this post was submitted on 23 Sep 2024
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video game patents (hexbear.net)
submitted 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) by Tervell@hexbear.net to c/games@hexbear.net
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[โ€“] QuietCupcake@hexbear.net 19 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 children)

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.

[โ€“] Ericthescruffy@hexbear.net 4 points 1 month 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.