PlayStation Patent Describes Method for Coaching Players - News

by William D'Angelo , posted on 04 January 2022 / 1,220 Views

Sony Interactive Entertainment has filed for a new patent on June 26, 2020 that wasn't published until December 30, 2021. The patent is called "Systems and Methods for Coaching a User for Game Play" and it describes a method for a self-coaching interface.

"A method for processing a self-coaching interface is described," reads the patent. "The method includes identifying a gameplay event during gameplay by a user. The gameplay event is tagged as falling below a skill threshold. The method further includes generating a recording for a window of time for the gameplay event and processing game telemetry for the recording of the gameplay event.

"The game telemetry is used to identify a progression of interactive actions before the gameplay event for the window of time. The method includes generating overlay content in the self-coaching interlace. The overlay content is applied to one or more image frames of the recording when viewed via the self-coaching interface. The overlay content appears in the one or more image frames during a playback of the recording. The overlay content provides hints for increasing a skill of the user to be above the skill threshold."

The system can be used to "to reduce frustration of players of various game genres in learning a new game."

View images of the patent below:

A life-long and avid gamer, William D'Angelo was first introduced to VGChartz in 2007. After years of supporting the site, he was brought on in 2010 as a junior analyst, working his way up to lead analyst in 2012. He has expanded his involvement in the gaming community by producing content on his own YouTube channel and Twitch channel dedicated to gaming Let's Plays and tutorials. You can contact the author at wdangelo@vgchartz.com or on Twitter @TrunksWD.

15 Comments

scrapking (on 04 January 2022)

Patenting these types of gameplay mechanics is not a positive for the industry, IMO. Can you imagine if, for example, the grappling mechanic had been patented for Just Cause, or Bionic Commando, or whatever, so it couldn't be used in Halo Infinite? Ridiculous.

DonFerrari scrapking (on 05 January 2022)

It isn`t a gameplay mechanic. It seems like a system that would automatically give you hints of the mistakes you are making to help you progress. Like a tutorial tailored for you.

scrapking DonFerrari (on 05 January 2022)

Fair enough that gameplay mechanic wasn't a good description of this patent. Yet the patent actually may be more than you suggest. It seems like it's broad enough that it might include "metaverse" elements such as a monetization system where other users can assist you for a fee.

DonFerrari scrapking (on 05 January 2022)

That I don't know. But yes if their patent gets in the way of other companies improving gameplay or other evolutions in the medium would be bad. And also agree that someone assisting you being hindered would be bad as well.
I remembered seeing a show or something about Sega helpline, where you called and they would give you cheats or even walk you through a phase.

scrapking DonFerrari (on 06 January 2022)

Yes, I think there were a few services like that, back in the day. I think several were third-party, but I think you're right that Sega had a first-party offering.

DonFerrari scrapking (on 06 January 2022)

We old timers gone all the tracks... from these hotlines, to walkthrough on magazines, gamesharks, cheat codes on the magazines, internet written walkthrough, youtube videos, paying someone to get you a trophy, hints for PS+ users on some PS5 games and now this =p there are probably more stuff I dont remember (and some of what I said I havent personally used)