• QuietCupcake [any, they/them]@hexbear.netEnglish
    17·
    19 hours ago

    I remember someone (probably here) saying that the Shadow of Mordor/War “Nemesis System” could have become a widespread gaming system similar to how the unique mechanics of Dark Souls games became an entire genre and now there are all kinds of games that use the system and tinker with variations on it to great effect now called “soulslike.” But because WB or Ubisoft or whoever made a show of patenting the system (and apparently won actual lawsuit challenges to it?) there is no genre of “shadowlike” or “nemesislike” games. That it was a clear example of a patent actually depriving us of an entire potential genre of games.

    edit: I swear I read this whole thread before commenting but I missed EllenKelly already mentioned it. And yes, it has been discussed around here.

    • Ericthescruffy [he/him]@hexbear.netEnglish
      1·
      1 hour ago

      The nemesis system in those games could have been a real game changer. I heard Gotham Knights had some variation of it but it was implemented so poorly and the game was already pretty weak to start that nobody cared. I sometimes muse about something like a metal gear game with it where the big bad special forces squad you’re up against are basically generated by how you interact with the rank and file, or something like the boss characters in Halo infinite where they gain ranks based on defeating chief. So much fucking potential and all gone to waste.

  • ArchRecord@lemm.eeEnglish
    10·
    18 hours ago

    Just a reminder that these patents, while bad, are nowhere near as bad as what might be authorized by new legislation in the U.S. which could re-open the door to “on a computer” patents.

    (i.e. “Picture galleries, on a computer” “Healthcare, through a computer” “Dating, through a computer” etc)

    IP Law is a mess.

  • TheLepidopterists [he/him]@hexbear.netEnglish
    20·
    22 hours ago

    So I’ve always heard in the context of tabletop games (RPGs, ccgs, boardgames) that you literally can’t copyright or patent game mechanics, only specific language/presentation.

    For example, you can’t call your card game mechanic, “tapping” because MTG/WotC has copyrighted that term, but they literally can’t copyright “show card is exhausted by turning it sideways.”

    Is that not true or is there some reason it’s different for videogames?

    • Tervell [he/him]@hexbear.netOPEnglish
      18·
      22 hours ago

      I assume a lot of these patents wouldn’t actually hold up if challenged in court - but I guess you can file them anyway? I’m not familiar with patent law at all, but seeing as there’s literally millions filed, I would assume there really isn’t that much oversight done at the moment of filing… which seems like a great system to have: just let those with the resources to go through the filing process throw shit at the wall, and leave it to anyone brave enough to get dragged into long legal proceedings to challenge them if they’re bullshit.

      this (for European patents) says:

      grant of patents does not guarantee validity, and revocation is not uncommon. In fact, a large number of patent litigations result in revocation of patents by national courts. Moreover, according to EPO statistics, 70% of opposed patents are revoked or limited during opposition proceedings

      And this is for patents that are actually challenged - who knows how many there are for more obscure areas, just sitting around with no-one (wealthy enough) to challenge them? (and I would assume this is even worse for the US)

      • TheLepidopterists [he/him]@hexbear.netEnglish
        15·
        22 hours ago

        Oh, so big companies can just patent whatever they want even illegally and you have to violate it and hope the court is reasonable and you can afford the legal fees for fighting it. Death to Amerikkka, Bioware delenda est.

        • Ericthescruffy [he/him]@hexbear.netEnglish
          2·
          53 minutes ago

          Oh, so big companies can just patent whatever they want even illegally and you have to violate it and hope the court is reasonable and you can afford the legal fees for fighting it. Death to Amerikkka, Bioware delenda est.

          Bluntly: this is pretty much how the entire legal system works. Part of why there was such a long concerted effort to defang class action suits is because the system is basically built such that its very easy to bully people individually when you have the money.

        • UlyssesT [he/him]@hexbear.netEnglish
          8·
          20 hours ago

          If memory serves, one of the bideo bame corporations now owns the concept of “barrel rolls” in flight maneuvering. I imagine it might not hold up in a legal fight… but who can afford to start one? capitalist-laugh

  • edge [he/him]@hexbear.net
    English
    48·
    1 day ago

    Reminder that we could have had mini games during long loading screens but Bandai Namco patented the idea and barely did anything with it and it didn’t expire until loading screens were no longer really a problem.

    • Tervell [he/him]@hexbear.netOPEnglish
      9·
      1 day ago

      I wonder if there’s some kind of legal norm thing of “you can’t have references to common swears in an official document!” pearl-clutch kitty-cri-screm, or if whoever was writing this just wasn’t paying attention (although maybe it’s some kind of deliberate accent thing, since there’s also dere instead of there? I honestly have no idea where they were going with that particular dialogue, like why pick this specifically to illustrate the concept?)