Sony Analysing In-Game Player Satisfaction To Improve Gameplay

Rundown:

• Sony Interactive Entertainment has published a patent for a system that uses artificial intelligence to detect and analyse player dissatisfaction during gameplay to personalise the gameplay experience based on the player’s preferences and needs by modifying various aspects of the video game.
• The system uses various sensors, including camera sensors, pressure sensors, and heart rate sensors, to collect player data such as facial expressions, body language, tone of voice, physiological reactions, emotions, behavioural changes, stress levels, or keywords spoken during gameplay.
• The system may modify aspects such as gameplay difficulty, visual and audible components, and even the behaviour of in-game characters or objects in real time or recommend different video games altogether.
• The patent also outlines that the video game controller may be equipped with a pressure sensor that captures the pressure pattern applied by the player on the controller’s buttons during gameplay to make further changes to the gameplay.

Sony Interactive Entertainment has recently been awarded a patent titled “ENHANCEMENT OF GAMEPLAY EXPERIENCE BASED ON ANALYSIS OF PLAYER DATA,” filed in February 2022 under the name of SONY GROUP CORPORATION. The patent, earlier this month, describes a system for using artificial intelligence to improve the gameplay experience of players. The system detects a gaming session and collects data about the player’s actions and behaviours during the gameplay. Artificial intelligence models then analyse this data to identify any dissatisfaction the player may have experienced during the gameplay. Based on this analysis, the system modifies certain aspects of the video game to enhance the player’s experience and satisfaction. This can include adjusting the difficulty level, modifying video game mechanics or level design, or recommending different video games altogether. The goal is to create a more enjoyable and engaging gameplay experience for players.

“An artificial intelligence (AI) based method for calibration of a gaming ecosystem and to maximize satisfaction of a player involved in a gaming session such as single-player gaming session, multi-player online gaming session, and a videogame recommendation system is provided. The system detects the gaming session that includes an execution of a video game for a first gameplay and acquires sensor data associated with a player involved in the first gameplay,” reads the abstract for the patent. “The sensor data corresponds to a duration of the detected gaming session. The system determines one or more indicators of a dissatisfaction of the player with the first gameplay based on application of one or more Artificial Intelligence (AI) models on the sensor data. The system controls the execution of the video game to modify one or more aspects associated with the first gameplay or a second gameplay of the video game that is different from the first gameplay.”

Video game companies strive to ensure their players are satisfied with the gameplay experience. This is crucial for player retention and can also attract new players. However, personalising gameplay for every dissatisfied player is not feasible for companies. This is because players have different preferences and skill levels that make it challenging to cater to each individual’s needs. Therefore, companies often rely on focus groups, surveys, and player feedback to improve their video games. However, these methods may not always provide accurate or real-time feedback, making it difficult to address player dissatisfaction promptly. It seems like Sony Interactive Entertainment may have discovered a way to mitigate this issue by providing a system that uses artificial intelligence to improve the gameplay experience of players based on whether they are satisfied with it or not in real-time by analysing their actions and behaviours during gameplay. Although this concept may seem far-fetched, the company may have found a way to make it a reality.

According to the patent’s claims, the system can detect when someone is playing a video game and gather data about how the player interacts with the video game. Based on this data, the system can determine if the player is dissatisfied and change the gameplay to improve their experience. The changes the system can make to the gameplay include adjusting video game states, visuals, audio, and difficulty levels, providing hints or guides, and offering options to skip or complete levels. The system can gather data from various sensors, including cameras, microphones, heart rate sensors, and more, and determine if a player is dissatisfied with the video game based on their facial expressions, body language, tone of voice, physiological reactions, emotions, behavioural changes, stress levels, or keywords spoken during gameplay.

The system can analyse the data gathered during gameplay to determine a player’s satisfaction level and create a profile of the player. Based on this profile, the system can also recommend other video games the player may enjoy. Additionally, the system can compare a player’s satisfaction level to a personalised threshold and make further adjustments to the video game based on this comparison. The system can modify aspects of a different video game based on a player’s satisfaction level or indicators of dissatisfaction, and the modifications can be made before or after the video game is played. Furthermore, the system can track how long a player spends on a specific level and modify the gameplay if the player is taking too long. The system can also track how many attempts a player makes to complete a level and modify the gameplay if the player struggles.

If a player fails to complete a level, the system can capture audio of the player’s voice and use an artificial intelligence model to determine why they failed. Based on this information, the system can make further changes to the gameplay. The system can also use an artificial intelligence model to analyse images of the player during gameplay and modify it based on this analysis. Furthermore, it can determine the genre of the video game being played and the player’s baseline stress level for each genre. This information is used to control the execution of the video game based on the genre and the player’s stress level.

The video game controller may also be equipped with a pressure sensor that captures the pressure pattern applied by the player on the controller’s buttons during gameplay. The captured pressure is compared with a threshold, and a signal is transmitted to the system based on the comparison. The execution of the video game is further controlled based on the signal. The system can control an image sensor to capture images of the player’s eyes during gameplay. It tracks the movement of the player’s eyes in the captured images and determines where the player is looking on the display screen. This information is used to modify the rules associated with a level or the current state of the video game. If the video game is cooperative or multiplayer, the system can also modify the abilities of an in-game character or object controlled by the player based on the player’s dissatisfaction.

While Sony Interactive Entertainment’s patented system shows promise for enhancing gameplay experiences by providing personalised approaches that cater to individual player preferences and needs, it’s important to note that this is just a patent and does not guarantee implementation or distribution. It remains to be seen how and if the company plans to integrate this system into its existing and upcoming video game franchises and platforms. Nonetheless, the patent illustrates the Sony Interactive Entertainment’s clear vision for improving gameplay experiences, which is something that players and video game developers alike can look forward to in the future.

What do you think about this? Do tell us your opinions in the comments below!

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Huzaifa Khan

Started out penning short stories in my room, then stumbled upon my real passion for video game and technology journalism. Now, I’m all about playing and writing about them. With experience from VeryAliGaming, eXputer.com, and TheNerdMag, I’m currently dishing out news on Gamesual from my place.