• iAmTheTot
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    14 hours ago

    I am not usually in favour of big companies bullying smaller companies with the law, but it’s pretty egregious how much they were ripping off Pokémon.

    Edited to add, apparently this was a really hot take. I am not saying that the gameplay between the games was similar, but I saw a comparison of several of the designs of the creatures for the first time when this whole kinda started kicking off a bit ago and it was the first time I realized how blatant the designs were lifted right from popular Pokémon. Combined specifically with the pokeball-alikes and like… I don’t know how people can defend it. There’s homage and then there’s IP theft.

    • JackbyDev@programming.dev
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      3 hours ago

      I’d be more willing to agree if Nintendo was going after them for similar art styles. They went after them for fucking throwing balls of all things. This is going to set a horrible precedent for the game industry.

      So either Nintendo didn’t believe the monster designs were rip offs, or they didn’t feel it was a proper violation because they’ve shown themselves as willing to litigate.

      • iAmTheTot
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        10 hours ago

        For one, I didn’t say you could patent an art style. But distinguishable character can be IP. You’re like the fifth person to mention Dragon Quest and I’ve never heard of that comparison before, do you have any examples?

    • hex@programming.dev
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      16 hours ago

      The game itself isn’t ripping off anything. Pokémon is such a direct “rip off” of digimon, too, then. Except it doesn’t matter, cause that’s what stuff is. Stuff is made up of other stuff and oftentimes there will be similarities!

      • iAmTheTot
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        14 hours ago

        I mean, for one I was talking about the designs of the creatures and the specific ball mechanic/theme, but also Pokémon came out before Digimon anyway.

        • Cypher@lemmy.world
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          10 hours ago

          Gen 1 Pokemon designs were straight rips of Dragon Quest monsters.

          Arguably the Poke ball mechanic first appeared in anime such as Dragon Ball, Im not sure on any games predating Pokemon, but if they had patented it with the first games release it would have expired by now.

          Nintendo will pull off some bullshit but they really shouldn’t have a leg to stand on.

          • iAmTheTot
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            10 hours ago

            How was Dragon Ball similar to pokeballs and their catching mechanics? I’m not seeing that similarity at all.

            Never seen any comparisons between Dragon Quest and Pokémon. Do you have examples?

            • JackbyDev@programming.dev
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              3 hours ago

              They might be referring to CapsuleCorp’s capsules. They would store big things in tiny capsules, much like Poke balls work. I don’t recall people or monsters ever being store in them, nor do I remember things forcibly being put into them at all. It’s possible this was bigger on Dragon Ball, as a kid I was more familiar with Dragon Ball Z.

            • Cypher@lemmy.world
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              9 hours ago

              The anime one will be harder to source clips but I do recall creatures being released as ‘energy’ then forming quickly from thrown objects. Will need to get back to you on that one!

              • iAmTheTot
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                2 hours ago

                Don’t really agree with the top pic at all, but some of the comparisons in the bottom one are interesting. Some are slay a really big stretch I think, but I do see why people would compare. I think if Enix went after Nintendo in the early nineties I could get behind them on a couple of these, but that ship has sailed a long time ago.

                Still going to disagree about the Dragon Ball comparison. Not really seeing any comparison between those two.

          • iAmTheTot
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            10 hours ago

            I don’t mind. It’s no different than Reddit, people see downvotes and just pile on. No room for discussion, no thoughtful discourse, just hive mind.

    • mnemonicmonkeys
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      15 hours ago

      Pokemon is a rip off of Dragon Quest and Shin Megami Tensei.

    • Noxy@yiffit.net
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      12 hours ago

      I disagree with your premise but even if I agreed that any IP theft has occurred, why do you care? surely you’re aware that nintendo aggressively invests in IP lawyers and lawsuits?

      • iAmTheTot
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        11 hours ago

        Well, yes, that’s why the lawsuit was happening. I’m not sure what your point was. I care because I think that IP theft is wrong.