Microsoft patent describes in-game advertising triggered by boss fights, loading screens, and cutscenes
TechSpot
Microsoft patent describes in-game advertising triggered by boss fights, loading screens, and cutscenes
The filing points to a possible ad-supported model for PC and console games that is less disruptive than the approaches commonly used in mobile titles.
Watching an ad would earn players another block of ad-free play time, called a “credit”
I'm sure this has been done before. stupid web clicker city builder or whatever that if you watch advert you et more in game credits.
It might not be exactly the same but surely not novel enough to be patentable, prior art. Or in this case prior twat.
USPTO changed its rules in 2013; prior art only counts if it was patented first. This is why Nintendo has been trying to patent stuff other companies are doing that is similar to their games (eg PalWorld).
Part of me wishes Nintendo was doing this to lose on purpose so there is precedent to not use this against them in the future, but I’ve become far too pessimistic for a “good-guy Nintendo” arc…