Topic: Nintendo Will Lose Eternal Darkness Patent If It Is Not Used?

[Kytim89]

A recent article over at Infendo.com pointed out that according to a patent filing that Nintendo has p to thirty six months to create something Eternal Darkness related or risk losing their control over the name of the IP. Basically, what this means is that if Nintendo does not make an Eternal Darkness related product with its name thnen the Eternal Darkness name is up for grabs by someone else. Of course Precursor Games could pick up the name, but they failed to garner any enthusiasm already. There are some ways to save Eternal Darkness.

• Approach Precursor Games and make their Shadows of the Eternals an actual Eternal Darkness 2 for the Wii U.
• Create Eternal Darkness DLC levels in Smash Brothers 2014 with character trophies.
• Make Eternal Darkness HD available on the eShop.
• Create Eternal Darkness merchandise to promote the games.

[NWR_insanolord]

GameCube Virtual Console. Don't get your hopes up for anything more than that.

[Adrock]

Nintendo can also request an extension which is probably what they'll do. They've been renewing for years now and this is the first time they've been asked to do something with the patent.

I'd prefer a sequel or failing that, a remake, but realistically, Nintendo will just request an extension because they're allowed to and that requires the least amount of effort until Nintendo finally gets around to GameCube Virtual Console.

[NWR_insanolord]

If Nintendo doesn't have the GameCube VC up and running within the next three years they don't deserve to keep the trademark.

[BranDonk Kong]

Patents and Trademarks are not the same thing. They aren't losing any patents (the only things patented in the game are the "Sanity Meter" and possibly certain effects, I believe), but they could lose the Trademarked name "Eternal Darkness" if they don't file for an extension. They won't lose the IP or anything, just the exclusive rights to the name. The game and IP will still belong to Nintendo.

[rlse9]

I know it wouldn't magically save the Wii U or anything, but an Eternal Darkness sequel would certainly seem like a great fit for the system since 3rd party games seem to be drying up very quickly and Eternal Darkness would help fill that void well.

[broodwars]

If Nintendo doesn't have the GameCube VC up and running within the next three years they don't deserve to keep the trademark.

Hell, I think we can agree that if Nintendo doesn't have the GameCube VC up and running within the next YEAR they don't deserve to keep the trademark, let alone 3.  3 years may be the legal period they have to work with, but Nintendo's utter lack of interest in their VC service is just inexcusable.

[BranDonk Kong]

An Eternal Darkness sequel on the Wii U that uses the Vitality Sensor would be awesome. It could sense your heart rate and adjust sanity effects or action sequences accordingly, something like that could also probably have some merit in stress researching. Win-win.

[Nile Boogie Returns]

An Eternal Darkness sequel on the Wii U that uses the Vitality Sensor would be awesome. It could sense your heart rate and adjust sanity effects or action sequences accordingly, something like that could also probably have some merit in stress researching. Win-win.

Since this idea is ridiculously awesome idea and make sense, I hate you because it will never happen. Sometimes I feel like Nintendo doesn't make sequel to games I like out of spite. They don't wanna see me happy.

[smallsharkbigbite]

I wouldn't say it was out of spite.  Despite my love for Eternal Darkness, it is hard to argue it wasn't a commercial failure.  That and the vitality sensor isn't currently for sale because it didn't perform properly.

[NeoStar9X]

If they aren't going to make a new game they could at least farm out a HD remake/remaster. If only to fill the release schedule. I know it didn't do well originally but like so many games from Nintendo I doubt it was due to the quality but simply because it was never pushed by them and just pushed out of the door at some point. That happen to a number of  Wii games from them and I don't doubt that happen with games before that. If anything it might do better now with it being easier to show off the game in advance compared to it's originally release.

I say this with bias as I never played Eternal Darkness. I was to busy with my PS2 and getting into MMOs at the time it came out.  So I'd love to play it now.

[BlackNMild2k1]

Insanity effects using the gamepad and it's speakers could take the game to a whole new level of WTF.

Just after a tough battle, you're wandering down a dark lonely hallway and your sanity is running low, random things are happening up on the TV (like bleeding walls, enemies appearing and disappearing just as quickly as they appeared), and then the Gamepad goes dark like it shut off.
"pssst... pssst... down here" comes from the direction of the gamepad.
You look down at the gamepad, and a live feed of you looking at the gamepad shows up on the TV, you quickly look back up at the TV, and the screen changes back to the game and now you are on the gamepad screen but only for a few seconds before it flickers and puts the menu back.

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they could use the mic to randomly record you saying stuff while you play and playback those recordings over the TV speakers during moments of low sanity.

gamepad could flicker and switch to one of the random VC games or apps you have installed on your system, only to cut back to the game moments later.

Main game character screaming for help in the gamepad screen and banging on the glass from the other side of the screen.
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So much potential.
WTF is Nintendo doing with all their resources and IP's?

They need to redo this game and the ghost First person one too.

[Ceric]

Change your voice so it sounds like a crowd and you have to think a second to realize its yours.

[BlkPaladin]

Even if they loose the trade mark they can just register a new one. The way the US trademark system make it hard to sit on a trademark without loosing it. Sega just lost the Shenmue trademark. All it mean is that someone else can use the title the way it is without editing or obscuring it. Though Sega can still sue on IP infringements if the use of the trademark damages the IP in some way they can prove. Trademark technically don't need to be protected, it just adds another layer on which you can sue people.