Go!Cam turns PSP into digicam

Stephen Withers
Wednesday, 02 May 2007 04:59

Your IT - Entertainment

Sony has followed up the recent announcement of the PlayStation Eye camera for the PS3 with news of a video accessory for the PlayStation Portable. The Go!Cam will turn the PSP into a mini camcorder when it arrives later this month in Europe and other areas using the PAL video standard.

The tiny £34.99 (approx $US70 or $A85) camera attaches to the top of a PSP to take still photos and movies, and has a built-in microphone.

Sony's announcement lacked technical detail apart from saying that the camera has a 180-degree vertical swivel base and that a PSP fitted with a 4G Memory Stick PRO Duo can hold over 40,000 photos or 2.5 hours of video.

The package includes Go!Edit software for the PSP, allowing editing and the addition of sounds and graphical effects. Finished projects can be uploaded directly to the Internet.

There's no indication that developers will be able to integrate the camera with their games, whether that's simply for 'your face in the game' capability or for game control via facial expressions.

"Go!Cam is fantastic news for all those PSP owners looking for something new, fun and creative," said Stephane Hareau, PSP marketing manager, Sony Computer Entertainment Europe.

"With Summer around the corner and the ability to turn your PSP into a mini camcorder and capture all the best moments in your life, this is yet another reason to get a PSP and to take advantage of truly portable entertainment. It demonstrates yet again the potential, versatility and evolving nature of PSP."