How to be a Patent Troll

I actually want to talk about my experience at Comic-Con, but there's something I wanna bring up.  It seems the developers of Minecraft are being sued.  The patent in question?  Patent number 6,857,067, which prevents unauthorized access to data stored on an electronic device.

But they aren't the only ones involved


This morning, Notch tweeted that he awakened and discovered he'd been sued for patent infringement. And while he expressed confidence that this was nothing more than a money-grab, he later railed against software patents, calling them "evil."

Mojang isn't the only target of plaintiff Uniloc, which also filed claims yesterday against Halfbrick, the makers of Fruit Ninja and Jetpack Joyride; Gameloft, an enormous publisher of mobile titles; Square Enix, the publishers of Final Fantasy and Hitman; Laminar Research, creators of the X-Plane flight simulator, and Electronic Arts, who brought you Need for Speed: The Run.

And you obviously know where this is filed at.


The fact these claims also were filed in East Texas, one of the friendliest federal districts for patent troll claims, also indicates this is a big celebrity shakedown. The patent in question was issued in 2005. It is for "a system and method ... for preventing unauthorized access to electronic data stored on an electronic device."

Ahh yes.  Good ol Texas.  Remember in 2004 when American Video Graphics of Marshall, Texas went to sue video game makers over a 3D Graphics patent?


The massive programme of legal action against alleged infringers of a series of patents covering graphics and other computing techniques has been extended to console hardware vendors Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo.

The news follows yesterday's revelation that 18 PC hardware companies had also been targeted, alongside 12 games software publishers.

 

The console makers are accused of infringing two patents, 5,109,520 and 4,734,690. The latter essentially covers representing a dynamic 3D environment and objects on a 2D display, and is the same patent the games publishers have been alleged to have violated. The former is entitled 'Image frame buffer access speedup by providing multiple buffer controllers each containing command FIFO buffers', and is cited in the action against the PC makers.

In each case, the plaintiff is seeking a jury trial, and wants it the defendants to cough up legal costs, damages and both pre- and post-judgement interest on the damages.
With patent applications stretching right back to the mid-1980s, why has it taken so long for key hardware vendors and games software publishers to be sued for alleged infringement of a series of patents covering 3D graphics? Because the current owner of the intellectual property in question only took possession on 16 June 2004.

The current owner is one American Video Graphics, of Marshall, Texas. It's the company on whose behalf Dallas-based law firm McKool Smith - the name most associated with the current litigation - has filed complaints with the District Court for Eastern Texas against HP, Dell, IBM, Gateway, Acer, Sony, Toshiba, MPC, Systemax, Fujitsu, Micro Electronics, Matsushita, Averatec, Polywell, Twinhead, Sharp, Uniwill and JVC.
Games publishers on the receiving end of a writ include Electronic Arts, Take-Two, Activision, Atari, THQ, Vivendi Universal, Sega, Square Enix, Tecmo, Lucasarts, Namco and Ubisoft.

Ahh Texas.   Land of telling those Video Game lords not to mess with em, even if you had nothing to do with em.


Works Cited:
Kotaku

My Time at the Comic-Con: Part 1

Last week, San Diego once again put up the sold out San Diego Comic-Con.  And for those of you who didn't go, we have released a slew of juicy news out.

First up: Sonic and All-Stars Racing Transformed.  It has been revealed that Wreck-it Ralph, from the upcoming movie of the same name that involves a Video Game villain wanting to be a hero, will guest star in the sequel to Sonic and SEGA All-Stars Racing.  But that's not the only thing that comes out.

Wreck-It Ralph, star of the upcoming retro video game themed Disney animated movie, is in Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed, Sega has announced. 

And, conversely, Sonic makes an appearance in the film.

"Wreck-It Ralph's unique transformable vehicles and signature All-Star move will make for some of the best racing around when he lines up against other All-Stars such as Sonic, AiAi and Danica Patrick, in both single-player and multiplayer game modes," said Sega.
Wreck-It Ralph director Rich Moore added: "To have Wreck-It Ralph included in Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed is a dream come true.
"The film pays homage to the video games I loved as a kid, including Sonic the Hedgehog in a special cameo, so being able to see Wreck-It Ralph in a real video game alongside Sonic and other iconic Sega characters is unbelievably exciting for me and should be a treat for fans!"

First Danica Patrick, and now Wreck-It Ralph?  What's next, the Heavy from Team Fortress 2 for the PC version?

Also, Transformers: Fall of Cybertron.  The game will be due out next month.  But at Comic-Con was a special appearance of voice actors from the game: Peter Cullen as Optimus Prime, Gregg Berger as Grimlock and Nolan North as Cliffjumper and Bruticus


If anyone would have some insight into how the Transformers are being handled, it would be Peter Cullen, the longtime Optimus Prime voice actor. He says that in the course of the series' nearly 30 year history, Prime has remained popular with fans because of his truthworthiness.

Discussing the darker tone, Cullen says that he was confident in the booth about the lines and the role knowing the greater vision for Optimus Prime and the narrative of Fall of Cybertron. "It's like being involved in the show itself," Cullen gushed. "I was ultimately really surprised to see the finished product."

Grimlock voice actor Gregg Berger says that the appeal for his own character is the dinobot's singlemindedness, describing it as a "ready, fire, aim" mentality. "He's reactionary to whatever he hears and does," Berger explains, continuing "he's a fearsome ally to have in the cause." He says that the character is completely without a filter.

In terms of the changes between the G1 interpretation and Fall of Cybertron, Berger says that his character's grammar is perhaps a bit better than in past incarnations. Other changes, particularly in terms of Grimlock's history, Berger says all remain true to the basics of the character. He credited the game with allowing players to live the world of the Transformers instead of simply observing it.
Tieger followed up on this thread, saying that people like to play these characters because they're reflections of ourselves. Grimlock is our rage and anger, while Optimus is our basic decency.

Nolan North, playing both sides of the conflict as Cliffjumper and Decepticon Bruticus, talked about the disparity between the exuberance of the young Autobot and the weathered, battle wearniess of Bruticus. The Uncharted actor also joked that he appreciates being able use a voice that's not his own.
North also gave props to voice actor Troy Baker who plays the character Jazz in the campaign. He says the interaction between the two characters adds to the fun of the campaign, and he was happy to have the friendship that he has with Baker brought into the game. North attempted his own Jazz impression which sounds a lot like Scatman Caruthers.

As for Bruticus, he says that if Grimlock is the angry guy on the 405 Interstate, Bruticus is the one turning and saying "What are you lookin' at?" The character's gruff voice is all part of a character whow would rather bash his way through obstacles then figure things out.

Reminiscing about his G1 days, Cullen talked fondly about voicing Ironhide, while Berger talked about both Longhaul and Skyfire/Jetfire back in the 80's. With Prime, he says his favorite line for the character is "Hold on to your dreams. The future is made of dreams."

 Amazing actors they are.  This game is due out on August 21st.  But that's not the only game High Moon Studios, and Nolan North, was working on.  Introducing the Deadpool game from Marvel's Deadpool.



Better watch it Wolverine, because this has the potential of being the best game ever made.

Finally, for the 2nd year in a row, Nintendo occupies the Marriott with their Nintendo Gaming Lounge and shows off the Nintendo 3DS XL



The geek-fest that is San Diego Comic-Con has officially begun, and though most of the show will be dedicated to comic books, toys, movies and TV, video games have been steadily making their presence known over the past few years. This time around Nintendo's booth (#5135) will be largely dedicated to showing off the upcoming 3DS XL, but that's not all Nintendo has in store for San Diego.


In addition to their booth, Nintendo has planned several activities that will take place at the “Nintendo Gaming Lounge” in the San Diego Ballroom at the Marriot Marquis & Marina. Surprisingly that gaming lounge will not feature the Wii U, however, there will be loads of games to play for 3DS and the original Wii, and the best part is you don't even need a SDCC 2012 badge to get in!


Now that last line that says it won't feature Wii U, that's debateable.  Why?  Stay tuned because next post, I got a surprise.

 Works Cited:
Eurogamer
MTV Multiplayer Blog 1
MTV Multiplayer Blog 2

A very, very, late NPD May 2012

So you're wonder, why am I super late with the NPD?  Well it seems my interest in game news is starting to decline.  I seem way more interested in the situation with the economy, not to mention anticipation towards the Comic-Con coming up.

Speaking of which, I may end up qualifying for a chance to test out the Nintendo Wii U.  If I do, I'll give you my opinion on it.  Right now, let's do a quick NPD May 2012

1.) Diablo 3 (PC) Activision Blizzard
2.) Max Payne 3 (360, PS3, PC) Take-Two Interactive - 440K
3.) Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Future Soldier (360, PS3) Ubisoft - 400K
4.) Prototype 2 (360, PS3) Activision Blizzard
5.) NBA 2K12 (360, PS3, Wii, PSP, PS2, PC) Take-Two Interactive
6.) Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (360, PS3, Wii, PC) Activision Blizzard
7.) Sniper Elite V2 (360, PS3) 505 Games
8.) Battlefield 3 (360, PS3, PC) Electronic Arts
9.) Dragon's Dogma (360, PS3) Capcom - 92K
10.) Just Dance 3 (Wii, 360, PS3) Ubisoft


No matter if it requires online or not, Diablo 3 pushed ahead of the entire competition, earning number 1 on the charts.  Max Payne 3 is right behind the Lord of Destruction at number 2.  Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Future Soldier is right up there at number 3.  Not to be the only Activision Blizzard game on the list, Prototype 2 is at number 4 with NBA 2K12 at number 5 and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 at number 6.  505 Games' Sniper Elite v2 is at Number 7 and EA's Battlefield 3 is at number 8.  Rounding out the Top 10 are Dragon's Dogma and Just Dance 3.


Unfortunately, Hardware numbers aren't doing so hot lately, with the 360 pulling at 160K with the 3DS at 113.5K.  Nintendo is said to be around 285K in total hardware sales.  Which makes us wonder: is the recession finally getting to the video game makers in their worst year ever?

Will June's NPD numbers prove better when it releases later this month?  Stay tuned.