Microsoft patent filing reveals "multi-component" gaming plans

It looks like Microsoft has more than just games on Zune in store for the future, with a recent patent filing revealing the company's plans for a "multi-component gaming system" that would incorporate of an array of devices, including game consoles and handhelds. Apparently, the various devices would be connected either wired or wirelessly, with the processing capabilities and functionality of the devices "augmented" when used in combination. Some of the potential uses given include devices sharing storage space with another, devices running games stored on other devices, and handhelds "taking advantage of the console gaming device's greater processing speed." Of course, this being a patent application, there's no indication as to when any of this may actually see the light of day, nor is there any details on the "dedicated handheld gaming device" that Microsoft refers to throughout the application, though we're pretty sure what it's not.

[Via Unwired View]

[saboola @ Apr 20th 2007 2:18PM]

The real news here is that their network is going to consist of a giant ball of cotton candy.

[sentient.exe @ Apr 20th 2007 2:23PM]

That would be 100% delicious.

[Matt @ Apr 20th 2007 2:24PM]

OMG THEY STOLD THIS IDEA FROM APPLE!

[Pedro @ Apr 20th 2007 2:47PM]

"taking advantage of the console gaming device's greater processing speed."

Og man, Beowulf cluster over WiFi; bad bad bad!

[Carbonize @ Apr 20th 2007 3:04PM]

Well they've already announced plans to let 360 owners play against PC owners on certain games such as Halo so this is probably just an extension of that.

[Paperclip @ Apr 20th 2007 3:06PM]

A gaming system having variable functionality and processing performance as determined, in part, by the number of components in the system provides a synergistically enhanced gaming experience.

"I make a virtual network of devices that will somehow through stealing processing power and functionality from all the devices i can connect to, make this little device into a XBOX 1080 ELITE. Oh wait, then the others can't play, ahh well, nevermind then. Oi! Steve pass on that crack pipe, will ya."

[ryan @ Apr 20th 2007 3:06PM]

This is also supposedly one of the advantages of the cell processor. As of yet there are no other "consumer" cell products but eventually your cell, tv, pda, comp, phone, ps3, etc. would all talk together. Hey the more processing power the better.

[Paperclip @ Apr 20th 2007 3:13PM]

You are aware of the fact that the added processing power in relation to the ability to transfer processed data is slightly out of whack in the real world (as opposed to MicrosoftWorld (tm)).

[Andrew Ferguson @ Apr 20th 2007 3:34PM]

This is diggable at:

http://digg.com/gaming_news/Microsoft_s_Live_Anywhere_Patent_Reveals_Multi_Component_Zune_Gaming

if anyone wants.

[dbettes @ Apr 20th 2007 4:28PM]

I recently participated in a beta for Microsoft Live that incorporated both Xbox and PC. It was a lame beta but it showed some promise of games that run on both and can connect over any network.

[PRC @ Apr 20th 2007 8:10PM]

This was announced back in 2006. "Microsoft Live Anywhere."

[Andir3.0 @ Apr 20th 2007 8:47PM]

This looks to me like squatting. Sony is close to this kind of thing with the PSP and PS3...

[matjet @ Apr 21st 2007 6:02AM]

this is quite certainly squatting. they have seen that other companies are working on realizing this sort of thing, so bill decided to grab up as all covering patent on it all he could, before anyone else can actually finish putting distributed computing reality.

[Simon @ Apr 21st 2007 1:29PM]

Correct me if i'm wrong, but isn't the wii supposed to sport DS connectivity in the very near future?

*HMM* :P

[d i G77 @ Apr 22nd 2007 1:10PM]

How about you store your music on your 360 and can access it WiFi to update playlists etc.... Plus you're playing your arcade games saved on your 360's Hard Drive. Media player software on the zune.....