Nintendo Patents Online Console Gaming

MagicDude writes "Nintendo has patented key console online gaming features. Specifically, it has received patents on things such as player league tables, voice communications and online gaming host services. While the article doesn't address how Nintendo will use these patents, it makes you wonder if this is the first step for Nintendo to become a major player in the online gaming market."

Comments

Microsoft

[Anonymous Coward]

Is this why Microsoft wants to buy Nintendo, I wonder?

Re:Obviousness?

[funkdid]

The USPTO issues Patents NOT based on common sense (see above) but based on whether or not a patent for that exists. For example I submitted a patent for "scooting down stairs on your rear end, while making a 'budump' sound" While that is of course completely moronic, I'm sure I'll be issued a patent for it. Did I invent it? NO. But no one else is on record as inventing it so guess what, I OWN IT. Muwhahahahaha

My hope is that if enough ridiculous patents are issued (I'm reminded of the guy that patented "swinging on a porch swing sideways" and "swinging on a porch swing sideways while making 'tarzan' sounds") they may revamp how the patent process works.

Oh yeah I also submitted a patent for spinning in an office chair, don't be jealous...

Re:This is so sad

[meringuoid]

Nintendo used to be a productive company that focused on satisfying its customers.

Nintendo were always a mean, litigious, predatory outfit, some of whose business practices would make Microsoft blush. They had a near-monopoly in the NES days and they used every trick in the book to maintain it as long as they possibly could.

They focused on world domination, and screwed over everyone and everything in their path. The only reason they're not still what they were is that they screwed over Sony on the SNES CD project and Sony screwed them right back.

Do not expect Nintendo to play nice with a patent like this one. They'll sue everything in sight to ensure online dominance for their next console.

Re:Priority date is earlier than you think

[Qzukk]

The patent cited there is for a console with a harddrive, but voice services for games have been around much longer than 1999. I remember playing subspace in 97 with the ability to record and send short clips to other players, and using netmeeting to chat with friends. These days when consoles literally are just desktops, "on a console" is no more innovative than "on the internet".