Courtesy: nag.co.za

A user on NeoGAF has uncovered a patent filing by Sony for a type of in-game advertising method that interrupts gameplay to bombard you with unadulterated capitalism. The patent is called “Advertisement Scheme for use with interactive content”. Sounds marvellous, doesn’t it?

The filing is from July 2011, but it has only been uncovered today. Website Eurogamer points out that the filing is a continuation of one that Sony filed back in 2006. How it works is that you’d be playing a game which would begin to slow down prior to a warning popping up onscreen to tell you that the gameplay is about to stop. Once Kratos grinds to halt mid-disembowelment, you’ll get an advert for Coke or some other product. Once the advert has finished, you’ll be warned that gameplay is about to continue and then off you go. The patent mentions a feature to rewind gameplay in case the interrupt completely throws your progress/concentration/emersion/joy/fun.

Boo! I think it’s possibly the worst idea on the planet, unless of course the game is free. I can’t see many people being thrilled with paying R600 for a PlayStation game only to have to sit through adverts every 30 minutes. If it’s a free, PlayStation Network sort of game with an option to pay for no adverts, then this might be a great way to get new games during those times when you’re broke and living on noodles and potatoes.

I think that paying for a game and then having to view adverts would be absolutely despicable and I wouldn't stand for it. But, if it something equivalent to some of the free games on the Android market then I am perfectly happy with it. Getting free games is always great and if Sony finds a way to make money through that revenue stream, then not only will they make money through advertising revenue, but they would also draw in some new customers. Of course it could also work the other way around.

Like hundreds of thousands of patents that actually do exist, this is not going to be implemented.

Sony is just ensuring that no one can use the idea. Sony has tons of other patents that have, and never will, see the light of day. This is one of them.

At worst, you will see this implemented in demos, and thinking about it now: free games makes sense too.

Either way, ads in those are hardly industry breaking by any means. But, like I said: it is not going to happen.

I agree with Sincross.

The patent was filed in 2006 lol, also under that kind of "slow the game down to a grinding halt" kind of thing no-one would play for shyte lol.

I'm not against advertising in games honestly if it can score the developers some cash go for it but do it like various games have been doing up till now and build it into the environment.

Like billboards, can's, posts etc...

That i don't see anything wrong with, even if you paid for game.

But yeah pop up advertising can stick to free games

Pop-up advertising would go hand in hand with always on internet. Like Diablo 3, that keeps telling me to buy Diablo 3 on all it's websites.
In game billboards and stuff are great for advertising. It actually helps me to get into the gme world. So creative and artistic ways to advertise, is great in my books.
Any invasive advertising will get hacked to bits by the community...

Also: "Try our new male enhancement pillules!" for REAL marines!

Criterion had in game advertising billboards and Branded vans / vehicles that Brands could for ingame advertising in Burnout Paradise - which was actually cool to see! I Honestly dont mind it as long as its relevant to the game you playing - Even when Devil may Cry 2 had the Characters wearing Diesel clothes, I thought that was a pretty novel Idea!

as long as it isnt pop up like on andriod games etc which the solution is to be offline :/ suckers

I'm pretty sure metal gear 4 had that energy drink thing going and didn't resistance 3 also have something?

I also quite like it, as tea says if it's relevant i really wouldn't want to see coke popping up in a Final Fantasy. Mind you i would probably keel over with laughter if they whipped that out as the potions hahaha

Woofels said ...

I'm pretty sure metal gear 4 had that energy drink thing going and didn't resistance 3 also have something?

I also quite like it, as tea says if it's relevant i really wouldn't want to see coke popping up in a Final Fantasy. Mind you i would probably keel over with laughter if they whipped that out as the potions hahaha

I recall a Coke billboard in one of the NFS games on the PS2.

^^ Alan Wake also had Duracell(?) batteries. Not a very good advert IMHO, those batteries didn't last for S***!

@ woofels



I know its not in game but still they did do something together!!

Hahaha damn what an awesome advert, they need more like that