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However, and this is because the publisher has in fact successfully patented the mechanic in question. Word of this broke over the previous week, but after multiple unsuccessful attempts, the US Patent and Trademark Office will allow the patent to remain in effect from February 23, 2021. Warner Bros. may choose to maintain it. until 2035.
The patent covers: “Nemesis characters, Nemesis forts, social vendettas, and followers in computer games”. Indeed, another developer cannot copy the Nemesis system like for example. This can be solved by creating your own take on the feature and dressing it in your own phrases and terms – the Mass Effect Dialog Wheel is a famous example. BioWare owns the patent for the RPG-specific dialogue wheel, but that hasn’t stopped games from using branching dialogue choices since then. It all depends on how you present it. However, the action taken by Warner Bros to patent the mechanic still does not set a particularly positive precedent.
John Wick Hex and volume creator Mike Bithell took to Twitter to share his thoughts on the matter, saying, “It’s really disgusting, especially for a franchise that has built its brilliant Nemesis system on a whole bunch of mechanics replicated from other games. Like all games. Because that’s how it works. culture and creativity. Be a better neighbor, WB. ”Meanwhile, Sony Santa Monica employee Alanah Pearce shared her own thoughts in the video embedded above. The gaming community in general hasn’t been too kind to Warner Bros’ actions either, with some fearing that gameplay patenting could spark a worrying trend on the part of other companies.
There are ways around patents, but when a roadblock this big is already blocking some of your paths, it could deter small independent teams from even trying to create something of their own. How do you react to this? Share your opinion in the comments below.
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