Microsoft Studios Patents A Camera Control For 3rd Person Game

SKOAR! "This is what we managed to rummage through the mind boggling number of patents floating across the world wide web. Microsoft it seems has patented a new method of camera control which will be utilized to offer a smoother degree of control and aiming for a third person/first person action game."

[-MD-]

oic.

[Nice]

Although Its been pegged as a FPS any possibility you control multiple members?

[28121986]

They are not gonna screw the franchise up...oops I spoke too soon they already have started milking it with Two Halo's in 09 and one in 010

[iNFAMOUZ1]

how is that milking it?
ive seen plenty of other franchises do the same or worse!
what a dumb remark
stop being so jealous of halo

i dont understand all the hate for halo?
its such an awesome experience
its the only game that got me into fps back in the 2000's
and its honestly the only franchise i still play after 7-8 years.

[Natsu X FairyTail]

yeah.

Games to come

Mario games ; Mario @ WinterGames,Super Mario Bros Remake Wii , Mario Galaxy 2

MGS games ; Metal Gear Risen ,Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker

Final Fantasy ; final fantasy XIII , XIII VERSUS , XIII Agito , FF14, Bahamut

Everybody Milks stuff that makes money. Dont be mad @ halo! you sound Corny

[Rainstorm81]

i called it last week when Sony patent showed up. MS always responds someway.

These have never happened;
3 MGS in 2 years
3 FF in 2 years (lucky for one in 5 years)

Mario and Halo is milked for the same reason there are no other franchises on their systems as popular(both are mascots as well).

Halo 1 was great when it released in 2001 to me the game is outdated now even Halo 3. I give credit to Halo for making FPS possible on console but the genre has evolved past Halo in my opinion. Even COD4 outperformed Halo 3 on XBL until W@W released and split the COD fanbase.

There is Halo hate for the same reason people hate on Killzone 2, Fanboy irrationality

[ZombieNinjaPanda]

There is Halo hate, because of a few reasons.

1) Everyone uses the sales card.
2) Halo 3 is considered to be an awesome game and it is, but so many flaws are over looked by everyone.
3) Some people just are fanboys.

Halo games are great games, just they're given too much credit sometimes.

[StanLee]

Ah, I see the douchebag fanboys who don't read articles have already arrived.

[JokesOnYou]

All of those are very poor reasons to hate a game...which basicly boils down to envy and jealousy...for example I myself think th whole FF franchise is overated, admittedly I'm not a huge fan of jrpg's but I have sat down with a few friends over the years and played several FF and other jrpg's, I actually thought Lost Oddysey was OK but FF just never kept my attention YET I don't feel the need to rant about how much I hate it in countless FF threads....for the most part I totally just ignore FF news altogether....is it overated?..maybe, maybe not...but in truth millions think its the greatest...In reality nothing does so well for so long without being very good at what it does, so its a little known concept called personal preference. Halo is as good as they say.

JOY

[Jaces]

haha, this just goes to show how quickly the gaming industry is moving.

Good times to be a gamer indeed.

[DelbertGrady]

Just too much win.

[DragonWarrior_4]

I dont want to use Natal for a FPS. I want to use a controller.

[GameOn]

Im not sure this is even about Natal.

[Mike134nl]

agree with game on
nothing about natal or motion controll

[Poopface the 2nd]

Im sure they will offer both controls for any type of FPS. I cant see any 360 FPS taht only uses motions controls. I hate motion controls for FPS as well, and would not use it if it was anything like COD 5 on the wii(the only one I tried).

[Qui-Gon Jim]

It doesn't mention Natal, but this would be perfect for all of the motion control systems. The "explorer" camera mode would be used with the controller), then combat could use the motion controls for aiming. This solves the problem of moving around in game while having to be facing the TV screen, but also incorporates the precision and/or immersiveness of the motion control systems. Or it could just be how the camera is going to work for Halo (is it ODST that's rumored to be sandbox?).

[phosphor112]

I didn't know you can patent such things? Techniques!? That's like patenting certain camera angle...whaaat!?

[ChozenWoan]

If MS decides it's best to patent everything short of breathing then the gaming industry is doomed. Patents last so long that if this patent holds up, no other dev will be able to use a camera system even remotely close to theirs without paying a licensing fee. This includes not only Sony, but also third party devs and indys as well.

If ID had patented DOOM's camera system, the entire FPS genre wouldn't even exist except for what ID produced. They would literally own half of the current gaming industry. Imagine if ID had to be paid royalties for every FPS that has ever been on the market to date, they would become as rich as MS overnight.

This patenting trend, if continued, is going to become the biggest bane to innovation in gaming. Hopefully, the legal system wakes up and starts to think more critically of how patents are approved and enforced before it becomes illegal to plug in a console without having to pay some third party...
... hmmm I might have to see if the idea of an on/off switch on consoles is actually patented

[JokesOnYou]

In lamens terms the general rule is you can't patent just anything, its *suppose to be a brand "new idea" or "new technology" or "new invention" that hasn't been done BEFORE, the problem is its very complex when it comes to deciding whether or not a patent is justified based on the merits of the product and UNfortunately all too often people are successfully able to patent a broad but vague "concept " which causes alot of "OMG They Copied My Idea Lawsuits"= BS....in many cases the original patent was *unfocused and never actually used for anything practical or product.= lol, just some guy/group/business who had *future plans but never had a solid product developed because they had NO IDEA HOW to use this "idea" correctly, then years later some SMARTER guy/group company releases a product that works and is NOT based on their idea but is of a similiar concept, they see $$$ signs and of course file a lawsuit claiming thats exactly how their idea works, yet they never even crafted a legitimate product/pratical use for this "idea"....if its indeed a great product/idea most of the time its just easier to settle and go ahead with the product since you know it will make a fortune anyway.

I don't think this is the case with micro's patent in this situation because its very descriptive(hit the link theres alot more info) and it suggests that micro has in fact "developed" a "new technique" for 3rd person camera control.(No matter how detail or descriptive this could translate to a very small difference in control or maybe something really ground breaking, you just can't tell from words until you see how it works) Either way the KEY DIFFERENCE between some of those "BS patents" and this one, is that there its obviously more than just a "concept" that will go unrealized, it was most likely already developed and is designed to be in a actual product(game) that they themselves will at least participate in, in other words its NOT some dead idea/patent only on paper waiting for some other company to use it first just so they can say "OMG you stole my idea." On the positive side patents are great because they do protect those who have a legitimate new idea/product/technique...other wise the "unknown inventor" would never be "known" because big companys would reproduce and sell his creation long before he could WITHOUT a patent and big companys like say Goodyear would never invest in the R&D of "Run Flat" tires if theres nothing to stop Firestone from "copying" the idea without at least paying Goodyear to do so.

In reality Patents actually promote innovation.

JOY

[RealityCheck]

I have nothing against trying to incorporate new controls in existing game genre and even make it the default... just as long as they offer an option to map to just a regular controller. Choice is good.

[KilZoneGeneralStrife]

Between PS3 and 360 motion control,both rock.and both have greater potential than the Wiis.I want msft to use it in lots of 1st party titles.Im very intrigued to see motion control in a game,using a console with serious muscle power to flex.the wii. . .I suppose its great for the kids and gf/wives etc. Now the hardcore motion control era begins.

[DragonWarrior_4]

Actually the Wii motion control is already tried and proven. You cant go wrong with it and motion plus with its 1:1 motion. How can Natal and Sony's motion control be better if they aren't even out yet bud? Troll much?

[D4RkNIKON]

I agree with you, the wii just feels last gen.. PS3 and 360 can show what motion control this gen is made of.

[Leathersoup]

Wow... The douchebaggery that's allowed in today's world is retarded....
Imagine if someone had patented the method of telling stories from the third person. How many works of literature would have been prevented?

[D4RkNIKON]

LMFAO great point. Bubbles to you

[Poopface the 2nd]

just means they cant do it the same way. Who knows if its worth patenting, but stuff like this happens everyday in the real world. Glad you think its evil when microsoft does it.

[OC_MurphysLaw]

I think we all can clearly see that some kind of hand input device would be needed for games that simply put would "need" triggers and button inputs. I am hopefull that MS will launch Natal with such a device. Maybe similar in size the the buzz-in controllers from Scene-it games.

[Grown Folks Talk]

It's talking about the in-game camera that every game has. From the fixed camera of previous MGS games, to the overhead following cam of games like Hunter or Marvel Alliance, to the side scrolling Contra cam. Not a camera based control scheme.

[Natsu X FairyTail]

if you read the article they say that the Camera stuff will be used for

'In the "explorer" viewpoint, the camera is farther removed from the character to provide a wider angle of view of the battle terrain as the character moves about''

I dont think this will Interfere with the FPS part of Halo if its Halo we're talking about.

[Grandreaper9999]

I really hope they limit the natal functions to ONLY camera movement, such as head turning to control the camera. Maybe menu navigation could be done as well.

[Avto]

What is this? What are they patenting here? I mean quite a few modern games and some from previous gen have a camera system when you move it freely with the right stick and when you equip a gun or something, camera get's closer to the character to help you aim.

[Gamer_Politics]

This will be perfect for Fps titles....

[D4RkNIKON]

You dont even know what it is and your wallet is already open! I bet this is straight out of Johny Chung Lee's notebook. Which is a good thing for msft..

[Xi]

The concept seems to imply a sense of cinematic flare by having the camera move in a non linear fashion. That doesn't bold well for use in a game like a pure tps game because of the need for precise aim and understanding of the environment. Maybe more of a TPS MMO?

[ZOMBIEMAN1]

can MS even do that hasn't Sony patent something like this or doesn't this seem more like Sony's wand thing for PS3 it uses a camera and a controller for any game even TPS & FPS i think this can't be right how can MS patent something that Sony has already a patent i think this rumor is false . correct me if i'm wrong and no fanboy reply

[X_GAMER_X]

I don't think Microsoft need you silly people to learn them how to run business.
Or at least they don't need you or your silly opinion in how they treat their biggest franchises.quit day dreaming and wake up. you just just silly fanboys who's stocked here and dosent have any other hobby. go play ur console and get a real life..
learning Microsoft how they work.,hahah..silly children