Microsoft planning more realistic XBL avatars?

[Kabob]

Sorry, don't have a source. Quoting from a guy in another forum who failed to list it, although googling "Microsoft realistic avatars" pops up a TON of results.

Avatars could represent a more accurate recreation of their owners in future, as Microsoft files a patent for "Avatar Individualized by Physical Characteristic" (sic).

According to the filing, spotted by 1Up, explains: "An Avatar generator for a virtual environment reflects a physiological characteristic of the user, injecting a degree of reality into the capabilities or appearance. Thereby, many of the incentives of the real world are replicated in a virtual environment."

In what sounds like plans to release an exercise game, it goes on to say: "Physiological data that reflect 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. Thereby, people are encouraged to exercise."

It also makes reference to the "artificiality of avatars" in their current state. But do you want your online counterpart to replicate your beer belly?

 

[R Nilla]

Here's one:
http://g4tv.com/thefeed/blog/post/7...g4tv&utm_medium=rssfeeds&utm_campaign=TheFeed

Based on this patent:
http://appft1.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph...91".PGNR.&OS=DN/20090309891&RS=DN/20090309891


Interesting idea but not exactly the gaming experience I'm looking for.

 

[Kev]

avatars are stupid enough to begin with, but this is just retarded.

 

[Kev]

I wish there was an option to turn off my avatar and make it so I don't see anyone else's.

 

[cyphilis]

I just want some effing tattoos, so I can sleave my avy out. MS is like everyone's mom growing up,.. "No, you can't get a tattoo".

 

[nitromullet]

Just what I want before I sit down for for some gaming... I physical from MS followed up with some profiling based on the results.

An undesirable body weight could be reflected in an overweight or underweight appearance for the avatar. 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.

even better...

But that's not all. Microsoft also envisions avatars shaped by "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."

Good ideas here... Let's make sure to give the avatars arm bands to reflect their religious affiliation... Or maybe only allow pants to those in a certain income bracket/occupation while the unwashed masses' avatars get to wear a loincloth or buy clothes from a more wealthy player.

 

[AstroManLuca]

how about fuck avatars

 

[Dumac]

whoops

 

[Dumac]

God damn it, who the fuck really is saying, "Man, I kind of want an Xbox 360, but their avatars just aren't doing it for me"?

 

[Dumac]

whoops

 

[Kabob]

Triple post much do ya?

 

[warcrow]

The day the avatars were available I fooled around and configured one. Not since that day have I even thought about going back and tinking with it. The same holds true with my PSN & Home profile.

I need a "Trillian" type of device that will consolidate every avatar in my life into one area so all I have to do is look in one area for all my current and future avatar needs. Yea, it's impossible but who says I cant dream!

 

[erwos]

You guys are missing the point here, which is that this patent is for whatever exercise game they're going to be releasing or bundling with Natal. Camera takes a snapshot of your fat ass, and your avatar represents you as such... and as you slim down, so does your avatar.

 

[RyanPaulShaffer]

Boy howdy, let me tell you what! "More realistic looking avatars" and goofy motion controls will sure get me motivated to buy more XBOX 360 games!

/sarcasm off

Isn't that what the Wii is for? Goofy avatars and gimmicky motion controls? Why doesn't Microsoft focus on what they're good at ("core" games, online play, etc.) and leave all this gimmicky stuff to Nintendo (who kinda has the gimmick market cornered).

 

[nitromullet]

You guys are missing the point here, which is that this patent is for whatever exercise game they're going to be releasing or bundling with Natal. Camera takes a snapshot of your fat ass, and your avatar represents you as such... and as you slim down, so does your avatar.

I get the point, I just think it's a bad idea.

 

[erwos]

I get the point, I just think it's a bad idea.

Why? I don't particularly love Wii Sports or Wii Fit, but I don't call everything I don't like a "bad idea". There's a market, and it's not always you and me.

 

[JoPh]

so my avatar can look like this?

if so. im in.

 

[Dumac]

Triple post much do ya?

Whoops, that's weird. I only clicked once, and when I refreshed the page, my post didn't even show up.

 

[nitromullet]

Why? I don't particularly love Wii Sports or Wii Fit, but I don't call everything I don't like a "bad idea". There's a market, and it's not always you and me.

It has nothing to do with my personal likes/dislikes. It's a bad idea because part of the attraction of any online identity is the anonymity, and part of the attraction of gaming is the ability step outside of who you are for while and do things you cannot do in real life. It shows that MS doesn't have a grasp on what the online community likes/wants. Why do you think WoW is so popular? Is it because the Night Elf mohawk is an accurate representation of who the players are? I don't think so.

This sounds like MS grasping at straws in an attempt to one up the wii mii and wii fit. Ironically, MS had the edge over every other console due to the fact that probably 90% or more homes with a 360 also has a Windows machine, but they didn't bother to make Windows Media Center and the 360 work together even as well as a free app like TVersity. Had they wanted to MS could have made the 360 the media hub to have and an HTPC killer. Instead, they are filing patents for the ability to out fatties who most likely don't want to be outed.

 

[KlokWyze]

Avatars are teh suck. I was actually offended that MS forced me create an online representation of me! ARRRRRRRRRRRGH. For awhile I was actually a sexually confused african american elf.