Another Xbox 2 patent?

**Epsilon-Zero** · 01-12-2005

Another Xbox 2 Patent?
By: César A. Berardini - "Cesar"
Jan. 11th, 2005 10:03 am

Last week, we brought you the first info on a Microsoft patent that reveals some of the technologies that will presumably power the Xbox successor. Today, we bring you a new patent application that was filed in July, 2004 and published last week, in which Microsoft is patenting a “system, method, and data storage medium for sharing data between video games”

Back to the N64 Era? No!

The invention relates to “video game cartridges or other storage media” that will be used mostly, not to share data between different games, but for subsequent versions of a game.

Microsoft is patenting with this new invention a “data sharing system”, which includes a “control unit” and a “data storage medium”.

Later on, the document explains that one alternative is to have the control unit being a videogame console and the data storage media being the game cartridges. To further understand the purpose of this new invention it is worth reading the Background section:

The content of video games can be quite vast. Some video game programs require the player to traverse a maze, while others require the player to find hidden objects to, for example, fight against evil or help save a princess. Once the player reaches the end of the game or feels he or she has sufficiently completed the game, the player often loses interest in the game. In response, manufacturers often create multiple versions of a popular game offering, for example, new quests for the character of that game. However, even though the general essence of the game is retained in subsequent versions, the original game remains essentially useless to the player. Furthermore, each of the subsequent games in the sequence is separate and distinct, providing no interaction between the games but rather only a common theme.

Therefore, there is a need for a system that prolongs the useful life of video games, and thus video game cartridges or other storage media, by maintaining a player's interest in the game by the sharing of data between separate games.

This basically means that what Microsoft is trying to address with this new invention is a way to share data between different games within a franchise. So, when playing a game’s sequel you could be asked to play a previous title in the series in order to unlock hidden items such as levels, weapons or characters.

But the invention is not just intended to go backwards, playing old games in a franchise. The patent also covers the possible scenario in which a first game will use the info of a second game in a series.

As exemplified above, the data sharing system of the present invention not only provides for the sharing of information from one program with another stored on the same or a separate data storage medium, but also provides for the interaction between the programs. Although a first game program may provide hints about how to solve a problem or get through a challenging situation as in the above example, the complexity of the first game program is increased by requiring the interaction with another game program which may in turn trigger new problems or challenges to be resolved. As a result, by providing for the interaction between video game programs, the present invention enhances a player's interest in the video games and, thus in turn, prolongs the useful playing life of the video games.

Obviously, in most cases the games will be released at different times and the interaction between titles of a franchise could even expand across different generations.

Right now, the big questions in our mind are; could there already be Xbox games whose code will be used by sequels and vice versa?

Why are game cartridges mentioned so many times? Could these game cartridges be the hardware that M-Systems will provide for the Xbox successor? Is the Xbox 2 going to have a removable storage medium instead of a fixed HDD? xPod anyone?

We’ll have more on Microsoft’s moves as they develop.

Source

**True Poet** · 01-12-2005

So, in essence Microsoft has patented something which has already been done in many games? Silent Hill 2+3 had this connection. Licenses and money can be unlocked in GT4 by transfering saved information from GT Prologue. Heck, GT2 did the same with GT1. There must be something else to this.

**SessDMC** · 01-12-2005

lmao if that many game did it on the ps1 and ps2, then why the hell are they patenting somthing thats already done... my guess is that there up to their copying tricks again...

**siren** · 01-12-2005

This is ever so slightly different.

What it would allow for is a simple mechanism for developers to add content to a previous game in the serious to better tie it into the newly released title.

It would be an advancement on downloadable content, but tying 2 or more games together.

As an example, when Halo2 came out, they could have allow you to load up the first game and let you play certain parts of levels as the arbiter fighting the attacking humans. They could have added a couple more vehicles. Allowed the user to change the Ghost and Warthog to control like they do in the 2nd game. Added weapons from the 2nd game into the first so you could use them in multiplayer maps. Add dual weilding to the first.

All this enabled for any game through the XNA set of tools. Thus making it relatively easy for developers to impliment in case their game is successful and they end up making a sequal.

**SessDMC** · 01-12-2005

Ahh so basicly its a simple tool to be able to have data already stored on the memory, to beuseing in another game, or sequil... is it a part of the software innovation?

**Cody** · 01-12-2005

It would also be possible to make mods, which could be a good and bad thing if Microsoft isnt carefull it could ruin online play due to how many hacks people could create

**True Poet** · 01-12-2005

Interesting. Then this would ensure increased longevity for the games we buy, but why on earth create a new delivery service when this could be handled through downloading? It seems that neither Microsoft nor Sony is keen on the idea of harddrives anymore. This would presumably done with be some sort of flash device, or as the article states, cartridge.

**SessDMC** · 01-12-2005

Flash is cheeper and more durable, also size is a good thing to remember, but when will something like a 40GB flash drive come out... well it isnt going to be soon...

**True Poet** · 01-12-2005

Well, you don't actually need 40 GB for a console - unless you want to load up the games, but I really don't see the point in that. 5 GB should be more than enough.

**gaming ultima** · 01-19-2005

how is flash cheaper???
oh and you can get a 40GB flash drive, for a good few thousand $'s

**SessDMC** · 01-19-2005

Well Flash is cheeper cuz there not as many componants in it, and there less expensive to make, and the only thing that ive seen that is way pass 40gb (i think it could be a hard drive lol but it plugs in via usb) is Sonys gigavault, that can store 80gb but its priced at £99 in the UK (last time i checked)

**siren** · 01-19-2005

Just because it is USB does not mean it is flash.

Sony's GigaVault is a External Hard Disk Hot Swap Enclosure.

**SessDMC** · 01-19-2005

Are you questioning my knowlage siren?
I know about USB and Flash, and i wasnt so sure if Sonys gigavault was an external hard drive that why i said in that post

(i think it could be a hard drive lol but it plugs in via usb)

am not Flamein u Siren i just want u to know that i do know alot about computers (not more than u cuz u work for M$)

**siren** · 01-19-2005

Flash is extremely expensive right now. Even at 1gb for about 100$'s or 1gb for about 75$'s through distribution, it is still way to much for any kind of practical application within a dedicated device in mass quanities.

On a side note, my MS work does not by default imply that I know more about computers than anyone else around here. Trust me when I say that not everyone at MS can even use a computer properly to begin with.

**SessDMC** · 01-19-2005

It costed me £14.99 for a 128MB storage pen... its cheeper than most... but Flash is coming down in price around the uk (im not sure about any ware else)

But lets get back on topic, because its about MS having a patent and not Flash memory, but ive heard the X box 2 will have flash would you think that is true siren?

**siren** · 01-19-2005

Yes and no.

It will have flash type memory associated with it in 2 ways, neither of which is the way that most people assume that it will.

**PeanutButterMunky** · 01-20-2005

It will have flash type memory associated with it in 2 ways, neither of which is the way that most people assume that it will.

Yes, it always seems to be that way, doesn't it siren?

**muchuukuri** · 02-24-2005

Ok, so flash won't be used for Saving games or as a hard drive......

Maybe, the flash has to do with the game interconnectivity? Put in Halo 2... puts the duel weapons engine or whatever it is into the flash then you pop in Halo 1?

Maybe, an intemediary from DVD to flash to RAM... because of transfer speeds? Seems a bit extravagent though.

Maybe, for internet storing system info? Buddy lists, internet cache, X2 setup, patches, and online setup setting? Wait.. that's a HDD -_-

I dunno... but, honestly, it sounds kinda dumb...I mean you want to use some concept from the new game to plug in to the old one to make it fresh, right? Well, why not just play the new game, afterall you did have to pay for it in order to even do the backwards patch, no? More over, the additions become a tricky subject... duel weapons in Halo 1 could make the game too easy, for instance. Its not that I can't see it working, I just see it more as a novelty feature. You know, I mean this would be cool for say DOA... you know, allow DOA3 costume changes by sending info from DOAU or volleyball to it... but, again, still, this sounds like nothing more than patches... something I've, personally, never been fond of...but, again, that's me.

P.S. Working at M$ doesn't mean you know about computers... in my experience I'd say that most programmers don't know jack about computers, but they can code, and that's what matters.

**Cody** · 03-04-2005

Like I said before this is a good idea but it will make it really easy to mod the next version of Xbox. I wouldnt be surprised to see people take advantage of it

**siren** · 03-04-2005

I am going to love watching people try to mod the next xbox, it will almost be like a sport without a visible finish line.

**Epsilon-Zero** · 03-04-2005

i wonder how action replay is going to make cheats for x2.
The current version for xbox already feels dumbed down because you have to use game saves. Even the special kit microsoft eventualy let them use to make hacked save files is very limited.

**muchuukuri** · 03-04-2005

See, THAT worries me... I'm worried the systems will just be TOO difficult to mod, and I won't be able to get region free out of my system... I'll pay for the games, no problem... I like having my factory sealed and all that...it's just... I want REGION FREE!!!!! I highly doubt M$ or Sony, would provide it though... and that bothers me... honestly, if it wasn't for region coding I'd prolly own a thousand dollars more of Japanese games, right now... but I don't because of it... this next-gen, I'm not dealing with that. I don't want have to deal with politics just so I can play a game... its not right.

**siren** · 03-04-2005

Region coding is an issue larger than you would imagine. Example, MS didn't want to put region coding into the Xbox. They were basically forced to by the various territories out there.

Countries each have their own laws concerning virtual violence. They do not want people to be able to easy bypass those laws by just buying from overseas.

**muchuukuri** · 03-04-2005

I disagree, because that's like saying there's region encoding to keep the Japanese from buy American ...ahem...stuff, because it isn't censored. And that IS what they do. So to me that's just a dumb, excuse... not on you're part Siren, on legislature to pass that law... I only see it as a way to make more money. Well, what about grey markets? Ever hear of import companies?? Same thing, in essence... the world economies pretty much sell at the same price across the world, as well, and unless you're talking a failing economy versus a booming economy the price of shipping usually far outweighs the benefits of buy in one country because the rate exchange is favorable. More over, economists have PROVED that the negatives managed by region coding can be managed through proper pricing and buisness planning.

Besides, that doesn't mean M$ or Sony couldn't institute a parental control option locking out regions or whatever. If governments are telling companies that hey movies like Ong-bak is too violent for 25 years old in England... well, there's something wrong with the government... then again, what else is new. The point I'm trying to make is violence, is a PALTRY reason at best. The consumer is supposed to decide that, not the government. They can keep region coding, just make it so I can switch back and forth, they sell region free dvd players (LEGALLY) now a days anyways, why not game systems. I honestly see it being just about the money. I just want to be able to play games I want to play, regardless of the country.

**siren** · 03-04-2005

You are speaking from a solely American perspective though, when dealing with foreign markets you can't take a stance like that. If you do they will just make it illegal for you to sell your system in their country. Simple as that.

If MS/Sony didn't put in region coding, most of Asia, Europe, and possibly even australia would not let them sell their console in their countries.

Then next argument usually is, well then why does the US's console have region coding in it. This is because the game makers themselves do not want you to import their games. Squaresoft wants to be able to tweak the game for the US market. They don't want a huge portion of the public able to easily get their new game over here until they have it ready for the market. They build huge marketing around regional releases. They want to be able to build up hype for their planned launches ect. So now you have the publishers also wanting region coding for some solid business reasons.