Microsoft has filed a patent for a multiplayer voice- and gesture-driven head-mounted display.

A patent filed by Microsoft on January 30, 2012, and this week made available to the public, outlines a series of head-mounted display devices and their potential gaming applications.

The filing (spotted by a NeoGAF user), dubbed "Multiplayer gaming with head-mounted display," describes "a system and related methods for inviting a potential player to participate in a multiplayer game via a user head-mounted display device“In one example, a potential player invitation program receives user voice data and determines that the user voice data is an invitation to participate in a multiplayer game. The program receives eye-tracking information, depth information, facial recognition information, potential player head-mounted display device information, and/or potential player voice data."

The patent alludes to a reference design (subject to change) that may include transparent or partially transparent displays that sit in front of a user's eyes in the form of traditional glasses. The patent filing includes a range of potential device scenarios, including the use of Organic Light-Emitting Diode (OLED) displays, eye scanning, microphones, and gyroscopic and accelerometer sensors to determine user head and body positioning when worn.

"The HMD device may include an eye-tracking system that utilises at least one inward-facing sensor. The inward-facing sensor may be an image sensor that is configured to acquire image data in the form of eye-tracking information from a user's eyes. Provided the user has consented to the acquisition and use of this information, the eye-tracking system may use this information to track the position and/or movement of the user's eyes. The eye-tracking system may then determine where and/or at what person or object the user is looking. In another example, the inward-facing sensor may capture retinal scan information from a user's retina. Provided the user has consented to the acquisition and use of this information, such information may be used to identify the user wearing the HMD device."

Outward-facing sensors would also detect the environment of the wearer, locate users sharing the space, and track gestures performed by the wearer. Numerous mentions of "time-of-flight depth camera" systems also draw parallels with similar technology included in the updated Kinect 2.0 that will ship alongside the upcoming Xbox One console. These could be used to scan the space before determining which games may be the most appropriate for the given play space.

"The HMD device may also include an optical sensor system that utilises at least one outward-facing sensor, such as an optical sensor. Outward-facing sensor may detect movements within its field of view, such as gesture-based inputs or other movements performed by a user or by a person within the field of view. Outward-facing sensor may also capture image information, such as facial recognition information, and depth information from a physical environment and real-world objects within the environment. For example, outward-facing sensor may include a depth camera, a visible light camera, an infrared light camera, and/or a position-tracking camera."

The potential inclusion of three accelerometers and three gyroscopes would allow for head-positioning tracking, not unlike the technology found in the Oculus Rift.

"Motion sensors may also be employed as user input devices, such that a user may interact with the HMD device via gestures of the neck and head, or even of the body."

Voice controls, with a focus on natural speech, are mentioned throughout the filing. The HMD may include one or more microphones, and be used to input commands and requests, such as when instigating a multiplayer game with another user.

"In other examples, audio may be presented to the user via one or more speakers on the HMD device. Such audio may include, for example, music, instructions, and/or other communication from the multiplayer game program, the potential player invitation program, or other sources."

The filing also lists provisions for users to toggle the amount of personal information shared by the device with other users, from limited privacy modes showing user IDs and game achievements, all the way to exchanging personal information, such as game interests.

While only a single device appears to be wearable per user, the report includes information on multiple head-mounted displays being used in conjunction with each other, either to view other matches in progress or join games with multiple participants.

The technology and accompanying diagrams and descriptions in the patent share some striking similarities with images shown previously in a purportedly leaked document, prior to the Xbox One announcement. The information was later taken down at the request of Microsoft.

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Developers take on questions during an "Ask Me Anything" session on Reddit; respond to criticisms on the inclusion of dildo weapon.

Fans of the upcoming open-world game Saints Row IV participated in an AMA with senior producer Jim Boone and design director Scott Phillip on Reddit earlier today.

The discussion covered a range of topics concerning Saints Row IV, including a response to Cliff Bleszinski's previous comments regarding the negative impact of including a dildo weapon in the game.

The duo responded to a question concerning Bleszinski's comments by citing Hollywood as an example.

"I think of this along the lines of motion pictures," Boone said.

"I just can't imagine Hollywood suddenly deciding that movies like The Hangover shouldn't come out because it is immature. Sure, it may not win an Oscar, but it sure is funny as hell and amazingly entertaining. People won't all feel the same way about that movie as I do, but that doesn't mean the movie shouldn't be made."

"[Bleszinski] said he felt SR would've been better if it had been a Michael Mann/Heat-esque bank robbery type of game. Somebody else already makes that game and spends four times as much money to make it with a staff four times our size," Phillips added.

"We need to make Saints Row, not a game someone else is already making. As Jim said earlier, you wouldn't want to see the same movie over and over again; sometimes you need a drama and sometimes you need a comedy, and Saints Row delivers something that players clearly want and aren't getting elsewhere."

When concerns were brought up regarding the PC port of Saints Row IV, Boone assured that players could expect "the same level of quality" as in the PC version of Saints Row 3, as a result of working on the PC build throughout the development cycle.

Saints Row IV publisher Deep Silver recently revealed details for the game's season pass content, which includes a "Rectifier" alien probe weapon. The publisher also confirmed that the game has reached gold status.

The game has been refused classification twice in Australia. An edited version has been submitted to Australian censors, although there is no indication of when a decision about the edited version will be made.

Changes in the edited version are described by Boone as "not too disruptive to the game." He explained that the submitted version is "missing one weapon and one mission."

Saints Row IV is slated for release in North America and Europe on August 20 for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC.

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Nintendo president Satoru Iwata believes it can right current poor Wii U performance by making games that resonate strongly with players.

Nintendo president Satoru Iwata has explained why the company focuses on making games, rather than art, in a three-part interview with Toyo Keizai Online, as reported by Kotaku.

Iwata began by restating the Wii U…s current place in the games market, acknowledging that while the system hasn't yet seen the mass adoption the company had hoped for, and that software support has been limited, Nintendo believes it can remedy the situation.

"It's difficult to say 'the Wii U is a system that does such and such' in a simple manner, and understanding it takes time." Iwata said. "While we unfortunately had a period in the first half of 2013 where releases were sparse and hardware sales have lulled, I don't think that the concept and potential of the Wii U have been rejected."

The Nintendo president believes the key to turning around the troubled Wii U is to focus not on making games into art, but rather on creating games that strike strong chords with the audience.

"Nintendo developers are extremely insatiable when it comes to whether what they make resonates with customers or not. They'll do anything to achieve it." Iwata said. "Both Miyamoto [Shigeru] and I repeatedly say, 'It's not like we are making pieces of art, the point is to make a product that resonates with and is accepted by customers'."

Iwata went on, saying, "Creating is like an expression of egoism. People with a strong energy to create something have a 'this is the strength I believe is right' sort of confidence to start from. Their standpoint is that 'this is the right thing to do, so this must be what's good for the customer, as well.' But the final goal of a product is to resonate with and be accepted by people. You can't just force your way through. By saying 'the point is to be accepted', I mean, if you go to a customer with your idea and you realise they don't understand it, it's more important that they do, and you should shift your idea."

While Nintendo…s Wii hardware recently celebrated passing 100 million units sold, its more recent counterpart the Wii U managed to shift just 160,000 units worldwide during the April-June quarter, taking the struggling system…s lifetime sales to 3.61 million units.

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By Piya Sinha-Roy BEVERLY HILLS, California (Reuters) - After lackluster viewership ratings, Fox's reality singing contest "The X Factor" will enter season three with a revamped panel dominated by women that creator Simon Cowell says will reflect female artists' dominance in the music charts. "The X Factor," which Cowell created in Britain in 2004 and brought to the United States in 2011, suffered a drop in viewership in its second season, falling from an average of 12.5 million per episode in 2011 to 9.7 million last year. ...

Upcoming console will allow for off-device gameplay recording; HDCP content blocked from capture.

Microsoft's upcoming Xbox One console will allow users to capture gameplay using external recording devices, Microsoft Game Studios vice president Phil Spencer has told Polygon.

Asked whether the Xbox One will support footage being captured through the console's HDMI ports, specifically given the device's High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection (HDCP) system, Spencer replied in the positive:"Yep," Spencer told the site. "Exactly like it works today [on the Xbox 360]."

However, while users will be able to preserve their top gaming moments at will off-console, the system will still actively protect against users making unauthorised copies of content that includes HDCP.

"If all you care about is getting the gameplay, you're fine," Spencer said.

Microsoft previously confirmed that Xbox One owners will be able to save the previous 5 minutes of gameplay, allowing players to edit highlight videos and share them online. The Xbox One will ship this November.

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