The interactive “game” element is what separates video games from other visual mediums like film or television. A player’s direct interaction with a game is what moves the story forward, whether it is through simply navigating dialogue trees or fighting difficult bosses. However, when playing through a difficult video game, players are often forced to improve their skill through hours of repeated trial and error.
This style of gameplay could be described as themain appeal of games likeDark SoulsorElden Ring, which sees players dedicate themselves to beating difficult bosses one attempt at a time. However, this gameplay style does not suit all types of players, especially those that have disabilities or simply can’t commit the time that the game requires in order to learn a particular boss’ moveset inside and out.
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These players could be helped by a new patent filed bySonyfor an AI training model that studies the player’s gameplay style, along with the current sequence of the game they are playing, in order to help train the player in getting better at the game.Sony has been adding to this particular AI patent since 2019, and the latest addition has improved personalization of the AI training model. The patent’s purpose is to make all games more accessible to players before any specific accessibility features are added.
Sony’s AI patent could work similarly to the extremely useful ghost runner system fromTitanfall 2’s story campaign, which lets the player see the correct route through the game’s many platforming sequences. Sony’s patent could let PlayStation users activate similar ghost models in any game they are playing in order to show them a route through a particularly confusing area or give them tips about the game’s combat system. This would be the kind of hands-off accessibility option that many players would appreciate, as it does not take away the player’s direct control over the game, but does save them the time it would have taken to learn the same information through trial and error.
A trial and error gameplay loop is so popular in video games because it provides players with a challenge and allows them to overcome it in their own time, which in turn leads to a greater sense of accomplishment when they do. However, this isn’t necessarily the best way toteach users to improve at a game likeElden Ring. In no medium other than video games are struggling users expected to simply keep attempting something without any advice until it finally clicks.
For a long time since the release ofDark Soulsin 2011, players seeking advice for difficult games were often hit with the relatively unhelpful blanket statement of “git gud,” without any clear instruction on whatgitting gud at a game likeElden Ringwould even require. But Sony’s AI patent could instead help these players more directly from within their games.
