Thought Controlled Games Coming Soon | Alice Hill's RealTechNews

By Jimmy Daniels
Contributing Writer, RealTechNews

Are you interested in thought controlled video games, and if so, would you be if they adjusted for your thoughts and feelings? Say, you were nervous about something and picked up a game to play, the game would catch the nervousness and make it harder for you to do what you needed to do. When playing Grand Theft Auto, if you were nervous, you would have worse aim than those who are relaxed.

Behind the mask is a sensor that touches the user’s forehead and reads the brain’s electrical signals, then sends them to a wireless receiver inside the saber, which lights up when the user is concentrating. The player maintains focus by channeling thoughts on any fixed mental image, or thinking specifically about keeping the light sword on. When the mind wanders, the wand goes dark.

Technology from NeuroSky and other startups could make video games more mentally stimulating and realistic. It could even enable players to control video game characters or avatars in virtual worlds with nothing but their thoughts. Source: New toys read brain waves

We Say: While I would like to have more control over how fast my character reacts, etc, I think I would just rather use a controller than have some device that decides it should be harder for me to shoot, or steer, etc. They already have a prototype that hooks up to an Xbox 360, PS3 and a Wii, but do we really want mentally taxing games, or do we just want to forget about stuff when we are playing? I would like to be able to play Gears of War better, that’s for sure, sucks when pre-teens kick your butt all the time…

Charles says:

April 30, 2007 at 9:24 am

Come on Michael… didn’t you see the movie FireFox with Clint Eastwood?

I don’t think the controller is deciding anything, it’s that the player’s state of mind makes it hard / easier to concentrate on the task at hand. One could argue that already happens. Is there a difference between your brain telling your thumb to press the D pad and you just thinking it?

Might have some New Agey uses, as in you have to calm yourself in order to be successful at the game.

MikeS says:

April 30, 2007 at 11:57 am

Do we really want mentally taxing games? I’d take one in a heartbeat over a physically taxing game (Wii), which I believe defeats a lot of the purpose of playing a video game. Also controlling a game with your mind doesn’t mean it will be “mentally taxing”, as Charles pointed out, our minds are already making decisions about what to do in a game and when to do it, this new technology just takes the controller out of the picture. And as far as a game altering our emotions have no fear. In a society that tries to sue rock bands over their sons ans daughters suicide, I think it’ll be a really cold day before we see a video game console accessory that can potentially depress people.

Jimmy says:

April 30, 2007 at 6:15 pm

Come on Charles, the byline says Jimmy not Michael.

I agree Mike, I have no desire to play the wii, and you are probably right about the controller, but I’ll have to try it first.

April 30, 2007 at 7:27 pm

Jimmy,

Apologies for the mistake. My “jump to conclusions” mat has failed me, as it’s usually Michael that submits the stories that trigger a response from me.

I’ll pay better attention next time…

dogger says:

May 1, 2007 at 10:16 am

could be a great way to train your consentration

MG says:

May 9, 2007 at 11:45 am

I think it would be a great way to test your imagination. If it taps into your feelings and eventually creates a game based on your thoughts. I think this is where the whole virtual reality came into play about geez 15 years ago and look how that flopped. It wasnt even that great looking, too bulky and graphically unpleasing. Now we have the technology to do so and make games more entertaining than Pong was back in 1975!