Brains-on with NeuroSky and Square Enix's Judecca mind-control game

We already know that NeuroSky is bringing us the mind-reading Mindset for your gaming pleasures, but we got a first-hand look at the device here at TGS. At first glance, the headset may appear to be just another white set of over-the-ear headphones, but a little boom that gets all cuddly with your forehead measures how well you are concentrating on in-game objects. While this may sound like a bunch of hoopla, keep in mind that mega-developer Square Enix is already on board with "Judecca," a zombie thriller that forces you to concentrate your way into seeing your enemies. After holding up your hand, you then concentrate on a glyph that glows in direct relation to your ability to concentrate, opening up what's called your Devil's Eye. Once you're in a zen-like state, you can see Judecca's zombies and unleash some kill. You can also show your concentration skills enough to walk through walls, naturally. In our limited time trying the tech with Judecca, we were indeed able to induce some sort of concentrative state, even with the distractions of a giant Japanese gaming convention. As for how long we'd want to play something like this before switching to something involving, say, just pushing buttons and killing enemies, we're not so sure. NeuroSky promises the device in Spring 2009 for a price somewhere between $50 and $80. Hit the break for a couple shots of the device and a very tense gamer.

[vvtopkar @ Oct 9th 2008 8:48AM]

Now that's sick

[Anthony @ Oct 9th 2008 6:18PM]

lol pair that mother with the new VUZIX and you got urself a virtual reality game =]

kinna...

[thedesolate1 @ Oct 9th 2008 10:12PM]

This technology would be perfect for a Star Wars game. "Use the power of the force to destroy the clones!"

[crayzieman @ Oct 9th 2008 8:52AM]

Anyone else see the irony in playing a game that you must use your mind to see enemies who want to eat your brains?

[Metal Geario 360 @ Oct 9th 2008 3:32PM]

Ironic indeed LOL

[Makoto99 @ Oct 9th 2008 9:10AM]

So, what does it do, just measure how much you scrunch your forehead?

I can see that getting real annoying after, say, 15 seconds.

[Scott Sutherland @ Oct 9th 2008 9:17AM]

With self defecation (after trying too hard) after 30 seconds.

[farfisa @ Oct 9th 2008 9:10AM]

Dude looks asleep.

[yode @ Oct 9th 2008 6:52PM]

racist

[David Gavilan @ Oct 10th 2008 10:05AM]

I was there today and the girl giving the explanation asks you to close your eyes sometimes. That's why he looks asleep. You have 2 basic actions to perform: concentrate, or relax. Relaxing may be hard with all those ppl looking... so she asks you to close your eyes, et voila, the relaxation meter increases! ;) When you relax, your character can levitate things (it depends on the game, actually).

[John Z @ Oct 9th 2008 9:27AM]

What's not obvious from these screenshots is that if you lose, the NeuroSky goes into reverse: Rather than being a device that controls games with your mind, it becomes a device that controls your mind with games. ...kinda like, well, every console, now that I think about it.

[Bjsfreaked @ Oct 9th 2008 9:29AM]

Good game - only problem is if you have annoying parents or family / partners who annoy you whilst playing.
I bet as soon as you as someone tries to talk to you i bet you loose concentration.
Good idea though... different to other games in the market.

[dervheid @ Oct 9th 2008 9:38AM]

WTF?
Oh, right. YOU use your mind to control the game (mind CONTROLLED game), as opposed to the game controlling YOUR mind (mind control game).
Nothing sucks like a would-be journalist with a poor grasp of diction and grammar.

[CosterMonger @ Oct 9th 2008 9:54AM]

well there are zombies in the game and technically they could be under someone else's mind control

[Jason @ Oct 9th 2008 9:42AM]

I would like to see an in-depth comparison between the NeuroSky, Emotiv Epoc, and the OCZ NIA devices for all of us that are eagerly awaiting the new brain-powered revolution. Whatddya say, Engadget?

[stéphane roy @ Oct 9th 2008 9:45AM]

What am I thinking now?...

[kali4 @ Oct 9th 2008 9:59AM]

mmmmmm booobies... (wipes drool from chin)

[Derek @ Oct 9th 2008 9:47AM]

Five bucks says religious nutjobs are going to have a _big_ problem with this.

[kali4 @ Oct 9th 2008 9:56AM]

only until someone shows them an application to turn the pages of their holy book. bonus: with concentration you can see the bible code!

[CosterMonger @ Oct 9th 2008 10:04AM]

Death to the demoness!

[thedesolate1 @ Oct 9th 2008 10:10PM]

Ummm those guys have a big problem with absolutely everything. If it were for them, technologically, we would all be back to the stone age. Without dinosaurs of course because well they didnt exist and dont exist.

[jorvay @ Oct 9th 2008 9:53AM]

Imagine this tech for Nintendo-esque party games. You'd have four people in a living room slapping and yelling at eachother to distract them and break their concentration. Add in some booze and you've got one insane party on your hands.

[Lowest Ranked @ Oct 9th 2008 11:59AM]

Remove the game and you've got a regular party! Its a novel idea, you should try it sometime.

[MyHeadisFed @ Oct 9th 2008 12:24PM]

Ha, more like a lameass party. Would be a nice get together though. =P

[kali4 @ Oct 9th 2008 9:59AM]

naked mind-CONTRELLED twister!!

[JamesB @ Oct 9th 2008 10:05AM]

Who gives a damn about the mind control thingie, where's the pics of the Japanese girls in the white kinky boots?

[CosterMonger @ Oct 9th 2008 10:07AM]

just give me this Mindset plus rag-doll physics and don't worry about the controller

[Jash Sayani @ Oct 9th 2008 10:09AM]

Are these things tested properly....??!?!?? I dont think they are very good.... Side-effects...?

[MyHeadisFed @ Oct 9th 2008 12:42PM]

you my friend, are dumb.

[Conda @ Oct 9th 2008 10:15AM]

heh, an XPS 1530... doesn't surprise me that a gaming company would use a more or less gaming dedicated notebook for presentations

[Jeff Stoelker @ Oct 9th 2008 10:21AM]

Is this MC device cancer and tumor free?

It appears that he may have a tumor due to his slow response time.

[SewerShark @ Oct 9th 2008 10:32AM]

Now Stephen Hawking can play videogames...and he will win every match over Xbox Live.

[AlphaTeam @ Oct 9th 2008 12:23PM]

To clear things up; mind-controls means we control the game, not the other way around?

[MyHeadisFed @ Oct 9th 2008 12:45PM]

No shit. The controller takes EEG signals from your brain using an electrode and then compares them to algorithms that they collected from a survey group for certain actions such as concentration.

If the game controlled you I'm pretty sure this would be BIG news lol.

[kali4 @ Oct 9th 2008 2:33PM]

If game controlled you, you would be in Mother Russia.

[Duy @ Oct 9th 2008 12:33PM]

the porn industry will have a field day with this.

[tom @ Oct 9th 2008 5:59PM]

if the porn industry did this, im going to have a field day with this...

[Billin @ Oct 9th 2008 12:43PM]

Programmers at the event: "I don't understand. Why does the computer keep switching away from the game to porn?"

Tester: "Guhhhh huhuhhhh uhuhuhhhh huhuhhhh (drools)"

[spacegravity4me @ Oct 9th 2008 12:46PM]

ok, serious question here. With this tech couldn't they just make it to where when I want to punch something i actually throw a punch and it happens on screen? Your brain does control your arm movements, why not just correlate that directly into an on screen action? Want to look left, just move your head left and keep your eyes on the screen. It sounds a lot more fun than trying to relax to do something.

[MyHeadisFed @ Oct 9th 2008 12:50PM]

I like to sit on my ass and move as little as possible, it's VERY fun.


...maybe the EEG from muscular control is too difficult to capture properly.

[ssoltero @ Oct 9th 2008 3:25PM]

I'm fairly certain that technology is also being worked on, but as far as I know, you need surgery to interact with a computer in that fashion.

Unless you are referring to prosthetic technology, in which case, you actually need to be missing a limb for the sensors to pick up on the muscle movements around your stub for the robotic prosthetic to function. Otherwise, we would just be pushing buttons.

[Danny @ Oct 9th 2008 1:45PM]

That looks cool . he looks tensed though (and cute, hehe)

[azz0r @ Oct 9th 2008 2:06PM]

I can't wait until this matures, imagine a first person version of Force Unleashed with mind control.

By god that'd rock some ass.

[granny down east @ Oct 9th 2008 2:18PM]

I can walk thru walls with this? I'm in.

[orky @ Oct 9th 2008 4:40PM]

the guy in the pic is clearly trying to be a zombie! or maybe the zombie already got to him and he's become a zombie?

anyways $50-$80 for this kind of technology is a steal. and i thought a system with a motion sensitive controller for $250 was a great deal.

[Chrisp @ Oct 10th 2008 2:50AM]

Blea. This junk has been released by like 50 zillion companys over the last 20 years. Im sure i recall them testing a similar system on Beyond 2000, and they said it should be a common interface device in a few years time :| I'll stick to my mouse and keyboard thank you verry much.

[CKMBA @ Oct 14th 2008 1:23AM]

They should make an adult game where you undress women with your mind....wait, I don't need to pay $80 for that!