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If there’s a Playstation 2 somewhere in your closet gathering dust, chances are you have an EyeToy in there somewhere too. And if you have an EyeToy, you have a USB webcam. That’s right: the EyeToy can be used as a regular webcam on Windows XP, Linux and Mac computers.
8 years ago Namtai (Webcam) Mint (older version) Works fine with some minor problems What works. This is the silver colored EyeToy made for the PlayStation 2. Sure beats having to find and install drivers for Windows XP as the person from whom I borrowed it said I'd have to do. I'd take plug-and-play, any day.
If you’ve been meaning to get a webcam, but already have an EyeToy, why spend the money? The usable drivers for this are third party and a little intimidating. Only follow these instructions if you feel comfortable installing non-Microsoft-approved drivers on your computer.
Also, be warned: as of this writing there’s no way to get the EyeToy working on a 64 bit operating system.
Windows XP
At one point an open-source project, the fittingly named “Eyetoy On Computer Project,” wrote drivers so Windows XP users use the Playtation Eyetoy on Windows as an Internet webcam. That project’s own page at SourceForge all but disappeared from the web, but their driver lives on at CNET’s Download.com. Here’s how to use those drivers for Windows XP:
First, download the driver here (courtesy of download.cnet.com). Then install these drivers by double-clicking the executable and following the on-screen instructions. You’ll see a few odd error message, including a windows that says “????” with an “OK” button. This is normal, for some reason, so don’t panic.
Be sure to pay attention to this window:
Failure to provide the proper answer, based on where you live, could potentially wreck your EyeToy””or at the very least cause it not to work.
Now that the driver is installed, go ahead and plug your Eyetoy into your computer. You’ll see the standard search for drivers options come up, and Windows will locate the driver you just installed.
Test to make sure your drivers are working. In the Start menu, you’ll find a “Eyetoy On Computer Project” folder, and the program called “VIDCAP32” in that folder is a great way to test your EyeToy.
(Sorry about the whole “pointing the camera at the screen so as to see infinity” thing. I couldn’t resist.)
Windows Vista/7
The Eyetoy On Computer Project’s drivers were written in the age before Vista, so the simple process above will not work for Windows Vista or Windows 7 users.
I myself do not have access to a Vista or Windows 7 machine to test any particular process with, but there is a guide over at emagi.co.uk with links to working drivers and step-by-step instructions for using the EyeToy on Vista.
![Eyetoy Eyetoy](http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wxnNt9z0ods/TtkXOXKvYxI/AAAAAAAABFU/8NSqaKxXrwQ/s400/pygtk.png)
Essentially you need to download the drivers directly, outside the executable binary given above, then install them using the Windows hardware manager. As a warning: some Vista users commenting on this article complained about their computer crashing after installing the drivers, so your mileage may vary. It’s also worth noting that there are no drivers anywhere that will work with 64-bit Vista or 64-bit Windows 7.
Readers using Vista/7 who try this out: please help out your fellow readers by sharing your experiences in the comments below.
Ubuntu
Using Ubuntu? You’ve already got full EyeToy compatability. Simply plug in your EyeToy and you’re good to go. To test whether it’s working or not, I suggest you install an application called “Cheese” to test your new webcam; find Cheese in the Ubuntu Software Center or the package called “cheese” in Synaptic.
Mac
While not a Mac user myself, I’d be remiss if I left our Mac-using friends out of this article entirely. Sure, many Macs come with built-in webcams, but not all of them.
An open source project known as macam offers full OSX support for the EyeToy and a number of other USB webcams. Simply download the macam drivers and drag the file “macam.component” to “/Library/Quicktime.” Everything should be working after that.
Conclusion
The EyeToy is not a perfect webcam. The resolution is low and it has some serious troubles with daylight””many images will be washed out. Additionally, it’s not easy to get working with Vista or Windows 7 and impossible to get working with 64-bit operating systems.
Still, setting it up to work with your computer can be a fun diversion, and who knows: you might even end up liking it as a webcam.
One additional tip: don’t forget you can focus the EyeToy manually. If the image looks blurry, simply turn the lens as you would an SLR camera to adjust the focus.
How’d everything work for you? Have any tips for our fellow readers? Let’s hear it all in the comments!
That was awsom dude thanx so much good idea 2 get this workin. I thought it was all a big lie but it actually worked hell yea!! Archived from the original on This allows players to interact with games using motion , color detection, and also sound, through its built-in microphone. It is not intended for use as a normal PC camera, although some people have developed unofficial drivers for it.
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Like the Nintendo GameCube but unlike the Microsoft Xboxthe PS2 lacks a hard drive so users must buy a separate memory eyeetoy to store their games in progress. It worked like a charm.
Use your EyeToy as a webcam
FYI, the Eyetoy is eyrtoy cheap at Kmart stores if you can still find one. The technology uses computer vision and gesture recognition to process images taken by the camera. That was awsom dude thanx so much good idea 2 get this workin. None of the other sites I tried worked!
Any chance there is a driver available for for 7 64 yet. Work in messeger too. It will also tell you which model EyeToy you have — either Namtai or Logitech. Haha ur a legend logitech sony playstation 2 eyetoy tried so many other sites and urs is the best cheers mate.
Video game:Sony PlayStation 2 EyeToy USB Camera
A Day at the Races Blast! There is also a microphone built in.
You’re in the Picture”. WOW, thats logitecb amazing. Drivers have been created to make it work with many computer operating systemshowever, Linux is the only OS which has drivers installed yet no official drivers have been offered by Namtai, Logitech, or Sony for Microsoft WindowsMac OSor Linux.
Eyetoy Usb Camera For Playstation 2 Driver Download Windows 7 11 | myturlilo
Entertainment Ltd EyeToy Play: This page was last edited on 20 Julyat Nuon Video Game Controller Created around the same time. It works awesome its freakin sweet it took me a little while but i got it thanks.
It was released in October Plus it comes with a mic and the image has great definition. I thank you with all of my heart. Cool dude your my hero. In other projects Wikimedia Commons.
playstation2 eyetoy usb camera driver for windows 7 64 bit – Microsoft Community
Thankyou so so so much. Safe as you like!
Finally I can webcam it up! Views Read Edit View history. No 64 bit drivers YET. I had a hunch that i cud use it as webcam, I put it logitechh google and this was the first thing I found!
Spot on, thanks a lot found your site followed on screen set up, all done easy as that. A blue light turns on when the PS2 is on, indicating that it is ready to be used, while the red light flashes when there is insufficient light in logitech sony playstation 2 eyetoy room. Xbox AV Cable Uses same medium.
The Sony PlayStation 2 is the best-selling video game console of all time, with over million units sold worldwide. Thank you a lot! This article is about the PlayStation 2 accessory. In these custom drivers, the red LED that normally signals inadequate lighting is used logitevh the active recording indicator.