online play with Command & Conquer 3: Tiberian Wars. Just imagine taunting your opponents over Xbox Live after you've claimed victory! Final thoughts... The Vision Camera offers great value for money and you get two great games that will keep you entertained for hours on end. The video conferencing feature will enable you to talk with your friends in real time, whenever you want. The extremely cool aspect about the device will, in time help you forget that you own a phone as you'll want to talk to your family and friends via the Vision Camera all the time. Plus, of course it saves you money on the phone bill.  Review by Luke Newcombe | |
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