Activision’s patented method to drive microtransactions with matchmaking

Enlarge / Want to have a cool sniper rifle like your Call of Duty partner? Authorize a charge of $ 4.99 RIGHT NOW! (credit: Activision) In a US patent filed in 2015 and approved yesterday, Activision outlines an online matchmaking system designed to “drive microtransactions in multiplayer video games” and “influence game-related purchases.” Patent #9789406, […]

Apple patented (and made) a pizza box to rid your life of soggy crust

The tech-food crossover hall of fame is filled with concepts that are more stunt than solution. Consider KFC’s phone-charging take out box or its ‘tray typer‘ for texting with greasy fingers, or even the recent Guardians of the Galaxy 2 soundtrack embedded in a Doritos chip bag. Gimmicks, all. But unbeknownst to everyone, there was […]