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- A new Sony patent proposes a universal system for instantly trying gameplay segments.
- It argues that most studios no longer create game demos because they consume time and budget.
- Developers and players can easily share short game demos featuring built-in gameplay chunks like quests, levels, or races.
Game demos have been a considerable part of the gaming scene, as players can discover whether a title appeals to them. However, as the AAA gaming scene has progressed over the years, studios have started skipping them entirely. Now, Sony might be pushing for their return.
We have found a new Sony patent that discusses a universal system to simplify the game demo creation process for developers. The proposed system also wants to make it a quick and convenient option for gamers to try specific chunks of gameplay.
Gameplay elements like quests, levels, or races can be instantly deployed as demos without extra development, allowing gamers to play them via quick downloads or cloud streaming.
the activities scheme is re-purposed to provide one or more demos. In particular, a demo file is produced that typically identifies the particular game, and also one or more activities of that game that should form the demo for that game.
Why it matters: The new Sony system could inspire many AAA teams and even players to start creating bite-sized demos to attract a bigger audience.
The patent dubbed ‘VIDEOGAME APPARATUS AND METHOD’ talks about using existing game activities, a unit of gameplay, to create demos instead of developing a separate build. Developers can select any of the existing activities to include in the demo.
Sony argues that producing game demos currently takes time and resources, which deters developers from going for them entirely these days. Therefore, using the new system can be a quick way of satisfying both studios and gamers.
The patent also talks about letting users create demos out of owned games using the existing activities and sharing them with others.
However, a lot of built-in safeguards are discussed to prevent this system from being abused in any way, such as limiting how many activities can be played, time constraints, and more.
Sony has also secured many other outlandish patents, including one to support hardware-level backward compatibility features for possibly PS6 and another one to introduce virtual buttons on controllers that work with finger gestures.
Do you think the new demo creation system for games will make it easier for developers to create demos? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below, or join the discussion on the Tech4Gamers forum.
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Shameer Sarfaraz has previously worked for eXputer as a Senior News Writer for several years. Now with Tech4Gamers, he loves to devoutly keep up with the latest gaming and entertainment industries. He has a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science and years of experience reporting on games. Besides his passion for breaking news stories, Shahmeer loves spending his leisure time farming away in Stardew Valley. VGC, IGN, GameSpot, Game Rant, TheGamer, GamingBolt, The Verge, NME, Metro, Dot Esports, GameByte, Kotaku Australia, PC Gamer, and more have cited his articles.
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