Sony Patents Split-Screen Multiplayer That Keeps Screens Whole

[superbatranger]

Sony, you have impressed me. I applaud your efforts. But, I'm curious. What if someone who was not wearing the glasses walked in the room? What would they see?

 

[Niccolo]

Bah. Just because Sony patented it doesn't mean anything will come of it.

Think, everyone! What have Microsoft and Sony been doing? They have been releasing multiplayer games - all of which require a second XBOX or PS3.

This is just so that nobody else (Ie: Nintendo, the only company to produce same-room multiplayer anymore) can get a leg up on them and make even more money.

that's even worse, patent squatting.

(though Sony is kinda trying to BE the "new wii" with their Move peripheral)

Eh. Move and Kinect will collapse flat on their faces, since the only people who'd buy one will already have bought a Wii.

I guess we all just have to come to terms with the fact that Sony and Microsoft accidentally fired anyone with even a lick of ingenuity and creativity.

 

[Lovelocke]

I don't know if its been brought up before, but how will they handle separate audio streams? Hint: You'll have to buy headphones too :/ Sony doesn't understand people want to just enjoy themselves when they flip on a device, not go to the full/split screen, or the 3D tube, or the HDTV tube, etc.

 

[veloper]

cute
only,

it's actually CHEAPER to buy 2 TVs, 2 PS3s and the game twice, than to buy ONE 3D TV.
Playing with 2 sets will also save you from a massive headache.

 

[hyperdrachen]

Well I.... It's nice to occasionally be reminded why some people get payed so much more than I do. Like when it's a good reason, like this. Yeah just add headphones to the glasses and have the third channel for each viewer be the optical signal for the sound for each viewer. Each palyer then gets 3d sound as well. Though games with AAA graphics would likely require more powerful hardware for the extra render task. Keep in mind, normal game, scene is rendered once, make it 3d, and it's rendered twice, split the screen(even with this method) and your rendering your scene 4 times. Pile on top of that processing audio info from two perspectives, each having a Left and Right ear to process. It certainly will go a long way to improving the 3d televisions value proposition, as well as muting some of the hate for the glasses. Still I think at that point I'd just buy a headmounted display. They can be had for 300 bucks or so and support stereoscopic 3d.

None the less I'll give credit where it's due. Though it still saddens me that you can patent ideas like this at thier concept form. This leads to silly lawsuites.

 

[cairocat]

I'm impressed at how marketing as created a society where currency is wasted on complex designs that only benefit to stop someone from screen peaking...

Yeah, you could just say 'money' but that would kill your sense of somehow removed criticism regarding the same society you live in. You are just as much human as any of us bro.

 

[Miumaru]

Or go to a different room. If you can buy a 3D tv, you have other TVs. Ofcourse, for the gaming part, finally Sony actually is trying to advance 3D somewhat. But alas, this relies on those glasses Sony is bound to. But its better than nothing.

 

[PatrickXD]

Finaly we can be rid of the temptation of screenwatching! It's a technological revolution! It's a miracle! Its... Its £2000!

 

[manaman]

Well this seems interesting, but then again alot of things seem interesting, like a tiger eating a deer...but that doesnt help that the tiger can turn on you at any second. What happens if while your playing, the 3d effects go wonky or something, and your screens switch...

P.S I dont have anything against 3d, because i do love the idea of 3d t.v, but its not addressing my main issue with 3d t.vs....i do not like wearing glasses, because they are uncomfortable, and very annoying to wear

And what happens if your sweater suddenly turns inside out? It strange that what you are worried about is such a remote possibility, and it doesn't help make it less strange that even if it did happen its more of an inconvenience then anything major.

 

[NickCaligo42]

That... is pretty goddamned cool. I'm still not buying one of these expensive monstrosities, but that's a really legitimately useful thing that could enhance couch multiplayer by leaps and bounds. Forget screen-peaking, I get more upset by limited field of view, reduced HUD, and unnatural aspect ratios. Assuming this actually works, this is a pretty decent work-around.

 

[eatenbyagrue]

I was sold at "never having to watch Glee ever again"

 

[Aeshi]

Now they just need to work out a way to do that for sound and they might have the single greatest thing since sliced bread.