A new Microsoft patent looks as though they are working on something interesting– the ability to exclude yourself from Avatar-related games.
Of course, that’s putting a rather simple spin on things. The application regards the “Avatar Individualized by Physical Characteristics” as “An avatar generator for a virtual environment [that] reflects a physiological characteristic of the user, injecting a degree of reality into the capabilities or appearance.”
“An undesirable body weight could be reflected in an overweight or underweight appearance for the avatar,” it goes on to say. “Only requisite health levels are allowed to compete in a certain competition level. A dedicated gamer could exercise for a period of time until his health indicator gadget shows a sufficiently high health/health credit in order to allow reentering the avatar environment.”
Translation: if you weigh too much, you can expect to be picked last, if at all. Sort of like high school gym class.
They say that the health of the user would be obtained through “nonvolitionally obtained” information, such as readings from a pedometer, pulse rate device, or even some type of “health smart card.”
In addition, Microsoft hopes to go beyond the physical attributes of its users and also sees a possible scenario where “psychological and demographic information such as education level, geographic location, age, sex, intelligence quotient, socioeconomic class, occupation, marital/relationship status, religious belief, political affiliation, etc.”
Of course, companies make patents like this all the time; it’s difficult to tell how seriously they’re pursuing it at this time. One would also hope that such a program would be voluntary, too.
What do you think, though? Would more “honest” Avatars be a good thing? Would you even use it if given the opportunity? G4TV.com has an interesting perspective on the weight segment:
“I can only assume it would be entirely optional, but for overweight/unhealthy gamers looking for motivation, it could, literally, save lives,” they say. “If you could set your avatar to accurately reflect your own slovenly appearance, and you just couldn’t run as fast as the other avatars, it really could motivate you to ride your bike every morning.”
Even so, it would kind of suck to be disqualified from playing, say, Sonic & SEGA All-Stars Racing because you can’t fit your junk into the Avacar’s trunk, you know?
As for the politics, IQ, and educational stuff? Somehow, I have the feeling that would just end in tears and flames. People are already pretty hateful to one-another on Xbox LIVE without even knowing anything about who they’re talking to.
Plus, one would have to wonder if there would be a limit considered to what is “acceptable” for an Avatar; after all, you can’t tell anyone on Xbox LIVE that you’re gay, straight, or bi in your Gamertag or profile; would people be allowed to say they’re Republican or Christian or something, but not be able to admit to being homosexual?
So many questions… and somehow, I get the feeling the answers would be more troublesome than they’re worth.
