So, no one commented on the last mockup made that was a gaming tablet with cover controllers. (
Here's the link for anyone interested!) But, for kicks, I was thinking about the free-form, donut-shaped screen talk from years ago (in addition to the glasses free 3D patent) and what that could look like with this new news. I was also keeping in mind statements made about absorbing the Wii U architecture. So, here it is in it's standard, portable configuration:
You've got a tablet again, but it is formed around the two clickable analog sticks. You've got volume and select/start on the body, along with a camera and IR sensor (maybe...see below!). At the top, you have the scroll wheels closest to the edge (my best shot at making a wheel!) with a trigger button (L and R) closer to your finger tips. Behind the tablet, it has the bar across the top with semi-analog triggers. No buttons, I know, but here we go:
So, two controllers are removable from the back. These are slid in from the side (on a track) that slopes up enough at the end to get the stick through; you then push up on the outer part to latch it in. (On the bottom; just one of those clicky plastic pieces. To remove, you push on the latch to unleash it and slide it out.) This keeps the controllers secure. The controllers themselves have the analog stick, four face buttons, L/R, and scroll wheels. You lose the analog triggers in the back, though; I can only see that taking up way too much room, but maybe there is a way to make it work? But, the additional buttons on the front can make up for that. The whole face of the controller is that free-form screen...just because it's a mockup and looks cool. Well, not entirely true. (Again, stay tuned!) The screens on the controller are like little dummy Wii U controllers. The tablet here is just showing different scenes from the race taking place, but it could show a map, split screen (if playing with someone else), inventory, etc., or even be turned off. This picture shows what a picture would look like with the controllers removed, just to see what total extent of the screen is now unviewable. But...
Here's the same image with the tablet screen cropped. (Kind of 4:3? I did my best!) Cropped, even, there could be things against the black background in either bottom left/right corners, such as a timer for the race, mini-map, rankings from 1st to last in a list, etc.
Now, you don't have to have both controllers out to play. You may prefer it even. See, just because "why not," I was thinking how you could use the side controllers to provide a personal paralax/3D screen. The patent Nintendo published mentioned IR and a camera for eye-tracking; the tablet provides both! So, the controllers could also either have an IR in them, or I was thinking, potentially a magnet. (Another option described in the patent.) If you use magnets to provide tracking, it also opens the door for, say, a magnetically held on cover (think Apple's smart covers) for the back as well in tablet form, easily removable when you take the controllers out while also allowing the cover to be trifolded up and provide a tablet stand.
As a console, I just envision the whole shmoo getting put in a standard dock that charges it. You could use an HDMI dongle and have the dock be a wired (to the wall for electricity!) controller part, but I'm just thinking simpler here and providing a neater option. The detachable controllers can be popped into a shell easily enough (if desired) to have handles, maybe an additional analog stick or D-Pad. In this way, the tablet is still able to have a camera/IR/whatever to provide the paralax effect on the big screen as you are using the controller part it is paying attention to. (Though, again, I think the paralax effect could be much neater if done inverted with the smaller screen providing the effect, letting you glance around things and getting a gentler 3D effect. Just my opinion! Though, with local multiplayer, it'd have to be on the controller since I doubt the effect would work with two sets of eyes on one screen.)
And, if desired, the whole thing can be housed in the dock and a Pro controller used, or your Wiimotes, or any other millions of control options Nintendo has out there now.
And, disclaimer as always, but there's no way this is what Nintendo is doing! It's just interesting trying to piece everything together with rumors and whatnot!
