Looking up those patents, the first alludes to a system where a player aims and fires an “item” toward a character in a field, and in doing so triggers combat, and then dives into extraordinary intricacies about switching between modes within this. The second is very similar, but seems more directly focused on tweaking previous patents to including being able to capture Pokémon in the wild, rather than only during battle. The third, rather wildly, seems to be trying to claim a modification to the invention of riding creatures in an open world and being able to transition between them easily.
Ok that third one, come the fuck on.
Like don’t even pretend. You could never ride nearly the number of Pokemon you can compared to Pals in Palworld.
That’s basically patenting riding a fucking horse
Its like seeing the 2 worst people fighting, I dont know who I want to to win.
Sorry I’m out of loop. Why is Palworld bad? If I’m reading your comment right when you say 2 worst.
You don’t have to pick a side. You have no skin in this beef between big N and legally not Pokemon.
Still better than Disney!
I don’t want palword to win.
I just need Nintendo to loose.So greed. Like everyone predicted.
Obviously this depends on the exact details of the patents, which are all in Japanese, as well as the specifics of Japanese patent laws.
However, patents only last for 20 years, and they are undermined by public disclosure before filing. The first Pokemon game came out more than 20 years ago. However^2 not all of the features in the patents were present in the original games. All 3 patents were first filed in 2021, well after many of these features were established.
The first patent is about aiming something and entering into a fight mode. This wasn’t in the original game. Aiming at enemies and entering a fight mode almost certainly existed before Pokemon (Final Fantasy perhaps). Furthermore, Palworld doesn’t really have a fight mode - it isn’t a turn based game but real time. Throwing a sphere is just one way to start a “battle” but there is no mode change between “explore” and “battle” modes because they are functionally the same in Palworld. Pokemon Go and Pokemon Let’s Go Pikachu/Eevee, which were all around in 2018, would seem to amount to public disclosure that undermines this patent.
The second patent has more detail about catching Pokemon outside of battles. This might have some elements of Palworld gameplay in it. However, again we have prior art that predates the patent.
The third patent is about riding characters. This has certainly existed in other games before Pokemon and before this patent. Off the top of my head, World of Warcraft had you riding mounts, Final Fantasy had you riding Chocobos, and Mega Man let you ride Rush.
However the big issue with all of these is that these challenges are always better off done before the patent is granted. With the patents established it is a massive uphill struggle trying to get them withdrawn. Given that each charge is only for $33,000, so about $100,000 total, I expect a settlement will be reached instead of going on this fight.
Given that each charge is only for $33,000, so about $100,000 total, I expect a settlement will be reached instead of going on this fight.
Unfortunately that would be the worst outcome for everyone else.
The patents need to be contested and invalidated or smaller devs will feel they can’t use these mechanics.
If I recall correctly weren’t all the patients filed for and approved after PAL World released?
People need to stop supporting Nintendo at all. They’re lawsuit happy assholes who have been doing everything they can to piss away any good will they might have had. They’re the only game company out there who refuses to make enough of many of their products, like their mini NES and SNES, to meet demand because then its “exclusive”, they are the only company trying to destroy all type of emulation for Nintendo consoles, and they’re the only company who seems to actually want their older games to disappear into the ether.
Fuck Nintendo.
trying to destroy all type of emulation for Nintendo consoles
Only emulation used by others. They’re happy to kang all’ the ROMs and emulators off’ a site before destroying it for everyone else, then not even sell most of the damn things. Absurd. There’s nothing good about that, not even for Nintendo themselves.
If this kind of thing bothers you, you need to stop gaming altogether. All consoles and developers.
Not sure why you got downvoted, you’re absolutely right. While Nintendo is prolific in this subject, they’re far from unique.
Have you been lobotomized or do you just work for Nintendo?
Fuck Nintendo. They get a pass so often from people when they really shouldn’t.
Software patents shouldn’t exist!
Patents shouldn’t exist! Mostly.
Patents shouldn’t exist! Mostly.
We had a history before patents/copyright were enforced. It was pretty brutal for anyone trying to make a living with their creations. Take a look and see if you want to return to that.
