A recent Hit Box licensing program was announced, and gamers are a bit confused and concerned.
The creators of the football game controillery Hit Box are launching a licensing program, claiming ownership over the patent.
But what does this mean, and how can a company claim to make holes in a box?
Hit Box Licensing Program and How It Works
It was announced by the company that made Hit Box recently that they are launching a licensing program.
Very exciting stuff for the average gamer, I know, but stick with me. In the world of fighting games, there is no one perfect controller. Yes, most pro players use some sort of lever-based controller, but even those do not conform to the same mechanisms.
Some have diamond-shaped legs, others are square, etc. Also, some freaks turn up with PS1 controller pads. It’s a wet world out there.
But what Hit Box aims to do with this learning program is effectively claim the right to the patent and IP of Hit Box.
This program aims to give other manufacturers the right to use their patented designs. This allows them to use their designs, which will be divided into three tiers: red, black, and gold.
But the overall reaction from gamers online has been less than positive, to say the least. Many have rightfully pointed out the confusion about what exactly has been included in the patent.
For those unaware, a Hit Box is a controller that forgoes levers and dpads and is all buttons. Much like a keyboard layout, it is just circular buttons positioned for the hands.
There are different layouts and uses, and one even uses a lever system. But the main design is essentially just buttons and nothing else. So how exactly does a company claim the rights to drill holes in boxes and install buttons?
Concerns
Many gamers believe that this is just a way for the company to attempt to enforce their patent over what is a very normal design. They are not the only Hit Box controller makers, and this licensing move could see them claim lawsuits against other smaller manufacturers and bigger ones alike.
This is a business move, as they get to see less overall competition from competitors making their own versions. But from a moral perspective, it seems a bit off to claim the rights to something as simple as a Hit Box controller.
Also, there is some confusion as to what exactly their patent is and what they are entitled to sue. The name and IP brand, of course, are simple enough reasons, but what exactly makes a Hit Box a Hit Box trademark?
Many believe that the money put towards licensing could have just gone towards producing new designs.
The company on Twitter does mention a few times that this move was so they could legally design a PS5 compatible controller for the market.
But whether or not that is just a screen for something more obvious, we will not know now.
You can see the patents on their website as pending. Whether or not this was a smart move has yet to be seen. And honestly, whether they get the patent or not is up in the air.
