Microsoft Files Patents for Virtual Game Controller

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Microsoft Files Patents for Virtual Game Controller

Posted by Unknown on Wednesday July 18, 2012 @05:11AM from the metro-version-of-catan-draws-ire dept.

SmartAboutThings writes "A newly discovered patent shows that Microsoft might be interested in developing virtual controllers for tablets and smartphones. A while ago, it didn't quite make sense why Microsoft would need such a piece of technology, but with the announcement of their Surface tablet, it suddenly takes on a new perspective." I think a few board games (Catan comes to mind) would be pretty playable on a moderately-sized, shared touch surface, with everyone's phone acting as their hand.

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Price Comparison by Anonymous Coward · 2012-07-18 05:18 · Score: 3, Interesting

So instead of buying a $40 board game, one needs a $1000 Surface-compatible computer and 2-6 smartphones.
1. Re:Price Comparison by i+kan+reed · 2012-07-18 05:21 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  The only board game Microsoft understands in Monopoly.
2. Re:Price Comparison by i+kan+reed · 2012-07-18 05:34 · Score: 3, Funny
  
  There were only 8 words in my post. Is it so much to ask to read ALL of them?
"Newly discovered patent" by i+kan+reed · 2012-07-18 05:19 · Score: 5, Insightful

That phrase right there communicates the state of the patent system. Finding out which patents exist take more research and effort than inventing the patentable items.
1. Re:"Newly discovered patent" by CanHasDIY · 2012-07-18 06:03 · Score: 3, Funny
  
  TrollFail -
  
  You forgot to mention MyCleanPC
  
  --
  An enigma, wrapped in a riddle, shrouded in bacon and cheese
The Good Thing About Software Patents... by bistromath007 · 2012-07-18 05:21 · Score: 2

...is how easy it is to find prior art. I've played at least three games on my crappy old droidpad that had controllers.
1. Re:The Good Thing About Software Patents... by WillAffleckUW · 2012-07-18 05:36 · Score: 2
  
  You assume that just because there is prior art that the Patent Office cares about that.
  
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  -- Tigger warning: This post may contain tiggers! --
2. Re:The Good Thing About Software Patents... by CheshireDragon · 2012-07-18 05:52 · Score: 2
  
  maybe not the patent office, but the courts sure will.
  
  When it all gets that far, IF it gets that far.
  
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  "That's right...I said it."
3. Re:The Good Thing About Software Patents... by gl4ss · 2012-07-18 08:00 · Score: 2
  
  ..so it's an eyetoy ? or like a bunch of other?
  iirc saw this used in some mobile phone control concept sw too.
  
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  world was created 5 seconds before this post as it is.
SmartGlass by AVIDJockey · 2012-07-18 05:22 · Score: 3, Interesting

This seem like it's a logical extension/feature of their SmartGlass intiative.
Will phones be the end of consoles? by cpu6502 · 2012-07-18 05:23 · Score: 2

I hope not. I'd rather play on a full screen TV with my surround sound system than squint at a tiny portalble or phone. But then I also prefer a full-sized desktop and a CD player (versus laptop or lossy MP3), and I know I'm in the minority. Things appear to be trending towards everything on a small laptop or phone device.

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My AC stalker: " I personally agree with your posts most of the time, but that won't keep me from modding you troll"
1. Re:Will phones be the end of consoles? by CheshireDragon · 2012-07-18 06:01 · Score: 2
  
  Count me in. I am not a huge console fan, if a console fan at all. The last one I got was a Wii and I hardly play it. No PS3 and no XBox.
  I do game on a PC though and I have it hooked up to a large HDTV w/surround sound and a powered sub that causes my neighbors to piss their pants a block away. I have laptops too, but I prefer those for business practical uses and not gaming. I would rather build a comp to my specs than have it go to some device that is pre-built with specs I don't like. WON'T ANYONE THINK ABOUT US GAMERS?!
  
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  "That's right...I said it."
Combine by BeerCur · 2012-07-18 05:30 · Score: 2

So basically it's a combination of a virtual keyboard, like IPad, and a touch pad, like a laptop.

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It's not what your Sig can do for you, but what you can do for your for your Sig.
board games w/ cell phone support? It's been done. by WillAdams · 2012-07-18 05:32 · Score: 2

Look at Scrabble:
http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/04/scrabble-for-the-ipad-stir-in-some-iphones-and-its-the-best-1/
I would like to see more alternatives though.
William

--
Sphinx of black quartz, judge my vow.
This is a bit too much by zrbyte · 2012-07-18 05:34 · Score: 4, Insightful

I'm all for gadgets, but why not just take the Catan board from the shelf and play?
1. Re:This is a bit too much by jader3rd · 2012-07-18 05:51 · Score: 3, Interesting
  
  why not just take the Catan board from the shelf and play?
  Game setup and tear down time. Also, I remember when I was a kid there was a while when all of my siblings liked playing Monopoly on our home computer (I forget if it was win 3.1 or win 98). Anyway, in between all of the hectic things which went on in the house there were multiple saved games on the computer. Each file name had the names of the players in the title. When we'd find time to play, we'd find the file name with the kids that could play, and resume the game where it last left off. As players would rotate in and out, we'd just switch the file to the latest game that had those players.
2. Re:This is a bit too much by Quiet_Desperation · 2012-07-18 05:59 · Score: 2
  
  My family always played Scrabble with 11 letters each instead of 7, or maybe 12- however many filled up the tile holders. You got a faster moving game, better words and scores. Much more fun.
3. Re:This is a bit too much by CanHasDIY · 2012-07-18 06:07 · Score: 2
  
  I'm all for gadgets, but why not just take the Catan board from the shelf and play?
  What about playing in a car? It seems to me that virtual pieces being displayed on a LCD screen would be less prone to jostling then the real board.
  Fair enough, although I myself have always been a fan of 'road-trip bingo'
  
  Or what about on a camping trip where compactness is a desired feature? A single tablet could hold alot more board games then you'd normally have room for in the car.
  Board games (most of them, anyway) don't require constant power/charging. IMO, if you're in constant need of an electric source, you're not really camping.
  
  --
  An enigma, wrapped in a riddle, shrouded in bacon and cheese
the computer is the perfect gamemaster by gl4ss · 2012-07-18 08:50 · Score: 2

the computer is the perfect gamemaster, it knows the rules and wont let you make moves that aren't in the rules.
the more complex the board game is the bigger of a deal that really is.

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world was created 5 seconds before this post as it is.