By really, I mean really. In some rather… uncomfortable news, Sony has just patented what it calls the ‘Automated Video Game Rating’ system. This essentially, is a system that watches your every move to determine how you truly feel about a game as you play it with what seems to be like PS Eye camera features.
Sony wishes to determine a more accurate rating due to player bias perhaps interfering with said ratings by using biometric data (basically, using technology to understand/use your body and its reactions/movements). For example, a player who was in a bad mood but played a great game, may rate that game differently to someone who perhaps was not so crabby that day, as stated in the patent: “When considering whether to purchase or play an electronic game (i.e., “video game”), a user will often first review its ratings by other players and base his decision on their opinions as reflected in these ratings. However, other players intentionally or unintentionally import their own biases into ratings. These biases may or may not accurately map to the user’s own situation. To account for these biases, or substantially avoid them, an arrangement as described herein formulates assessments of a video game automatically, without, or substantially without, affirmatively soliciting players’ opinions.”
What does it mean by ‘affirmatively’? Well, it seems Sony is trying to move beyond flat out asking ‘did you like the game?’ to really observing how you feel, act, behave etc. as you play. The patent states: “(A) Camera operates to observe the player during play, triggered to turn on when game play commences for instance. Facial recognition software, provided in camera or console, or even on a remote server such as rating server, serves to register various facial expressions and other behaviors of the player, in real time as the game is played. Expressions that can be registered include grins, grimaces, frowns, face contortions, looks of anger or astonishment, and the like.”
An example is further stated in the patent: “Other player data can be acquired using devices that are built into the game controller. For instance, a motion sensor or accelerometer (not shown) can be used to register sudden accelerations, as when the player is flinging down the game controller in frustration, or beating it once or repeatedly. In addition, the game controller can be configured to collect biometric data, such as player heart rate or hand or finger sweating, for example. Sensors for performing such biometric data collection are well known and can readily be incorporated into the game controller. Alternatively, they can be separate components that independently relay their information to the ratings server.”
Other information Sony is looking to record is:
Hair style recognized (large, long, afro, bald)
Hair color
Facial hair recognized
Wears glasses
Color of clothing
Has an eye patch
Wears earrings
Wears facial jewelry (nose rings, etc)
The number of settings the player has customized
The input controllers the player uses (motion controller, regular game controller, Bluetooth ™ remote, steering wheel, etc)
Whether the player uses headsets, headphones, microphones, etc.
Average time spent playing games per day
Facial hair recognition? Oh and Sony doesn’t stop there. They also hope to collect information such as sweat and temperature readings as you play. Making this even more fun is that the tracking will follow you when you’re on the go: “Other user data collected can relate to geographic location. This can be obtained for instance by analyzing IP addresses or by using GPS coordinates. Geographic information can even be used to point to cultural differences in players. Further, geographic data may be categorized. The type of games that are played while riding busses, trains or cars, or waiting in lines at a bank or at a bus stop can be tracked, based on geographic data, which can vary while the game is played.”
This is still in patent stage and hasn’t actually been fully developed. Regardless, it’s still a pretty disturbing idea. If you decide to wear an extra sweater every time you play, no one will blame you.
(Via PlayStationLifeStyle)
