EyePet And Friends
Parents need to know that EyePet and Friends is a virtual pet simulation game for PlayStation 3 that requires the PlayStation Move motion controller. Basic care for the EyePets will appeal to younger kids, while the mini-games are fun for the family. There are also creative components, such as the ability to design your own vehicles, which are then used in mini-games. If the vehicles aren't designed properly (i.e. Square wheels), they will not work in the games.
There is an option to use pre-designed shapes in them, which may work best for younger players. Also, the mini-games don't really make full use of PlayStation Move's abilities. They frequently involve moving around the screen by pointing your controller where you want your vehicle to go. If there is a PlayStation Network account attached to the user on the PlayStation, the game will connect to EyePet World where you can share pictures, videos, and custom content. You can disable viewing content within the game, but there are no true parental controls. Kids can easily change the options on their own.
EyePet & Friends is the next installment of the cycle, in which we receive a virtual pet under our care. We raise them, feed them and play with them on the playgrounds designed by us. EyePet & Friends allows you to take care of two pets. EyePet & Friends is a continuation of the innovative EyePet franchise which enables kids and their family to experience the magic of a virtual Pet in the real world! It combines new technologies and gameplay, and takes both camera-based games and the Pet genre to a whole new level. Developed exclusively for PlayStation 3 by London Studio.
By default, the game allows you to see all custom content from all players on the network, whether you're friends with them or not. EYEPET AND FRIENDS invites players to adopt a furry virtual pet, up to two at a time. The pets need to be slowly hatched from eggs (this phase can take 10 minutes or more) at which point you'll be able to care for and play with them. You'll feed pets, wash them, teach them tricks, and dress them up. You can build them play spaces with soft blocks, tunnels, and ramps, or design vehicles for them to play with.
The EyePets use the vehicles to play a variety of mini-games. You can also create your own cards and stickers to send to friends via the new EyePet World online space. Many activities award players with virtual coins that can be used to purchase new stickers, stencils for the creative areas, games, and clothes. The game can be enjoyed by two players at a time. EYEPETS AND FRIENDS is cute and has a lot of activities to enjoy.
Kids should take to it easily. Unfortunately, it suffers from frequent and slow loading times and some occasional challenges with the PlayStation Eye Camera. Switching activities involves loading screens that can take 20 seconds or more. When you've spent less than a minute to feed or wash your pet before moving on, it can be frustrating. Starting the game is also quite a process. Plan on at least 10 minutes - and possibly more like 20 or 30 - until you're allowed to play freely with your pet. Once in the game you'll suffer through endless instructions from an overly cheery narrator, including the exact same prompt each time you attempt to save custom content in every area of the game.
You can skip through (or repeat) the instructions by pressing the triangle button, but the game never really tells you this. This is enough to try the patience of even the most mellow child.Once you're beyond all of the hatching and instruction, the mini-games can be fun, but aren't particularly challenging. You also start with only one vehicle, one mini-game, one set of stickers, and one set of blocks unlocked. You'll need to earn enough coins to move on and that can take some time. It would have been nice to start with a couple of games, since that's where the coins really build up.
One of the places the game shines is in its creative tools, which allow you to really create your own environments, clothes, and toys for your EyePet. With plenty of patterns, stickers, and stencils, you can make a wide variety of designs and use them in your play space and place them on vehicles.
You can also create your own vehicle, but it's important to make sure the parts work - the game will not compensate for a lack of wheels in a bulldozer. That said, it's much more rewarding to use a vehicle you designed yourself. Kids will also enjoy seeing themselves on-screen with their pets, but the multi-player mode can be muddied by two excited kids on-screen at the same time.Families can talk about the responsibilities of caring for a pet. Did this game make you want a real pet? Do you think it would be more difficult to care for a live animal?.Families can also discuss being creative and turning your ideas into reality. What sort of crafts do you enjoy?
Did this game provide you with new ideas for things to make or do away from the screen?.Families can also discuss being a good sport whether you win or lose. How do you feel when you lose and your opponent celebrates winning?
| EyePet | |
|---|---|
| Developer(s) | SCE London Studio[1] Playlogic Game Factory |
| Publisher(s) | Sony Computer Entertainment |
| Composer(s) | Alastair Lindsay Richard Jacques Jim Fowler Jonathan vd Wijngaarden |
| Platform(s) | PlayStation 3 PlayStation Portable |
| Release | Original version:
|
| Genre(s) | Virtual pet |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
EyePet is a game for the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Portable, developed by London Studio and Playlogic Game Factory.[4] The original PlayStation 3 version was released in Europe on 23 October 2009 and in Australia on 27 October 2009.[5] This version of EyePet was originally scheduled to be released in North America on 17 November 2009, but was held back.[2] Instead, a newer version of EyePet adapted for the PlayStation Move motion control system was released in North America on 5 September 2010, where it is available in a bundle.[6] In October 2010, the Move-adapted version was released in Japan and Europe, with the European edition entitled EyePet Move Edition.[1] The game also supports 3D on 3D enabled TVs. The PSP version of EyePet was released on 2 November 2010.
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.[7] 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. A trailer shown at E3 2009 shows the pet being customized with outfits and colored fur and interacting with virtual objects including a trampoline and bubble machine. The trailers also demonstrate users drawing custom objects (first trailer shows a car, E3 2009 trailer shows an airplane) which are scanned by the camera and converted to virtual objects which the pet can then interact with. The pet can also be fed, as in the trailers, it is shown eating cookies and a type of pet food.[8]
Reception[edit]
Eurogamer scored the original EyePet 6 out of 10. Reviewer Dan Whitehead, praised the game as 'a showcase of what console cameras and motion-sensing is capable of' initially commenting how convincing the illusion of seeing the CG creature in the real world. However, this illusion is often spoiled by 'clumsy' gameplay mechanics. Whitehead also criticised the sometimes vague instructions and a lack of feedback provided when the player fails to carry out an instruction properly. IGN gave the game an 8.0 calling it a game that runs smoothly and has a look that can't be beat.
References[edit]
- ^ abc'EyePet Move Edition - PlayStation 3, PS3 game'. Uk.playstation.com. Retrieved 15 September 2012.
- ^ ab'EyePet pushed back to Spring 2010'. Qj.net.[permanent dead link]
- ^http://www.jp.playstation.com/software/title/move00001.html
- ^'EyePet: The next generation virtual pet for PLAYSTATION3'. Sony Computer Entertainment Europe. 20 August 2008. Archived from the original on 27 August 2008. Retrieved 20 August 2008.
- ^'Five Minutes With The EyePet Producer'. SCEE.
- ^English, Erin (11 March 2010). 'EyePet Available this Fall with PlayStation Move Support!'. PlayStation.Blog.US. Sony Computer Entertainment America. Retrieved 2 April 2010.
The game will be sold as a bundle with the PS Eye and Move, and as a standalone (just game)
- ^Michael McWhertor (20 August 2008). 'EyePet Brings Virtual Monchichis To PlayStation 3'. Kotaku. Retrieved 21 August 2008.
- ^PlayStation Eye + EyePet=Who needs real pets?. SCEE via Joystiq. 20 August 2008. Retrieved 21 August 2008.