WB axes Shadow of Mordor maker in setback for clever, sadly patented game system
1 min read
Summary
Gaming studio Monolith, known for its gameplay franchise ‘Lord of the Rings’ and its soon-to-be-released ‘Wonder Woman’ game, has been shut down by its parent company, Warner Bros Games.
The demise of Monolith would have been bad enough, but it also means the disappearance of its cutting-edge ‘Nemesis System’ game patent, which monetises enemy characters in computer games.
Enemies that beat the player or survive meetings with the player character can develop abilities and become biproducts of the game’s plot, advancing the story as well as gameplay.
The ‘Nemesis System’ patent expires in August 2036, and until then, any game developers wishing to use a similar system in their games will have to licence the patent from Warner Brothers Games, create a significantly different system, or take their chances on legal challenges.
