It’s no secret that modern games can be a time sink, and sometimes, this means that players may not necessarily be able to finish a game in its entirety before stopping for one reason or another.
If these breaks extend over a long period, returning to the same game can be even more troublesome since players are likely to have forgotten controls and key story details when returning. In such situations, restarting from the beginning can often seem like the only viable solution, but a Sony patent could remedy this problem.
Sony has filed a patent dubbed “Use of AI To Monitor User Inputs And Estimate Effectiveness of Input Sequences.” The patent outlines situations when users forget game controls and goals after returning from a long break, and how Sony aims to deal with the problem.
According to the system outlined in the patent, Sony would effectively monitor user inputs to determine whether a player needs assistance and the type of assistance to be provided. For instance, the system could identify the player’s inputs to determine the most suitable “moves or skills” that would help the player progress to a new level.
Similarly, the patent’s AI-based system could provide hidden weapon or gear recommendations that would be useful against tougher enemies in future levels or chapters to struggling players based on their inputs. This type of assistance would come in handy for titles like Souls-like and RPGs, where certain weapons can make bosses and enemies relatively easier. This type of assistance is illustrated in the above figure.
Even more interesting is the fact that Sony says this patent could be used to provide assistance in the form of story points and context that users may need to understand the game. This assistance could come in the form of text, images, and even videos.
According to the patent, Sony intends to use AI to read user inputs and determine when players seem lost or uncertain in a game. This is where hints and story recaps come into play, effectively allowing players to catch up to speed on prior events and future objectives.
As games become longer and longer, this solution could become pivotal, especially for players who may not necessarily have a lot of time to dedicate to the hobby. Elsewhere, Sony has filed interesting patents for indie development, ghost assistance, and more to push the games industry forward.
