Remember how, yesterday, I said that patents were the bane of creativity? Well along comes Microsoft to prove me right! The Xbox 360 platform holder has been assigned a patent giving it exclusive rights to squad-based shooters that feature a drop-in/drop-out co-op mechanics. Fortunately, this does not extend to seamless co-op across the board, but if your game is a squad-based shooter and you want to offer this kind of dynamic, then you owe Microsoft some money.
I didn't even realize you could patent specific variations of existing ideas, but that just goes to show how screwed up the patent system is. Does this mean one could also obtain individual patents for this kind of co-op within every single genre? Capcom should snap up the fighting game patent, and I'm sure Konami would like to have its own co-op stealth patent.
The patent was originally filed in 2002 but was approved last week. It was originally for the first Xbox but, as you can see, Epic Games made good use of it for Gears of War. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm off to patent masturbating after painting one's hands blue.
Jim Sterling serves as reviews editor for Destructoid.com, head of the Podtoid podcast, and produces a number of news stories, original features, one-of-a-kind videos. With his passionate argumentative style, controversial opinions, harsh delivery, and dedication to brutal honesty Sterling is a name that you can't help but recognize.
Likes
PS2, iPod Touch, Silent Hill 2, Metal Gear Solid, Dynasty Warriors 3
Meet the rest of the team
| BBcode help |
| [b]Bold text[/b] |
Bold text |
| [i]Italic text[/i] |
Italic text |
| [url]http://www.dtoid.com/[/url] |
http://www.dtoid.com |
| [url=http://www.dtoid.com/]Web link[/url] |
Web link |
|
| [img]http://www.example.com/robot.jpg[/img] |
 |
Post a comment! You can also post a photo below:
Comment with Facebook
Click connect and comment instantly!
|
Comment with Dtoid
New? SIGN UP - it takes 5 seconds
|
48 comments | showing # 1 to 48
|
Comment with Facebook
Click connect and comment instantly!
|
Comment with Dtoid
New? SIGN UP - it takes 5 seconds
|
Comments policy
Destructoid is an open discussion community. You don't need to "audition" to post a comment - just speak your mind. We respect differing opinions on the site, so have at it. Be smart, funny, insightful, clueless, or cute -- but back it up with substance. Keep your cool, keep it fun. We only ask that you act respectfully and above all: don't be a troll and ruin it for everyone else. Don't bring down gamers or we'll, you know, gently shoot you in the face and stuff you into a flaming mailbox. Each comment is your opportuntity to make this community awesomer. Is that even a word?
Avoiding the banhammer only requires common sense: spamming, trolling, racism, NSFW stuff, and other forms of sucking will not be tolerated. If anyone is griefing please report abuse. Be good. Don't suck!
Contest:
1:40 PM on 07.21.2009
| 
Co-op.™
That's it, I'm voting for the Pirate Party.™
KILL THE BRITISH FAGGOT!!
PS: I'm not american but i admit the superiority of the greatest nation of the world.
[/sarcasm]
On an unrelated note, thanks for cranking out articles Jim. You're one part of a big picture that keeps me coming back to Destructoid.
Soooo does this mean Sony can't use co-op squad stuff or can they pay like others?
Couls a loophole be just don't call it 'squad based'... whare the specifics?
Jim - before you make outrageous claims you should know what you are talking about first.
The patent system is fucked up, but it's also Microsofts best friend. Fucked up systems that go against fair competition are MS's bag, baby.
Applying mustard to a hot dog.
Putting salt on popcorn.
Putting ice in your tea (take THAT, Jim!)
Waiting on the sidewalk for a bus.
I've got more, but those should get me by until Christmas...
(ofcourse, patent office would have to issue patents in IT in a matter of weeks not years for this to work)
Right now, in IT (and to lesser, but still way to big extent in other areas) patent is permanent monopoly. Before it expires, invention is already a generation (or generations!) behind the curve, already meaningless from commercial viewpoint.
Game Informer ran a lil ditty on game patents a while back... it's surprising what mechanics have been patented. It's pretty ridic
I guarantee this patent will never hold up in court. It's the equivalent to saying that your song is protected. No one can copy a Boyz II Men (old school FTW!) song without their permission, but you can make a song with similar R&B elements that include talking about love and even similar beats because they're typical for that genre of music. This will be protected under the same law...thus, Microsoft won't be able to hold this up in court.
Since you seem to be somewhat versed in patents, do you know the answer to my question above?
Sorry for not responding earlier. I'm not a patent attorney, but I've taken enough business courses to understand patents to a certain extent and enough to know that Microsoft would most likely not win any suit they would impose on someone with this patent. The loop holes in this type of patent are just too large.
As far as the UK question, if I remember correctly, the patent is only valid in the country that the patent is registered in since each county has it's own patent laws. So a U.S. patent is only valid in the U.S. However, any half-way intelligent company, especially one as big and successful as Microsoft, will patent something in multiple countries. So if Microsoft patented something in the U.S, I'm sure they patented it in the U.K, Japan, Germany, etc, etc.
But again, don't worry about it. I'd bet my balls that Microsoft would never win a suit on this patent against a company like Ubisoft. The only question is whether Microsoft would sue a small company over a patent like this, knowing they won't win but knowing that their money to support the lawsuit is more than that of the small company who will eventually give in because they can't financially support their legal battle.
There's more ways to win in court than actually "winning" the case.