According to a local new site, Haaretz, Microsoft is seeking to purchase 3DV for around $35 million, though the platform holder has made no announcements regarding this.
3DV has been designing its camera technologies for some time; its ZCams are said to be a far more accurate version of Sony’s EyeToy, due to the fact that the devices can interpret how far away a subject is from its lens. The technology had reportedly been used in “advanced defense systems”, and has already been described as superior – in terms of accuracy – to the Wii Remote.
3DV's mission statement is made clear on its website: “The key to making a real difference in the gaming experience lies in the control. Sony acknowledged that, and launched EyeToy, Microsoft followed with their own camera, Vision. Nintendo took it a step further, introducing Wii. But the revolution is still around the corner.”
There are a number of questions surrounding the alleged buyout offer from Microsoft, not least with how 3DV Systems has already raised $38.6 million in financing, a figure above the cited Microsoft bid, suggesting either the figure is inaccurate or that we're yet to see a clear picture behind why 3DV would sell below the money it has raised.
“Microsoft apparently plans to use 3DV Systems' technology in its own gaming technology, probably in the Xbox 360,” added the news report.
Microsoft has declined to comment.
Source: Haaretz via Venturebeat.