I think I'll name it Olsen

So this is fucking strange.

I signed on for an X360 Blog - which is not a blog that I keep that I can access through my X360 as one would imagine... but rather - it is a blog that my X360 keeps. It seems to track my playing habits and generate posts for its blog based on the habits it's detecting. It's even hoping for me to come back and start playing soon. Almost like the way my dog is wagging her tail when I come home from work - though not nearly as endearing... yet.

So I figure that since my 360 comes with it's own quirky personality, I should probably give it a name. I have decided to name it Olsen (after Jimmy Olsen) because - like its namesake - it is chronicling the exploits of the super-human alter-ego of a mild-manner ordinary dude (who also happens to work with Olsen and others like him on a daily basis).

What I wonder is if the material is going to turn out to just be obviously canned Eliza-style crap, or if they actually have something sophisticated operating there, and if each blog has a sort of personality profile. I hope it's at least that sophisticated - but time will tell. Would be great to assign each 360 a random handful of major and minor personality traits and writing styles and then draw the bulk of the content from a database and glue it all together procedurally. It would give each Blog a unique flavor.

Anyway, regardless, this is the first computer I have ever given a name. Probably won't be the last either.

Welcome to the world Olsen, and welcome ot the future everyone.

Comments

[Kim]

Yeah, it's very Eliza-ish, but still pretty compelling. I like the gamerpoint graph over time.

The snippets they pull from though seem to have a real homophobic bent to them. What's with that?

http://www.360voice.com/blog.asp?tag=GameBizGuy

I like your idea of the random personality traits. At teh very least, they could look at the community/zone choice the player made. Your xbox should be representative of the owner's tastes. Like certain types of guys own pitbulls vs poodles.

[Clint]

I would like to see the personality traits being based on three factors - though it makes for a complex matrix and a shit-pile of content.

They should take your zone choice, they should take the astrological sign of the date you signed up, and then a random factor. Then you'd get some weird mixes.

I would NOT want them to try to align its personality with yours though - I love the idea that you might not LIKE your XBox's voice. It could trash talk you and make fun of you... that would rule. Kind of makes me think of Will's concept for USBEmily... hehheh you could, of course, kill it and start another if you don't like it.

[Charb]

Since when are you wearing All-Star shoes?