game design - GamePlay Patent

Do you know any patents of GamePlay model? I mean behavior between User as Player and the System? In another words Patent of GamePlay rules. For example "when player's character dies -> the system must raise him at last checkpoint". If you know any patent please provide a link:)

Answer

First, patent legislation varies by country. This GamaSutra article references a number of gameplay patents which have been granted in the US. (The article also recommends that game developers should patent their game mechanics, which I strongly disagree with, but that's another matter entirely.) Specifically:

1. 
   

   United States Patent No. 6,604,008, entitled “Scoring based on goals achieved and subjective elements,” and assigned to Microsoft Corp., describes a method of determining points to be awarded to a player, where the points are based in part on style. (Hint: Speed through the town of a certain caped crusader)

   
   


2. 
   

   United States Patent No. 6,695,694, entitled “Game machine, game device, control method, information storage medium, game distribution device and game distribution method,” and assigned to Konami Corporation, describes a game method that detects whether a player has placed his/her foot on a plurality of step positions, and calculates an amount of energy consumed by the player. (Hint: Groovy!)

   
   
   


3. 
   

   United States Patent No. 6,200,138, entitled “Game display method, moving direction indicating method, game apparatus and drive simulating apparatus,” and assigned to Sega Enterprises, Ltd., describes a game method in which movable objects automatically move away from an approaching character. (Hint: Fare approaching!)

   
   


4. 
   

   United States Patent No. 6,729,954, entitled “Battle method with attack power based on character group density,” and assigned to Koei Co., Ltd., describes a method of calculating attack or defense strength of a character based on its proximity to other characters in a three-dimensional battlefield. (Hint: Shang, Zhou, Qin, Han, anyone?)

   
   

The enforceability of these patents is another issue altogether. Just because the USPTO grants a patent does not mean it will be held as valid in a court of law. The video game industry is young and has relatively few patents, so there are, to the best of my knowledge, few historical precedents to indicate what a judge might rule if patents like these were exercised.