Microsoft’s Cortana wants to play a game

Windows 10 is coming and it's bringing along the digital personal assistant (read as: Siri-rival) Cortana with it. With the release of Windows 10 only days away, we need to talk about one of Cortana's features – a feature that will keep you entertained (at least for a little while).

Cortana has a game for you and all it takes it to ask her to "play the movie game." This 'movie game' will prompt a trivia match where Cortana will provide you one clue at a time to help you guess what movie she is hinting at (you only get three clues).

Microsoft has gone through great lengths to make Cortana creepily human-like. Aspects of Cortana's 'personality' are different around the world.

"For example, Cortana understands how highly the UK values self-deprecating humor. Dryness and irony are traits that filter subtly into her personality, and she uses playful sarcasm in her responses if she senses you’re fooling around.

In Italy, Cortana is proud of national identity. Cortana will use words like “our” in responses to customers, and even sings the national anthem when asked to sing a song.

Cortana is also aware of important cultural touchstones in each market. In France, Cortana celebrates the Cannes Film Festival. In Canada, Cortana loves hockey, and in India, Cortana celebrates cricket star and national hero Sachin Tendulkar.

And in Japan, a high level of politeness is valued; Cortana will bow by default."

You can really experience her 'local personality' through asking questions like: “Do you dream?”, “Tell me a joke” and “Tell me a story.”  All of these questions have answers relevant to their markets.

[Windows Blog]