I was looking at some news when I found this article that essentially says that Nintendo is applying for a patent for some sort of application that will allow gamers to interrupt the game if they think they are getting frustrated and get help without ever having to go and find cheats. Now, In My own opinion. this is something that will enable Nintendo to create some core gamers for its next console cycle. think about it. the less novice gamers get frustrated, the less likely that they will stop playing video games, thus, helping casual gamers develop essential skills that are needed for more complicated games. the patent, in my opinion, is something that will enable Nintendo profit to from imitators of its idea. not bad Ninty, Not bad. What you think?

http://videogames.yahoo.com/feature/nintendo-planning-friendlier-approach-to-game-difficulty/1278610

Nintendo planning friendlier approach to game difficulty

New tech promises on-tap assistance for stuck gamers.

By Mike Smith

 

The days of getting stuck in games could be gone altogether, if a patent filed recently by Nintendo comes to fruition.

Nintendo's idea, made public in a patent application this week, hinges on making demonstration videos available to players while they're playing the game, either as a thumbnail view or a full-screen animation. Players could interrupt the demonstration at any point, taking control back to continue playing without assistance. Think of it as a tutorial guide that lasts throughout the entire game.

It also proposes to let players start playing at any point during a game -- a feature that's in many games already, but typically only unlocked once a player has already completed those levels. Just like skimming a newspaper article for the juicy bits, this would allow players to tackle games, in their entirety, at their own whim.

Although the patent application is chock full of grade-A lawyerspeak, it summarizes the technology as "allowing a player to freely play and enjoy the game to the end...a [system] for preventing a player who desires to clear a game by him/herself from losing his/her interest in the game."

Even experienced players resort to looking up cheats, online guides, or gamer messageboards for help when they're stuck, but Nintendo's system could remove the need to even step away from the console -- and enable less committed console owners to enjoy epics like Nintendo's own Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess without becoming bored or discouraged. Sounds like a winner to us.

Who gets stuck in games these days, most are so easy a 10 year old that thinks he's a hardcore gamer could complete them!! :0P

Scanning through the patent, of note is that (a) using this system will not allow the player to save and (b) Miyamoto is considering making the system time locked; as in, you have to have the game for a set period of time before the 'reveal-all' option is gradually revealed to you.

This is old news, though. See the 'New Zelda' thread.

why does it have to be old, Zelda is just a referemce. and there is nothing in the market remotly close.

"It also proposes to let players start playing at any point during a game"

So you could buy SMG brand new, put it into the Wii, then skip straight to the last boss?

This is going to raise an era of terrible gamers.

It is old because the speculations about a New Zelda revolve around this patent. It was filed with pics that indicate Miyamoto's new ideas will be implemented in a new Zelda. i.e., this patent was revealed and furiously discussed by gamers several days ago

Gamefaqs is not going to be happy about this.

well if you go to the link it was post on the ninth of this mont. i think that he is using ztp as a reference. probably the patent is the most recent thing.

Basically, it will let you download videos of other players playing portions of the game that you find too tedious/difficult. In Miyamoto's eyes, this will encourage casual gamers to complete/learn to not suck at Zelda games. Watching the videos ("digest") will let you (optionally?) pick up playing the game from the point they end.

For those alarmed that this indicates a casualization of the Zelda series...I suggest wasting several minutes on skimming parts of the patent itself. It actually seems fairly cool and, best of all, completely optional.

Analysis (w/ Zelda-indicating pics):
http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=205631

Actual Patent:
http://appft1.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PG01&s1=Nintendo.AS.&OS=AN/Nintendo&RS=AN/Nintendo

@ Blaydcor

yes it will be only good if they make it optional.