Game Consoles

Overview:

Pros:

• Compact
• Good viewing angle
• Backlit display
• Rechargeable battery
• Backward compatible

Cons:

• Adaptor for headphones must be bought separately
• No control for brightness and contrast

Review:

The word “Game Boy” itself makes most of us think of kids as this hand held gaming machine of Nintendo has been designed in such a way that it is primarily marketed towards the kids. But the fact is, the Game Boy can make adults fall in love with it too. We know because we love it too. Having fiddled with the original Game Boy, the Game Boy pocket and Game Boy colour, we were as excited as we would be a night before a flight to a holiday destination when we first read about the news on the release of the Game Boy Advance SP.

The Game Boy history:

Before we take the discussion more deep about the Game Boy advance SP console, we would like to refresh your memories about the original Game Boy. The original version was first introduced in the year 1988 in Japan and the very next year in USA. This gaming console had a gray scale display of resolution 160 x 144 pixels. It ran on an eight bit Z80 based processor with four channel sounds. Its source of power was four AA batteries, having a battery life of around 15 to 30 hours. The next generation model called the “Game Boy Pocket” was introduced in the year 1996, which had a smaller physic and made use of two AAA batteries to run for 10 hours. Then, in the year 1999, a much improvised version on all areas was released, called “Game Boy Colour“. This console had a 160×144 pixels colour display, which was capable of displaying 56 colours. It had 8Mhz Z80 based processor, 4 channel sound and ran 13 hours on 2 AA batteries. A couple of years later, the Game Boy Advance was released with some radical changes. This version of the gaming console had a larger display with a higher resolution of 240×160 pixels with a horizontal layout and a faster processor. And the next version is the Nintendo Game Boy Advance SP, which we will be discussing in detail below. This version has finally included most of the features that we had been waiting for years.

What the “SP” has got in store for us:

If you are wondering what the “SP” in the name stands for, then think no more, it simply means “Special”. Though there is not much difference with the performance of the, GBA SP, it has included a lot of other interesting tweaks like the compact folding design, rechargeable batteries and finally a backlight for the display that had been crying for one for years. These are the main changes and other than this, the major functionalities and features remains to be the same as the original Advance and SP too has the capability to play the entire library of the Game Boy games.

Flip in design:
Design wise, the Nintentdo GBA SP reminds us of the original Game Boy, which again had to be folded into half. But this time around, it is more compact, mature and its flip screen design is appealing for both kids and adults. This model is very compact when folded and can be easily carried around in your pockets. When the unit is kept closed, it makes a perfect square and resembles a super tiny laptop. It has curvy edge and the case is quite sturdy. This model is available in platinum, chrome, maroon, pink, black and cobalt colours. The game cartridge is available in the bottom front of the unit and unlike the other versions, where the carts stick out about 1.25 inches, here it fits flush. Though they look a little awkward, they do not hinder while you are gaming.

Buttons and controls in Game Boy Advance SP:

There are two spring loaded left and right buttons on the shoulders of the GBA SP and the application of these buttons depends entirely on the game cartridge that is loaded on the slot. One of the coolest features that had been added to SP is that, on pressing these buttons the display can be changed from regular to wide screen format, a feature which is not possible in the older games with just 160×144 pixels. When the console is opened, you will find the display, buttons and the speaker grill. Though the screen is not held closed with any latch, it does not fall open in its own even when it is shook or held upside down. And when the display is opened, it folds back to approximately 180 degrees, a great viewing angle for playing. The layout of the buttons is same as that of the classic console. This clamshell design allows you to adjust its angle easily and also protects the LCD from getting scratched.

The four way navigational pad is placed towards the left and the A/B buttons directly across it. On top of these buttons is a screen light toggle and towards the bottom are the start and stop buttons. Though the control positioning is similar to that of the original GBA, the left and right shoulder buttons are smaller. Playing games on the Nintendo Game Boy Advance SP Game Console will be a great experience and there will not be any comfort issues as they give a very good and tactile feedback with easy presses.

A small slider switch is available towards the left of the console and is used to control the volume of the speaker. The right side of the console sports the power switch and two status LEDs. One of the LED acts a battery indicator. It glows green when the unit is switched on and turns to red when battery drops to 30% to 20%. The other LED glows amber when the unit is charging and turns off once the charging is complete. The rear of the device has the AC adapter and External Extension connectors, where the AC adaptor doubles as a headphone jack. It will not look familiar to you too as you will have to buy an external adaptor that will not cost much in order to use the GBA SP with headphones. This adaptor will provide you with a standard 3.5mm jack, which will allow any standard earphones to be plugged in. This is one of the major blots with the design because, this kind of set up will not allow you to charge the device and listen to it via the headphone at the same time. The External Extension connector is used to link a Game Boy via a link cable, for the sake of multiplayer games and also for interacting with the device.

Finally!!! A backlight:

Deny No one can ever deny the fact that the original Game Boy enjoyed an enormous success and sold millions of units around the world. But an equally undeniable fact is that anybody who has ever played with it, has cursed it for that fact that it does not have an illuminated display. Adding backlight to the SBA SP’s display is the best feature that SP has been upgraded with. This means that now you will be able to enjoy playing games in any lighting condition. You no longer need to struggle with an overhead light in low light conditions as in the case of the original console. But we just wish if it was a little brighter and has some way to adjust the brightness and contrast. The only adjustment that you will be able to make for now is just On/Off.

Performance of GBA SP:

Like the original GBA, the SP runs on a 32-bit RISC-CPU with embedded memory. The performance is obliviously, same as that of the original Game Boy. And the performance is the same in all situations unless the gaming console is taken outside in the bright sunlight. As with the SP version, you will be able to make use of the front light. The GBA SP has got a wide spectrum of games that would satisfy a wide range of gamers.

Sound:
As far as the sound is concerned, the front speaker is loud enough for most of the tasks. But if you are in a noisy environment, then you will require headphones.

Battery life:
The battery life is quite decent. The original GBA allows you to play for days together on two AA batteries. Though the SP’s battery does not endure for as long as those of its predecessor, Nintendo assures you up to 10 hours will illumination and about 18 hours without having to recharge. It takes about 3 hours to fully charge the battery.

Verdict:

Having included an illuminated display, Nintendo has finally fixed the biggest flaw of the original Game Boy Advance. If you are already having a Game Boy Advance and really do not care about having a lit display, then there is no need for you to update with the SP. But if you do not own one, then this is the best choice as it is compact and fun. The console has already proven that it is not just for kids and so, adults can have a great deal of fun too.

Check reviews of Nintendo GameCube, Nintendo Wii Fit in our website.

Game Boy Advance SP – Technical Specifications, Features

Manufacturer	Nintendo
Model Name	Game Boy Advance SP
Game console type	Handheld
Dimensions (W x D x H)	84.6x82x24.3mm
Weight	0.14 kg
Colours available	Platinum, chrome, maroon, pink, black and cobalt
Display resolution	240x160pixels
Data width	32 bits
RAM installed	0.25 MB
Game media type	Cartridge
Sound output mode	Stereo
Input device type	D-Pad + 6 buttons
Battery	Built in rechargeable Lithium Ion

Logitech is popular for its computer peripherals manufacturing, which has designed some of the all time best peripherals like mouse, keyboards, trackballs and gaming controllers. They have a perfect idea on how to make the gadgets both comfy and work simultaneously.  Their long experience in this market can be felt very well in their gaming accessory the Logitech ChillStream gamepad. This is the first windows optimised controller.

Though most of the PC games can be played well with just the keyboard and mouse combination like the strategy and shooters games, there still exists a few titles like console ports and sports titles that are crying out for a controller. Logitech has given ears to this and released the new Logitech ChillStream Gamepad. The ChillStream is named so because it has got a fan located on its back and that is made use of to keep the hands of the player sweat free and cool while gaming.

Identical look to that of Xbox 360 controller:

Though the Logitech ChillStream attracts itself to be vista ready, it looks identical to that of the Xbox 360. It has got exactly the same button layout with the same layout and the center guide button gives you a great deal of functionality when used with Windows Vista PCs. The ditto layout includes the dual joyticks, a D-pad, an ABXY button cluster, start, select, a pair of shoulder buttons, a pair of triggers and a centre button. Every game will be using the available controls and sticks in a different way, however, we can say that the analog sticks are usually used only to handle the inside game navigations. The controls on the top right hand side of the controller will be the main gaming controls such as firing guns, selecting menus, jumping and other stuff.

Features included to make the gamepad feel comfortable on hands:

Similar to the Xbox360, the ChillStream Game Pad from Logitech is too extremely comfortable in hands with its easy grip plastic on the sides and bottom. The rear side of the controller possesses a “Soft Touch” spray finishing that is astonishingly flat and relaxed. The top half too feels just as good but has also been painted silver. The feel of the controller will not be that appreciated by players with big hands. They might feel that the gamepad is not comfortable but not exactly sublime either. But the feedback from the players with smaller hands will be exactly the opposite. In fact most of them would feel that the controller is easy to use and comfortable to cling on.

Some tweaks made:

Though we said that the Logitech ChillStream looked identical to that of the Xbox 360 controller, there can be a few tweaks that can be noted too. The gamepad has more of an angled look with definite lines. Towards the left side of the ChillStream, to the right of the D-pad and below the joystick, there is a small button. The only main functionality of this button is to control the and operate the speed of the internal fan.

Speed options of the fan:

There are three speed options offered which includes off, intermittent and full on. And when the fan is operating in its highest speed, it can be easily said that it is on, even without touching it as the fan is quite noisy but not offensively loud. The ChillStream can be connected to your PC with the USB interface. Though the chord is a bit short at 6 feet, it must be sufficient for most of the players.

How does the “ChillStream” work?

The signature feature of the gamepad, that is, its ability to cool the players hands works consistently. The working principle of the in-built fan is that, it pulls in air via the front grill and then shoots it through the vents placed in the right and left handles. The grill in the rear side is made of metal and proves to be durable. This is a good news for those who are used to abusing their gamepads. The controller is designed in such a way that, the user will have to give a firm grip over the controller itself and having a firm grip over the controller, the holes that let out air is blocked and hence, the air does not come out as well as it actually should to keep your hands cool. This is one of the major disadvantages as this factor itself negates the whole concept on why most of the gamers would buy the ChillStream.

Installation and set-up of ChillStream Game Pad:

In order to get started, the drivers of the ChillStream have to be installed even before the gamepad is connected to the PC. The steps are very simple, and once the driver installation is complete, the controller will be up and gaming in no time. You will need to configure the controller options and button layouts for each game, which is easy to do, but it can take some time to figure out what works best.

Energy saving feature:

Logitech has employed an energy saving feature in the ChillStream. The auto-off energy conserving feature kicks in, on a couple of minutes of idleness. And when you depress any control on the controller, it will start back to accurately the same point at which the set was left.

Not compatible with the Xbox 360 system:

One very disappointing fact is that, the Logitech ChillStream is not dual platform compatible. When you try to plug in the USB enabled controller into the Xbox360, you will see that the controller continuously flashes the lights and the system and controller does not sync properly.

Performance:

The Logitech ChillStream was a pre vista PC gaming landscape, which produced some decent results. Though it had a few incompatible titles in its pocket, like the first person shooters that is particularly optimised for mouse and keyboard combo use, the gamepad served well with the titles that are windows compatible.

System requirements and package contents:

The Logitech ChillStream does not need much of a PC in order to operate and its system requirements confirms this fact. All that it needs is a PC with Pentium processor or compatible, Windows XP, or Vista Available and a USB port. The package content includes the gamepad itself, an installation paper and a small and cute driver disk.

Warranty:

Logitech offers ChillStream a limited warranty of one year.

Verdict:

We have come to the conclusion of the Logitech ChillStream review with mixed emotions. Though the controls are very accurate, the feel of the gamepad leaves us asking for more. It would prove to be very comfortable and exiting for people with small hands. The seller feature of the controller, that is, the fan could have done a much better job. The price tag on the controller is also much higher than the other comparable gamepads. You could possibly get the Logitech ChillStream for the fact that it is a good gaming pad with accurate controls but not for its so called Fan feature.

Check Logitech Driving Force GT Steering Wheel Review in Logitech Accessory Section.

Logitech ChillStream GamePad – Technical Specifications, Features

Manufacturer	Logitech
Gaming console type	PC accessory
Accessory type	Game controller
Model name	Logitech ChillStream
Compatible Game Consoles	PC
Connectivity Technology	Wired
Manipulator	D-pad
Features	Built-in fan , Rubber side grips , Logitech ChillStream technology
Interfaces	1 x USB – 4 pin USB Type A
Cables Included	1 x USB cable
Windows Vista ready	Yes
System requirements	Windows® XP, or Vista™ PC with Pentium® processor or compatible Available USB port
Package contents	Logitech® ChillStream™ Controller User guide Gaming software
Warranty	One year

Nintendo launched the gamecube as a competition to the Xbox and the Play Station 2. As we all know, good things come in small packages. With the Introduction of the Gamecube which has a size of a small lunch box, they are certainly heading towards proving their point. Unlike its competitors, the Nitendo Gamecube does not aspire to be DVD players or living room mini computers, it is just a simple and exclusive gaming console. The gamecube is a fun console that has a number of titles that does not aim kids, teens or adults, but anybody who enjoys being entertained by interactive gaming.

Nintendo has made a clever decision by not opting for the highest performance, which actually doesn’t contribute to the development of the software. The main aim had been to create a next-gen TV gaming console that is developer friendly and yet preserves the conventional capabilities. In order to accomplish their aim, Nintendo has removed the bottle necks that hinder the path to an efficient system.

Compact design:

The Nintendo GameCube Game console is an extremely portable gaming console having dimensions as just 4.3″ x 5.9″ x 6.3″ (H x W x D).The bundled controller is designed in such a way that it fits comfortably in both small and big hands. The GameBoy Advance can also be used as a controller. A single word that describes the portability of the Gamecube is “Compact”. Gamecube is the first video game console to include a handle. At the time of release, it was available only in purple, now it is available in black and orange too.

The buttons, controls and ports:

The GameCube takes the shape of a basic rectangular casing featuring an optical disc drive that is top-loading with the open and reset buttons at the front top corners with the power button towards the back top corner on the left. The Nintendo GameCube Video Game console includes 4 controller ports, a conventional audio/video-out port, 2 Digicard memory card ports along with a port for digital-out for HDTV. One can see a high-speed serial port at the bottom of the GameCube together with the expansion port and a port for network adapter that works via a broadband adapter or the 56K modem.

Features:

The GameCube’s Console packs couple of powerful tech-y specs together with casting some exclusive characters that is matchless when compared to any other gaming system.

Processor:

The Gamecube runs on IBM PowerPC “Gekko” processor processor with a processing speed of 485 MHz of data width 64bit and X86-to-RISC instruction set.

1T-RAM technology:

Nintendo has employed the 1T-RAM technology in the Gamecube (with minimal delays) in its Graphics LSI Mixed Memory and the main memory. A secondary cache memory with a large capacity has been implemented in the MPU. This is a very successful combination, creating a reliable functionality that could be possibly used with some actual games.

As in the case of the Xbox, the gamecube does not have an internal hard drive and there is no news of any additions in the future too. Hence, you will have to buy extra memory cards to save the progresses of your games.

GPU:

The Cube’s GPU (graphics processing unit) has been developed by ArtX. You will have to spend extra in order to get the component video connector and HDTV inorder to take the full advantage of the superior picture quality. When a third party S-video connecter is connected in, the picture quality is quite sharp and hence, as long as the game has been optimized for the GameCube console from Nintendo, the graphics quality is in par with the PS2 and the Xbox. Yet, you will be able to note that the Xbox has a slight edge of graphics and performance over the other two.

Graphics effects:

The graphics effects that Nintendo Gamecube is capable of producing are, Shadows, Fog effects, MIP-mapping, Bump mapping, Anti-aliasing, Alpha-blending, Texture lighting , Bilinear filtering, Trilinear filtering, Anisotropic filtering and Texture compression (S3TC).

Audio:

The visual treat that the GameCube offers is decent but the big audio dynamite of the digital audio outputs are missing. This might be one of the ideas of cutting the manufacturing costs. The programmers seem extremely happy with GameCube, reaffirming that the system is attractive for the developers.

Online games:

Since Nintendo has taken the gamecube online, you will be able to buy either a modern adapter or a broadband adapter. The selection of the online titles include the famous Sega’s PhantasyStarOnline I and II, an additional subscription fee has to be paid in order to be played. More of expansions in the list is expected, which is mostly in the hands of the developers to support online play for their games.

Package contents:

The package contents of the Gamecube includes the Nintendo GameCube, manuals, a controller, cables for connecting to TV, built-in 4-game controller ports and an AC adapter.

Warranty:

Nintendo offers Nintendo Gamecube one year warranty for parts and labour.

Verdict:

The Nintendo Gamecube is a little surprise. The portability and cost of the console are irresistible, but what is disappointing is a fact that it has no support for DVD or audio CD and the availability of very few online titles. Though when you consider feature by feature, the Nintendo Gamecube lags behind, it is well positioned for the casual gamers as it has a few titles that would make any kid happy. The most tempting point and the seller feature of the Gamecube is its price tag.

Read Latest Game Console Reviews, exclusive Nintendo Wii Fit Review in our website.

Nintendo GameCube Gaming Console – Technical Specification Details

Manufacturer	Nintendo
Model Name	Nintendo Gamecube
Form factor	Compact
Dimensions (H X W X D)	4.3″ x 5.9″ x 6.3″
Display	None
Weight	5.3 lbs
Colours available	Purple, black and orange
Colour Support	Yes
Media Type	Nintendo GAMECUBE disc
Processor type	IBM PowerPC “Gekko”
Processor speed	485 MHz
Instruction Set	X86-to-RISC
Data Width	64 bit
RAM Installed ( Max )	24 KB 1T-SRAM – Integrated
Cache Memory	256 KB Write-Back
Expansion slots	Three
Storage	Nintendo GAMECUBE drive – 1.5 GB – Top-load
Graphic Effects	Shadows, Fog effects, MIP-mapping, Bump mapping, Anti-aliasing, Alpha-blending, Texture lighting , Bilinear filtering, Trilinear filtering, Anisotropic filtering and Texture compression (S3TC).
Supported Video	HF TV signal , Component video , Composite video
Sound Output Mode	16-bit / Stereo
Input device	Game pad
Connectivity	Four controller ports, two Digicard memory card ports, a standard audio/video-out port, and a digital-out port for HDTV, high-speed serial port, an expansion port, and a network adapter port for a 56K modem or broadband adapter
Power Device	Power adapter – External
Warranty	One year

Microsoft Xbox 360 LIVE Vision Camera Overview

Pros:

• Compatible with both windows and mac
• Tiny and so can be fit in anywhere.
• Balances well to almost place on any hard object.
• USB cord is long enough to position it any way you want.
• Sending pictures is possible.
• Video Chat runs smooth.

Cons:

• Camera will become mildly hot after 15 minutes of use
• Cannot create your own background themes.
• Not too many games use the service yet.

The complete Review:

When the Xbox 360 gaming console was released, we were all quite sure that a camera was going to be one of the accessories of the console. But we had expected its release to be done pretty soon, by Microsoft took its own time. When the spring updation was done to the Xbox 360 by Microsoft, one thing that all the gamers were quickly able to notice was the extra camera settings tab in the system blade. This is for the Xbox LIVE Vision camera which is essentially a standard PC style webcam. Xbox LIVE Vision puts a face to your gaming experience and allows you to get the most out of your Xbox LIVE Vision packages. Though we cannot say that bringing in a camera to the gaming console did not revolutionise the gaming experience, yet it brought in some excitement and added some more interesting things to a few of the existing games.

Design:

From a design standpoint, the Microsoft Xbox LIVE Vision camera is a pretty nice piece of gear. It matches the Xbox 360′s colouring, it tilts and swivels nicely, and it is meant to propped up on top of your TV or any flat surface.

Prominent features:

The USB2.0 is the most welcome support as it allows the console to be used in anything and everything that has support for USB2.0. The camera features a VGA resolution of 640×480 at a rate of 30 frames per second which is not that bad. The LIVE Vision camera is capable of taking still images at 1.3 mega pixels.

Xbox Live Vision setup:

Set up of the Xbox 360 LIVE Vision camera is extremely easy. First of all, once you unpack the device, find a nice place to put it next to your gamer. Then connect it to the nearest USB port available in the Xbox 360. And guess what? That is all that you need to do. There is no software to install. Of course if it had been ages since you had updated your Xbox  then just have an update using the Xbox Live. Switch on your Xbox, and immediately a ring of light around the camera will light-up to indicate that the webcam is connected. The ring of light looks absolutely gorgeous, it glows green if video capturing is going on. Not having to swap discs around or fiddle with PS2′s online service gives it infinitely more appeal than its only real console competition.

Find a good place for your Xbox Live Vision:

The only thing that us very tough in the part of installation is finding a right place to put you’re the LIVE Vision camera as in most of the cases, the Xbox 360 is in the living room connected to the TV and most of us usually tend to sit far back from the television set and so, you would look very tiny on the screen during video capture. However, having known this, Microsoft has added the zoom feature to the software program. This zoom feature allows the camera to focus over a specific portion of the screen. If you are having any doubts, all that you will have to do is, just hit the Guide button in the center of the pad and it is all fairly self-explanatory.

Compatibility:

Here is the answer for the question most of you are longing to get. Yes! LIVE Vision can also be used as a webcam for your Windows XP machine. Nice feature in case you do not have a webcam for your PC yet.

Compatibility with PS2 and PS3:

The LIVE Vision Camera is compatible with Windows XP Service Pack 2 using USB 2.0 connection. It requires a microphone for audio when used on a PC. Drivers are not included with the Vision Camera, but must be downloaded by Windows when prompted. One problem with using the Vision cam on the PC is that it will not allow you to record videos with it only take pictures, unless you download additional supported software.
Mac OS X 10.4.9 added support for the USB video class group of peripherals, including Vision Camera. They work in iChat, Photo Booth and other applications that use Quicktime for video display, such as Skype. Connection over USB2 is also mandatory. The Vision Camera is also compatible with Sony’s PlayStation 3 but requires firmware 1.54.

Environmental Adjustments made:

You will be able to configure, test and play around with the video portion of the camera through the systems tab that can be seen in the Xbox dashboard followed by Xbox Live Vision. In this section you have got options for setting the room and lighting arrangements. For the room setting, the options available are, Auto, Light wall and Dark wall and for lighting, the options include Auto, Daylight, Fluorescent and Incandescent. As and when you are adjusting the lighting conditions, a grey ring swivels around the nose of the camera itself allowing you to refocus.

Visual effect:

Dashboard gives you another way of determining if the webcam works or not. The background has a watery effect and the current video feed is blended into the background of the current theme. The effect is very stylish, nifty and good looking. But, if the console is running for a long time, the camera has a tendency to warm up a little.

Getting the focus:

The operation of the Xbox 360 LIVE Vision camera from Microsoft is quite straightforward as all that you will need to do is simply point the camera at the object that you want to record and start to show off your shooting abilities. Since there is no auto focusing facility, if the object that you are trying to focus is unclear, then you will have to rotate the lens until you get the focus right.

Personalised gamer images:

The Xbox LIVE Vision camera can be used for video chat, personalised gamer images, still images and gaming video chats. The use of the camera is great fun when you use it with video games that come with support for camera. Some of the famous Xbox Live Arcade games that support the LIVE Vision camera are, UNO and Texas Hold’em. The real fun can be experience when you use it with the world series of the Poker Tournament of Championsx game. You will be allowed to create a Digimask face out of the snapshots taken by the camera. When you take personalized shots, you can also add predefined effects to the picture to just add some snazzy to the overall look and feel of the shot.

Digimask support:

The digimask face mapping support is available in games including FaceBreaker Football Manager 2007, Pro Evolution Soccer 2008 Pro Evolution Soccer 2009, Tiger Woods PGA Tour 08, Tiger Woods PGA Tour 09, Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six: Vegas, Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six: Vegas 2, World Series of Poker 2008: Battle for the Bracelets and World Series of Poker: Tournament of Champions.

In-game support:

The in game video support is given by the Xbox LIVE Vision camera for games including Battlezone, Band of Bugs, Bankshot Billiards 2, Bomberman LIVE Burnout Paradise ,  Carcassonne, Chessmaster LIVE, Civilization Revolution, Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars Domino Master, Duke Nukem 3D, Gin Rummy Hardwood, Backgammon, Hardwood Hearts, Hardwood Spades, Lost Cities, Pinball FX, Rocky and Bulwinkle, Soltrio Solitaire, Spyglass Board Games, Texas Hold ‘em – 4 person video chat, Ticket to Ride Uno – 4 person video chat, Uno Rush – 4 person video chat, Vigilante 8 Arcade, Warlords, Wits and Wagers and Word Puzzle.

Your picture in profile:

As and when you play the game, you will be able to get Live video feedback from the player under the gun. The anticipation and excitement is great. Your gamer profile can be updated using your Xbox LIVE Vision camera by taking a personal shot of yourself. Using it to customise your gamer picture is incredibly simple. Pull up the edit-profile page and you can take a photograph to replace whatever your gamer picture currently is. The personal picture can be seen only by your friends which is a good option as this prevents others from abusing you and misusing the camera. But if you have to talk to someone who is not your friend, you can still have a video conference.

When you are taking a picture, you have three seconds to get ready before the camera actually snaps the picture. After the picture is taken, you have the choice to add effects or take the picture all over again. As of right now, there is over 20 effects to choose from such as, black & white, a night camera effect, and the double Vision effect. Image quality for still photos is pretty mediocre.

Video chatting with Live Vision Camera:

And finally coming to the most obvious application of the Xbox LIVE Vision camera apart from using it for gaming purposes is, for video chatting with your friends. Just like the other webcam applications, it is not necessary for your friend also to have the LIVE Vision camera. You can have a video conference with your pal irrespective of the fact if he would have a cam or not. Once you accept the invitation, and the connection is been made and you can get a decent-size video stream of the other, while you can chat away using the bundled headset. Picture attachment messages can also be sent to your friend.

Their favourite feature though is the way you can make the other person’s pad rumble by holding the left or right trigger buttons. Presumably it is meant to be a sort of MSN Messenger style nudge function.

Microsoft Xbox 360 LIVE Vision Packages available:

The Xbox LIVE Vision camera can be purchased in two different packages. One is that, you could get the LIVE Vision camera with one month trial Xbox Live Gold Membership, Xbox 360 Headset and games UNO and TotemBall. The other package is that, the Xbox LIVE Vision comes with  Xbox 360 Headset, Twelve month Xbox Live Gold Subscription, 200 Marketplace Points, Robotron 2084, UNO and TotemBall games.

Verdict:

The long awaited release if the Xbox LIVE Vision camera is worth it. Microsoft’s slickly designed Xbox LIVE Vision for Xbox 360 is relatively inexpensive. You can expect more games to support the camera feature from Microsoft. The base package is inexpensive and will instantly add a new level of enjoyment to certain games as well as the Xbox 360 in general. Aside from that, the video-chat system and general integration with the dash is robust and inconspicuous, with little evidence of lag between you and the on-screen version of you, and little evidence of lag during video-chats either. Xbox LIVE Vision as a whole, though, has little to criticise about it. Being an answer to Sony’s EyeToy camera, the affordable Xbox LIVE Vision Camera for Xbox 360 is a success.

Microsoft offers Xbox 360 LIVE Vision Camera 2 years limited warranty.

You may also be interested in review of Microsoft Xbox 360 Elite System Game Console.

Xbox 360 LIVE Vision Camera – Technical Specification Details

Manufacturer	Microsoft
Model Name	Xbox LIVE Vision Camera
Type	Accessory
Accessory for	Xbox 360
Accessory type	camera
Interface	USB 2.0
Colour	White
Video resolution	640 x 480 pixels
Video rate	30 frames per second
Still images resolution	1.3 mega pixels
Compatibility	Windows, mac, Xbox 360, PS2, PS3
Digimask support	FaceBreaker Football Manager 2007, Pro Evolution Soccer 2008 Pro Evolution Soccer 2009, Tiger Woods PGA Tour 08, Tiger Woods PGA Tour 09, Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six: Vegas, Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six: Vegas 2, World Series of Poker 2008: Battle for the Bracelets and World Series of Poker: Tournament of Champions.
In-game support	Battlezone, Band of Bugs, Bankshot Billiards 2, Bomberman LIVE Burnout Paradise , Carcassonne, Chessmaster LIVE, Civilization Revolution, Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars Domino Master, Duke Nukem 3D, Gin Rummy Hardwood, Backgammon, Hardwood Hearts, Hardwood Spades, Lost Cities, Pinball FX, Rocky and Bulwinkle, Soltrio Solitaire, Spyglass Board Games, Texas Hold ‘em – 4 person video chat, Ticket to Ride Uno – 4 person video chat, Uno Rush – 4 person video chat, Vigilante 8 Arcade, Warlords, Wits and Wagers and Word Puzzle.
Package 1	LIVE Vision camera, one month trial Xbox Live Gold Membership, Xbox 360 Headset and games UNO and TotemBall
Package 2	Xbox Live Vision, Xbox 360 Headset, Twelve month Xbox Live Gold Subscription, 200 Marketplace Points, Robotron 2084, UNO and TotemBall games
Power device	None
Warranty	Two years