Nintendo recently put some thought into an island-based gameplay system for mobile games, if a newly uncovered patent is any indication. This could be something in a game many fans will recognize, or it could be something entirely new that Nintendo hasn't revealed yet.
While many industry pundits rejoiced when Nintendo announced its intention to develop mobile games, the company has struggled to keep up momentum with its lineup of mobile titles. A few titles, such as Mario Kart Tour, are huge successes that drive monetization through a free-to-play model. Others, like Super Mario Run, have struggled to effectively convert downloads into purchases. Still, Nintendo isn't out of the business yet, and continues to provide updates to games like Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp and Fire Emblem Heroes.
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The patent describes a system for loading up a ship with items, and then traveling to other islands in order to obtain souvenirs. The most likely possibility is this patent relates to a game mechanic already in the wild; namely, the Gulliver's Ship mechanic in Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp. In that game, players must accumulate "Export Points" that allow Gulliver to sail to various islands, after which he will relay souvenirs to the player in a randomized fashion. However, as patents like this one typically do not include game names, it is possible this patent could apply to something else too.
If the patent applies to something other than Pocket Camp, there are a few candidates for sailing-themed games. The most obvious would be some tie-in for The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, but it could also tie into any other Nintendo game with an emphasis on globetrotting. Such a system could complement games that are otherwise landlocked. It would not be hard to imagine an installment in the popular Pikmin franchise where the player explores the land, but sends some Pikmin out to explore the sea.
Nintendo fans will likely be interested to see that the company is doubling down on its randomized reward system, more commonly known as "gacha." These are games where players must exchange premium currency for a random reward. That currency could be real money, a scarce in-game currency more easily acquired with real money, or other valuable assets (such as furniture items). Many critics compare gacha to gambling, as players spend money without the guarantee of any useful gameplay advantages. It's no surprise Nintendo is sticking to gacha, however, given it drives the success of Nintendo's most popular mobile titles.
Even if Nintendo does lean heavily into gacha with its mobile games going forward, most of its mobile games correspond with full-priced console games in some way. Those who would prefer not to deal with gacha in Mario Kart, Fire Emblem, or Animal Crossing can play games like Animal Crossing: New Horizons instead of their mobile counterparts. Still, with patents like the island-based collection system, it's clear that gacha isn't going anywhere in Nintendo's future.
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Source: USPTO