Xbox Live Vision
Webcam accessory for Xbox 360 with video chat and game integration.
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The Xbox Live Vision was a webcam made for the Xbox 360. Microsoft first showed it off at E3 2006, and it hit stores in North America on September 19, 2006. It launched in Europe and Asia on October 2, 2006, and in Japan on November 2, 2006.
The camera could handle video chats, let users create custom gamer pictures, support in-game video calls, and take still photos. It recorded video at 640 by 480 pixels and 30 frames per second, and could snap still images at 1.3 megapixels. In 2010, the Kinect replaced it—a new camera that added motion tracking and voice commands.
The camera offered three visual effects—'watery', 'edgy', and 'dotty'—that layered the live video feed over the dashboard background. It connected via standard USB 2.0 and worked with Windows (XP and newer) and Mac OS X (version 10.4.9 and later). For video chat and picture messages, an Xbox Live Gold subscription was required, and some games allowed a 2x or 4x digital zoom during calls.
Windows
Before the full release, Toys "R" Us stores in New York City and Los Angeles sold the camera for a month to build excitement. On Windows, the camera needed a separate microphone for audio, as it lacked its own audio input. Drivers weren't included but could be downloaded automatically. On Windows, it could only take pictures by default, not record video, though extra software could fix that.
Mac OS X
Mac OS X 10.4.9 added support for USB video-class devices, letting the camera work in iChat, Photo Booth, FaceTime, and Skype. It worked from OS X 10.5 through 10.7, but support ended after that. The PlayStation 3 also supported it after firmware version 1.54 added USB video-class device compatibility. On Linux, it worked natively, tested on version 4.19.66-v7+ with a Raspberry Pi at resolutions up to 960x720.
Many games used the camera for in-game video chat, including American Idol Encore, Uno, Texas Hold 'em, and Call of Duty: Black Ops II. Others used it for face mapping, like FIFA 10, Fight Night Round 4, and Tiger Woods PGA Tour 08. Some titles, such as Pinball FX and You're in the Movies, used the camera as a controller.
Lore & Background
The Xbox Live Vision Camera was announced at E3 2006 and released in North America on September 19, 2006, following a one-month pre-launch period in which Toys "R" Us stores in New York City and Los Angeles sold them to build hype. It was released in Europe and Asia on October 6, 2006, and in Japan on November 2, 2006. The camera features three camera effects—'watery', 'edgy', and 'dotty'—that overlay the captured video image on the dashboard background. It also allows a digital zoom of 2x or 4x during video chat in certain games.
The camera uses a standard USB 2.0 connection and is compatible with Windows (XP and newer) and Mac OS X (v10.4.9 and newer). On Windows, it works with 32-bit versions of XP Service Pack 2, Windows Vista (32-bit and 64-bit), and Windows 7 (32-bit and 64-bit, though 64-bit is not confirmed by Microsoft).
It lacks audio input, so a separate microphone is needed for voice chat. On Mac OS X, support was added in version 10.4.9 and continued through 10.7, after which it was removed. The camera also works with PlayStation 3 firmware version 1.54 and has native support on Linux, tested with v4.19.66-v7+ on a Raspberry Pi at resolutions up to 960x720.
In 2010, the Xbox Live Vision was succeeded by Kinect, a new camera accessory that incorporates a motion tracking system and adds voice recognition functionality to the console.
Reader's Guide
The Xbox Live Vision Camera served as the primary video accessory for the Xbox 360 before the introduction of Kinect. Its significance lies in enabling video chat and picture messaging over Xbox Live (requiring an Xbox Live Gold subscription), as well as in-game video support for a wide range of titles. The camera's compatibility extended beyond the Xbox 360 to Windows, Mac OS X, PlayStation 3, and Linux, making it a versatile USB webcam. On Windows, it could only take still pictures natively, requiring additional software for video recording.
On Mac OS X, it worked with iChat, Photo Booth, Facetime for Mac, and Skype. The camera also supported face mapping in games such as EA Sports MMA, FaceBreaker, FIFA 10, and several Tiger Woods PGA Tour titles, allowing players to import their likeness. Its legacy is tied to the early era of console-based video communication and the transition to motion-controlled gaming with Kinect.
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Sources
Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.
- Wikipedia: Xbox Live Vision (CC BY-SA 4.0).
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