This Scares Me So Much I Don't Even Want To Think About It.

By Sean

Gamers are always on the lookout for the newest advances in gaming technology. Advances like the Wii-mote represent fundamental shifts in the way developers and game-players alike view the experience of gaming. Now motion sensitivity will find its way into the next next-gen system, just like rumbling joysticks, left and right triggers, and excessive gory violence. Once we take those steps forward, we don't want to go back. We want what we had, what we just gained, and whatever the next step is going to be. It moves the market, and it sells new systems

Well, there's a company that's working on the next advance in gaming, and it may just be the last step for me. NeuroSky, based in San Jose, CA, have developed a new Darth Vader simulator. Complete with mask, shoulder pads, and brain-wave activated light saber.

The Force is strong with this one

That's not a misprint. The light saber you see here is being powered by the user's brain waves. There are several biofeedback sensors located inside the mask at the forehead (as I'm sure there were inside of the real Darth's mask...) that pick up on electricity from the brain of the player. If the player's mind wanders, or he becomes distracted, the light saber goes dark.

Although they are working on some proprietary uses, the mad scientists over at NeuroSky see this technology being incorporated into existing games. Playing Tiger Woods for example, you'd shoot better if you were able to be more focused. Driving games could pick up on nervousness in the gamer, and cause the car to skid.

I personally hate this idea. The idea that my Xbox, which is hooked up to servers owned by companies and people who already have too much information on me, is now monitoring my brain waves seems like nothing but a bad idea. What's to stop them from keeping files on all of my various moods, organized by game, time, or whatever criteria they choose? What's to stop them from embedding code in the biofeedback that makes it not only a sensor, but a transmitter? Or, let's take it one more step: What's to stop game developers from putting Achievement Points in for various brain-related achievements? Happy on the 4th of July? Well shit, that's worth 15 extra bonus good points! Now, go back to playing your war simulator! Sad on Christmas? Well now, who's that knocking at your door?

Am I being overly paranoid? Probably, that sounds like me, but my point is still valid. I don't want my controller hooked up to my brain, and it feels so weird to even have to talk about it... I just want to stay away from a day where they sell commercials during my dreams.

Thanks to Makyo for the heads-up.

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