Sony Patents Demo Erosion

[Rob]

Sony recently filed for a patent that erodes the features of a demo as you play it until they reduce to a point where you have no choice but to buy the game.

IE. - You are playing a demo for a game like Borderlands. Each hour that you play your HP or damage is reduced by a percentage gradually until you are no longer able to make any meaningful progress in the game.

I don't personally like the idea of demo erosion. When I try the demo of a game I expect to be able to use all the features included in the full release within the level or time limit. I suppose that IF the erosion doesn't start until I have had enough time to enjoy the games features then I wouldn't be too bothered by it. I'm nervous that the erosion dial will be turned up too much and I won't get enough time to make a good assessment of the demo.

[MyNameDidntFit]

I can't say I'm bothered... but I can say that I can't see any point whatsoever to this...

[Lance]

It won't affect me much, since I don't play demos. But I can't see this getting a warm reception either. Pointless it is.

And they've patented it? Like it's going to be the next big thing of gaming and they want the whole cake? That's a laugh...

[Konrad]

I don't get it... Why is this even a "thing"?

Different games call for different demos, most games don't even do them. Why anyone would bother filing a patent over something like this, I don't know.

[MyNameDidntFit]

People like to patent things. Such is the way of life.

[Rob]

Patents = Money !

I could see how this wouldn't seem like a big deal. I'm a little surprised that you guys don't rock the demos a little more. I try a demo or beta for most games before I buy.

[Konrad]

Most games I'm interested in don't have trials. It's only recently that public Betas started getting popular, I feel like there was a huge gap in time when developers stopped releasing Demos and Trials for games.

[Jason]

I occasionally download a demo if it's for a game I'm really on the fence about (eg God of War III), but nine times out of ten, rather than use 2GB of my 40GB monthly download allowance, I've generally got a good idea of whether I want the game or not, and the reviews will usually nail that down for me.
I agree with Konners though, I feel like there was a really long gap where demos were unfashionable - right before the 'public beta' took off.

[Rob]

40GB monthly download allowance
I'm really sorry that you have to put up with that shit. I sometimes forget how f***** up some ISP's are in other countries. That's basically limiting your access to information and really shouldn't be allowed.

[Jason]

Yeah, it's a pain in the ass - we're allowed to go over it, but then prices start to get ridiculous - something like £10 for every GB over 40 or something. There are plenty of ISPs who don't have that limit, but the choice of ISP isn't mine, unfortunately. Such is the handicap of still living at home at 25 (due to an incredibly long and convuluted set of circumstances I won't go into. :p) - it's not where I want to be, and it sure as hell isn't where I planned to be, but it's where I am, and it's a roof over my head, so I guess it could be worse.

[MyNameDidntFit]

Doesn't your ISP have the option of shaping? Down here in Ausland virtually every ISP has the option of paying per MB/GB over your quota or simply having your speeds cut back to 256k once you go over (shaping).

[Jason]

Nah, we get throttling as well. My 1.5MB connection slows to about 15kb/s between the peak usage hours of 6pm-10pm - fortunately this appears to be sufficient for online play, but it makes downloading updates a pain in the arse. :-/

[MyNameDidntFit]

Ouch. I pity ye, sir. And, coming from an Australian, that means a lot in regards to internet.