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Nintendo Files Patent For Game That Plays Itself

Posted by Soulskill on from the say-what-now dept.

Kotaku points out a recent patent filed by Nintendo which automates gameplay unless the user specifically chooses to play a particular part of the game. Quoting: "The new system, described in a patent filed by Nintendo Creative Director Shigeru Miyamoto on June 30, 2008, but made public today, looks to solve the issue of casual gamers losing interest in a game before they complete it, while still maintaining the interest of hardcore gamers. The solution would turn a game into a full-length cut scene of sorts, allowing players to jump into and out of the action whenever they wanted. But when played this way, gamers would not be able to save their progress, maintaining the challenge of completing a game without skipping or cheating."

7 of 152 comments (clear)

  1. It will never stand. by callistostg · · Score: 5, Funny

    Square-Enix has prior art on their side with Final Fantasy XII.

  2. itself by big+whiffer · · Score: 2, Funny

    nintendo didn't file the patent, the patent filed itself.

  3. And when the console gets bored? by VShael · · Score: 4, Funny

    Or finds the game too difficult?
    I don't want to come home and find my Wii browsing for tech-porn.

  4. Life Imitates Art by spoonboy42 · · Score: 3, Funny

    http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2006/9/7/new-from-squareenix/

    Enough said

    --
    Anonymous Luddite: "What do you think of the dehumanizing effects of the Internet?"
    Andy Grove: "Not Much."
  5. Prior art! by Opportunist · · Score: 3, Funny

    I'm fairly sure IBM already patented patenting ideas patenting itself.

    --
    We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
  6. And in other news... by psnyder · · Score: 2, Funny

    McDonalds Files Patent for Hamburger that Eats Itself.
    The New York Times Files Patent for Newspaper that Reads Itself and then Complains to Self about it's Left-wing Bias.
    Internet Forum Trolls File Patent for Web Browser that Rick Roll's Itself.

    1. Re:And in other news... by LtGordon · · Score: 2, Funny

      Internet Forum Trolls File Patent for Web Browser that Rick Roll's Itself.

      Too late. That one's mine:
      "A method of hyperlink substitution, whereby the seemingly intended URL is replaced with that of a cheesy 1980's music video."

      Cease and desist or that'll be $1 billion, kthx.