EyePet - Includes PlayStation Eye (PS3)

This is being posted on Christmas Day, on the day of its giving!

So far, the game is an unqualified success. It has been played non-stop for six hours and I have little doubt that this will be the case for another six hours if not more. My children love it, perhaps more so my younger one - who is six years old - because although this is a video game, the appeal seems to be related more to its cuteness rather than the challenges it presents. It only takes a few minutes to get the hang of it. Personally I have hardly touched it, instead I have been an impressed viewer - but I think the accent is on 'impressiveness' rather than likeability. For an adult, the novelty is in the technology and the very clever way in which the on-screen 'pet' interacts with its master or mistress. I think this game should really be assessed from a child's point of view, not an adult's, but that is in no way meant to imply that it's silly or cute for cuteness' sake.

My younger child says that Eye-Pet is - and I quote - "Fantastic", "Superb", and even "The best game I've ever played!". On the television screen she sees herself playing with the pet, and she loves the interactivity, the trick that gives the impression that they are both playing together. However my one concern is this game's lastability, and whether it will still captivate and entertain in three, six or twelve months' time. We already have Little Big Planet which has proved just as enjoyable nearly a year down the line, and although it's very different (and more conventional) it does seem to be more versatile and to offer more in the way of a challenge, even to a young child. So I have no choice but to reserve judgement on Eye-Pet as a long-term investment because I do have a slight worry that its key novelties might wear off after a while, although this will inevitably differ from one child to the next.

It's difficult not to recommend it though. It's different, it enables children to inter-act in ways they haven't done before and will almost certainly enjoy instantly, it's easy for them to learn how to use, and it is likely to keep them quiet for hours on end (apart from all the 'oohs' and 'aahs'). If my children love it in six months' time as much as they very clearly do today (Christmas Day) then it will deserve a full 5-star thumbs-up.

**UPDATE**

It's nearly three weeks on from posting my review and I must say that this game has been a total success. It is being played every day with no sign of the children tiring of it. Their friends want to come round just so they can play it together. I have become even more impressed by its technical advances, so much so that I wonder if this could become a land-mark in video gaming, a turning point for the genre. It's an extraordinary achievement to combine such technological sophistication in something that can be understood and enjoyed by the youngest amongst us. It's taken something special to dislodge Little Big Planet (in this household, anyway!) but EyePet already seems years ahead in comparison. And that takes some doing.

**UPDATE 2** (Christmas 2010)

One year on and I still strongly recommend this game - my daughters and their friends still play it regularly, along with Little Big Planet. This has been one of the most-used video games I have purchased, it's without doubt excellent value for money, it will get heavily used and I can't see it doing any harm from a psychological point of view as there's no violence of any kind. An absolute must-buy even today, more than a year after its launch. I believe there's to be an 'EyePet 2' in the near future, if that's true then it's a nailed-on buy as far as I'm concerned. Incidentally, I'm not sure that the recent 'Move' version is necessary; can't convince myself that this particular game would benefit from the Move concept. The handy thing though, of course, is that when you buy EyePet you get the camera anyway, so no need to buy the full Move set, just the controller only. Personally I wouldn't bother, although for other more physical games, Move has strong appeal.

Well I recieved the game and camera this morning as a supprise present for my 18 year old daughter. She loves it, the game and camera were simple to set up on my PS3. The tutorial was straight forward and easy to follow, the game is brilliant for all ages, even I was getting into it (i turned 42 last friday). Our little pet followed us and the camera working in real time, so no game lag. A few of my contacts have enquired via txt on PS3 what I thought about the game, and I give it a big thumbs up. I was a little apprehensive as I was not totally impressed with the PS2 version of the eyetoy games, being 2D. But this game is warm and in 3D. A bonus is the added trophy collection to the game. My only doubts are what Sony will charge for DLC (downloadable content), Little Big Planet has managed to balance it about 50/50 with free and payable content. Lets all hope in the current economic climate and Christmas upon us that Sony do us all a favour and give a load of DLC for free. Otherwise a lot of unhappy Christmas stockings will be empty of Sony products and full of Microsoft gifts instead.

Me And my sister got this a a surprise present yesterday from our dad.

IT IS SO COOL!!!!! Really fun, a defenet buy if you love animals, pet games, or if you just like cute things.
I love feeding a washing my pet it really fun, the magic card makes it look like you have itens in your hands,My pet (Called oliver) looks real cute, (You can choose what you pet looks like)
, my sisters is called Jojo, she (Yes my sister made Jojo a she) Is really cute, she has short fur, long furry legs, a fluffy tail & a long fur tuff on her for-head, oh and she is light brown with little black splodges on her legs, very cute. It also cute when you draw somthing, show it to your pet and he/she tries and copys it, It is quite cool as well

Lots of challenges, lots of things to unlock. Plus its cheaper getting the game & Camera than game on its own on its own in some places.

So Get it NOW!!

Review by a 14 & a 16 year olds.