Mike Gerwitz

I recently read this story on Slashdot:

Microsoft Seeks Patent On Shaming Fat Gamers

The idea is that Microsoft wants to create a system whereby it will gather physical statistics on a user and alter the game play around those characteristics. For example, as the article mentioned, an obese player may be cut off from playing. I suppose the idea could have benefits – such as helping players get into shape if they can’t wait to get back on their consoles. But this raises some serious ethical issues. What, for example, about those players who are unable to lose weight for genetic reasons? Or what ever happened to those who play video games to escape from the real world? Hell, that’s half the fun in my opinion.

Microsoft also proposes shaping gaming experiences by using ‘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.’

This to me raises some serious privacy issues. I would never wish a video game or vendor to have that much personal information on myself. In fact, I feel the name on a credit card is too much information for the vendor or any party to have. But the traits listed above? Look, placing yourself in a video game is a pretty cool idea if you consent to it. For those who do want to give up all of that personal information, good for them. But basing game play off of factors like physical appearance, sex, religion, politically affiliation, etc could turn into a discriminatory battle.

Furthermore, you know that corporations will use this information for other statistical purposes, or to sell to other companies. Would you want a company like Microsoft to know more about you than you probably do? The only way I would subscribe to such a system is if it (a) used an open protocol, (b) was subject to very strict privacy standards and policies that are heavily enforced and investigated, (c) we were able to strictly state what information we wanted to give to the vendor, (d) we were able to choose what remote server to upload such statistical data to (i.e. one we may be able to trust) and (e) if the video game provided this is an option rather than a requirement. The patent does use the word “nonvolitionally” when referencing information gathered from the user, but we’ll see how that goes. Vendors can still state, “oh, uh, you can only play this game if you give us this, this, this and this.”

…surprise, the girl you’ve been lusting over in your video game is actually a guy, and this will prove it.

The patent states:

[0009]In yet a further aspect, an apparatus is provided for interacting with a virtual gaming environment. An information source is accessed for receiving a health information nonvolitionally obtained from a user. These sources are at least two of a a physiological sensor, a networked healthcare information repository, and a healthcare smart card.

I would be highly against anyone having access to information on that type of level – as everyone else should be. This is just one example of how vendors like Microsoft may try to steal information from you. If they were able to have access to heathcare records, you wouldn’t be able to say “I only want you to see this”. No, they’d probably be able to see it all.

Again, I’m not saying it’s a horrible idea. I’ve often fantasized about placing yourself in a virtual reality, where the game actually rendered you in the virtual environment. But considering Microsoft’s track record, they are not the company to implement or control this.

Tagged: drm, microsoft, privacy