PS3 "entitlements"

Back in the warmer climes of July, EGM's Dan Hsu identified a Sony plan for something called "Entitlements." At the time it was assumed this would operate just like Microsoft's Achievements system - complete specific in-game tasks in an Xbox game, and you earn points used for bragging rights on Xbox Live. Some poking around by Video Game Jocks however has discovered this patent, which describes a system whereby a console would "offer an incentive to a user of a software product when this user shares the product with others, or when the user plays the product." Have a copy of Killzone 2 sitting in your closet? Sony's technology would offer points and/or "incentives" for handing the game to a friend. The patent describes this as a means of attracting buyers to future games. Is this Sony's Entitlement scheme? If so, it sounds like the company has figured out a way to make used games function as inexpensive marketing.

by MacNN Staff