SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR RATING INTENSITY OF VIDEO GAMES

• US 20120046113A1
• Filed: 08/17/2011
• Published: 02/23/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Paul Angelos Ballas
• Original Assignee: Paul Angelos Ballas
• Inventors: BALLAS, Paul Angelos
• Granted Patent: US 8,425,295 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/43
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/00 Video games, i.e. games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions gaming systems which provide a financial reward G07F17/32
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/211 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers or gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/212 using sensors worn by the player, e.g. for measuring heart beat or leg activity
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/79 involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1012 involving biosensors worn by the player, e.g. for measuring heart beat, limb activity

Abstract

A method of rating the intensity of game play of a video game based on energy expenditure of a user playing the video game including the steps of selecting the video game, determining whether the video game requires the user to expend energy in excess of resting energy rate, testing the video game by having a plurality of users play the video game, measuring energy expenditure of the plurality of users, calculating energy expenditure of each of the plurality of users, calculating an average energy expenditure of the plurality of users and categorizing the video game based on the average energy expenditure as low intensity, moderate intensity or high intensity.

Claims

1. A method of rating the intensity of game play of a video game based on energy expenditure of a user playing the video game, the method comprising the steps of:

a) selecting the video game to rate;

b) determining whether the video game requires the user to expend energy in excess of an approximate resting energy rate;

c) testing the video game by having a plurality of users play the video game for at least one hour intervals;

d) measuring energy expenditure of the plurality of users in step (c) with physiological sensors;

e) calculating the energy expenditure of each of the plurality of users during a predetermined time period of game play;

f) calculating an average energy expenditure of the plurality of users; and

g) categorizing the video game based on the average energy expenditure as one of at least low intensity, moderate intensity, and high intensity.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the video game is categorized as generally passive and sedentary following step (b) when expected energy expended during game play is approximately the resting energy rate of the user.

3. The method of claim 1 comprising the further step of:

h) converting the average energy expended into a metabolic equivalent of task (MET), wherein the video game is categorized as low intensity if the average energy expenditure is greater than one (1) to approximately three (3) METs, moderate intensity if the average energy expenditure is greater than three (3) to approximately six (6) METs and high intensity if the average energy expenditure is greater than six (6) METs.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the testing interval of step (c) is between one (1) hour and six (6) hours.

5. The method of claim 1 comprising the further step of:

h) preparing a report of the categorization of the video game.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the physiological sensors of step (d) include at least one of a thermometer, a heart rate sensor, a carbon dioxide sensor, an oxygen sensor, a heart rate sensor, an accelerometer, a breathing rate sensor, a movement sensor, a global positioning system sensor, a respiration sensor, a skin conductance sensor, an electromyogram, an optical sensor, and a scale.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the energy expenditure of step (e) is calculated utilizing data from the physiological sensors and the predetermined time period during which the user played the video game.

8. The method of claim 1 comprising the further step of:

h) labeling the packaging of the video game with at least one of the low intensity, moderate intensity and high intensity.

9. The method of claim 1 comprising the further step of:

h) repeating steps (a)-(g) with a plurality of video games; and

i) providing a database of the plurality of video games grouped into their appropriate categories determined in step (g) to subscribers of an intensity rating service.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the only video games selected in step (a) include at least one of motion/location technology, accelerometers, gyroscopes, and augmented reality technology.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the only video games selected in step (a) include exercise-based video games.