A recently revealed Microsoft patent application hints at a possible Xbox One achievement system for watching TV.
The patent, which was filed back in 2011 but has only recently published, is titled Awards and Achievements Across TV Ecosystem. By tying achievements to items of video content, Microsoft intends "to increase interactive viewing and encourage a user to watch one or more particular items of video content."
It's also intended as a solution for advertisers who are struggling to reach a viewer base that no longer watches as much live TV, thanks to the proliferation of recorder boxes.
These achievements might include an award for watching an entire series from start to finish, or for sitting through a series of adverts in a live broadcast. It's also suggested that there could be an achievement for "performing a specific action while watching the linear video content."
Whilst no specific platform is mentioned in the patent application, all signs are pointing to the recently announced Xbox One.
For one thing, Microsoft focused heavily on the console's live TV capabilities at its launch last week, so a continuation of its famous achievement system in a televisual context would make sense.
For another, the Xbox One will come packaged with the next generation of Kinect for motion-capturing. It will be capable of tracking your actions even when not gaming, which would tie in with the idea of being rewarded for performing certain actions while watching TV.
Next, take a look at our Xbox One vs Xbox 360 comparison piece.
Via: Games Industry International
