No good idea comes without copycats. Sometimes, a title comes along that promises something new that other developers try to give their own ideas. This has often led to the birth of various new genres such as the evolution of “Doom Clones” in First-person Shooters. However, there is a fine line between religion and plagiarism.
As expected, publishers want to keep control of their IP, even filing patents on certain mechanisms, features, etc. However, this can lead to very misleading statements on the assumptions that many people do not have. This is one of the most stupid and stupid patent files in the gaming world.
10 The Nemesis System From Shadow of Mordor
Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor gives a much-needed shot in the arm to the overly-familiar open-world sandbox genre with its new nemesis system. Scattered around the rain-soaked lands Tallion explored were bloodthirsty orcs who served the dark lord Sauron.
Each of them play their own character, weakness, and place in the army. Through this system, Tallion can use his knowledge of these enemies, brainwash them, and use their complex hierarchy to his advantage. Unfortunately, Warner Bros. will file a patent on this unique and fun system.
9 Arrows in Rhythm games
In the mid-90s, there was a boom in Rhythm music headsets like Sony’s. Parappa The RapperMetro’s Get Out A Grooveand Konami’s Dance Dance. DDRs The dance mat-based gameplay hits that sweet spot of being easy to learn and hard to master, completing various twists in a natural way.
The game was also an important precursor to other music-based titles that would follow later. However, there is one major aspect that needs to be addressed DDRs The addition of punched flowers with a dance floor.
8 Warner Bros. dropped a trailer for “Big Chungus”
“Big Chungus” is a meme that originated from a cartoon in general. Looney Tunes short “Wabbit Twouble.” The subject in question appears to be Bugs Bunny mocking Elmer Fudd by expanding his body to match. Years later, the image would be shared by sports critic/writer Stephanie Sterling who coined the term “Big Chungus.”
The name and phrase became an internet sensation, spreading across forums and social media. For a crossover fighting game, Great SupplementBig Chungus is one of the many characters who are expected to enter the fight as Warner Bros. has really gone to a brand of marketing in the image and the word.
7 “It’s like Donkey Kong.”
It’s one thing to patent a specific gameplay mechanic or name, but it’s another thing to patent a general term. According to Michael Buffer “Let’s get ready to rumble,” Nintendo filed a trademark for the phrase “It’s like Donkey Kong,” in 2013.
Surprisingly, the Big N doesn’t seem to include this in any of their ads per se. Donkey Kong Land Returns or otherwise Tropical Rain. As a result, the rights expired in 2020. The term was used in the Super Mario Bros. Movie in 2023.
6 Loading mini games
Namco has a history of introducing their classic arcade titles as fun little games to enjoy while players wait on a loading screen. Some titles like Tekken 2 a Check out Kik Ridge which also added unlockables that can be obtained if players perform well in these areas.
Gamers may wonder why these little distractions have become so common in the console years to come. The answer is that Namco went ahead and patented small games while loading screens. That’s right—because of this short-term decision, players lost years of waiting by attacking barriers.
5 Fun video game
Eternal Darkness: Sanity’s Requiem Put players in control of several characters in human history who cross paths with the dark gods and their apostle Pious Augustus. The main feature of the game is its “psychic effect” which plays all kinds of tricks on the player such as splitting their save file or ending a cliff for no end.
The neat effects are a neat mechanic that helped it stand out from other horror games of the time. Unfortunately, no one else gets the chance to put their own spin on Nintendo’s patented “Video Game Insanity.”
4 3D flowers
Driving crazy It’s a creative theme that challenges players to pick up as many passengers as possible and take them to their destination by whatever means necessary. Even before the days of GPS, players were guided by an arrow that showed them where to go. Not only is this a great help, but it’s one of the patents that Sega has filed.
Because of Sega’s patent Fox Interactive found themselves in legal trouble with the game Simpsons: Road Rage. Radical is the first spirit i Hit & Run It was a carbon copy of Sega’s title, and this mechanic led Fox to settle out of court for an undisclosed amount.
3 Arrows on the D-Pad
Gamers who own a Super Nintendo and a PlayStation may recognize that their controllers are designed similarly. This is partly because the latter is intended as a CD supplement to the former. However, there is an important difference that has been taken with each version of Sony’s console, and that is the absence of arrows on the D-pad.
It turns out that Nintendo actually patented this little touch to the controllers. Before the days of the NES, there was no standard for how game controllers were designed, but it was a silly thing to copy.
Bethesda Elder Oak The titles include some of the most important and beloved RPG games of all time. Most of them are like Oblivion a Skyrim set business standards and impose limits on technology and freedom. However, no one can say that it is appropriate to register the word “scrolls.”
Unfortunately, Mojang AB is facing a lawsuit at the hands of Zenimax media for trying to release a so-called mobile card game. The rolls. Apparently, it is the company’s contention that this title confuses the players since the two games are different types of games. In the end, the game was renamed Caller ID.
1 The word “Candy” on mobile devices
.jpg?q=50&fit=crop&w=750&dpr=1.5)
In one of the most ridiculous examples of video game branding, King.Com has successfully commercialized the word “candy” for mobile devices. This is the main idea and nothing else Candy Crush Saga can use the word for confectioneries in their programs.
The company tried to copy the word “Saga,” which resulted in a legal kerfuffle with the developers of The Banner Saga. This is absurd when the last game has the right to the word “saga” rather than a game about falling lights. Fortunately, cool heads prevailed, and this second attempt was completely avoided.