Poll: Sony patents system that pauses games to display adds

[Max_A_Buck]

"Sony Computer Entertainment America has filed a patent for a system that pauses games forcibly in order to display advertisements.

The system was invented by Gary M. Zalewski and filed last July. Simply put, the system pauses the game (after a brief warning), plays an ad then resumes the game again.

The patent text describes the system as ?a method for use in advertising includes initiating playing of interactive content [game], suspending playing go the interactive content, displaying an advertisement, and resuming playing of the interactive content.?

Adding insult to injury, the system is not confined to single player games only. A small print in the patent filing states that a central server can synchronize ad-display during multiplayer matches so that all players would have their doses of forced-ads at the same moment."

http://megagames.com/news/sony-patents-system-pauses-games-display-ads

Depending on it's use, sounds like a deal breaker for me. Of course, if it were only used to subsidize free content then it might be alright. Thoughts?

 

[Antari]

That would be a definate deal breaker for me. Even if they paid me to take the system and games, I still wouldn't use it.

 

[Grygor]

It's a continuation of a patent first filed in 2006. If Sony really intended to use this tech, they'd be doing it already. I fail to see the need to panic.

 

[Keoul]

Jeez I'd much rather they put product placement in the game like coca cola in dead island instead of regular soda than forcibly making us watch ads mid game.
Gary M.Zakewski is an idiot and Sony is even dumber for going along with this. They're gunna fail from all this bad publicity, first sueing the hacker then the PSN hack and now this.

 

[Max_A_Buck]

@Grygor: I'm not in a panic. I just saw it and thought it was interesting. Thought it might be worth some discussion.

I can see it being useful if done right. That's the trick, though. Doing it right.

 

[DoPo]

As in the other thread, I'm obliged to ask - you know that Sony would most likely want to use that as a leverage against other companies, right? That would be a major reason for patents, most probably this one, as well. And depending on how sketchy the patent is, it could include loading screens. So if anybody had anything considered "advertising" in their loading screens, Sony could sue them for money.

 

[veloper]

I can think of something better/much less terrible in only half a second.

Don't interrupt the game; instead show those stupid adds when the player puts the game on pause voluntarily and during loading screens.

 

[Max_A_Buck]

@DoPo: That would be quite smart on their part.

@veloper: Yeah, doing that unobtrusively would be alright.

 

[DoPo]

@DoPo: That would be quite smart on their part.

More like "normal". It's what all big companies do - they get a big stack of patents, so they can hit other people with it on the head. HP, Apple, Microsoft - all of them. And there are actually companies that just get patents and then sue other companies for money - that's pretty much their business model. They are called "patent trolls". Yes, that is the actual term for them. Like that guy who sued Microsoft and Apple and stuff because their websites infringed his patent. And the patent was (IIRC) something stupid and trivial like scrolling text.

 

[Tallim]

@DoPo: That would be quite smart on their part.

More like "normal". It's what all big companies do - they get a big stack of patents, so they can hit other people with it on the head. HP, Apple, Microsoft - all of them. And there are actually companies that just get patents and then sue other companies for money - that's pretty much their business model. They are called "patent trolls". Yes, that is the actual term for them. Like that guy who sued Microsoft and Apple and stuff because their websites infringed his patent. And the patent was (IIRC) something stupid and trivial like scrolling text.

Ugh yeah Patent Trolls are just horrendous and judges really need to start cracking some heads over it more often.

In unrelated news I'm just waiting on my patent for "Suing other companies using vague and obvious patents for fun and profit."

 

[DoPo]

@DoPo: That would be quite smart on their part.

More like "normal". It's what all big companies do - they get a big stack of patents, so they can hit other people with it on the head. HP, Apple, Microsoft - all of them. And there are actually companies that just get patents and then sue other companies for money - that's pretty much their business model. They are called "patent trolls". Yes, that is the actual term for them. Like that guy who sued Microsoft and Apple and stuff because their websites infringed his patent. And the patent was (IIRC) something stupid and trivial like scrolling text.

Ugh yeah Patent Trolls are just horrendous and judges really need to start cracking some heads over it more often.

In unrelated news I'm just waiting on my patent for "Suing other companies using vague and obvious patents for fun and profit."

So it has come to this. We will need to meet in court, my good sir, for I have a patent on getting patents and you're infringing all over it.

 

[Tallim]

@DoPo: That would be quite smart on their part.

More like "normal". It's what all big companies do - they get a big stack of patents, so they can hit other people with it on the head. HP, Apple, Microsoft - all of them. And there are actually companies that just get patents and then sue other companies for money - that's pretty much their business model. They are called "patent trolls". Yes, that is the actual term for them. Like that guy who sued Microsoft and Apple and stuff because their websites infringed his patent. And the patent was (IIRC) something stupid and trivial like scrolling text.

Ugh yeah Patent Trolls are just horrendous and judges really need to start cracking some heads over it more often.

In unrelated news I'm just waiting on my patent for "Suing other companies using vague and obvious patents for fun and profit."

So it has come to this. We will need to meet in court, my good sir, for I have a patent on getting patents and you're infringing all over it.

That just proves that the system works! What a happy day for everyone.

 

[Muspelheim]

Perhaps it's a fine indication that perhaps it's time to give the whole patent-system a fairly merciless pruning by now, before someone patents ocular organs and have us all pay royalty to not have them reposessed or something.

I mean, the main beneficiaries of that system tend to drone on and on about their beloved free market and whatnot, don't they?

 

[piinyouri]

Dear Sony,

Do it.
I need one more reason to not buy the next gen of consoles.

Sincerely,
A previous console owner

 

[VincentX3]

What?
Seriously....WHAT!?

Do I really need to see a FUCKING AD of coca-cola or whatever in the middle of the game!?
It could be an epic moment! (Ending,Dramatic Scene,etc) Ruined by a fucking AD!

Really? How do they expect people to react?
I'm not going to be "oh gee! Good thing this ad came up! I didn't even know there was a coca-cola drink!"

Just..morons..

 

[Adam Jensen_v1legacy]

It is absolutely a deal breaker. Ads belong on TV, not on a gaming system that I bought and video games that I bought. What? They don't have enough money already? Think about it. Someone actually proposed this idea and they all said "well that sounds like a good idea".

Don't interrupt the game; instead show those stupid adds when the player puts the game on pause voluntarily and during loading screens.

Not even then. Square Enix actually tried that with Deus Ex. Thankfully PC gamers modded it out immediately. No ads in video games. I pay for games not for fuckin' ads.

 

[teqrevisited]

I would avoid it like the plague. It's bad enough that tv stations broadcast adverts as well as taking money for the base license and service charges.

At least PC games will always have people come up with solutions.

 

[Terminate421]

"Okay, all I gotta do is hit that jet thats been pounding us with airstrikes with a Javelin, anyone got a SOFLAM?"
"Yeah, Tagging....TAGGED!"
"Locking on...and...-"
"Try this new dress from sears *30 second commercial*"
*After commercial*
"Damn commercial, anyone got a SOF-"
*Killed by the jet*

I may be on Xbox, but if this happened ever, I quit gaming all together (Except Pokemon)

 

[Easton Dark]

If they give me free games and stuff, bring on the ads.

 

[ThePS1Fan]

If PSN stays free, and is improved because of it I'd be cool with this. PlayStation Plus users would most likely have ads disabled like PubClub here on The Escapist, or at least they should. I'm fine with ads up until they start beaming them into my dreams.