Sony patents interactive film idea

By Robert Purchese Published 4 November, 2009

Throw tomatoes at Hollywood greats.

Sony America has patented a bizarre idea that would allow you to hurl virtual rotten tomatoes at actors while watching films on your television, a bit like Mystery Science Theater 3000.

Accompanying example illustrations show viewers kicking characters' bottoms and squashing spiders climbing up characters' backs, earning points depending on their success.

"For example, avatars displayed to a user, in response to user gestures in the real world - e.g. in response to manipulation of a game controller or other such expedient - may toss tomatoes that stick to the actor’s face or bounce off the actor's face and roll along a table that appears in the movie or television show," reads another example in the patent, dug-up by Siliconera.

Simply, Sony overlays the original film image so effects can be applied without interfering with what's on the Blu-ray disc or hard-drive.

Sony's PS3 video-on-demand service launches here this month, offering the likes of Harry Potter, Terminator and Batman for download.

Picture of Robert.

About Robert Purchese

Bertie is Eurogamer's Senior Staff Writer. When he's not hunting down news stories he's often found playing with his kids or gabbling about fantasy games and strange online worlds.

Read more articles from Robert by visiting the Robert Purchese archive page.

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Comments (20) Latest comment 2 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Xerx3s #1 2 years ago

    Yay, CDI all over again. Next thing you know, FMV is the next hot thing again.
    Edited by 2 at 04/11/09 @ 15:52

  • the_dudefather #2 2 years ago

    in before 'interactive movie? but isn't MGS4 out? and what about heavy rain LOLOLOLOLPOWAOFTEHCELLLOLOL'

    once again, patent drawing are amusing to look at, as is the concept of throwing coke cans at peope

  • Vice.Destroyer #3 2 years ago

    Winslet doesn't deserve that treatment. She is a great actress, with terrible taste in scripts. But Russell Crowe? He deserves the hammer treatment.

  • Redeye #4 2 years ago

    Can't we just throw rotten tomatoes at Sony execs instead?

  • Shadders #5 2 years ago

    Let's not beat around the bush here, that looks proper rubbish.

  • freakzilla #6 2 years ago

    lolololololololololol.... need I say any more?

  • Markusdragon #7 2 years ago

    "a bit like Mystery Science Theater 3000."
    No, not really...

  • tancredo #8 2 years ago

    1. Sony's boss watching porno
    2. Wife asks next morning why they have sticky goo on the TV screen
    3. Sony's boss replies he was trying a new interactive game with his PS3

  • rotmm #9 2 years ago

    Haters - you can't halt the fast pace of innovation.

  • Mkwone #10 2 years ago

    You know i can honestly say i've never thought 'i'm enjoying this film, but what it needs is more tomatos'.

    Surley an interactive movie is where you determine the outcome in the movie, not throw imaginary objects at the cast which has no affect to whats happenening.

    Stupid idea

  • Retroid #11 2 years ago

    That sounds bloody awful.

  • XdarXideX #12 2 years ago

    What an awesome way to ruin yours and others' viewing experiences! There's nothing I like more than watching a movie and being distracted by "virtual spiders" that need squishing. Like others have said, it's not like MST3K then really.

    I'm glad Sony patented this, because I'd hate for it to reach the Xbox360's Party video viewing.

  • darkmorgado #13 2 years ago

    @MKwone

    You know i can honestly say i've never thought 'i'm enjoying this film, but what it needs is more tomatos'

    I can. Attack of the Killer Tomatoes!

    Ataaaaack of the killer tomaaaaaaaatoes..... *sings*

  • Bigglesworth #14 2 years ago

    in before 'interactive movie? but isn't MGS4 out? and what about heavy rain LOLOLOLOLPOWAOFTEHCELLLOLOL'

    Ironic.

  • nuanimal #15 2 years ago

    Lol @tancredo... You beat me to it!

    Interactive porno would be a big seller. Hahahahaha. But I would be looking forward to the future if Sony takes this further... something like Trama Centre style mini-games in the Saving Private Ryan intro




  • JamieR #16 2 years ago

    This sounds rubbish to me.

  • kipper #17 2 years ago

    If Sony is searching for Blu-Ray's 'killer app', then this is the idea that's furthest from it.

    I will be sticking to upscaled DVDs for the forseeable future, thankyou.

  • BritishBlue1 #18 2 years ago

    Most patents don't see the light of day, I see this going the same way. I guess Sony are just covering their bases, albiet their...um, tomato throwing bases. More likely they're preparing for other forms of blu-ray interactivity.

  • GamesConnoisseur #19 2 years ago

    More likely and common sense explanation for me is as a company heavily involved with movies, they would want to patent tomato throwing and interactive interruptions.

    SO that no one else can do it! If they don't develop it no skin off their nose!!

    Movies are meant to be viewed in enjoyment not with any kind of distractions or visual noises!

  • mega7ech #20 2 years ago

    If they can come up with something which means I can give Megan Fox's arse a good virtual squeeze then Im sold....