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Microsoft's Online Spectator Patent

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the watch-and-learn dept.

Next Generation reports on Microsoft's 5000th patent: an online spectator mode for competitive games. From the article: "The system will allow online viewers who are not involved in actual gameplay to view game highlights and instant replays, as well as let them control camera perspectives. A statement from Microsoft also describes 'A portal such as a Web site to access spectator-related services such as schedules and information on multiple games and events as well as the number of spectators and participants in each. The portal allows the spectator to find the most popular games to watch, preview the action, and then connect to the desired game or event.'"

3 of 118 comments (clear)

  1. XBox port of HLTV? by christian.elliott · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I see no one at Microsoft has every played CounterStrike. This idea just sounds like an XBox port of HLTV. If this patent is only for the XBox version of this system, power to them, they should have control over this. However, if this is an attempt to get the PC Patent for this same idea, they may have another thing coming.

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  2. Done before? by evilNomad · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Hm, I could have sworn that HLTV, done by Valve does just this, and that it has been out for the past 5 years.. And not only that, then i also happen to run the biggest portal for HLTV doing exactly what Microsoft wants their portal to do.. I wonder if my 4 year old portal is now patented, and i should be paying royalties to Microsoft.. Good thing I live in Europe I guess :-)

  3. Re:Yep, another live one by freshman_a · · Score: 5, Informative


    Yeah, because nobody has ever done that before *cough* Unreal Tournament *cough*.

    True, but Quake 1 had it even before that. Way before 2001, which was when MS filed for this patent.

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    Slackware