Sony has filed an interesting patent for software that will cause game demos to lose functionality over time. Siliconera reported:
Sony appears to be working on a new kind of video game demo. A patent filed by SCEA details a system that gives users a full or nearly complete game to play with, but slowly removes features until you buy it.
The software has customizable triggers that disable features after a set number of plays or lapsed play time. Let’s see some theoretical examples of how this could work.
The good news is that gamers will get try more of a game before they make a purchasing decision. The bad news is that the practice is a little evil. The first thing that I thought was, “Great! Sony is following the crack-cocaine model. The first time is free!” Seriously though, depending on how it’s used, the software could be fantastic or it could piss of millions of gamers. I can’t wait to see it in practice.
What do you think? It this kind of software smart of evil? Clever or devious?
Very interesting. I'm not sure what I think of it though.
I don't like data that removes itself from MY machine.
Honestly, I have never bought a game because the demo is good enough. Who the hell does that?
… well, if it’s just a demo, can’t you just delete it from your HD and download it again?
Of course, I’m sure those clever, intelligent people have already thought of that.
-M
Me, for one. After playing the BFBC2 demo the first day, I got on my comp. and pre-ordered it as fast as I could. Prior to the demo, that game hadn't been on my radar at all.
The Trine demo's another example. Granted, I waited till the game went on sale, but if I hadn't experienced the gameplay first hand through the demo, I never would've bought it at all.
@Redd
I meant who plays the demo and decides that the demo is good enough to warrant not buying the full version?
Person 1 "You buying Trine?"
Person 2 "Nope, got the demo and i keep replaying it"
Person 1 "ok, but don't you want to do the whole game?"
Person 2 "the demo is good enough for me"
Haha…okay I'm officially an idiot! I keep misinterpreting you, and I apologize for that.
@Redd
Nah, it's me being in a rush sometimes and not analyzing my post before I submit.
@CamiKitten I don't think anything would actually be deleted. Certain functionality would just be inaccessible. Does that make a difference to you?
Yeah so not digging this. I don’t want files being deleted from my machine unless I’m doing it myself.
@Ray – after giving it some thought, i don't think it would actually bother me too much. i only play a demo rarely, and when i do i only give it 1-2 playthrus before i'm done. but i still think it's a pretty sneaky tactic.
@Ray
I don't see how this software will help them though. A demo is just that..a demo. What's the harm in it? Demos are already gimped in functionality.
If Sony's stance is that they will have larger demos than they do currently…then I say the hell with that. It already takes too long (for some of us) to pull down that stuff from PSN.
What you don't realize it that this would make game demo take up more room. Your downloading the hole game and not just a portion of it. Does anyone really want a 9GB-50GB game demo?
If indeed you got the full game and it just removed features over time, my friend might be able to beat whole games that way. The rate he blasts through games is almost impossible for me to comprehend (e.g. I almost played Assassin’s Creed 2 from its midnight launch non stop (aside from sleep) until I beat it 100% almost a week later, he beat it 100% the second or third day it was out….).