Nintendo loves a superb patent and after the monster 12 months of gaming that was 2023, it ought to come as no shock that the corporate has extra within the pipeline. As an alternative of trying to the longer term, nonetheless, the just lately revealed patents seem to concern mechanics that we already find out about, probably placing sure Tremendous Mario Bros. Marvel and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom options underneath authorized lock and key (thanks, Automaton).
The next patents have been highlighted in a latest Hatena Weblog publish from person naoya2k. The publish notes that the patents have been submitted earlier in 2023, however have been solely made publicly out there in the direction of the top of the 12 months (between November and December).
So, what are all of them about? The primary patent that naoya2k highlights appears to narrate to Tremendous Mario Bros. Marvel, particularly its ‘Ghost’ mechanic when taking part in in multiplayer mode. Initially submitted in August 2023, the doc outlines the sport’s respawn characteristic whereby a downed participant can try and make contact with an merchandise (be that one other character or a standee) to come back again to life.
Translated from the unique Japanese, there’s a likelihood that some exact wording has been misplaced within the course of, although naoya2k’s evaluation means that the patent defines the ‘ghost’ mechanic as taking management of a short lived character till an appropriate respawn level is reached — one thing that anybody who has performed Marvel’s multiplayer mode will certainly recognise.
You will discover this patent in full right here.
The opposite patent highlighted within the weblog publish was made public on twelfth December 2023 and seems to as soon as once more concern Tears of the Kingdom.
You may recall that that is on no account the primary TOTK-related patent that Nintendo has submitted (such is the consequence of releasing a recreation full of a lot newness), although the just lately noticed one in query appears to be like to give attention to Hyperlink’s Ultrahand means and its particular purposes. The next (translated by Google), provides a abstract within the authorized tone that we’re used to seeing in patents corresponding to this:
Offered is an data processing system that may enhance usability when connecting digital objects to generate an object made up of a plurality of digital objects
In brief, the patent seems to concern TOTK’s mechanic by which a participant can choose one merchandise and transfer it shut to a different to ‘glue’ them collectively and act as one.
The patent may be learn in its authentic Japanese right here.
Whereas Nintendo is susceptible to releasing a whole lot of patents, it’s value allowing for that even these that are accredited are usually to do with the particular implementation of the characteristic moderately than the mechanic itself. It does at all times look somewhat aggressive, sure, however this is not to say that there isn’t any room for Ultrahand-like options in video games to come back.