Me2Cam Computer Video Camera Activity System

Reviewed by Cynthia A. Sorrels
Published by Intel Play

Age Group: Age 4 to 8, Age 8 and Up
Type: More Fun
Price: $70

Description:

Prices for video computer cameras have continued to decline over the past couple of years until now they can be had for around $50.00 - and I saw one for $60 with a $30 rebate in the Sunday newspaper recently!

Mattel and Intel Play recently released the Me2Cam which consists of a video camera and Fun Fair software that allows kids to be IN the games, onscreen. However, the camera doesn't work with other software for use as a webcam.

Features:

  • Five fun-filled, innovative game areas.
  • Easy setup.
  • Single-player games ONLY.
  • Excellent online tutorial.

Technical Aspects:

We tried this camera and software program on two different systems. The first was our Celeron 333 with 48M RAM, and we had problems in that the software ran very slowly and crashed several times. The second system we played with was a Compaq Presario 7588 which uses a Pentium III 500Mhz chip with 128M RAM. The performance was noticeably better but after a 30 minute session it crashed and we got an error message that a file wasn't found and the program should be reinstalled.

The picture quality of the images was okay but not anything to get excited about.

Report and Conclusions:

What Intel Play has attempted to do is bundle a camera and unique software so children can begin to explore the possibilities inside games like virtual reality. For the most part, the software succeeds but in order for the Me2Cam to become more than an interesting oddity, some other issues should be addressed. These issues include buggy software and the limits it imposes on the camera itself. And don't even get me started on the single-player angle, I have 3 kids and it got ugly around here!

So should your family buy this package? Yes - IF you a)have a newer machine with lots of RAM and 2)if you only have one child and 3) if you have the room for the child to jump and move around in front of the camera and 4) you don't mind blowing the $70 once the child tires of it (IF they do.)

But if you're looking for a webcam for Microsoft Netmeeting or videophone capabilities, then NO! The Me2Cam doesn't have software that supports it for those purposes.




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