PlayStation Eye + EyePet = Who needs real pets?
by Christopher Grant 
{ Aug 20th 2008 at 6:15PM }
click the monkey
Our biggest problem with Sony's AIBO robotic dog was that, well ... it wasn't fake enough! Though it wasn't able to soil the floor, you could still touch it or (perish the thought!) pick it up. So it's with great interest that we bring you news of EyePet, a "responsive virtual pet who reacts to your every move" brought to you by our friends at SCEE. All you need is a PlayStation Eye camera, a PlayStation 3, and the ability to love.
"EyePet gives you all the lovable benefits and interaction of a real-life pet without tearing up your sofa or making a mess on the rug," says the totally understated press release. With a late 2009 release date, that gives you just enough time to forget all about that real miniature monkey thing you had when you were a kid. Video footage of your new best friend can be found after the break.
Gallery: EyePet
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Mr Khan @ Aug 20th 2008 6:18PM
"monkey thing? monkey thing! Blast her, Coop!"
/reference
Megadanxzero @ Aug 20th 2008 6:35PM
I wonder if it digs giant robots?
Schoon @ Aug 20th 2008 7:34PM
Possibly no, but did you notice:
1. It's not "click to embiggen", but "click the monkey"
2. The soccer jersey at the end of the video says "Leipzig"...
Just a thought.
kagai @ Aug 20th 2008 9:18PM
If it throws poop at you when it gets mad, I'm buying a PS3 immediately.
Duke @ Aug 20th 2008 6:18PM
Nope. Its not a pet if it doesn't poop and scoot on the rug. Cats FTW!
Superstar90 @ Aug 20th 2008 6:23PM
What if I crush it, does it die?
Superstar90 @ Aug 20th 2008 6:26PM
I take that back, I just watched the video and it's like the most adorable thing ever.
jordan @ Aug 23rd 2008 11:34AM
bwahahah. crush it! and see what you can draw. oh the possibilities xD
j.howlett @ Aug 20th 2008 6:24PM
any special rules?
Luke @ Aug 21st 2008 12:28AM
Don't feed it after midnight.
jonbo298 @ Aug 20th 2008 6:27PM
It's so cute I want to e-strangle it
Bleu @ Aug 20th 2008 10:58PM
yo jonbo that was the funniest comment i read all week I almost fuckin pissed my pants. thank you sir!
Bleu @ Aug 20th 2008 10:59PM
yo jonbo that was the funniest comment i read all week I almost fuckin pissed my pants. thank you sir!
jordan (newguy298) @ Aug 23rd 2008 11:52AM
YOU STOLE MY 298! I USE THAT FOR FKIN EVERYTHING! xD
Simstim @ Aug 20th 2008 6:28PM
my niece and nephew will love this
Deadpool @ Aug 20th 2008 6:29PM
This might be a hit in Japan. Remember Nintendogs? That sold like crazy there. Now all they need is more role playing games to really start kicking.
knighty @ Aug 20th 2008 6:29PM
This is totally off topic I'm afraid but would it be possible to turn on filtering for the joystiq video player...it looks pretty horrid unfiltered.
On topic, I think this looks pretty kewl. The fur effects look nice anyway....:P
Christian @ Aug 20th 2008 6:36PM
me fracking wants one!!
required @ Aug 20th 2008 6:37PM
wonder if it has something like faceAPI: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uA8ZXPS6onk
Sidebuster @ Aug 20th 2008 6:38PM
They should have made the pet the kid from the grudge or the girl. Have your friend sit on the couch and he hears the noise the girl makes from your 7.1 surround sound and he is looking at her standing behind him on the tv and flips. that would be great.
DiscoShark @ Aug 20th 2008 6:39PM
Typical, I buy the nintendo console for all the "innovative" breakthroughs that would be coming down the pipe with the use of the wiimote and Sony's the one impressing me the most when it comes to innovative game design.
KarlW @ Aug 20th 2008 8:15PM
Sony are doing some cool things. Especially with the EyeToy. Check this demo back when the PS3 was being annonced: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hqkyo6Es1Ic&feature=related
Amazing, right? Well, things like that, and like this EyePet, have been shown on concepts for ages. If those concepts actually make it to games, we could see things like eyetoy-controlled turntables, and even things like Wii Sports - using a standard tennis racket (or cheap plastic tube), and having the motion detected by cameras in stead of accelerometers. Sony have been experimenting with this stuff for ages.
commen-cents @ Aug 21st 2008 12:39AM
your so right... but hey its not coming until late 2009 so with more of the same spouting out from each console nintendo might do something similar after seeing this... but it wont look as good.
Questworld @ Aug 21st 2008 3:06AM
But it's the same "non-game" "hardcore" gamers complain about. If air drumming is a joke, air petting is equally so. That's not to say I don't find this highly adorable and innovative, but it's no more realistic for me to buy this than it would me buying Nintendogz or Ubisoft's numerous pets sims. Part of it though is because I never really cared for webcam games where you just "waggle" your on screen body to hit on screen objects. That said, I have nothing against this. Self-centered gamers might bemoan the mere existence of "casual" "games" like this or Wii Music, but I think it's important to the overall development of the medium.
jukebox_johnny @ Aug 20th 2008 6:43PM
Is that a digital white table that it was playing on, or do i have to now put a table in front of my television to enjoy my virtual "pet"?
Senor Facekick @ Aug 20th 2008 6:44PM
Why is it that my first thought after watching this was "what will happen if I draw a penis on that whiteboard"..?
Senor Facekick @ Aug 20th 2008 6:46PM
Also oh my -god- that thing is insufferably adoreable.
ahsayuninew @ Aug 20th 2008 6:46PM
Does want!
Dustin @ Aug 20th 2008 6:49PM
Hmm... I wonder how much this will cost? If it's going to be priced like other PS Eye "games" and be $10 at the most, or if they'll try to push this as a full featured game and ask $20 or $30 for it.
Actually, I don't care. I'm totally getting it!
Nightvortez @ Aug 20th 2008 7:03PM
If it moves on disc, which would be weird, I'm sure it'll be the regular price bundled with the PS EYE.
anthrartist @ Aug 20th 2008 6:49PM
I'm having a hard time believing it would work that perfectly. Especially the car thing. Also, what happens if I don't have a table?
I still want it though.
J.Goodwin @ Aug 20th 2008 6:50PM
Sekiguchi Corporation lawsuit re: Monchichi IP incoming in 3...2...1...
NukeAssault @ Aug 20th 2008 6:56PM
Thats actually pretty damn cool... I don't care how much its gonna cost me to get it. =P
NukeAssault @ Aug 20th 2008 7:32PM
Btw, i hope there are more animals (or w/e) in the ifnal version. Also, more then 1 on screen would be awesome. I could have like Godzilla vs the monkey!
superaktieboy @ Aug 21st 2008 4:32AM
hmm why not just give an pet builder :) so you can make your own pet..
jordan (newguy298) @ Aug 23rd 2008 11:52AM
apparently they wont let me login no matter how many times i get confirmation emails (like 7 times now) but bwahaha yes the things we will draw. excellent Smithers. excellent. this game is going straight from E/C to A/O
ice~ @ Aug 20th 2008 6:58PM
I wonder if there'll be other pets...I'd wanna poke a virtual bunny (or playboy bunny)
anyway, I'd so take a butcher knife, put it up to the screen, and totally slaughter that monkey...but that would be morally incorrect wouldn't it...?
Nightvortez @ Aug 20th 2008 7:00PM
What is wrong with that girls forehead?
NukeAssault @ Aug 20th 2008 7:29PM
Cone head syndrome.
LocalToast @ Aug 20th 2008 7:00PM
Digital Dog Fights
...Are not condoned by Sony.
Inect @ Aug 20th 2008 7:26PM
Vick read that and got excited for a second.
Superstar90 @ Aug 20th 2008 7:43PM
Nah, Vick has been in the Nintendog fighting circuit for a long time now... he wouldn't give it up just yet.
Bluebrake @ Aug 20th 2008 7:07PM
Could be big.
caserb @ Aug 20th 2008 7:09PM
This might actually be a big hit if Sony delivers on what it promises in the video, as far as innovation and interactivity go. I mean seriously, what kid hasn't thought, "Man...you know what would be awesome? A f***ing pet monkey."
Well, that's what I thought at the age of six anyhow. Then I took a bong hit and yelled to my mom to keep the taquitos and PBR's coming.
BigD145 @ Aug 20th 2008 7:09PM
This + Disgaea. GO!
Maverick Saturn @ Aug 20th 2008 7:13PM
Worry.....suddenly tamagotchi comes to mind.
I hope it doesn't run on alert system, the last thing I want is to be in a game of Motostorm or something online and bam, up pops a message saying my eyepet is ill, take it to the virtual vet :S
'Sorry mates, gotta run, my eyepet is ill, maybe some other time ey?'
Its all cute now >:( But you just wait till that little bastard starts pooing everywhere and you have to clean it all the time, and falls sick and gets hungry constantly, then you have to watch its diet, make sure its not to fat or thin, entertain it >:O what about constantly having to cuddle it and tell it you love it so it doesn't feel insecure about life. Then you have to make sure it doesn't get bullied....sorry getting carried away here, heh heh :D
Maverick Saturn @ Aug 20th 2008 7:16PM
I hope the follow up with an expansion 'eyebabe'.
Watch your virtual babe on screen when the gf is away and play with her, lmao
jordan @ Aug 23rd 2008 11:44AM
BWAHAHAHA xD eyebabe.
jordan @ Aug 23rd 2008 11:44AM
hehehe eye babe
LAZoftheTamarinds @ Aug 20th 2008 7:16PM
Is this what it looks like when a monkey, a chipmunk, a puppy, and a cat breed?