Want more evidence of the
patent degradation of modern society? Well, here's Sony with its latest idea for
selling games. The feature-eroding demo concept gives the user the full game to start off with, but then grows increasingly more limited the more you play it. In racing games, that means the number of tracks you can race on gradually dwindles, whereas in classically themed smack-em-ups like
God of War your sword, erm... well, it also dwindles. We're kind of on the fence about this -- on the one hand, it's hilariously insulting to the user as it perpetually nags him about what a cheapskate he is for not purchasing the entire game, and yet on the other it does at least let you taste the full breadth of the game, albeit for a limited time. However you may feel, this is still at the application stage, but given the
patent office's recent track record, there's no reason why Sony should be denied the rights over this supposed innovation.
posted March 5th 2010 1:19PM
I've not seen this approach taken before. So, in that sense, it seems pretty creative and not an entirely bad thing (in that it beats time-limited demos and/or limited-from-the-start trialware).
Of course, if there's anything I want LESS of on my Sony hardware, it's trialware.
Looks like a "Parental Control" feature to me.
It's a feature, not a bug!
@tacitus Ya, its almost like nobody has ever seen this
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZ0epRjfGLw
Sony goes ... PATENT!
I'm just wondering that happened in "431"?
@CRA1G
It's the same approach as Windows becoming crippled if you download the beta and then never put a valid key in.
@CRA1G
The thing I am concerned about is since you will never be able to play the whole game, downloading the whole thing to play as a demo is not appealing to me when I could just get a small portion of the download size by downloading a small portion of the game (as a demo)
@CRA1G The pictures are telling me a whole different story. Looks like they want us to be more like them... ;)
Please tell me this is a sick joke........
@Plazmic Flame
I actually think this is a good idea. As long as it isn't abused. I mean I've downloaded game demos, and loved them so much I thought "Wow, why would they give us the multiplayer game for free, when it'll detract from the sales." This seems to cure the problem.
@Plazmic Flame
"...Please call your doctor if your 3rection lasts longer than 4hours."
@Plazmic Flame Think about it this way, if Sony get's the patent then other companies have to pay for the privilege meaning that it will become less widespread. So, that's the bright side, and we only have to dissect 1 company's games for this crapture.
I don't think it's a bad idea, actually. It gives you the opportunity to see the full game as well as continuing for free--albeit in a crippled state. If you're not initially impressed, you have no need to continue playing anyway.
i think this could be a very fun and dynamic feature for games. As long as its handled correctly and polished as hell.
All this just gonna make game cost more
@techlord
You don't make any sense.
@techlord I agree this will just make the game cost more. Just as DRM did. He IS making sense you just can't sense what he is making.
@WM87
No, but Sony will make dollars. (da-dum-ching)
Isn't this just a blatent ripoff of the FADE DRM that Bohemia Interactive has used for Operation Flashpoint, ARMA and ARMA II? Just applied to create a 'demo' as opposed to a pirated game?
@blizz017 That's the first thing that came to my mind as well. Though this seems more geared towards upselling the paid version of the game than it is towards discouraging pirates.
@blizz017
Yep, FADE ripoff
I'm sorry, but this is a horrible idea. As soon as you get some idea of what to do in the game it alters the game? How does that give you a good enough idea before purchasing? What ever happened to time limit demos?
@leafflash I'm sorry, but that's a horrible idea. As soon as you get some idea of what to do in the game, it ends the game? How does that give you a good enough idea before purchasing?
But really, there's not much difference. Both are time limited. But at least with an eroding demo you can keep going in some form, not just have the door slammed in your face. I can see the benefit to both. Usually timed demos are too short, at least in my opinion. I guess it will depend on the speed of the erosion.
@leafflash How can you possibly know the time limit they give you? Your argument is ridiculous. It could be five minutes into the game before things even change. Until you know all the details you can't call it a horrible idea.
@scots79
You're right. I do need more details.
More like eroding game sells.
LOL at the eroding sword.
I would prefer this over limited games to start with. Or even just a time period - as in I have 1 day or 2 days with the full game and then it goes directly to limited. I hate having limited access and then deciding to spend $6 or whatever on a full game that could turn out to be not much better.
I was staring at the building trying to see how it eroded. I need to get more sleep at night.
The problem is that such a concept is far too broad to patent.
It creates nothing but win lawyers millions of dollars in fees, cut down the little guy who can't lawyer up sufficiently, and results in stagnation.
If you have a SPECIFIC development that you have invested heavily in, that should be yours, but not this broad hugely generalized crap.
@Ducman69
Exactly my thoughts. A majority of the things that have been patented in the last 20 years should have never been granted patents at all. It's insane what things have become...not to mention it completely wastes the courts time with all this nonsense when they could be dealing with actual crimes. The lawyers are really the only ones who come out on top, and that is a true shame.
Video game rentals will cease to exist... Sorry Gamefly.
@thesafetylemur I doubt that. I'm sure trophies would be disabled, and I'm sure the erosion wouldn't be so slow as to allow completion of a whole game within the time limit.
I've been on level 3 for 6 hours *sighs*
@haz The guy didn't even move from the place. Definitely was a Sony employee who tested the game.
Is it cold in here or is just me?
@Bandigolo
Don't stand under a cold shower for 6 hours.
man, that is just begging for a ps3 clock hack!
some guy at Sony realized his penis was fun to play with at first but the fun wore off with time and the penis was not as big as it started out after a few hours of online porn and thought.... how can I apply this to video games?
Well, if his sword wasn't leaking all that oxygen...
@Alimas That's what I thought. At first I thought they were talking about new erosion physics In game engines, and I was puzzled by steel breaking down into oxygen.
Buy really, why do they let people patent anything. Just lemme go patent green grass.
(sigh)
So, can I patent throwing rocks at corporate HQ windows, or is that more of a trademark?
What happens when the game that erodes is more fun than the full version game
How long before this erosion concept goes from being applied to "demos" to being applied to used video game sales?
Sony requires a user to "activate" their game using a serial printed on the game manual but it can only be used once. Billy sells his game to Joe. Joe finds that his 2nd-hand game begins to erode unless he purchases another activation key from Sony.
That image is totally ripe for a "That's what SHE drew"
how is this different from programs that give you a full 30 day trial and then cut off most of the features yet still let you use some ? (I get the "dwindling" being new, but that's about it)
@Sepirioth
I hate it when my features are cut off.
I'm sure someone will crack it. I mean...not even microsoft has been able to stop pirating. But I guess this wouldn't be pirating if they gave us the full game in the first place.
Upon reading the title and seeing the pictures my first thought was "Sweet!!! All of my games will break down in real-time like in Red Faction and stay that way!" Then, I read the article and I now say: Boooo!!!! Although, if Sony could somehow allow me to download the "full version" and it will slowly erode until it's like a standard demo over, say 1 hour that would be cool. However, I'm NOT paying full price for a game that will erode unless I keep giving Sony $. Forget it.
Actually, a better explanation is that in a racing game you will have to buy your new tires ever race with real money... I already hate this problem in real life, and don't need to do it in the virtual.
@scolen2
I think buying gas would make more sense.