Miyamoto Wanted to Patent Jumping in Games
Tristan Oliver | November 25, 2009
“I’m not going to let those other games top us”
How would you feel if, for every Sonic game which included our blue hedgehog jumping, Sega had to pay Nintendo a fee? What if gaming companies around the world had to do the same thing for including a jump mechanic in their titles?
It almost happened.
That, according to the latest round of one-on-ones between Nintendo’s Satoru Iwata and the man behind Mario, Shigeru Miyamoto. In it, Miyamoto claimed “jumping games” to have originated from within Nintendo, tracing it all the way back to Mario Bros. and even Donkey Kong.
“After Mario Bros., there were a fair few jumping-style games released by various companies and I felt that this kind of jumping game had been our idea,” Miyamoto said.
But the real kicker is in Miyamoto’s follow-up comment, responding to Iwata’s agreement with the notion that platformers with jumping had originated out of Nintendo:
I went as far as thinking that jumping is an original idea and that it should be patented! Anyway, I thought: “Right, I’m not going to let those other games top us!” (laughs)
What if he followed through? The execution of Sonic the Hedgehog–if not the concept–could have stopped Sega dead in its tracks. Had Sonic in his current form entered the marketplace as it were, and the same threat to Nintendo’s console dominance were at stake, lawsuits could have rendered Sonic a one or two hit wonder.
Of course, things are now different. Sonic and Mario are together in several titles, including Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games and Super Smash Bros. Brawl. And when you consider the myriad of patent infringement lawsuits Nintendo has faced regarding the Wii console…perhaps the egos have finally caught up. What do you think? Tell us in the comments.
Filed Under Gaming News, Nintendo
Haha, that’s ridiculous, patenting something like that. I think that’s just them displaying their sense of humour. How could you possibly patent that?!?
God has spoken!… That would be so awesome! Nintendo rules!
Hehe, but the idea is really cazy. Patent jumping in games!? Jumping is so basic that it’s so… you know! It’s just ridiculous like Zink here said.
But still! I love the idea! Would give Nintendo lots of money and give them even more power! Nintendo!
That would’ve negated just about every other platformer in existence. Seriously? That’s monopolizing a genre based on a single generic mechanic, not to mention strangling creativity by the throat. Nintendo already contracted many other game companies into only producing games for them until SEGA and Atari confronted them in court about it and won.
It wouldn’t have been just about Sonic.
A tax on every time a characterjumped? Geez, Sonic, Megaman, Rayman, Klonoa, and all the other platforming characters to go out of business. The world is fun with Mario, but without Sonic, it’d just be way too boring.
Oh shit…I just jumped. I’m gonna be sued. : (
Seriously, patenting THAT would of screw other games other that do consist of jumping. Even games that don’t do platforming.
Jumping isn’t original Mr. Miyamoto. So isn’t making a game.
Heh, I think Sonic could work without jumping. Not WELL, mind you, but with all the springs, bumpers and that awesome rolling ability, you could make an interesting platformer without the use of jumping.
….Hmmmmmmmm…
Sonic, Crash, Rayman, Spyro and Klonoa
“not Mario no….”
Wow! I have neverd hear of anything that stupid before. Now I hate Nintendo even more and think they’re even more stupid than before. Seriosly, what do they think with?
Jump isn’t somehting original. Humans jump! ANIMALS JUMPS! WHAT THE…..! That’s not something new!
Patening Jumping is about as dumb as patening something like…walking. Its just retarded. Thank god those plans fell through
Am I the only one who thinks that Miyamoto wasn’t really.. serious, with his comments, there..? xD; The man has said some strange things before..
Think about it. If they had patented jumping then everytime you jumped in real life it would be called “doing a Mario”. Then you could literally “do the Mario” all day long.
O–kay…..That’s just being ridiculous.
@Tony: You’re pretty much right. I think he was a bit serious, but was mostly just a thought he got a long time ago.
@Rolo: Yeah, that would be just so awesome!
I have jumping games on Atari 2600.
Miyamoto can go eat dicks.
I always sort of new Miyamoto was insane.
Knew*
Not really…….
SEEEEEEEEGGGGGGAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA RULES and SEGA is the best ever!
Wow. If that were to happen all the platform games not related to Nintendo would be insanely screwed for having the jumping ability.
Insanity! Didn’t gravity invent jumping? Nintendo should pay gravity. XD
Wow, guys. He…. was joking. =P
I dunno…when bigwigs talk like that–people who actually have the power to *do* things–it worries me.
-T
Payiung for everytime a character jumps ? That is the stupidest crap I ever heard I mean it can`t be a game without jumping (expect racing , rpg , shooting, & puzzle games)
Thats like trying to patent breathing, it won’t hapen!
And ya’ll do know he was joking around.
@ ■Tristan Oliver
Agreed. Bigwigs can do anything they want if they have the paper work.
About the article glad Miyamoto lost this case. If he was joking way to go. Almost gave me a heart attack.
that is a bit. . . insane yeah but also kinda funny!
Maybe Yuji Naka had the same idea but with running/rolling after Sonic 1 came out =P
A more interesting thought comes out of this silliness, what if Sonic DIDN’T jump? What if it was all the physics of the old games and you only could get to higher platforms by ramping up? That would be a pretty interesting concept.
And that’s why the concept of patenting something is retarded.
That would have been worse than Apple’s patent on multi-touch screens
@Skai Cyan:
“What if Sonic didn’t jump”
Sonic Labyrinth = Death of the series from the start lol.
Does this patent thing mean I pay a royalty every time I play basketball?!
@Werehog: You love Nintendo but you call yourself ‘Werehog,’ meaning you must like Sonic… and a character that is hated by 90% of the Sonic fanbase. ???
Actually, never mind.
@Sonikku Master: Yep! I like both Sonic and Nintendo. And when I began to use the name “werehog” I didn’t know everyone would hate him! It was before Sonic Unleashed you know…
World’s most expensive sport: Skipping