Microsoft patents in-game guidance system
- November 24, 2009 11:11 AM PST
A global database of user-submitted tips and tricks may soon be available on XBox Live.
Patent papers filed by Microsoft Director of Games Platform Strategy Andre Vrignaud suggest the corporation has been developing an in-game help system for the XBox 360 console.
Much like the Super Guide feature built into New Super Mario Bros. Wii, the untitled XBox user guide system is intended to help frustrated players overcome challenges by offering a list of user-submitted tips and guides.
The service demands a connection to XBox Live (no word yet on whether Gold membership is a requirement) and offers helpful players the opportunity to submit text guides, audio commentary and even edit video and screenshots with a digital stylus (a la John Madden and his trusty Telestrator tablet.) The ambitious system is expected to be organized hierarchically via user reviews and a tagging system, allowing players to filter the database by specific enemies, levels or game modes. Developers are expected to have the option of submitting their own tips and guides, which will be flagged as premium content.
On paper the proposed system seems ambitious, offering contextual guidance for all supported games.
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Comments [10]
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- Nov 24 2009 at 12:17:43:PM PST
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Good idea MS. I would never need it bc challenge is one of many reasons I'm a gamer, but millions of people could benefit from this system.
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So...it's like opening up a browser in a new window on a PC and reading a walkthrough?
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This is pretty hot. And you can do it while in game! This is great for games that you have to collect stuff like ODST's audio files and MW2's intel laptops.
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umm, wait how can you patent hints from other people, if game companys and people who write it up and stick that information out on other websites how could they patent it in game I see a law suit happening later.
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MaulerX wrote:
This is pretty hot. And you can do it while in game! This is great for games that you have to collect stuff like ODST's audio files and MW2's intel laptops.
Exactly. I looked up my last two audio files online because I got tired of driving my mongoose around looking for them. And this guidance system will not be mandatory so if you aren't down with it you won't have to use it.
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Nintendo has something similar already, but this sounds much better and seems it will have more available. I thought Nintendo was lame to add what they did but for me personally I only use guides for collectibles and having an option to look them up like this is awesome!!
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numba1gamer wrote:
Nintendo has something similar already, but this sounds much better and seems it will have more available. I thought Nintendo was lame to add what they did but for me personally I only use guides for collectibles and having an option to look them up like this is awesome!!
LMAO!!!
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ZanonX wrote:
umm, wait how can you patent hints from other people, if game companys and people who write it up and stick that information out on other websites how could they patent it in game I see a law suit happening later.
They're not patenting the hints. They're patenting the in-game service that allows you to pause the game and bring up a menu of tips/tricks.
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