After initially being denied, Konami has been granted a European Patent for a system that identifies which player in a soccer game has the ball, and to which nearest player the ball can be passed.
Sources: Out-Law.com | Gamasutra | The Register

By: Dale Dietrich
After initially being denied, Konami has been granted a European Patent for a system that identifies which player in a soccer game has the ball, and to which nearest player the ball can be passed.
Sources: Out-Law.com | Gamasutra | The Register