Sega received 1 granted patent in Monetization this month.
The patent covers a system that adjusts in-game rewards from advertisements based on how long a player views the ad before closing it. This approach treats dwell time as a measure of player attention, with longer viewing periods resulting in higher payouts within the game.
SEGA's single Monetization patent replaces the flat reward model common in mobile games with a variable payout tied to how long a player leaves an ad on screen after the close button appears. The system measures the interval between the moment the skip control becomes visible and when the player actually taps it, treating that delay as a signal of genuine engagement. Players who let an ad run longer receive more generous in-game currency or items than those who dismiss it immediately. The approach addresses a perceived fairness gap where attentive viewers previously earned the same reward as players who closed ads at the first opportunity, all without requiring eye-tracking cameras or other specialized sensors beyond basic touch input.
All data sourced from USPTO patent filings. Google Patents may take several weeks to index recent publications. If a link is unavailable, search for the patent number at USPTO Patent Public Search.