Säga vad man vill om Microsoft, men på latsidan ligger de inte. Företaget har nämligen säkrat sitt femtusende patent (alltså nummer 5000 i ordningen), eller världens 6 999 083:e patent om man så vill! Det blir inte sämre med tanke på att patentet har med Xbox Live att göra.
Den nya teknologin går, kort och gott, ut på att spelare kommer att kunna se på ett TV-spel på samma sätt som vi idag kan göra med en vanlig sportsändning på TV. Detta är den nya teknologin, beskriven av Microsoft själva:
The Technology
The milestone patent relates to a host of technologies, some of which are currently included in portions of Xbox Live®, for creating a unique spectator experience similar to the viewing of a sporting event broadcast. Here is what the technology can do:
• A system for generating a spectator experience in real time from a game or event, such as highlights, instant replays, and unique views of the action within a game to enhance the experience for spectators rather than players. Using viewing controls, a spectator can control one or more virtual cameras to select desired viewpoints or an automated camera control to frame the action and perform specific cuts to best convey the story and action. The game and in turn the spectator experience may vary as a function of participant interactions and other contributions to the game based on real-time spectator activity.
• A portal such as a Web site to access spectator-related services such as schedules and information on multiple games and events as well as the number of spectators and participants in each. The portal allows the spectator to find the most popular games to watch, preview the action, and then connect to the desired game or event.
Spännande säger vi på Gamereactor, och hoppas att denna funktion blir tillgänglig mycket snart.