A game that can tell when you're bored?

Deis | September 25, 2007 | News | Misc

New Scientist Tech reports on an experimental software which reads the users body language, including pulse, to see if they're getting bored, and changes the game slightly if they are.

Although the technology is currently in its infancy, and has so far been aimed at young children, it's possible that games which routinely alter themselves to keep a players interest aren't so far away.

THROW out your Xbox, young couch potato! Active electronic games that can alter themselves to hold players' interest are on the way from the University of Southern Denmark in Odense.

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Comments

0 thumbs!
black doom | September 25, 2007

I would rather a game that could tell when I was frustrated. That would certainly prevent my Wiimote flying at the screen.
0 thumbs!
Deis | September 25, 2007

I think that's something that will probably be considered in future. And I doubt it could be used for something like an RPG, it'll probably be limited to games like Tetris or something like that.
0 thumbs!
tallteen86 | September 25, 2007

Tetris? No...can't really change the game that much, without making it a whole different game...

It would be better for...I dunno, just pure entertainment games like party games or something...

I'm sure they'll think of some way to use it...Perhaps if you seem bored, they'll increase the games pace or something, and if it sees you struggling hard, it might let up a little...
0 thumbs!
Teodor Tenchev | September 25, 2007

That's an interesting concept. But if you are bored with a game already for technical reasons (crappy user interface and interaction, or poor musical score, for example) this won't work because no matter how the gameplay changes, the basic ideas which would be the reason for your boredom will still be there. Wait, this makes no sense :S
0 thumbs!
Kazooieman | September 26, 2007

I saw an interview about this and it said it was going to the DS, god i hope there right!
0 thumbs!
Silver Mirror | September 26, 2007

The DS wouldn't have the hardware wouldn't it? Unless some add on came with the game.

Sounds like a gimmick to me
0 thumbs!
Kazooieman | September 26, 2007

Well Spectrobes had those cards you put on the Touch Screen and you get special monsters with them, i can't see why they can't put it on the DS then!
1 thumbs!
Riku31069 | September 26, 2007

This is pretty interesting. But I'd rather have a game that can tell me when I'm frustrated.
- 0 thumbs!
  black doom | September 26, 2007
  
  My thoughts exactly. Nice to see someone is with me on that one.