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'Wii has shown us the way'
14/12/2007 15:01 - (SA)
Los Angeles - The success of
Nintendo's Wii video game console and franchises like
Activision's Guitar Hero have prompted companies to
explore new ways to allow players to control their games.
One of the latest is from an Israel-based technology firm
that is trying to take gameplay to the most interactive level
yet.
This week, digital imaging company 3DV Systems of Yokne'am,
Israel, announced the creation of the ZCam, a new 3D camera for
personal computers that is so sensitive to motion that players
can control on-screen action by merely flicking a finger.
"The Wii has shown us the way, but this device can take
things so much farther," said 3DV Chief Executive Zvika Klier
during a recent demonstration for Reuters.
Because it can sense depth, the camera tracks movements in
three dimensions.
After navigating through multiple screens and menus on his
computer using only hand gestures, Klier launches a game where
he controls an airplane by simply moving his hands from side to
side, and by raising his thumbs to activate machine-guns and
drop bombs.
He then switches to a boxing game, swinging in the air to
deliver punches and ducking to avoid the blows of his computer
opponent. This is similar to the motion control made popular by
the Wii, but no controller is present. Instead, the ZCam is
reading every movement.
"With this, we can really put you into the game," Klier
said.
Ready for mass production in 2008
In development for two and a half years, the ZCam will be
priced like similar video game peripherals, according to Klier,
who said his company is currently in discussions with several
hardware and software companies about possible applications.
The camera will be ready for mass production in 2008.
The Wii's success has helped Klier pitch his device.
Nintendo's machine has been the hottest game console on the
market since its November 2006 release, largely because its
unique controller has made it accessible to casual audiences
that hadn't been the focus of other consoles from Microsoft and Sony.
"We're in the right place now, and have the potential to
ride that wave of popularity," Klier said.
Previous interactive cameras for video games have only seen
limited success. Both Sony and Microsoft have experimented with
camera input technologies. Sony released the EyeToy camera for
its last-generation Playstation 2 console, while Microsoft has
the Xbox Live Vision camera for the Xbox 360.
Despite being on the market for a year, only three games
currently employ the Xbox camera as a control mechanism, while
another dozen employ it as an in-game video chat device.
No matter how unique the technology, winning wide adoption
is one of the major hurdles facing any new input device.
IDC video game analyst Billy Pidgeon thinks the ZCam is an
exciting step up from anything other cameras, or even the Wii,
can accomplish. This can bring even more new players into the
fold, if they can be convinced to actually buy it.
"Devices like this really need to have a sensible bundling
strategy," Pidgeon said. "Technologies like this are exciting,
but the downside is that as a peripheral to an existing install
base, it will only get out to a fraction of that base."
Devices like the EyeToy and Xbox Live Vision camera haven't
had a huge impact on the market.
The best example of a popular aftermarket add-on has been
the Guitar Hero franchise, which comes packaged with a toy
guitar controller. Released in late October Guitar Hero 3 racked up more than $115m in sales in its first week on the market.
- Reuters
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