- for 20 years, Namco Bandai has held patent US 5718632 A which gives them ownership of the idea of a loading screen minigame

- companies that wanted to put mini-games during loading screens either had to pay Namco Bandai, work around the patent (like EA's FIFA - no idea what that is about, I don't play FIFA) or give up on the idea

- now you know why we have been bombarded with lame turorial info texts, trivias and still pictures for years

- patent expires this Friday, 27th

- no one can even start working on loading screen mini-games until the above date, the patent even forbids that

http://kotaku.com/the-patent-on-loading-screen-mini-games-is-about-to-exp-1744705351

With game running faster these days, it may be a little too late. But then there are still games with slow loading screens, right?

That is the most stupid idea to patient. total waste of money.

Huh interesting, I guess you really can patent almost anything.
Anyways, yeah with load times getting shorter it wouldn't be worth the effort to make such things. Though for some reason I can see Nintendo doing this.

Ahhh so thats why the DBZ games always had something on loading screens. Fun fact to know.

Hmm, so would the mini games during splatoon when you're waiting for a match count as the same?

I swear I've seen them in non Namco games. Splatoon?

Thats what i was thinking

"companies that wanted to put mini-games during loading screens either had to pay Namco Bandai, work around the patent or give up on the idea"

It says you can pay for it or come up with a work around (no idea how that would be!)

I watched a video about this ages ago. It's cool that it's finally being lifted, but it's way past the time where it should be relevant. Loading screens should have ended literally generations ago.

I think it works for Splatoon because its matchmaking and not a loading screen. This idea would have been good for Bloodborne though.

Patent laws can be so fucking stupid sometimes. Didn't even knew that existed. I'm glad its expiring.