Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor is remembered for many reasons, but perhaps best of all for its Nemesis system, an incredible mechanic for generating memorable Orc encounters. According to a former executive, the Nemesis system came about from trying to solve a different problem: secondhand sales.

In a new video, Laura Fryer — former vice president of WB Games who oversaw the publisher’s Seattle studios at the time — talked about her time with Monolith. While discussing the way trend-chasing affects the industry, Fryer mentioned that chasing trends is what “literally led to the Nemesis system.”

  • @Lucky_777@lemmy.world
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    316 days ago

    Why hasn’t someone created another system just like it? Seems like with the massive talent around game creation out there, we need a copycat.

      • @chicken@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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        115 days ago

        What’s the scope on that though? I bet someone could get away with a game that does a somewhat similar thing, just not in the exact same way.

      • Coelacanth
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        1216 days ago

        A game mechanic should not be patentable in this manner. Fucking copyright law.

        • @phdepressed@sh.itjust.works
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          716 days ago

          I mean you could make a game with it and argue it in court but that’s expensive af. That’s a bigger part of patenting for the big for corps. Whether it’d stand in court or not is less relevant than scaring people off due to costs.

      • Aatube
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        216 days ago

        Now that the studio closed they should license it out.

        • Maestro
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          916 days ago

          The patent is owned by WB, not the studio. They won’t license it. Just sit on it and let it rot.

          • Aatube
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            116 days ago

            But they can earn money from licensing contracts or at least use it themselves

            • Maestro
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              316 days ago

              They haven’t bothered doing that in the last 10 years. I don’t see them starting now.

              • Aatube
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                115 days ago

                They only shut down last month, before which they were gonna use it themselves. I’ve still cope…