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Sony Patents Game Demos With Feature Erosion

Posted by timothy on from the annoyance-codified dept.

MojoKid writes "When a game developer releases a demo, it's typically intended to entice players into first trying and then purchasing the full version. This is the stuff of Game Design 101 for most of us, but a crack team of cutting-edge gaming researchers at Sony have applied for a patent based on a novel concept: game demos that become progressively less fun the more you play. Sony refers to this as 'feature erosion.' The idea behind this dubious concept is that gamers will become hooked on a game while it's still in demo, then squawk unhappily as features and abilities they've unlocked begin to disappear. In order to prevent this, the player ponies up for the full version. A demo or program that provides limited functionality or play time is one thing; a game that's purposefully designed to take your progress away, in an admitted attempt to get you to buy once you've been hooked, is something altogether different."

8 of 200 comments (clear)

  1. The 'Hood by bsDaemon · · Score: 4, Funny

    Don't crack dealers have prior art on this business model?

    1. Re:The 'Hood by cormander · · Score: 2, Funny

      You're making the assumption that computer games are addictive. I can stop anytime I want.

  2. This was tested recently by David+Gerard · · Score: 4, Funny

    Didn't Sony recently try just this with the PS3?

    Microsoft, of course, has done this with the Xbox 360 for a while. "Feature erosion" produces fans so dedicated, some are onto their second or third 360!

    --
    http://rocknerd.co.uk
  3. Better Yet by Rivalz · · Score: 2, Funny

    Hook up electrodes to the controllers that at the same time offer gradually increasing levels of electrocution and let us absorb nicotine through our skin. Only way to play without risk of death or any pesky side effects of severe electroshock is to buy the game. Of course that means the PS3 or PS4 will once again require more power and downgrade controllers from being wireless to wired but its the best thing for the sake of progress.

  4. Re:What's the problem? by gumbi+west · · Score: 4, Funny
    This post made me think that one really should be able to mod +1 quality car analogy.

    But then we'd need -1 bad car analogy, and -1 stupid nit pick on car analogy.

  5. Re:What's the problem? by don_combatant · · Score: 2, Funny

    I think Star Wars Galaxies was the first application of their feature erosion technology.

  6. Re:What's the problem? by couchslug · · Score: 3, Funny

    "The concept of doing this gradually over time seems, if anything, more humane."

    Feature erosion is common in marriage. One gets used to it over time...

    --
    "This post is an artistic work of fiction and falsehood. Only a fool would take anything posted here as fact."
  7. Prior art... by DevConcepts · · Score: 2, Funny

    Windows has had "Feature Erosion" since 1995...