SEGA SuperStars for EyeToy Announced!

Here's the scoop on Sega's EyeToy game featuring Sega's most famous characters... first screens and details inside!

In a fairly surprising announcement, Sega today made a global announcement for a new game called SEGA SuperStars, exclusive to PlayStation 2, and compatible with Sony's tremendously popular EyeToy peripheral.

The move sees Sega making credible use of its immense IP back catalogue and embracing the celebrated USB camera technology with a title that is likely to a) be inexpensive for Sega to develop, b) sell a lot, and c) offer Sega fans a load of fun.

The new game, which will feature a collection of Sega's best known properties, is developed by Sonic Team and due to be previewed with selected teaser levels at E3.

Among the brands featured are Sonic the Hedgehog, Samba de Amigo, Virtua Fighter, The House of the Dead and more. You can get an idea of some of the styles of play involved in the hands-free title from these first screens.

Yuji Naka explains, "EyeToy is a whole new way of interfacing with a game and in this respect, a very interesting proposition for a game developer. I think there are many creative ways we’ll be able to use the camera with great potential for fun. It's great to have the opportunity to reach a wider audience through a new system like this and I'm really excited to be developing a game like SEGA SuperStars for EyeToy."

Sega's Matthew Woodley said: "EyeToy is such a perfect way of engaging a broader base of consumers in a very social, fun style of gaming. With a huge portfolio of recognisable IP, and popularity with diverse groups of gamers, we’re really excited to be able to revitalize some of our greatest stars using this great new technology."

And SOA's Scott A. Steinberg elaborated: "With innovative peripherals like EyeToy, Sony demonstrates how new, interactive experiences will extend the PlayStation 2 lifecycle. SEGA SuperStars offers up many of our marquee franchises - Sonic the Hedgehog, Virtua Fighter, and Samba de Amigo - all enhanced for this fresh, social, and interactive gaming medium."

We can't wait to get a good on-screen kicking from Akira next month. Stay tuned. Oh - and you should probably expect some other big EyeToy announcements as well...

Adam Doree
Director, Kikizo.com