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Xbox Avatars to 'encourage exercise'?

Microsoft patent details technology to make 360's avatars have same physical appearance as their real-world counterparts--and thereby promote physical fitness.

Microsoft has shown a keen interest in boosting the Xbox 360's status as a community hub. Leading this initiative has been Xbox Live Avatars, which offer a 3D representation of their owners on the online service. Now, Microsoft is contemplating tying real-world health and psychological data to said avatars in an effort to discourage many-a-gamer's sedentary lifestyle.

Here's the gist of what Microsoft has in mind.

Here's the gist of what Microsoft has in mind.

Last week, Microsoft's patent application titled "Avatar Individualized by Physical Characteristic" popped up in the US Patent and Trademark Offices' online database. The filing details a way in which Microsoft can introduce a heightened degree of reality into the appearance of gamers' avatars by utilizing a third-party health-care data repository (Microsoft gives Health Vault as an example) or a Wii Vitality Sensor-like device.

To incentivize people to improve their physical well-being, Microsoft's filing notes that gamers will be locked out of certain components of a game or a chat room until the proper health parameters are met.

"Physical data that reflects a degree of health of the real person can be linked to rewards of capabilities of a gaming avatar, an amount of time budgeted to play, or a visible indication," the filing reads. "Thereby, people are encouraged to exercise."

"For example, a locally executed video game on a game console or other device capable of interactive play rewards players that have achieved a degree of health or athletic skill in real life, even if played in a solitary fashion," the filing reads. "Alternatively or in addition, the degree of health can unlock additional playing time or can unlock certain aspects of a game, such as additional levels."

Microsoft's patent application might tie in with Project Natal, the Xbox 360's forthcoming camera-based motion-sensing add-on. As part of its 2009 Electronic Entertainment Expo press conference, Microsoft showed off how the device will scan a person's body and represent it onscreen via physically proportionate silhouette. It also showed off several activity-oriented titles in development for Project Natal, including the physically demanding Ricochet, a 3D, full-body version of Breakout.

Microsoft's filing goes on to note that it wouldn't just be physical characteristics that could be refined. "The physical characteristics can be further extended to psychological traits associated with the physical person, including intelligence, religious beliefs, political affiliations, and hobbies that affect the rendering of an avatar," the application reads.

The filing also indicates ways in which Microsoft can facilitate determining an individual's mental health or mood. "For example, as a person utilizes Voice over IP to chat with a viewing person in the virtual environment, stress could be detected to gauge honesty," the application notes. "As another example, skin resistance, pulse, and breathing could be detected to gauge mood."

According to the filing, the data will be beneficial to individuals looking to "meet and become acquainted with particular types of people." Microsoft's application notes that while self-defined avatars allow people to "overcome shortcomings that would otherwise inhibit them, such as pertaining to self-consciousness," there are those who would prefer to have "the cues that are available in meeting someone in person."

808 Comments

  • wyan_

    Posted Jan 6, 2010 1:58 pm GMT

    -just a bunch of snotty faced, unimaginative whiners in here and it's the same when it comes to 3D motion sensing cameras as well. I'm glad none of you are designing games or hardware because if you were, games would never have evolved past Pong.

  • Jak_Napier

    Posted Jan 4, 2010 4:34 pm GMT

    talk about desperation

  • aGiantSquirrel

    Posted Jan 4, 2010 4:13 pm GMT

    Here is where microsoft will brutally fail. I mean seriously, are they going to restrict certain game components because you arent healthy enough! They are taking the success of Wii Fit to the extreme by turning it communist, lol. "You are not healthy enough, no extra dlc for you!" Sorry Microsoft, you dont rule the game market like you think you do. There are other consoles, and if they pull this off, I will sell my 360 and hug my ps3, then Ill get a Wii to take the 360's place.

  • Junkmandude

    Posted Jan 4, 2010 4:00 pm GMT

    Wow this is complete BS! What right does MS have to collect our medical history first off. Second if I purchase a game from MS I should not have to conform to their "rules" of my personal health or suffer the consequences, eg and I quote from the article, "gamers will be locked out of certain components of a game or a chat room until the proper health parameters are met." So at any given moment they can change the parameters and force you in or out of any aspect of the game as they see fit. MS better tread very lightly on this front or they will see their rumps in court.

  • badman11226

    Posted Jan 4, 2010 3:38 pm GMT

    Damn now my fata$$ goto hit the gym to make avatar look sexy.

  • ArticRecon

    Posted Jan 4, 2010 3:24 pm GMT

    Interesting... lol... A little over the top, but I think most could stand a little more exercise... OK now for the seriousness... this is a VERY slippery slope... The question arises, what about disabled ppl?? Physical, Mental, etc.?? Hmm... Soon we will all have Microsoft chips inserted directly to the brain stem right after the imbellical cord is cut. Scary...

  • NinoSwaG

    Posted Jan 4, 2010 12:33 pm GMT

    uh oh......so i wont be able to lie and tell everyone im 300 pounds of pure muscle.....now they will see im 250 pounds of fat......lol!

  • Skat137321

    Posted Jan 4, 2010 5:06 am GMT

    Sweet.....we'll start earning achievements for losing weight :rofl:

  • LegendaryBadass

    Posted Jan 4, 2010 1:10 am GMT

    Ok so I weigh 135lbs, I can curl 65 lbs dumbbells and I hold the record for consecutive pull-ups. What the heck is my Avatar going to look like?

    I bought this machine to play games, and each week M$ finds a way to lean "casual". There is almost no gaming in this generation of consoles.

  • SkyCommand

    Posted Jan 3, 2010 10:53 pm GMT

    @Ditka, can you imagine how many people would get fragged online if this were the case? I can already imagine a sea of avatars falling off of rooftops in Assassin's Creed 2

  • DitkaKenobi

    Posted Jan 3, 2010 1:40 pm GMT

    This is for a fitness game people. Obviously they are not going to lock you out of stuff on your Xbox 360 because you're fat.

    "For example, a locally executed VIDEO GAME on a game console or other device capable of interactive play rewards players that have achieved a degree of health or athletic skill in real life, even if played in a solitary fashion. Alternatively or in addition, the degree of health can unlock additional playing time or can UNLOCK CERTAIN ASPECTS OF A GAME, such as additional levels."

    Clearly, it's going to be for a "Wii Fit" type of game that will most likely be used with Natal. Do you tards honestly think they are going to lock you out of MW2, AC2, and the like because you're a fatass? Please. And shame on Gamespot for a misleading title a vague article clearly designed to create this kind of tard hysteria.

  • cmjabot

    Posted Jan 3, 2010 11:05 am GMT

    I do like the idea of making your avatar look more like yourself but making specific aspects of games only available to healthier individuals just sounds crazy to me. Why would you want to limit your users from content because they're overweight? You'll just end up pushing people away from the system entirely.

  • JPokes

    Posted Jan 3, 2010 10:02 am GMT

    Gamers play games to escape from their physical bodies (many of which are flabby and unattractive) in order to vicariously experience the thrill of being superlative. This is a stupid idea.

  • monstabon

    Posted Jan 3, 2010 8:07 am GMT

    I actaully think it's kinda brilliant to have this patent because with all of the fitness craze and all of the politicans hammering on about how videogames make people kill..Microsoft has prevent anyone else for using anything like this in thier games with out being liable monetarly.. wii fit could have used something similar as a way of encouraging weight lost (I could see mario not letting you go to the next exercise without completing a few more reps of the previous one lol for real isnt that why you bought the wii fit... how many people have wii fits sitting in the closet collecting dust because they weren't determined enough to ....actually get fit!!!

  • monstabon

    Posted Jan 3, 2010 7:57 am GMT

    Calm down people it's just a patent!! That doesn't mean you cant play you 360 cause you are fat..it just means if they wanted to use it then they would be the only ones that can. There are thousands of patents that never see the light of day.. so you supersize double serving thanksgiving is my favorite holiday annoying little kids that sing in the mic on modern warfare trying to be annoying people are safe for now... Although some asspects of this idea would be great!!

  • AssassinJul95 posted Jan 3, 2010 4:57 am GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    AssassinJul95

    Posted Jan 3, 2010 4:57 am GMT (hide)

    Microsoft just keep getting crappier and crappier

  • AssassinJul95 posted Jan 3, 2010 4:45 am GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    AssassinJul95

    Posted Jan 3, 2010 4:45 am GMT (hide)

    The guys at Sony must be running all over the place with happiness when they heard of this...

  • Gamer_JasonX7

    Posted Jan 3, 2010 3:47 am GMT

    dumbest idea I've ever read(/heard). no, I'm not lying. this is by far the DUMBEST thing i've ever read.

  • Badges

    Posted Jan 3, 2010 3:12 am GMT

    Could be an interesting little money maker selling avatar info to various ins. companies to determine if there should be an over all rate increase by state and county. muhahah . . Whose paranoid?

  • noizynet

    Posted Jan 2, 2010 7:57 pm GMT

    not gonna happen. period.

  • ElvesOnEcstacy

    Posted Jan 2, 2010 6:14 pm GMT

    @Shadow_Xboxer
    I'd rather have someone who tries to be overly intellectual post rather than someone like... well... you

  • taddia

    Posted Jan 2, 2010 3:24 pm GMT

    i pass to xbox from wii (plz note is till own a wii, i find it great for multiplay!) for the very reason i got bored of motion controls and spastic wagglings in every game and now, xbox comes out with this? sigh 8(

  • McCabe24TML

    Posted Jan 2, 2010 2:06 pm GMT

    F*ck this. I'm overweight because I have a freaking thyroid disease. Now what the hell am i supposed to do? Oh wait, I think I saw some good deals for PS3's on ebay...Thanks for rewarding my 9 years of supporting the Xbox you Microsoft @ssholes!

  • deframer

    Posted Jan 2, 2010 12:33 am GMT

    Oh shiet! I been told, Shadowboxer, mof--

    Ey, homie, roll down to my town, see who still speakin then. Back off, because you can't step to physically or mentally. Success in my hood breeds a better breed of man.

    Peace, man up

  • penguinofire

    Posted Jan 1, 2010 9:21 pm GMT

    How are they going to represent psychological traits physically? Like, if you're really smart, will your avatar have a huge head that drags on the ground? Or is that only if you have a big ego? You know what would be better than this? Not charging money for those stupid branded t-shirts you can buy for your avatar wear.

  • wyan_

    Posted Jan 1, 2010 9:04 pm GMT

    At last... I will be able to represent my finely chiseled physique accurately in cyberspace. All negative votes below will be from rail thin dweebs and obese, overindulgent slobs. I own you all.

  • MadMan117

    Posted Jan 1, 2010 7:18 pm GMT

    No Way... They're going to prevent us from playing CODMW2's Multiplayer just because we're 5 pounds overweight? F**k that.

  • flawless_blade

    Posted Jan 1, 2010 3:27 pm GMT

    the only part of this that i marginally like is the idea of making the avatars more realistic. i hate those goddamn miis.

  • rocky_10

    Posted Jan 1, 2010 1:51 pm GMT

    well that is stupid...if people are concerned about their health they would use a wii.....besides m$oft should be more concerned about expanding the way we play games

  • pursuit_master

    Posted Jan 1, 2010 1:10 pm GMT

    dumbest idea EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • Hollaback77

    Posted Jan 1, 2010 11:27 am GMT

    Wow this is stupid. It seems Microsoft is going to squander the potential of Natal on crap like this.

  • Ric_SlayeR

    Posted Jan 1, 2010 9:19 am GMT

    Useless...M$ should concentrate on games!

  • Shadow_Xboxer

    Posted Jan 1, 2010 5:20 am GMT

    To DEFRAMER..............BORING! you always get someone who tries to be overly interllectual on these threads.
    you sado! i bet "you're a parents wet dream" aint you!

  • deframer

    Posted Jan 1, 2010 3:09 am GMT

    (Also, I've disregarded problems that affect physical appearance, such as disabilities, thyroid problems, etc. that's another kettle of fish entirely)

  • deframer

    Posted Jan 1, 2010 3:08 am GMT

    Two things:

    First, I'm relatively unsympathetic to people who are unfit and who complain or whine about it. I work a 55-60 hour a week job, have a great family and social life, and have plenty of time to exercise every day. Eating well, needless to say, does not take extra time - merely effort. I'm admittedly lazy by nature, so if I can stay fit so can, I suspect, most people living in stable, first world or first world-esque population centres. Second, and as a qualification to the first, that lack of sympathy does *not* extend to people whose lack of fitness is a lifestyle choice. There is a difference between someone who wants to be fit but does not make the requisite effort and sacrifice, and someone who is quite happy living in a state of (relative) unhealth.

    Part of me, then, is thinking that this might be a good thing should they find some way to make it voluntary rather than arbitrary. That which is hypothesised here suggests it's more of the latter than the former, which is cause for concern given my second point.

  • DFen

    Posted Dec 31, 2009 11:44 pm GMT

    after getting the rrod 2 times I don't see the point in owning a xbox360 anymore, one horrible system, which is why I end up playing my ps3 more...

  • Gamer-Geek

    Posted Dec 31, 2009 3:21 pm GMT

    @ pomps709
    Excercise is voluntary and something you would choose to do for your own reasons - is it against the law to be fat? The only incentive this gives me, is to invest in a different console.

  • chefstubbies

    Posted Dec 31, 2009 3:10 pm GMT

    If they really follow through with this, they will be facing multiple class action lawsuits due to blatant discrimination.

    Besides, this is way beyond big brother (no, not the tv show kids, look it up) whoever actually thinks this is a good idea needs to give their head a shake.

  • Palantas posted Dec 31, 2009 1:45 pm GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    Palantas

    Posted Dec 31, 2009 1:45 pm GMT (hide)

    Ha! That's awesome! People who don't like this idea need to exercise more.

  • Biorges

    Posted Dec 31, 2009 9:52 am GMT

    i find this offensive

  • Gaia27

    Posted Dec 31, 2009 8:58 am GMT

    LOL Everybody will see how fat you are!

  • pomps709

    Posted Dec 31, 2009 8:04 am GMT

    @ Gamer-Geek
    i understand what you're saying about the handicapped people...but cmon if you're fat get on a treadmill and stop complaining because you're lazy and like to eat...obesity is NOT a disease its behavioral

  • Flipyap28

    Posted Dec 31, 2009 6:34 am GMT

    Some people arent really thinking, all you have to do is not plug in natal....

  • Gamer-Geek

    Posted Dec 31, 2009 3:51 am GMT

    Wow that sure sounds rubbish, has Microsoft thought of people with physical disabilites who do not have the means to exercise as much as others can, so putting them at a disadvantage. Why should the handicapped be discriminated against online - don't they have enough to worry about in real life? Also imagine the fat child Microsoft is discriminating against - how would he feel? It is also ironic that the company that makes the game console wants to encourage the opposite of their purpose, that is like a cake company encouraging excercise. Also why doesn't Microsoft first make a console that works reliably?

  • P_R_E_Y

    Posted Dec 30, 2009 6:06 pm GMT

    good thing then im not buying Natal, it will provide the same interactivity as playing with toys or a Wii. Throw you're hands about and move your body a bit. Im not paying the price for a novilty, and if game developers are wise, they should allow games to have non-natal experience, cause the people who do not have the money, wil not have natal and then people will stop buying games.
    Stupid idea if you ask me, im afraid if you need to resort to throwing your hands about in a room, games have lost the depth to make a player loose themselves in the atmosphere or story. Plus day one for the Natal will be some stupid skateboard game, a racing one, and probibly a poor shooter. So no thanks, period.

  • tyzwain

    Posted Dec 30, 2009 4:02 pm GMT

    Lol half the people playing games will be locked out the game. Myself included. Guess what my New Years Resolution will be this Hogmanay.

  • gggames_se

    Posted Dec 30, 2009 2:40 pm GMT

    hardcore!? - echo, echo, echo...

  • jenguando

    Posted Dec 30, 2009 2:12 pm GMT

    Cant wait to play butt naked on Project Natal.That should unlock a crap load of stuff.

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