Oh Microsoft, you and your wacky patents! Hot off the heels of discovering that Microsoft has patented squad-based dynamic co-op, the Internet has also found out that Microsoft has reserved the right to produce advertising spaces that allow customers to play with mascots and characters in a sinister interactive advertisement plot. Allow Microsoft to explain ...
In one example, to advertise the movie TRANSFORMERS, an advertiser may provide the robot BUMBLEBEE, which is a popular character in the movie, as the advertiser-generated avatar. The BUMBLEBEE avatar may include functionality to "transform" between the robot and the CHEVROLET CAMARO depicted in the movie. In another example, to advertise the cereal TRIX, an advertiser may provide the TRIX RABBIT as the advertiser-generated avatar. The TRIX RABBIT avatar may include functionality to say the popular catchphrase "SILLY RABBIT, TRIX ARE FOR KIDS." In yet another example, to advertiser the ZUNE digital media player from MICROSOFT CORPORATION, an advertiser may provide an image of the ZUNE digital media player as the advertiser-generated avatar. The ZUNE digital media player avatar may include functionality to change colors, change models, and play various digital media.
Think of it as something similar to PlayStation Home, but with all the pretense of a social networking tool completely stripped out and the focus on marketing put squarely in the spotlight. These playable avatars are being dubbed "Advertars," and Microsoft suggests that players who interact with them could recieve "compensation," such as money, points or virtual pets.
Just think ... all these years of videogame development, platform research and corporate showboating, all in the name of giving us a playable rabbit that tells us Trix is for kids. Kind of sad when you think about it.
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.
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Contest:
9:00 AM on 07.22.2009
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What a cute little 324
And if it sucks, I can always ignore it.
plain and simple.
Imagine! You'll pay extra money just so you can wear their brand or slogan on say... a t-shirt.
After that it's just a matter of time before they think they can fool us into paying more for water than gasoline!
Fuck off Microshaft stop playing the broken patent game you fucking corporate whore.
"Hey Bill, hey Bill, we've just noticed that patent system is borked and that we can, with some clever wording, patent things that already exist! we can so use this to cause competition problems and to give us an unfair advantage in multiple markets!"
Bill: "What the fuck are you waiting for!? Get patenting!"
That's all I can say.
What the fuck is all the crying about? Pretty normal practise for a company which, you know, does stuff. Sometimes you guys are retards.
Seriously, i'm pretty sure everyone is about tired of your childish trolling. Shut the fuck up and understand that not everyone likes the same thing you do.
What Microsoft could do potentially, and probably why they're doing this, is to screw the little guy:
For example, Microsoft takes a little company to court over a patent infringement knowing that they legally wouldn't win, but since Microsoft has more money to lengthen out a legal dispute the small company will fold...thus Microsoft wins. But in terms of the bigger companies that can go toe to toe with Microsoft on a long legal dispute, such as Nintendo, Sony, EA, Activision, etc, Microsoft won't win those battles over these patents.
If Sony does it, they are making dumb business decisions and are out to ruin things for everyone because they are evil, and that's what evil corporations do!
Keep drinking their kool-aid, you fucks.
ugh. that's all I have to say about your type.
this is a pretty hilarious move, but in the end I don't think it matters much. at least not as much as the whole dynamic co-op thing. the only kinds of people that will really be affected by this are idiots who buy into advertising anyway. now, back to playing video games.