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Submitted via IRC for TheMightyBuzzard
Sony has filed a patent which proposes the use of blockchain technology as a way to supplement DRM (digital rights management) in PS4 games. Right now, DRM on PS4 games is handled by third-party operators, but it seems like Sony wants to take matters into their own hands.
[...]There are a few implications here for PlayStation owners. For one, the future of being able to play a game on your friend’s consoles with your account (something which is currently allowed by Sony) is uncertain. Since blockchain authentication is more secure, and since ownership is repeatedly verified along the blockchain, there’s a chance only the purchasing user will be able to play games or consume other digital media on their device. There’s also the question of whether a user’s console will need to run the DRM process itself, and if so, whether any power will be taken up by this process.
Because everything's better with blockchain!
Source: https://techraptor.net/content/sony-files-patent-for-blockchain-based-drm-on-games
(Score: 2, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday May 06 2018, @12:24PM (4 children)
I am not a gamer and do not see the draw that untold millions do when it comes to gaming. Fortunately for everyone I am not the arbiter of what does or does not get created, built and/or distributed.
From my understanding gaming is a mix of entertainment, escapism and competition. It provides the ability to indulge in these activities with the convenience of not having to leave your home. Because gaming is an "instant on" activity it can be used as a short respite from the daily grid, or as an hours long departure from the pressures of life.
For me a Sunday afternoon of watching football satisfies my needs for entertainment, escapism and competition. Throughout the week I may read the sports pages or visit sports related websites to get my short respite from the daily grind.
Scheduling my weekends around a football schedule may seem odd to gamers who can play anytime they want. And I can understand that. My football friends think getting together to watch a game, either at home or at the stadium, is more social than gamers sitting alone and playing against people they may or may not know from just about anywhere in the world. But the gamers I know contest that, and for good reason. The social interaction and bonding may be different while gaming, but it is certainly significant in their online communities.
The costs of gaming, with consoles and games, are more than watching football on TV. Unless we have friends over and buy pizza and beer and make our nine layer taco dip and and and. Or if we grill up burgers and hotdogs and steaks. The cost of a game ticket can get ridiculous, not to mention the $7 hotdogs and $12 beers. So I guess one is more expensive than the other, but which one depends on your level of participation.
So let gamers game, and let sports fans watch their sport of choice. The important thing is we are letting off steam so we don't feel the need to blast shortsighted individuals who try to reduce things they don't understand to trivialities.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday May 06 2018, @06:54PM
Nothing to add, just "well said!"
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday May 07 2018, @12:47AM (1 child)
The problem isn't that people like playing games. The problem is that these people tolerate and pay for the companies who make these proprietary games and devices to abuse them. This means that companies have no incentive to not be abusive, and so the abuses become more and more widespread as time goes on. Why would this ever change when the foolish addicts keep coming back?
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday May 07 2018, @01:17AM
Just like $1,500 PSLs, $180 jerseys, $40 parking, $12 beers and $7 hotdogs. If we keep paying it the NFL teams will keep raising prices.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday May 08 2018, @01:04PM
Like the others, you're not getting it. Your market collective makes life difficult for those who disagree. Capitalism is communist. There is no regard for the individual. Disenfranchise them, and all the infringement of copyright/patent privileges becomes quite justifiable, not that it isn't anyway.