Sony patents "soft pause" that doesn't interrupt gameplay
A compromise between the desire to play and the need to attend to other matters
Pausing a game when an interruption is needed is such a natural action for a gamer that it doesn't even occur to them to think about it. Yet, even this obvious gesture can be re-elaborated to take on a more flexible form, or at least that's what a major industry player seems to be considering: Sony has registered a patent that could challenge the way we conceive of pausing.
The patent explains Sony's idea in detail. Today, pausing a game essentially means stopping it, then resuming it. However, perhaps the game cannot be completely stopped (think of multiplayer, for example), or simply the user wishes to continue, even when an unforeseen event requires their attention. What to do in these cases?
Playstation 5 Console Edizione Digital Slim
Gamesurf may earn a commission on every purchase you make
The Soft Pause Mode
The Soft Pause mode offers a solution to the problem: instead of stopping, the game continues, but with modified execution. To meet the user's needs, one or more parameters of the experience are modified: for example, the difficulty level can be temporarily reduced, or in-game time can be slowed down, or even a series of aids can be provided.
The image above illustrates one of the ways the system could work: when Soft Pause kicks in, the game automatically directs the user to a point of interest, thus compensating for the momentary deficit of attention. This mode can be activated personally, with a dedicated button, but it could also activate automatically, such as in the case of an incoming call.
Similar articles
