13w ago - Recently a Sony patent was uncovered which may be used to detect pirated software though tracking video game load times.

Below are the details, to quote: "Sony has filed a new patent which may be useful in combating piracy.

The patent was filed by them way back in August 2011, and according to it, if the load times are not within the range they have set, the software could be flagged.

For the tech to be effective, a standard average load time has to be set–specific or range–and if any software that exceeds the time set, it will be easy to block it. This way of blocking games is a little impractical because sometimes drives may not function as expected due to wear and tear.

You can check out the description of the patent below.

For example, if an authentic game title is distributed exclusively on BDs having a total benchmark load time of 45 seconds on a game console BD drive, the acceptable range of load times could be from 40 to 50 seconds. Thus, a total measured title load time of 4 seconds would be outside of the acceptable range of total load times for a legitimate media type.

Seek time: In another example, if an authentic game title is distributed exclusively on flash drives...

197w ago - Today Siliconera (linked above) has uncovered an SCEA patent application which reveals that Sony is experimenting with laugh detection and emotional tracking software.

According to the documentation, the application picks up metadata, including laughter recorded by the microphone and a user's expression from the camera.

Apparently the software isn't limited to video games, and can be used for TV shows and films along with other media presentations.

To quote: Both devices are linked to a "game console", shown as a PlayStation 3 in the diagram, which identifies the user, notes emotions, and transfers the data over a network.

How will Sony identify emotions? The patent mentions identifying body gestures and tracking group interactions "such as when two individuals give each other a 'High Five.'"

Sony also developed smile detecting software for their Cyber Shot W120 camera which could be used too.

While the patent focuses on laugher it can identify other emotions such as sadness, excitement, anger, joy, interest, and boredom. For example, boredom may be detected if a user is "looking away from the presentation, yawning, or talking over the presentation."

243w ago - From their blog, linked above: You spoke and we listened. As of today, you'll be able to track your Warhammer Online characters in your Raptr profile. Once you enter your character(s), we automatically track your characters' items, levels, and Renown in your feeds for all you friends to see.

So if you hit Level 40 before any of your friends, they'll know about it. Of course, we created a custom module for your characters, so visitors to your profile page can check them out and see how you're doing.

Timezone Support
For those of you not in the Pacific time zone, we've also added a timezone option that will update all charts to reflect your time zone. Simply go to your Account Settings page and select the proper time zone. Now you'll know for sure when your friends around the world are playing Rock Band 2 at midnight in your own time zone.

We've also made some big behind the scenes improvements to our search engine. First, we made the button prettier and easier to understand that you can change what you're searching directly from the header. We made the search engine much faster, so if your friends joined only a little while ago, they should show up in search results in just a few minutes.

Last but not least, we added...

249w ago - Sandy Spangler has revealed two new EyeToy games that will be released by Christmas this year.

Although Hero is the more interesting out of the two. It is a title in which the sword can be tracked at all times and allows for more complex gameplay, sounds like the Wii better be on its guard!

To quote: Hero was undoubtedly the more interesting of the two, being the first story-driven EyeToy game. (That means the other eighteen EyeToy games were just gimmicky mini-game collections then?) This title is controlled by means of a fluorescent-green foam toy sword. If you felt silly with a Wiimote in your hand, you're gonna love this.

As the game can track where the sword is at all times, this allows for more complex gameplay. The first thing to note is that EyeToy Play: Hero is played from a first-person perspective, so the player's image is not displayed onscreen like most other EyeToy games.

What is seen onscreen is a glowing green representation of the sword that the player holds, and as the game is camera-based it follows the player's movements to an exact 1:1 ratio.

265w ago - Rockstar sent out an email this evening to all those in the UK scheduled to receive their copies of GTA IV this week, asking them to provide information on which platform they'd prefer to play on and their online IDs.

The email's published in full below:

Hi there,

The good news is we are planning to send out your copy of GTA IV tomorrow, Wednesday 23rd April, to be with you first thing on Thursday 24th, so the wait is almost over.

In order for us to do that, could you:

- Let us know which format you would prefer to receive the game on?
- Let us know your Gamertag, if the answer to the above is Xbox 360 or your PSN On Line ID if the answer is PS3.

Why we need to know.

Xbox 360 Version

We need your Gamertag because Microsoft will be helping Rockstar Games monitor access to the online modes up to release date. Because of this, we will need to add your Gamertag to the approved list of gamers who can play online prior to release.

In addition to supplying this information, if you do intend to go online before April 29th, you will need to change a couple of the basic settings on your Xbox 360 and keep these settings like this till the game comes out, otherwise other people will be able to see your achievements...