Is Biometrics the Future of Gaming?

Ever since the Atari games came out in the 1970s, the world of gaming has seen massive innovations,  The video games of today have 3D graphics, stunning animations, and even controllers which work with movement, such as with the Wii game platform.  Despite all the innovations in gaming brought forth by game makers like Nintendo, the most popular games are very simple: they are the games you play online for free with your friends.  Why is it that players are drawn to these simple games over the stunning technological games?  Marketers know that players want a social experience and they are working to combine technology with social gaming.

One of the most promising technologies which could be applied to social gaming is biometrics.  Biometrics refers to technology which records a player’s bodily responses, such as eye moments, heart rate, temperature, and bodily movements. Already game makers use biometrics when they create a game. They track players’ biometrics in order to identify areas of the game where the players were most intrigued, where they put their attention, and other aspects.  Now, game makers are seeking ways to combine biometrics with their games.

So far, attempts at using biometrics in games has been largely unsuccessful. For example, Nintendo abandoned its Vitality Sensor because it only worked with about 8 out of every 10 players.  Every person’s body is different and reacts differently to stimuli, thus biometrics are difficult to incorporate into a game.  However, game makers are very hopeful about biometrics.  They believe that within the next decade biometrics will allow the creation of interactive games.  With biometric games, you could have the game changed by your emotional response.  Sensors could also be used to link up players who have similar biometrics, thus creating a network of people who react similarly to certain aspects of games.

While biometrics may mean that games are taken to a completely new level of interactivity, not everyone is eager for biometrics.  After all, it is a bit scary to think that a company like Nintendo knows your bodily reactions to stimuli – thus knowing your emotions.  Many game players aren’t even aware of their own emotions during a game.  Would parents still let their kids play a game if they see biometric pleasure signals triggered during kills?  Finding out this information could change the way that we feel about a game.

Biometrics in gaming are still a thing of the future – but that future is rapidly approaching.  It will be interesting to see how biometric games change the industry, such as how games are advertised and how sales change.