http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3626/3591538631_37b4557215_m.jpg

A new Move title called EyePet is out exclusively for the PS3. I have the game and it is adorable fun for any daughters in your family. It's an advanced version of the virtual pet titles that once were all the rage on handhelds, with a number of unique EyeToy and Move play mechanic twists as well as some fantastic graphics. One nice feature (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EyePet) is that you see yourself on-screen as you play with the Eyepet, making it a more personal experience for the player. If you're interested, here's my review (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showpost.php?p=19292820&postcount=59)from watching my daughter play it for a few days.


ORYSSQZTzbE


~~~~~

The game uses the camera to allow a virtual pet to interact with people and objects in the real world. Using augmented reality, the simian, gremlin-like creature appears to be aware of its environment and surroundings and reacts to them accordingly. The player can place objects in front of the animal and the game will interpret what the object is and respond to it.

For example, if the player rolls a ball towards it, it will jump out of the way to avoid being hurt. It will also react to the player's actions and sound allowing the user to, for example, tickle the animal or clap their hands to startle it. The pet can be customised with outfits and coloured fur and interacting with virtual objects including a trampoline and bubble machine. You can also draw custom objects like an airplane, which are scanned by the camera and converted to virtual objects which the pet can then interact with.



http://www.blogcdn.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2009/06/eyepet-e3-screenshot-02-copy.jpg

The only thing I don't like about that kind of games is how the hell do you set
that thing up. Do I need a big table on the living room just to pet it :confused:.
It looks good but I really think they should've gone to Nintendogs approached.
But it's great how you draw and it comes alive. :)

I wonder if it'll analyze the scene the camera is seeing before you play it. For instance, if you just are sitting in an easychair in front of the tv, the pet appears on the arm or something.

Finally ... something new for the Eyetoy... it's been dry for a while!!!

Finally ... something new for the Eyetoy... it's been dry for a while!!!

+1

Ever since I stopped playing Paradise City, I feel my PS3 Eyetoy is being neglected. :mad:

I think my 3 Great Danes give me more than enough time with REAL pets, thanks. :D

That looks cool ... I'd definitely get it to keep my 3 year old entertained since there isn't anything else for her with the ps3.

I think my 3 Great Danes give me more than enough time with REAL pets, thanks. :D

I'll take the virtual pet over cleaning up after 3 great danes! ;) Now I understand the reasoning behind your name!

Can it serve as a heated pillow on the couch like my yellow lab can?

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3626/3591538631_37b4557215_m.jpg

*** E3 2009 Update ***

Apparently this game is coming out before Christmas 2009. Here's the latest video (http://blog.eu.playstation.com/2009/06/03/e3-interview-cuddle-up-with-eyepet/) (a high def version is up on the PSN). Also, here are more details:

In many ways, it’s about making the technology invisible to create a feeling of magic,” Nicolas Doucet, the producer of EyePet, explained while showing me what is arguably the most ingenious and certainly the most adorable game on show here at E3.

EyePet uses the PlayStation Eye camera to bring a furry pet to life in your living room. You can play with him, feed him, dress him, stroke him and teach him, and his responsiveness is incredible. Waggle your fingers and he’ll run over to play; stroke him and he’ll nuzzle up to you and flip onto his back for you to tickle his tummy. And Doucet is right – while you’re always aware of the sophisticated technology bringing it to life, you don’t think about it because you’re completely lost in the illusion.

The game comes with a Magic Card, which you place on the floor once the PlayStation Eye is set up. It then becomes the control device for a variety of toys. For example, there’s a trampoline which you can move around by simply sliding the Magic Card across the floor, and each toy has an associated goal, such as gaining a certain number of trampoline bounces, to unlock further toys.

This sense of play and interaction is just one aspect of the game, and its goals and challenges come mainly through how you nurture your furry friend.

“The game’s goals come from the Pet Centre and there is a professor who visits you every day – I’m talking about in-game days as opposed to real ones – and issues challenges based on your pet’s development,” said Doucet.

One of the most striking of the game’s features is the way you can draw objects on a regular piece of paper and see them come to life for your EyePet to play with. I drew a wobbly set of wheels and tractor body and held it up to the camera, and my pet copied it and, when it came to life and I started moving it with the Wireless Controller, he started chasing it around.

“We encourage creative play through drawing and customisation,” added Doucet. “We find that kids will experiment with different designs and materials when drawing and find out that if you add more wheels to a car or change its material, for example, it will act differently. There are also lots of fur types and you can alter everything from colour, to patterns, to fur length, and add clothes. We’ve got classic play outfits such as pirates and firemen, and more realistic pet outfits.”

EyePet is a beautiful family game that has left a huge grin on my face. For anyone with young children it’s an enchanting way to play together and teach them how to look after a pet, and it’s also one of the most amazing uses of the PlayStation Eye technology I have seen.

yep....let me be the first to correct you ALL: It's the PlayStationEye, not EyeToy...that's soooooo last gen! :D

I wonder how much of that video is technology, vs animation.

I remember how cool "Eye of Judgement" looked in the advert.. not so cool in real life...

Just need the holographic projector peripheral and we're set.

First off, make sure you download the high rez trailer from your PSN.

Joystiq.com (http://www.joystiq.com/2009/06/04/impressions-eyepet-ps3/) just checked it out at E3 2009 as was VERY impressed. Besides agreeing that it has Pixar-quality graphics, they love the way the motion controls are implemented:

It's real, folks. We first learned of EyePet over a year ago, and approached it with both excitement and skepticism. When we had a chance to see EyePet running on PS3 live, we were blown away at how what we originally thought was a concept video had been completely real all along.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQ8TSQMrImw

For those not in the know, EyePet is a virtual pet simulator that takes advantage of the PlayStation Eye. With the addition of a "magic card," players will be able to play with a virtual monkey that lives in augmented reality. The television will display what the PlayStation Eye sees: you, and your body. Your on-screen pet will then be able to respond to all your actions. You'll be able to virtually pet the creature on the head, grab a bowl of food and feed it, and play a variety of mini-games. The tactile sensation of owning a pet will be gone, but in its stead will be an unworldly adorable creature that uses tech that feels like it's from the future.

Perhaps it's best summed up with video, as EyePet truly needs to be seen to be understood. You can do so many things with the critter, and his incredibly detailed and lifelike animation makes this "game" all the more believable. For example, you can try sweeping your arm across the bottom of your TV view, and the pet will jump over your arm. When your pet goes to sleep, you can clap loudly and get it to wake up ... (although it might be grumpy!)

Sony calls the quality of the visuals "Pixar-like" and in our opinion, that's not hyperbole. It's easy to understand why EyePet looks so good: it only has to render the one pet on screen. With all of PS3's rendering capabilities going towards a single character model, it's no surprise the visuals looks so impressive. The detail on the fur is remarkable, but what really sells the experience is the animation. I'll reiterate that the visuals you see in the trailer aren't pre-rendered -- the game really does look like that.

EyePet is clearly the precursor to what will undoubtedly be a growing number of Eye (and motion controller?) games. One of the cooler things to do in the game is to drop down the "magic card" on the floor. This simple black card will be detected by the Eye and a spinning holgraphic menu will shoot out of it. Players will be able to gesture Minority Report-style, around the menu to access various options, like toys and health check-ups.

Unless you're heartless, you'll want your pet to be happy and well-fed. You'll be able to transform the magic card into an X-ray machine and look at the insides of your friend. You'll see how happy he is, and how hungry he is. You can then transform the card into a food bowl, throwing food for the pet to catch.

There are a number of toys you can play with, each with their own goals, achievements and objectives. You can play EyePet "just for fun," but gamers will be able to try and beat high scores to the various minigames in the collection. For example, one game has you playing ping pong with your pet. You don't want to beat your pet. Rather, you want to continue the rally for as long as possible.

Should you get tired of the toys included in the game, one amazing feature that works better than we'd imagine is the ability to draw and import your own creations. You can play an airplane minigame, for example, by drawing a helicopter for your pet to drive. All it takes is a white piece of paper and a black pen. You'll have to draw the pieces necessary to make a working helicopter, and then you'll be able to scan the image with the Eye. The drawing then gets scanned into the world and your pet will attempt to recreate it. (The more you teach it how to draw, the better he will perform.) Your handwriting and drawing turns a real 3D object in the world. In the flying minigame, you'll use the PS3 controller to guide your pet in a balloon-colllecting minigame.

Obviously, EyePet won't be a very compelling experience for the hardcore gamer, but we can't help but be impressed by the confluence of technology and super-cuteness. The fact that EyeToy simply works is a true technological achievement that really clues us into the future of Microsoft's Natal and the PlayStation motion controller. EyePet has been announced for both US and European release, with a holiday target in Europe. The game will be available in two flavors: Blu-ray disc, or bundle which includes the game and PlayStation Eye.

http://www.blogcdn.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2009/06/eyepet-e3-screenshot-02-copy.jpg
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Holy Crap. I was hoping for something like this last year (I remember being impressed at the time) and I figured it had come to nothing. But this looks really, really cool. My three-year-old is going to love this.

Looks like I am going to be getting a PSEye, finally.

Is there a Michael Vick mode?

http://images.hollywoodgrind.com:9000/images/2007/8/dogs-vs-vick.jpg

Is there a Michael Vick mode?



lmfao!!!!!!!

Is there a Michael Vick mode?

http://images.hollywoodgrind.com:9000/images/2007/8/dogs-vs-vick.jpg

That's the quote of the year. If it weren't for my Lakers going for a championship, I'd make it my sig. :)

I suspect it won't be long before some third-party developer creates a virtual human female Playboy Playmate or Penthouse Pet for the software.

If this game comes in a $60, I'll pretty much ignore it despite the awesome tech. If it's $30 or under, I'll buy it just to play with it a few times..much like I have with the PS Eye supporting PSN games.

Since I have actual pets, is there any reason I should be interested in this game?

It doesn't poop, you don't have to feed it, and it won't die? And can your pets fly around on a little airplane? I think not!

Is there a Michael Vick mode?
http://images.hollywoodgrind.com:9000/images/2007/8/dogs-vs-vick.jpg
That's the quote of the year. If it weren't for my Lakers going for a championship, I'd make it my sig. :)

I don't get it but maybe I live in a wrong country. Anyone could share more info about this joke. Who is Michael Vick anyway?

I don't get it but maybe I live in a wrong country. Anyone could share more info about this joke. Who is Michael Vick anyway?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Vick

I don't get it but maybe I live in a wrong country. Anyone could share more info about this joke. Who is Michael Vick anyway?

http://www.lmgtfy.com/?q=Michael+Vick

That's the quote of the year. If it weren't for my Lakers going for a championship, I'd make it my sig. :)

Well luckily you only have 3 more games till you can ;)

One game at a time!!! :D

L.A. is the best city on the planet earth. With E3 in town showing off the latest games, my Dodgers looking great in first place and the Lakers winning Game 1 of the Finals, this has been an awesome week for us.

Can I step on it?

The only thing I could think of while watching that is who puts their TV on the ground? Can you imagine laying down on ur belly in front of the TV playing with that thing looking up getting a crink in your neck? No doubt the only people capable of doing that are 3-8 year olds. :p

The only thing I could think of while watching that is who puts their TV on the ground? Can you imagine laying down on ur belly in front of the TV playing with that thing looking up getting a crink in your neck? No doubt the only people capable of doing that are 3-8 year olds. :pConsidering most 3-8yr olds are short and do their primary TV watching on the floor in front of the TV it wouldn't make much difference either way.:p

The only thing I could think of while watching that is who puts their TV on the ground? Can you imagine laying down on ur belly in front of the TV playing with that thing looking up getting a crink in your neck? No doubt the only people capable of doing that are 3-8 year olds. :p

Dude you're showing your age :D

Dude you're showing your age :D


Its only because I am still young enough to remember playing "Surf & Turf" and Mario and Balloon Trip and Street Fighter all laying on my belly looking up at the TV just like a foot away. I have no idea how I did that for hours at a time instead of just sitting up...kids do weird things.

Release date is Oct. 2 in Europe.

http://playstationlifestyle.net/2009/07/22/eyepet-looking-for-a-good-home-this-october

Another link showing the boxart.

http://www.pushsquare.com/4517/heres-your-eye-pet-boxart-coming-october-2nd

That soon? Cool. I'm not really digging the creature thing though. It's like some bad 80's cartoon leftover. If they make a Sack Boy Version I'd be all over it.

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e359/oddbodyAS2/LBP/sackboy.jpg

That soon? Cool. I'm not really digging the creature thing though. It's like some bad 80's cartoon leftover. If they make a Sack Boy Version I'd be all over it.


Yeah, I'm not too crazy about the pet design either. Your idea about using Sackboy got me thinking though and the possibilities are endless for future versions of this game if it manages to find an audience (My Baby T-Rex, Panda, etc).

Yeah, I'm not too crazy about the pet design either. Your idea about using Sackboy got me thinking though and the possibilities are endless for future versions of this game if it manages to find an audience (My Baby T-Rex, Panda, etc).Good ideas. If they're smart they'll offer some options like these as DLC. Although something like a T-Rex might be outside the scope of DLC since it would require entirely different actions.

Anyone else kind of surprised this is a full retail title? I expected it to be a downloadable.

Anyone else kind of surprised people over the age of 10 are actually talking about this game? :)

Definitely seems like it should be a downloadable game but it does come with those card things to scan with the camera. I'm wondering if it's going to be full price.

Anyone else kind of surprised people over the age of 10 are actually talking about this game? :)

No, because some of us have kids that are 10.

http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/28/sonys-eyepet-beta-hands-on-its-probably-the-most-adorable-thi/

We just got a brief glimpse at the new PlayStation Eye-based augmented reality EyePet game from Sony, which is on track for a holiday release on the PS3. It's no Project Natal, but what the game lacks in gesture-based interaction (though we were able to pet and play with the little guy pretty intuitively) it makes up for in extensive adorability. You can naturally play, feed, groom and customize your pet -- even teach the thing to draw shapes and bring them to life in a sense -- but it's surprisingly fun to just watch the little dude scamper around in seemingly real space. Check out a video of the game in an early beta state after the break.

http://www.viddler.com/explore/engadget/videos/509/2.941

Remember- not to give them any water after midnight...

Anyone else kind of surprised people over the age of 10 are actually talking about this game? :)

I'm way older than 10 (and 20) and still want this game

I come home and kick my virtual pet every day

Anyone else kind of surprised this is a full retail title? I expected it to be a downloadable.

Definitely seems like it should be a downloadable game but it does come with those card things to scan with the camera. I'm wondering if it's going to be full price.

yeah, seems like it should be a downloadable game and not on a disc. But since they have to include the card, they should sell the card in stores with a download voucher.

yeah, seems like it should be a downloadable game and not on a disc. But since they have to include the card, they should sell the card in stores with a download voucher.Even better, include it as a pack-in with the EyeToy.

If Sony wants to get people to buy EyeToys, they need to start including it with games (or vice versa). So far, most of their titles for the peripheral are all download only. Stupid idea. That means consumers have to go to a store to buy the EyeToy separately from the game they want to play. Selling downloadable titles like this means that you're assuming customers already have an EyeToy.

Remember- not to give them any water after midnight...

gremlins FAIL :p

Hmm, looks interesting but how the heck am I going to set that up? I mean, my set up is in my bedroom and I have normal bedroom lighting (two huge desk lamps on each night table) and even then the clarity and resolution from my Eye is spotty. I downloaded two games from the PS Store that use your hand motions and it reads it maybe half the time and never what I want to do. And don't get me started on Eye of Judgement, which I do love, but just to play that thing I have to set it up in an uncomfortable place on my floor and even then, the camera will read my cards after repeatedly placing down the card on the mat and adjusting the mat and camera every ten seconds.

I enjoy the possibility of the camera, but so far it's been a bust for me. I remember seeing video previews and articles and they would show the clarity of being awsome, even in standard lighting... yet my images on my screen are full of flicker and grain.

I mean, my set up is in my bedroom and I have normal bedroom lighting (two huge desk lamps on each night table) and even then the clarity and resolution from my Eye is spotty.
I'm sure that that's not enough light for most webcams.

If you had lights built into your ceiling, I'm sure that would produce enough light to get a better picture from the webcam.

That´s the thing... my other webcams receive a much better clarity, such as the one built into my macbook.

Maybe you got a broken camera then?

Have you tested the camera on your laptop? Or in the kitchen with your laptop where there's better lighting?

Impressions:

http://kotaku.com/5326657/eyepet-impressions-there-is-no-pet-actually-on-the-table-folks

Earlier this week we showed you Sony's PlayStation 3 EyePet in augmented-reality action. Today, I'll struggle to write words that are as impressive as that video.

Sony's EyePet is the latest gee-whiz software product that uses a Sony console and a camera. On the PlayStation 2, Sony used the EyeToy to offer players mini-game compilations that had players waving their arms in front of their TV in order to virtually wash windows or chop vegetables. The PS2-EyeToy combo also produced a fitness game, called EyeToy Kinetic. These games preceded Wii games such as Wii Play and Wii Fit by several years, but they failed to catch on, be it because of their design, their technology, their marketing, or whatever.

With the launch of the PlayStation 3, Sony introduced an improved camera, the PlayStation Eye. Within a year, the company launched Eye of Judgment, a simple strategy game that had players placing cards on a mat beneath a downward-facing camera. On a connected TV, virtual monsters appeared to stand on those cards.

EyePet is the successor to all this. It works as shown in the videos and described in our E3 EyePet report. Players get the game and the camera, a TV and a PS3. The camera is pointed at a flat surface. At the event in New York this week where our EyePet videos were filmed, Sony had a massive coffee table set up upon which the Eyepet would roam. A Sony rep said that any flat surface would do, as long as it allowed color-contrast with the card that is used to manipulate the pet as well as with the players' hands. I was told that lighting wouldn't be an issue, but that's something better tested in our own homes. At the Sony event, at least, there didn't seem to be any fancy lights set up to make the game work. We were in a decently-lit top-floor loft and the game was running from the sunny afternoon to the darker early evening. (Watch Kotaku's EyePet videos.)

The EyePet pet is rendered to appear to scamper across the table. You can wave your hand at the pet to make it jump or tap on the table to draw its attention and make it come running. But a card that will come with the game is your main tool for activating various parts of the software. Laying it on the table causes a virtual menu to sprout, from which various activities can be selected. From there the card could become a trampoline for the pet. We turned it into a bubble blower, tapping the head of the virtually-rendered bubble-blower to blow bubbles. The pet jumped in the biggest bubble. He began to float away. Game choices included bowling, tennis, and others, many of which, I was told, include goals that unlock some 250-plus options for customizing the pet.

There was a grooming section I didn't check out. It looked like it would involve combing and showering the pet who was getting dirty and attracting virtual flies as we played.

Captured in one of our videos published earlier this week is the drawing system for the game. This involves drawing basic sketches of cars and planes and other objects comprised of basic shapes. You hold your sketch to the camera, and the pet then grabs a crayon and re-draws your sketch virtually. As you can see in the video, a drawing with the proper constituent parts will transform into 3D objects that combine into pet toys. So the pet winds up flying on the plane or driving the car. The Sony rep showing me the game said he used to do the car wrong, drawing a side-view of an automobile that would turn into a blob of an object that the pet would zoom around on. Doing it right means drawing the side view of a car frame and then two wheels. Players can pick the textures for any of the objects. So imagine making the car from wood or stone, for example.

One of the other things we showed in the video was the ability to give your pet a check-up. You hold the card up to the pet as if it's an X-ray scanner and wand over where the pet is virtually standing. This provides clues to its mood and its needs. Maybe it's sad or hungry.

I only messed around with the Eyepet for about 15 minutes, but every time I saw the game being played during my several-hour tour of Sony's line-up, I saw a crowd watching the thing. The pet was captivating, and it seemed like it could do a lot. While it seems more of a thing you tend to than a thing you play, the impression I got was that interacting with Eyepet could be a goals-based experience. If so, it may well have appeal not just for the virtual pet, Nintendogs crowd, but for challenge-loving gamers as well.

The game is set for holiday release and will be offered both as a standalone disc or with a bundled PlayStation Eye.

Release date and pricing confirmed (http://blog.us.playstation.com/2009/08/28/eyepet-in-stores-on-november-17/). November 17 for $40 ($60 if you need the EyeToy).

Here's a great GameCom video showing it in action. (http://www.videogamer.com/videos/eyepet_gamescom_gameplay_presentation.html?type=hd)

http://www.gametrailers.com/video/pet-features-eyepet/56620

It looks like it won't be available on November 17 after all: based on this article, it is delayed until Spring of 2010 (April 4, 2010 to be exact). However in Europe the launch is still planned for later this year... That's a bummer..

http://uk.gamespot.com/news/6231803.html

It makes sense to maximize the content of a new franchise. If this game will fully feature the motion wand controls, it's better to release it once the wand is out I suppose. I can wait with this very busy software season.

Bummer :(

Joe: they aren't delaying the launch in Europe, so I doubt this has anything to do with wand support. Just the usual "UK franchise gets delayed in the States" like with Singstar.

Think ill stick to the ZHU ZHU Giant Hamster City:p

The game is now out in North America, complete with Move+PSEye support. I picked up a week ago as one of the birthday gifts for my young daughter, so I'll share my impressions here from watching her play.

I'll start off by saying the target audience for this title are girls about 5 years of age through teenage years. My older daughter watched her sister for awhile and wanted me to set up a profile for her own pet. There is a lot to do, it's VERY interactive, and it actually gets pretty challenging at times (even for me, the hardcore gamer of the family).

The graphics are fantastic. The Eyepet creature is straight from a quality Pixar movie. It's really impressive how well animated and highly detailed he is, despite all the hair he (optionally) has. I say optional because there are quite a few changes you can make to his overall look, with various hairstyles, haircuts, color combinations and outfit pieces he can wear. Many of these customization options come by way of prizes for successfully completing challenges. Your kid will enjoy playing dress up with him, and can save their favorite looks similar to LittleBigPlanet.

Backing up a bit, the game starts with video of the scientist host expaining what you need to do to setup the Eyepet playing area. It is more involved for kids to handle IMHO, so you should probably handle this part. The PSEye must be set about knee height and pointing down since the simulation of Eyepet play involves the creature roaming around your real floor (and keep the floor clear of any objects).

The Move controller is then synched to the PSEye when you place the bulb on the floor in a targeted spot and hold the M button. Lastly, you MUST have decent lighting in the room for the illusion to work right. Some activities don't use the Move and if lighting is poor the PSEye might have issues or just look grainy. I haven't tried it in low light levels, but I'm sure this is accurate. With good lighting, the game looks great on your TV with the player as the star.

The player sets up a profile (easy), and then an egg is delivered to her. She examines it with X-Ray equipment using the Move, and then gently helps it hatch. After feeding it, bonding with it and giving him a name, the player then goes into the main format of the game. My little one was grinning the entire time. She absolutely loves the presentation quality of the entire thing. She is able to use the Move with no problem as she sits on the floor interacting with her creature.

There are a lot of activities for the player and the Eyepet. Each game day you can do anything you want that you've unlocked, but there will always be 3-4 "challenges" that you can optionally complete to unlock new prizes, toys, or additional activities.

After eight game days completed by my daughter, I have to say I'm impressed so far by the number of things you can do. Beside the challenges, you can clean him, feed him, play games, use toys, work on art projects, put him to sleep, and more.

One interesting option is the health check where you examine his brain, heart, stomach and muscles for problems with an X-Ray machine. This gives you clues as to whether he needs creative stimulation, food, exercise or just simple love from the player. Each of these activities is done with augmented reality graphics, meaning as you shower the pet with the Move you see yourself on-screen holding a shower handle with the water coming out.

A lot of these activities have enough "sandbox" play mechanics that you can do it your own way. For feeding him (we only have one food unlocked so far), you can put the biscuits in his dish, flip them into the air so he can jump and catch them, throw them on the ground, etc.

Almost all activities can be handled by the young one, but to unlock prizes in each challenge you need to get a bronze, silver, or gold score. Most are easy to score gold for a seasoned gamer, but a young player may need a lot of practice. A few of them aren't explained well enough IMHO. I wasn't sure how to teach the Eyepet to sing at first, but you use your PSEye's mic to literally sing yourself. I really advise people to go to the XMB menu and calibrate the mic so it cancels out audio feedback first! Once you set it up, you have music games like singing a note at the perfect pitch (it tells you to go lower or higher) to break different glass cups. It was hard getting the gold but al of us were laughing at ourselves as we took turns trying to sing the glasses into pieces.

Other games include teaching it to draw - you can draw on real paper and show it to the PSEye for the pet to copy, or virtually draw on your TV with the Move - and see it "come to life" as a toy that your Eyepet can play with. There's also a bowling game, a trampoline game, and many more.

All in all this title gets high marks for production values and game play variety. It looks extremely good, and young players will have a great time wih the pet that can visibly change from being happy, to being scared to being adventurous in each play session. The creature even dreams a summary of some of the stuff you did with him, which you see in clouded, recorded replay videos above his head after you rub his back/tummy to put him to sleep. Most mini-games are easy for kids to play, but some are not as self-explanitory as they should be.

For only $40, I'd say it is an very good purchase if you have a kid or two in the family. My little one has been absorbed with this title more than any other game she's played, and her face is always smiling or laughing. A girlfriend or wife may have some fun with it too I suppose. For grown men living by themselves, you'll likely want to pass.

Wow, thanks for resurrecting this thread!
I also ended up getting EyePet for my kids on release day, and they play it almost every night (for a treat!)

Other games include teaching it to draw - you can draw on real paper and show it to the PSEye for the pet to copy, or virtually draw on your TV with the Move - and see it "come to life"

For grown men living by themselves, you'll likely want to pass.

what if you draw a pussy (cat?) :p

I was fence-sitting on Move, but randomly decided to pick up a Move bundle and EyePet (which I have been, urhm, eyeing for a long time, since it was released in Europe without Move support quite some time ago). I've played it a bit so far (not as far as jb) with my 5-yr old son and he absolutely loves it. It's a good amount of fun for Dad too. (The wife, on the other hand, grouses about teaching our son to play with a virtual pet instead of encouraging him to play with our cats. He's 5, and yet after three play sessions with EyePet, it's to blame for him not playing with the cats. :rolleyes:. But I digress).

Anyway, I have to strongly echo the comment regarding lighting. Our front room has good lighting during the day but no built-in lights and the two lamps we have are pretty dim. The picture gets really fuzzy under low lighting conditions and although my son doesn't seem to care, it is definitely non-optimal. I need to get some brighter lighting options for the room, which would be nice for general use anyway. During the day it looks good. The animation on the pet is, as one would hope, superb, since that's the whole point of the game. The various toys and other things are all animated well, and the "Who Framed Roger Rabbit" charm of seeing yourself flicking around animated props, spraying the floor with water, etc, is quite engaging.

I was initially thinking it was going to be annoying having to move the PSEye camera from the top of our Plasma (other games) down to the entertainment center cabinent, which is the right height, but that's proven to be very fast and a complete non-issue, in my setup at least.

Anyway, it's fun, engaging, and perfect for a small kid, whether male or female. As jb mentions, parents will need to help small kids with some of the experience, but IMHO that's even better as it draws you in instead of being tempted to sit there and watch or do something else.

Tell your wife to hold your cats while your son hoses them down with a water sprayer.

:D

How is the picture quality of the PSEye camera on a big HDTV overall?
I'm really disappointed this camera has a max. resolution of 640x480 which I'd think looks horrid on a 50''*or more full HDTV. Not sure why Sony didn't make the camera at least 720p.

Comments?

The image quality is fine for its purpose in games, and the camera isn't going to change this generation. Look at the picture in the bottom of the first post of this thread to see roughly what the best image will look like in really good lighting, which gets grainier the less you have. If it isn't up to speed for you, then you might want to pass on the tech.

What Joe says. It's fine for its use.

The only thing wrong the the PSEye is Sony hasn't given us damn Skype yet. (Okay, yeah, that's not a problem with the camera). They have it on PSP... why the heck won't they give it to us on PS3? :mad:

Image quality looks good on my 42" ED. I am sure it won't look as good if/when I upgrade to that 58" I have been eyeing, but I am sure it will still look just fine.

Wow, major DLC is on the way (http://blog.us.playstation.com/2011/04/08/eyepet-is-back-and-this-time-hes-got-company/) that drastically revamps this title. It's called Eyepet & Friends, which adds multiplayer:

EyePet & Friends is coming to your home later this year with double the magic and endless amounts of fun! Be prepared for living rooms across the country to be turned upside-down as not just one, but two lovable EyePets (http://www.eyepet.com/home.cfm?lang=en_US) arrive on the scene.

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5101/5599492018_f5b27d7376_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/playstationblog/5599492018/)

We listened to the feedback from both users and critics alike, and aimed to continue innovating the EyePet (http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/eyepet/) experience in a number of areas. Because of our desire to create an even more immersive augmented reality experience, EyePet & Friends is a ground-up re-design that retains the very best of the original EyePet.

We’ve socialized the game, now with two players, two PlayStation Move (http://us.playstation.com/ps3/playstation-move/) controllers, two Pets and augmented reality. Raise two on your own or together with a friend, let them hatch together or see if you can handle just one of the mischievous fur balls first – the choice is yours, but don’t forget that two EyePets born together may form a stronger bond with each other.

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5262/5599492048_cde052f563_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/playstationblog/5599492048/)

Life with an EyePet (http://us.playstation.com/games-and-media/games/eyepet-ps3.html) is never dull! With the new EyePet online community, you can show off your pet’s adventures and Trophies online or sit back and relax as you connect with other EyePet owners, swapping tips and tricks on how to get the best out of your playful new family members.

There’s also a whole new world of customizable fun to be had: Need a new toy to keep your furry friend entertained or a new outfit for a special occasion? No problem! Head over to the Creativity Center where you’ll be able to expand the world you and your EyePets live in as you use your Move controller to create and customize your very own content.

However you decide to play, your efforts will be rewarded. Every moment spent nurturing; playing or completing challenges will earn you EyePet Tokens which you can use in the Pet Store to unlock exciting additional content!

If you think you have space for two new virtual furry friends, get ready for the arrival of EyePet & Friends, out later this year.

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5101/5599492080_8e75a2978a_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/playstationblog/5599492080/)
Even without this cool new content, the game is a must-have purchase if you have young kids like I do.

That's DLC? I just assumed it was the sequel. The press release didn't say DLC. In fact, "EyePet & Friends is a ground-up re-design that retains the very best of the original EyePet," implies a new title.

All three of my kids took turns playing EyePet this weekend. It really started clicking with the seven year old. This sequel will be big with my kids, their pets can interact and they no longer have to watch and wait their turn.

Kids started playing EyePet and Friends, wow what a disappointment so far. Long load screen, menus pop-up and narrator goes on and on interrupting the game constantly. When one pet gets to a checkpoint the menu pops up and stops the other pet from moving on. During the washing part the frame rate was like 4 fps.

It seems like two pets at once was a good idea but does not work in practice. They should have just had a play mode where two pets can play, but not have two pets through the whole game.

Just got stuck in a sub menu where you save the haircut, but the narrator just kept talking about putting hats and stuff on. There was no way to get out unless you go to another game mode from the main menu, WTF?

Amazon trade in is $9, great...

That's too bad, tanks for the heads up. Only one of my kids is young enough for the series so I'll stick with the first one.

Grandparents got the first one for my kids for Xmas. They are 7 and 9 so I'll report back on how they like it. I am betting the 7 year old will like it more (girl) as my son who is 9 is more into Star Wars and Spiderman games.

OK well my parents got them the Eyepets and friends game. My son is moderately interested in it (9 years old). My daughter who is 7 refused to go to bed last night, got up early this morning and has pretty much played it all day non stop. And she never uses the Playstation.

Yes the intro is long and tedious but once she got going with it it really sucked her into the gameplay.

Did they play two at once or just one at a time?

My 8 year old and I were having fun with Carnival.I'll have her try EyePet alone to give it a second shot.

We only have 1 move controller so they played one at a time. I do need to get a 2nd controller for Eyepet and so my son and i can play TW12 easier.

Got the EyePet and Friends for my kids, exactly one year after the first one. Have two move controllers so both kids (8 and 3) are playing together.

I also found the loading menus a bit too long – at least they try to keep the kids ‘engaged’ by producing the ‘mysterious sounds’ when the curtain is down.

Thanks to ‘tgable’ for the info on the frame rate during washing part. I did experience the delay once and started to worry that this has to do something with my system.

Also not sure about the token system to get additional items (foods, clothing items, etc). Maybe it is because I was not able to find any challenges to complete (for those who played the first one should remember what I am talking about) and earn more tokens? Are there any challenges to complete in this game?

I think the overall verdict is mixed at this point. I am sure the kids will have fun with that but the excitement will probably wear off like with every new thing.

I think the overall verdict is mixed at this point. I am sure the kids will have fun with that but the excitement will probably wear off like with every new thing.

Ain't that the truth. Damn kids stop touching the new stuff days after X-mas.