Over the past ten years, video games and digital advertising have become more like each other. Video games have real-world advertising and digital advertising has become more interactive and entertaining.

Being a part of a digital culture where the most popular websites include social networking/interaction; where 95% of its content is user generated, I wouldn't be surprised that this approach would continue to evolve even further.

How further you wonder?

The Xbox 360's newest best friend, The Kinect, is a motion-capture sensor that uses the players entire body as the controller for the game. You may have already heard about this new toy and its innovative technology, but what I want to focus/conceptualize on is this:

- If our actions are able to be mapped, captured and transferred into the games we play, then we should be able to export this data to an online server. These files then can then be used in ALL forms of media that associate with animated characters. For example, players can upload and win(through sweepstakes, contests, etc), then have their actions rigged into a character for a new video game.

(Above: How Kinect motion capture is achieved)

That sounds cool and you could probably expect a lot of Kinect owners to participate, but what if we went a step further and had this motion-capturing aesthetic installed in a window display in malls? Bus stops? Gyms? Times Square? Las Vegas? Tokyo?

Could the next big supplier of character content be directly from the consumer? Could digital signage locations around the world be the stage for complete consumer interaction? Would people get swept up in the new wave of socially-submitted interactive advertising? Is it already happening? Software will update, fads will come and go, but there is a solid argument that we are the integral piece to the most exciting and successful digital media out there.

(Above: This is an example of submitting user interactions by utilizing the Kinect)

Blogged by Nick Sears - Motion Designer - rVue