Xero
03-05-2010, 11:26 PM
http://www.siliconera.com/2010/03/04/sony-patents-degradable-video-game-demos/
Pretty interesting concept:
Sony Patents Degradable Video Game Demos
By Spencer (http://www.siliconera.com/) . March 4, 2010 . 6:16pm
http://www.siliconera.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/image_thumb86.png (http://www.siliconera.com/postgallery/?p_gal=63154%7C0)Sony appears to be working on a new kind of video <nobr style="font-weight: normal; font-size: 100%; color: darkgreen;" id="itxt_nobr_0_0">gamehttp://images.intellitxt.com/ast/adTypes/2_bing.gif</nobr> (http://www.siliconera.com/2010/03/04/sony-patents-degradable-video-game-demos/#) demo. A patent (http://www.siliconera.com/tag/patent/) filed by SCEA details a system that gives users a full or nearly complete game to play with, but slowly removes features until you buy it.
The software has customizable triggers that disable features after a set number of plays or lapsed play time. Let’s see some theoretical examples of how this could work.
In one scenario your weapon is weakened or replaced with a less powerful one after so many hours playing the game. Think of it as a timed level down.
http://www.siliconera.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/demo2_thumb.png (http://www.siliconera.com/postgallery/?p_gal=63154%7C1)
Another idea <nobr style="font-weight: normal; font-size: 100%; color: darkgreen;" id="itxt_nobr_4_0">Sonyhttp://images.intellitxt.com/ast/adTypes/2_bing.gif</nobr> (http://www.siliconera.com/2010/03/04/sony-patents-degradable-video-game-demos/#) has is to remove levels, race tracks in this example, after you reach a certain number of plays. When you finally buy the game (bottom right) you can use all of the tracks again.
http://www.siliconera.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/race_thumb.png (http://www.siliconera.com/postgallery/?p_gal=63154%7C2)
Removing weapons and playable characters are on the table too. Sony’s patent also lists subtle ideas such as softening sound effects, changing color depth, and/or brightness as other ways to encourage players to purchase a full version. In all cases, you can still play the game, just a limited version of it.
The patent says this system is better than current demos because degradable demos can be distributed on physical media (http://www.siliconera.com/tag/media/) and players can see the whole game for a limited amount of time. In other words, this system is “nag screen 2.0” that can be distributed on a disc and restored with an unlock key.
Pretty interesting concept:
Sony Patents Degradable Video Game Demos
By Spencer (http://www.siliconera.com/) . March 4, 2010 . 6:16pm
http://www.siliconera.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/image_thumb86.png (http://www.siliconera.com/postgallery/?p_gal=63154%7C0)Sony appears to be working on a new kind of video <nobr style="font-weight: normal; font-size: 100%; color: darkgreen;" id="itxt_nobr_0_0">gamehttp://images.intellitxt.com/ast/adTypes/2_bing.gif</nobr> (http://www.siliconera.com/2010/03/04/sony-patents-degradable-video-game-demos/#) demo. A patent (http://www.siliconera.com/tag/patent/) filed by SCEA details a system that gives users a full or nearly complete game to play with, but slowly removes features until you buy it.
The software has customizable triggers that disable features after a set number of plays or lapsed play time. Let’s see some theoretical examples of how this could work.
In one scenario your weapon is weakened or replaced with a less powerful one after so many hours playing the game. Think of it as a timed level down.
http://www.siliconera.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/demo2_thumb.png (http://www.siliconera.com/postgallery/?p_gal=63154%7C1)
Another idea <nobr style="font-weight: normal; font-size: 100%; color: darkgreen;" id="itxt_nobr_4_0">Sonyhttp://images.intellitxt.com/ast/adTypes/2_bing.gif</nobr> (http://www.siliconera.com/2010/03/04/sony-patents-degradable-video-game-demos/#) has is to remove levels, race tracks in this example, after you reach a certain number of plays. When you finally buy the game (bottom right) you can use all of the tracks again.
http://www.siliconera.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/race_thumb.png (http://www.siliconera.com/postgallery/?p_gal=63154%7C2)
Removing weapons and playable characters are on the table too. Sony’s patent also lists subtle ideas such as softening sound effects, changing color depth, and/or brightness as other ways to encourage players to purchase a full version. In all cases, you can still play the game, just a limited version of it.
The patent says this system is better than current demos because degradable demos can be distributed on physical media (http://www.siliconera.com/tag/media/) and players can see the whole game for a limited amount of time. In other words, this system is “nag screen 2.0” that can be distributed on a disc and restored with an unlock key.