Sony's Eye Toy sells a million

The innovative PS2 webcam game, EyeToy: Play, has passed a million sales in Europe and continues to sell strongly, with a second set of games for the peripheral due in time for Christmas.

The game, which is still flying high in the UK all-formats sales charts, was released some four months ago across Europe - and its million-selling status has been achieved before the game even arrives in the USA or Japan.

Developed by SCEE's UK research and development team in Soho, London, EyeToy: Play is sold at the same price as a normal PS2 game and consists of a custom-built webcam peripheral for the console and a selection of mini-games for use with it.

Sony is now planning to release a second set of games, EyeToy: Groove, for the device next month. These games are more in the style of Dance Dance Revolution or other Beatmania-type games than EyeToy: Play was, consisting of a wide selection of licensed music and on-screen "dance" moves to follow in time to the tune.

The company will no doubt be hoping that the still strong-selling EyeToy: Play and its successor, being absolutely ideal party games, will be major hits this Christmas. A bundle featuring the PS2 and Eye Toy has already proved extremely popular at retail.