A system and method for retaining, associating, and reloading a user's preferences in a video game system without requiring active participation from the user is provided. The system may include an object control mechanism for receiving a passive indication from the user to perform a fingerprint scan of the user's fingertip. A fingerprint scanner may be coupled to the object control mechanism for transparently performing the fingerprint scan to generate identifying data for the user. If the identifying data for the user matches identifying data for a preexisting user, then preferences associated with the preexisting user may be reloaded. If the identifying data for the user does not match identifying data for a preexisting user, then preferences of the user may retained and associated with the user's identifying data.