Xbox 360 Webcam Given Release Date

[Kefkataran]

Strip UNO here we come! Next Generation (http://www.next-gen.biz) has the news that the Xbox 360 webcam finally has a release date (http://www.next-gen.biz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3115&Itemid=2):

Xbox Live director of programming Larry "Major Nelson" Hyrb revealed in a recent podcast that the camera will be launching in North America and Europe on September 19.

Gamers will be able to use the camera for chat, gamertag picture personalization and in conjunction with certain Xbox Live Arcade games such as Uno and Texas Hold 'em Poker.

This is great news for all these Sunday UNO players here at EvAv. Now if we can somehow combine our powers to actually beat bapenguin, we can get him to expose his left breast live on camera for us.

That deserves an achievement, by the way.

[MacDuff]

Does Microsoft have anything set up to control the pictures taken with this thing showing up in gamer profiles and in-game? Is there nothing stopping Xbox Live from becoming a wang-fest?

[Kefkataran]

Does Microsoft have anything set up to control the pictures taken with this thing showing up in gamer profiles and in-game? Is there nothing stopping Xbox Live from becoming a wang-fest?

I think I speak for Evil Avatar as a whole when I say, I sure hope not, baby! *tears of shirt and twirls it above head*

Okay, I'm done this time for real. What? Good thing no one ever said EvAv was a family-friendly site.

[IagoTheHunted]

WOOHOO!! Pedophiles of the world rejoice!

but seriously though... big whoop. Webcams never really caught on for PC's, I don't see why this would be any different. I mean one of the wonderful things about playing games online is you can do it naked without showering and nobody cares... who wants to get all dressed up for anonymous online strangers?

[thenefariousone]

Way more people than you think: http://video.google.com/ and http://www.googleidol.com

WOOHOO!! Pedophiles of the world rejoice!
who wants to get all dressed up for anonymous online strangers?

[Kefkataran]

Webcams never really caught on for PC's, I don't see why this would be any different. I mean one of the wonderful things about playing games online is you can do it naked without showering and nobody cares... who wants to get all dressed up for anonymous online strangers?

Never really caught on with the PC? You haven't been to Myspace lately! (or the links posted by Nefarious above)

[DigitalFirefly]

According to the 20 minutes video review of the Spring Live Update, it will feature a private and public gamer pic. I would imagine the webcam pics can only be private ones. Private pics will only be viewable by your friends.

[Jack B]

Does Microsoft have anything set up to control the pictures taken with this thing showing up in gamer profiles and in-game? Is there nothing stopping Xbox Live from becoming a wang-fest?

Yes, you'll have two pictures now. One gametag, which is non-Camera based as it is today and one personal gamerphoto for your friends. Thus, you'll need to get on a friends list to see anything interesting.

As for seeing non-friends in games, there are other parent controls, but I didn't get the details beyond the gamerphoto thing.

I'd guess it's similar, that each Gamertag will have to "allow" in game photo's, chat etc, thus if you don't want your kids to use it, don't turn it on unless you're in the room.

[Mr Flannery]

A great feature is the ability to send message pics, like on a camera phone. So when I school you in Fight Night, I can send you a big ol' middle finger - 'cause you talked all kinds of smack... but GOT smacked.

Great video review of the update, here. (http://www.kotaku.com/gaming/microsoft/video-tour-of-xbox-live-spring-update-176947.php#more)

[Knite]

This is great news for all these Sunday UNO players here at EvAv. Now if we can somehow combine our powers to actually beat bapenguin, we can get him to expose his left breast live on camera for us.

That deserves an achievement, by the way.

I've seen it.
Getting to see it doesn't deserve the achievement. Getting over the mental anguish caused, does.

=P


:D

[Xaerin]

gamertag picture personalization
Cocks ahoy!

[Limech]

September? Geez.. 4 months away for a web cam? How difficult is it to create one with so many on the market right now.

The thing I'd like to know is if you can use any picture you want for messages and gamerpic that you read off your computer or USB stick or are they hardcoding it to being from the camera only? I wouldn't be surprised if it was only from the camera to promote sales but I might want a custom gamerpic that's not a picture of myself as private picture.

That wouldn't be suprising given they are doing other similar things to make sure you can only buy MS stuff:
- can't use own wallpaper for dashboard with a different one on each blade to force people to buy themes.
- can't use external HD to store stuff downloaded from marketplace.
- can't use regular (and much cheaper) USB keys instead of "memory unit".
- can't use off the shelf web cams.

I'm surprised that they are adding keyboard support in the next dashboard update but not selling a wireless keyboard and making sure only that one works with the 360.

I know, they need to be making money somewhere, but talk about proprietary. What if car makers made it so that you could only have their radio/CD players in their cars that cost much more than the competition?

[agentgray]

I don't want to see bap's butt on my HD screen, thank you.

UPDATE: I'm not officially getting hyped about anything anymore because these dang pencilnecks just cannot (it is not within their power) to list retail prices.

I would not pay $50 for this.

[absolut taco]

...but I might want a custom gamerpic that's not a picture of myself as private picture.
Then print it and hold it up in front of the 360 cam.

[phantomhitman]

we finally found out if penguins have nipples

[Kefkataran]

September? Geez.. 4 months away for a web cam? How difficult is it to create one with so many on the market right now.

Well, it's not just making a webcam and pumping it out. They have to make it work with Xbox Live in all the ways they want, work with the games, make sure all the stuff is in place in Xbox Live, etc. They also want to release at what they think will be the right time. It's not just as simple as you said.

we finally found out if penguins have nipples

YOU HEARD IT HERE FIRST! Evil Avatar is synonymous with hard-hitting journalism. Bitches.

[Jack B]

September? Geez.. 4 months away for a web cam? How difficult is it to create one with so many on the market right now.

The thing I'd like to know is if you can use any picture you want for messages and gamerpic that you read off your computer or USB stick or are they hardcoding it to being from the camera only? I wouldn't be surprised if it was only from the camera to promote sales but I might want a custom gamerpic that's not a picture of myself as private picture.

That wouldn't be suprising given they are doing other similar things to make sure you can only buy MS stuff:
- can't use own wallpaper for dashboard with a different one on each blade to force people to buy themes.
- can't use external HD to store stuff downloaded from marketplace.
- can't use regular (and much cheaper) USB keys instead of "memory unit".
- can't use off the shelf web cams.

I'm surprised that they are adding keyboard support in the next dashboard update but not selling a wireless keyboard and making sure only that one works with the 360.

I know, they need to be making money somewhere, but talk about proprietary. What if car makers made it so that you could only have their radio/CD players in their cars that cost much more than the competition?

Limech, you make some valid points about Microsoft's strategies to hope you'll buy more Microsoft products, but remember that's a basic goal of every company in America.

They do support non Microsoft KB's, controllers, wheels etc, so sometimes it's not the case. In certain cases, they need to create support with software drivers, testing etc, so you may be confusing corporate greed (which does exist with all companies to some extent) with software development priorities.

Often when Microsoft or other companies don't ship something a conspiracy theory arises, when actually it's just software/hardware development takes time.

I don't think there was a master plan not to include some of the features of this latest Live update, but it took six months to release. It just takes time for development and testing.

Also, remember that Live supports over 37 countries, with 58 games (on 360 Live) with ecommerce, chat, online/offline notifications etc.

They get hammered as it is from some of the Live bashers if an update is needed for anything (see many posts on the subject). Personally, I don't mind the updates at all, but some think a console should work like the N64. No updates ever. Plug and go.

I'd guess Microsoft may be still in production or have last minute additions of some cheaper, key or better parts of the camera etc, that are causing the delay. I doubt it's a conspiracy. Getting us the camera next week would help Microsoft and hurt Sony, so what's there motivation for the delay 'til September?

Also, given that they have supported other controllers, wheels, keyboards, ipods, etc, I'd say 3rd party camera's wouldn't be discriminated against.

If they get around to it and a 3rd party thinks they can compete, Microsoft will likely certify other cameras. They did with controllers etc, why not a camera???

[IagoTheHunted]

Never really caught on with the PC? You haven't been to Myspace lately! (or the links posted by Nefarious above)

'eh I'm not convinced. Don't get me wrong, I don't mean that NOBODY uses webcams. Clearly lots of people do. I've used webcams on a couple occations... but honestly? Both those occations were for the benifit of real-life sexual partners. As far as the rest of the web is concerned, I've never had the energy to get a webcam up for casual chatting when text works just as well.

So I guess when I say "never caught on" I mean it's not a normal mainstream feature where the majority of people are all useing it, at least not anyplace online that I've spent time recently (includeing myspace, where none of my friends have webcams hooked up). And isn't that what xbox360 would be useing it for? Or is this just a way to get pics on your profile? Either way, I sort of feel like webcam use is
a) a crappy alternative to a camera
b) an outlet for exhibitionists

So maybe that's enough. I just feel ho-hum about it. If the 360 came standard with a webcam, then I'd be more excited about the mainstream uses.

[Xerxes]

I guess you can be the new team lead in Rainbow Six Vegas....
http://news.teamxbox.com/xbox/11048/Rainbow-Six-Vegas-to-Feature-Face-Mapping/

[bapenguin]

You guys wanna see the Gobbler? :)

[Jack B]

You guys wanna see the Gobbler? :)

That was a hanging curve ball if I ever saw one, but I'll take the high road and not comment... :D

[Kefkataran]

Both those occations were for the benifit of real-life sexual partners. As far as the rest of the web is concerned, I've never had the energy to get a webcam up for casual chatting when text works just as well.

I sort of agree with this. I think with stuff like Skype video chatting is becoming a bit more popular. That said, what better way for something like cams to catch on than with use in casual games and such?

[OrangePulp]

This (http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2005/03/14) had to be posted. Pretty much sums up my thoughts on the topic, as well.

[TrackZero]

Now if we can somehow combine our powers to actually beat bapenguin, we can get him to expose his left breast live on camera for us.

At long last our plan can be fufilled!

Personally I can't wait to see how the cameras all perform on the live service with everyone on broadband. This could finally break through cams into actual day to day use (which, to my knowledge, still has never really taken off for most of the public).

i.e. Video phones. Remember them showing those off in Back to the Future 2? Yeah, like that, sans the AT&T logo.

[Jack B]

This (http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2005/03/14) had to be posted. Pretty much sums up my thoughts on the topic, as well.

OrangePulp, that's hilarious!!! :D

Penny Arcade is the best!

[phantomhitman]

OrangePulp, that's hilarious!!! :D

Penny Arcade is the best!

if vgcats could be more consistent that guy would rule all. he made a comic about this idea as well, his was for mario kart though.