[casual_games] Gameplay patents

[Tom Hubina]

Heh - fair enough.

I'm casting about to try to find ways of getting rid of the "bad clones" and
the deluge of un-original content in casual because I believe that it's
causing (has caused) irreparable damage to an industry that had a great deal
of potential.

Tom 


> -----Original Message-----

> From: casual_games-bounces at igda.org 

> [mailto:casual_games-bounces at igda.org] On Behalf Of Alex Amsel

> Sent: Wednesday, February 14, 2007 11:25 AM

> To: IGDA Casual Games SIG Mailing List

> Subject: Re: [casual_games] Gameplay patents

> 

> Interesting debate on patents but I do have some more thoughts.

> 

> Tom, I honestly think you're living in cloud cuckoo land if 

> you think that's how it would work. I've got experience with 

> big publishers, and their legal depts. If gameplay could be 

> patented, rightly or wrongly they would chase down ANYONE 

> coming close to what they have. Some do anyway, mentioning no 

> names. That's what big business does even when they are in 

> the wrong. I also know from experience that David vs Goliath 

> legal action is not something you enter into lightly, however 

> right you may be.

> 

> The other thing you seem to have forgotten is that the 

> corporates would have depts dedicated to creating & 

> patenting, just as happens in other industries. In a creative 

> industry like ours, that would be an incredibly bad thing. 

> Imagine if an artist patented a particular art style - in my 

> mind that's what you're saying. Now yes, I know there is some 

> protection in patent law about this, but can you fight a 

> court battle? Probably not.

> 

> Patents are not for gameplay. This is regardless of the pros 

> and cons of the patenting system, which isn't perfect.

> 

> As for clones - yes it's annoying but that just means you 

> have to have more than a good idea, you need to implement it well too.

> 

> Zuma and Luzor vs Puzz Loop. Neither would have happened 

> without Puzz Loop, but Puzz Loop (IMHO) is not a great game. 

> Zuma and Luxor are superb. The core gameplay mechanic is the 

> same and I'm pretty sure patenting the technique would have 

> meant those "clones" not appearing.

> 

> Remember, there are good clones and bad ones. It's all about 

> creating content that your audience wants, and about 

> implementation of ideas. 

> Anyone who's been in the industry for a while will tell you 

> that ideas are in plentiful supply, implementation of them is not.

> 

> -- 

> 

> Alex Amsel

> Tuna Technologies Ltd (Sheffield, UK)

> Cross Platform Game Development

> Tel: +44 (0)114 266 2211  Mob: +44(0)7771 524 632

> 

> 

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