Sony Patents Gaming Ads That Will Pause Gameplay

[hairlesswookiee]

Hopefully this isn't really going to happen because if it does, and they put these ads to pop up during gameplay I will officially be done with anything Sony ever makes again.

Designed to stop and start game play while advert shows

Sony
Sony Computer Entertainment
Sony Computer Entertainment is a Japanese videogame company specialising in a variety of areas in the...

www.playstation.com

Sony Computer Entertainment America
www.us.playstation.com
Sony Computer Entertainment America has filed a patent for in-game advertising that pauses play.

Invented by Gary M Zalewski and filed last July, the patented system is designed to suspend "playing of the interactive content," display an advert and then resume the game again. Players will get a warning that their game is about to stop.
The specific text of the patent describes it as such:

"A method for use in advertising includes initiating playing of interactive content, suspending playing go the interactive content, displaying an advertisement, and resuming playing of the interactive content."

In the small print it adds that this advert could be initiated by a server signal to make sure all players see it simultaneously, which should prevent multiplayer fans getting hit with an inappropriate advert and being disadvantaged. It also notes that the same advert could be played on multiple client devices.

While its easy to predict the outcry Sony would see if it introduced the system into triple-A titles, the scheme could work as part of a free-to-play business model.

https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2012-05-25-sony-patents-ads-that-can-pause-games

 

[Snake Plissken]

These internet ads are getting beyond irritating.

If we got to put up with this bull____, no more on disc DLC.

 

[snappahead]

If they release free games with this, then no problem. If they tried this on games I'm suppose to pay for, I don't think so.

 

[BadMoon]

I think Sony knows they are in a bit of trouble. Their Vita hopes aren't looking good judging from the reviews I'm seeing of their Resistance system seller.

 

[karamazov80]

Yeah, that would be the end of my support for any games/systems that implemented this.

 

[intothevoid]

Yeah, that would be the end of my support for any games/systems that implemented this.

 

[karamazov80]

I've thought for many years that theatrical movies would be moving more in this direction, considering you get gaudy product placement and long commercials prior to the beginning of the films. Surprised they haven't done so yet.

 

[Shropt]

How can they patent this? Doesn't every free app on my phone already do this?

But for games, this would be cool for a free game but I'd never pay for a game that does this.

 

[sprig0701]

It's saying about everyone seeing it simultaneously in MP. The PS3's MP is free, so get ready for a break in MP action to have advertisements crammed down your throats.

 

[FQRizzo]

How can they patent this? Doesn't every free app on my phone already do this?

But for games, this would be cool for a free game but I'd never pay for a game that does this.

That's it...I'm patenting the question mark. NOBODY USE IT WITHOUT MY APPROVAL!!

 

[THX-182]

I certainly will never buy a game that stops and plays a commercial several times. If they want to advertise KFC and Pepsi on a billboard in a racing game or in a GTA game, fine. But do not stop my game play and make me watch a commercial.

 

[Shropt]

?©

Too late! I win!

 

[jimmie_dimmick]

I do not see this ever being implemented into games. This will be the nail in the coffin for Sony if they do.

 

[darthviper107]

If they did it in games that we've paid full price for, then I would never buy their games. And I'm a person who usually doesn't do anything when crap happens

 

[plasmid303]

Lots of patents are filed that don't see the light of day. I'm not worried about this.

 

[THX-182]

I don't think any of us are worried. I think we are all just dumbfounded that anyone would actually think this is a good idea and try to get it implemented.

 

[plasmid303]

Yeah, from our perspective, but I can see how marketing firms and Sony execs sat down during a brainstorm and thought this would be a good idea. I mean, whatever brings in revenue, it's probably considered. Most vids on the internet have ads in the interstices, it's not far-fetched that one day, games would have them too. That said, I don't see it happening in the console space. Maybe for Facebook or web games.

Also, some people mentioned this being a reasonable implementation in free-to-play games. I wouldn't mind watching an intermittent ad for a free game I liked playing.

 

[jimmie_dimmick]

Just a thought but...

Could be Sony's way of saying "buy a subscription to enjoy your game ad free...". Their way of saying PSN is still free - you just need to suffer through ads in order to use the free service.

 

[wofford29]

Sony just needs to quit dicking around with different ways of how they can make money off of an online service with ____ like this and the plus system and come to terms with the fact they just need to adopt the Live model and be over with it.

 

[jimmie_dimmick]

^^ Agreed! I was anti pay service which is why my 360 collects dust, however; PSN would run a lot smoother if this were the case.