GameCube exclusive Eternal Darkness is famous for its patented sanity system - but the rights have now expired. So, could anyone copy it? We asked a lawyer.
  • nUbee@lemmy.worldEnglish
    38·
    1 day ago

    So Nintendo filed the patent, and paid the maintenance fees over the years. Did they even do anything with it beyond that one game? How much money did they think they gained just by preventing others from implementing a similar mechanic?

    • MelodiousFunk@slrpnk.netEnglish
      22·
      1 day ago

      There was supposed to be a sequel but a whole bunch of fuckery kept it from happening.

      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eternal_Darkness#Cancelled_sequel

      In 2006, Dyack said “absolutely yes” in response to the question of a possible sequel. He stated that Silicon Knights had intended for Eternal Darkness to be a stand-alone game, but they wanted to make more games set in the same universe involving the Ancients.[54][55] At Microsoft’s Spring 2008 Showcase, Dyack said there was a “strong chance” they would return to the Eternal Darkness brand.[56] In 2011, Silicon Knights said they were refocusing on one of their most requested titles for the next generation of consoles. This, combined with the fact that Nintendo had trademarked the title once again, spawned rumors that an Eternal Darkness game would be a launch title for Nintendo’s Wii U console.[57] However, the project was cancelled due to Silicon Knights’ legal troubles with Epic Games.[58] Any possibility for a sequel from Silicon Knights ended in 2013 when Silicon Knights filed for bankruptcy and closed its offices.[59] Nintendo has repeatedly renewed the Eternal Darknesstrademark, stirring rumors of sequels or re-releases.[60][61][62][63]

      Followed by Dyack forming another studio, botching three crowdfunding attempts, forming another studio, then shuttering the project.

      It really was a mess.