TheBaldEmperor
Member
Oh, man. I've grown quite accustomed to those.
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Nintendo(?) Patent Application - Handheld with outward-facing linear image sensors
- Thread starter Disorientator
- Start date
Oh, man. I've grown quite accustomed to those.
Shikamaru Ninja
任天å ã® å¿è
We can only hope we get one gorgeous high resolution screen with touch capabilities. That dual screen is worthless.
BumblebeeCody
Member
Maybe it's a Nintablet? Nintendo OS based on the gamepad but with the portability and functionality of a tablet device (with buttons) but also means you can play Nintendo games on the go without having to own a 3DS but *breathe* with the Nintablet games from the eShop AND with Amiibo/NFC support.
Y'know....
TheBaldEmperor
Member
No more clamshell design, though...
AcademicSaucer
Member
dude, thats not a final design
KidGalactus
Member
Yo.
This could be really cool.
This could be really cool.
Eteric Rice
Member
Why is everyone hating on dual screen suddenly?
Retromelon
Member
I cannot agree with you any more possibly then I already do. Speaking for myself, I absolutely hate that gpu and battery power is sacrificed to render a stupid extra screen i don't need that usually has a map on it, when i can press start and see it on any other system. Imagine if that (imo) wasted battery and graphics power were put to use.
I just want a nintendo vita, i am sick and tired of new ways to play. The only improvement i can think of to that is a cover that is very thin and resides inside a slot in the back of the device while playing, but slides out to shield the screens from scratches when i put it in my pocket.
Fourth Storm
Member
Eh, this patent is one of the weirder ones. I can't see it being used, but maybe that sensor will manifest in some different capacity. Kinda like how Nintendo patented that head tracking method and used it in a totally different way in new 3DS than the patent's examples.
captjohnboyd
Member
It looks like they're not set on how they want to incorporate scrolling; by sliding your finger on the scanner on the side like so
Or by using the scrolling shoulder buttons
Either way I'm interested to see how they could be used in a game. Mostly I think it would just be for easy navigation of the inventory and such. Nothing too ground breaking there but I'd welcome it as long as it's not too intrusive.
As for the debate about the second screen (is there actually a debate? Everyone just hates it right?) I've actually learned to love the second screen on my 3DS. Is it necessary? No not at all. But I still love it. I enjoy using it to tilt the camera or mess with my inventory. It's just a lot of fun for me but I never went into the 3DS thinking it would be some powerhouse so perhaps that's why it's never bothered me. I am, however, all for them taking it out and making a more modern screen and utilizing their GPU's for more important tasks. While I enjoy the second screen as it is now I would not want them to do it again. Lets make this next handheld/console/thingie a little more beastly this time around
Or by using the scrolling shoulder buttons
Either way I'm interested to see how they could be used in a game. Mostly I think it would just be for easy navigation of the inventory and such. Nothing too ground breaking there but I'd welcome it as long as it's not too intrusive.
As for the debate about the second screen (is there actually a debate? Everyone just hates it right?) I've actually learned to love the second screen on my 3DS. Is it necessary? No not at all. But I still love it. I enjoy using it to tilt the camera or mess with my inventory. It's just a lot of fun for me but I never went into the 3DS thinking it would be some powerhouse so perhaps that's why it's never bothered me. I am, however, all for them taking it out and making a more modern screen and utilizing their GPU's for more important tasks. While I enjoy the second screen as it is now I would not want them to do it again. Lets make this next handheld/console/thingie a little more beastly this time around
I like the idea of tracking the players pulse in a less intrusive way than the Vitality Sensor. I think I'd prefer scroll wheels for scrolling though. Maybe you can have a strip behind the wheel so you get a slider and a wheel, but by that point you may as well have the thing shout "Bop It!".
chrisPjelly
Member
Not sure what they could do with this tech aside from rat amiibos. Maybe they could augment the users surroundings idfk the hell is an NX?!
ArchedThunder
Banned
VITALITY SENSOR LIVES!
Probably relatively soonish, NX is probably only a little bit over a year away. I can't wait till we start getting some solid leaks on what the system/s is like, man the Wii U mock-ups were fun times.
Probably relatively soonish, NX is probably only a little bit over a year away. I can't wait till we start getting some solid leaks on what the system/s is like, man the Wii U mock-ups were fun times.
As long as one of em is a Doug button, we're good.
ShockingAlberto
Member
openrob
Member
From what people are saying here. The patent is ONLY Showing the image sensor, and its placement on a handheld controller/games console.
It in no way means it has to have 2 buttons etc. The actual design of the handheld tech is irrelevant
Lol
These threads never dissapoint, always someone flipping shot about buttons over patent illustrations
And only a dpad?
Stilton Disco
Member
These gimmicky 'reinventing the wheel' patents just scream Nintendo apparently still desperately trying to recapture that Wii/DS market, and still not understanding how they got that audience in the first place, or why they've all buggered off to mobile.
evolution, who needs that? give me just a dpad with 2 buttons pls.
A clickable shoulder wheel is 'reinventing the wheel'?
CaviarMeths
Member
Or that they're actually experimenting with ways to make a traditional controller more functional or intuitive, kinda like they did with the NES (D-pad), SNES (diamond face layout, shoulder buttons), N64 (analog stick), and Gamecube (analog triggers). Some would say Nintendo controllers have led or popularized industry-wide changes in how controllers are made.
These patents, along with the wheel patent, seem like nice quality of life improvements on a controller/handheld both for games and OS/web browsing. At least to me anyway. I would say these actually have meaningful thought put into them compared to "lets do a 3D screen because 3D is popular" and "lets make the controller like a tablet because those are popular".
Stilton Disco
Member
What I mean is that these are both adding extra layers of complexity and deviating from the industry standards (standards which yes, a long time ago they helped lay the groundwork for, but that they have never done a good job of keeping up with since), without a good reason for why that deviation should take place.
Even the current market leader, the PS4, doesn't have a strong enough influence to justify its own controller gimmick, the touchpad, by being able to influence developers into embracing its potential uses. Given Nintendo's almost irrelevancy to the wider market these days, sinking resources into a barrier to potential ports they desperately need isn't going to do them any favours, as well as increasing R&D costs for a gimmick that will, given past experience, likely barely be used even by themselves.
There's also the fact that doing things differently just for the sake of it will turn customers away, both the enthusiast market, who have specific expectations for what they need for games, and any potential casual players that might be swayed from Mobile, since these just make things more complicated and difficult to understand for them.
Who knows, maybe I'm worrying over nothing and over thinking this, but these recent patents worry me, in the same way the pre-release info we got about the WiiU and 3DS worried me, and unlike how I could instantly see the appeal of the ideas behind the Wii and DS before them.
Right now, because of stuff like this that's simply unnecessarily contrary, I'm expecting to see a further shrink in Nintendo's user base with the NX, because it looks to me like they've not learnt from their past fuck ups.
Even the current market leader, the PS4, doesn't have a strong enough influence to justify its own controller gimmick, the touchpad, by being able to influence developers into embracing its potential uses. Given Nintendo's almost irrelevancy to the wider market these days, sinking resources into a barrier to potential ports they desperately need isn't going to do them any favours, as well as increasing R&D costs for a gimmick that will, given past experience, likely barely be used even by themselves.
There's also the fact that doing things differently just for the sake of it will turn customers away, both the enthusiast market, who have specific expectations for what they need for games, and any potential casual players that might be swayed from Mobile, since these just make things more complicated and difficult to understand for them.
Who knows, maybe I'm worrying over nothing and over thinking this, but these recent patents worry me, in the same way the pre-release info we got about the WiiU and 3DS worried me, and unlike how I could instantly see the appeal of the ideas behind the Wii and DS before them.
Right now, because of stuff like this that's simply unnecessarily contrary, I'm expecting to see a further shrink in Nintendo's user base with the NX, because it looks to me like they've not learnt from their past fuck ups.
Brad Grenz
Member
If you thought back touch was a dumb idea, wait until you see all 4 sides touch!
FunkyDealer
Banned
Goodbye batterylife.
Seems to me like this is designed more specifically to give the same functionality of the scroll wheels on the other patent, but in a different way. Perhaps the handheld design needs this because the scroll wheel shoulder buttons don't work for the industrial design of a handheld.
Just a thought, though, but considering some of the descriptions and illustrations, that's my take, with the extra stuff just added overtop for the sake of the technology being capable of that.
So TL;DR version is: no more controller innovation allowed? Especially if the entity doing the innovating hasn't innovated in ways you want every single time? Ummm... OK?
Every new feature designed is in some way or another "contrary", along with a number of other adjectives. Things like 2 analog sticks and analog shoulder buttons (the precursor to analog triggers) and clickable sticks were "contrary", as well, until people used them and developers found a place for them in most game designs. Plenty of people understood what Wii did/does fully and still didn't/don't see why it ever needed to exist, so it's all a matter of opinion.
Writing off something as unnecessary or off-putting (as though controllers aren't already to most people) or inevitably not the next controller standard before it's even off paper and in the hand is bollocks, no matter which way you look at it.
Just a thought, though, but considering some of the descriptions and illustrations, that's my take, with the extra stuff just added overtop for the sake of the technology being capable of that.
So TL;DR version is: no more controller innovation allowed? Especially if the entity doing the innovating hasn't innovated in ways you want every single time? Ummm... OK?
Every new feature designed is in some way or another "contrary", along with a number of other adjectives. Things like 2 analog sticks and analog shoulder buttons (the precursor to analog triggers) and clickable sticks were "contrary", as well, until people used them and developers found a place for them in most game designs. Plenty of people understood what Wii did/does fully and still didn't/don't see why it ever needed to exist, so it's all a matter of opinion.
Writing off something as unnecessary or off-putting (as though controllers aren't already to most people) or inevitably not the next controller standard before it's even off paper and in the hand is bollocks, no matter which way you look at it.
dark_inferno
Member
Jesus. Another Gimmick Nintendo Console/Handheld.
Im out.
Im out.
Stilton Disco
Member
Just calling it as I see it, neither these nor anything Nintendo brought to the table for the WiiU and 3DS seemed like innovations to me, so much as throwing shit at a wall to see what stuck.
Even the DS and Wii were only good ideas that got lucky enough to find the right audiences at just the right time, rather than Nintendo knowingly creating a genuinely innovative improvement that changed the landscape of the industry. Infact I'd go as far as to say their ideas were only truly capitalised on later by other people. Touchscreen's were popularised by Apple, and now the fad is over, motion controls are finally finding their niche with VR.
Honestly, I don't think Nintendo have been an industry leading, innovative hardware maker since the N64's rumble pack and analogue stick, and even then it took Sony with the Dualshock to really get that formula right.
Nobody outside of enthusiasts gives a flying fuck about VR.
Stilton Disco
Member
I thought that until it was clear that for most people VR will mean using their phones in a cheap head set to watch sports and wank over VR porn. There's no way that will fail.
Plus we're talking about the game enthusiast market here, and wether it lasts past it's shiny newness or not, too many big names are throwing their weight behind it to dismiss it, and all of them are using motion controllers.
SweetDonuts
Member
They've all gone mad!
Stilton Disco
Member
Eh, I dot hate them, well not on handhelds, the WiiU's can fuck right off, but after a decade of waiting around for the killer app that weould supposedly justify having one, and still only ever really using it to avoiding having to press a button to bring up a menu or map, I think it's kind of proven itself to be pretty pointless, and a waste of a systems power and Nintendo's resources.
It's another technological dead end, that at this point (either directly through over complicating matters, or indirectly due to compromising the rest of the systems design), is probably putting off more people than its drawing in.
It's certainly a deal breaker for me if its included in the NX. After the WiiU, I'm done with second screen controllers on home consoles. They simply do more harm than good.
I've tried Oculus Rift. My reaction was "huh, kinda cool, I guess".
CaviarMeths
Member
It really looks like the function of this device would be tertiary anyway, not directly related to gaming. Kind of like the NFC chip already in your Gamepad or your smartphone. If you looked at a patent for the NFC chip in the Gamepad and thought to yourself "wow, another gimmick from Nintendo" I don't think you were being fair. Scanning stuff and getting a pulse readout isn't going to make you control the new Mario game with your nipples.
Honestly, the word "gimmick" seems like a cool derisive buzzword to attempt to throw shade at any questionable innovation.
They are innovative whether you personally find enjoyment in them or not. I don't give a shit about VR, but if I were to say it's not innovative, that would be ignorant or disingenuous. The Wii U and 3DS both do things that no other gaming platform had done before. That is innovative.
And it's a little daft to suggest that Nintendo hardware engineers were just guessing when they designed stuff. A lot of money goes into R&D. Suggesting that a second screen device with a combination of touch, button, and motion controls was "throwing shit at a wall" and not years of careful market research is tomfoolery.
"Research indicates that 100 million people like to play Candy Crush while pooping. What if we let them play Wii U while pooping?"
Sure, 2 years after the Wii U failed to penetrate the market we can declare that it was a stupid innovation that didn't work, but it still wasn't a guess. It was calculated.
The DS was out years before any commercially available Apple product had a touchscreen. And touchscreens for gaming is definitely a meaningful innovation that has had significant impact in the industry. So have motion controls. The fact that Sony is going to be using an innovation that Nintendo pioneered 10 years ago for an upcoming product of their own doesn't reinforce your argument that the Wii was not innovative. It counters it.
Honestly, the word "gimmick" seems like a cool derisive buzzword to attempt to throw shade at any questionable innovation.
They are innovative whether you personally find enjoyment in them or not. I don't give a shit about VR, but if I were to say it's not innovative, that would be ignorant or disingenuous. The Wii U and 3DS both do things that no other gaming platform had done before. That is innovative.
And it's a little daft to suggest that Nintendo hardware engineers were just guessing when they designed stuff. A lot of money goes into R&D. Suggesting that a second screen device with a combination of touch, button, and motion controls was "throwing shit at a wall" and not years of careful market research is tomfoolery.
"Research indicates that 100 million people like to play Candy Crush while pooping. What if we let them play Wii U while pooping?"
Sure, 2 years after the Wii U failed to penetrate the market we can declare that it was a stupid innovation that didn't work, but it still wasn't a guess. It was calculated.
The DS was out years before any commercially available Apple product had a touchscreen. And touchscreens for gaming is definitely a meaningful innovation that has had significant impact in the industry. So have motion controls. The fact that Sony is going to be using an innovation that Nintendo pioneered 10 years ago for an upcoming product of their own doesn't reinforce your argument that the Wii was not innovative. It counters it.
Eteric Rice
Member
I'm fine with the touch screen on the Wii U, I'm just not fine with how absolutely fucking huge it is.I suspect the NX will have the touch screen (at least if the handheld version does). but it's going to be a lot smaller.
There's no reason for the Wii U controller to be as big as it is.
There's no reason for the Wii U controller to be as big as it is.
CaviarMeths
Member
Agreed. Maybe a form factor a tad bigger than the Vita 1000 with full sized thumbsticks and that would be golden. More ergonomic too, slight curving on the back and sides to fit the hands better for extended play.
I think it should be an optional peripheral this time though. Yes, that would disincentivize developers from actually using it, but it would drastically reduce the entry cost of the device. As long as they don't end up in a PS4/Vita situation where almost no games even make use of the second screen functionality.
Shame too. I'm on a big Diablo kick at the moment, and I would love to use a (slightly more ergonomic) Vita to play the game with a second screen. Put my equipment wheel on the second screen with some of my skills that aren't mapped to a button, would be rad. Maybe a log of recent quest info/dialogue too, I dunno. It's convenient to have. My favorite use of the Gamepad is still Wind Waker HD. Just having that map and inventory there, open at all times, was a game changer for me.
Stilton Disco
Member
You're missing my point entirely. Yes, Nintendo have often been first to implement a new technology, but they're rarely the ones to truly get it right or find the right way to use them. Analogue sticks, shoulder buttons, motion controls and touchscreens were all Nintendo 'innovations', but if it weren't for other companies taking those ideas and perfecting them, they'd have died on their arses like all the other gimmicks that they've created over the years that other people couldn't find a proper use for, and Nintendo never really knew themselves what to do with.
They're terrible at both following through with their random, sometimes brilliant ideas, and incorporating the wider industry standards.
Nintendo's true strength is their games, not their 'innovative' hardware. It always has been, and over the last couple of decades they've been undermining that strength by forcing games to fit gimmicks that hobble systems, rather than, as with the NES, SNES and lesser extent N64, building hardware around what would improve existing games but didn't exist yet.
CaviarMeths
Member
We'll have to agree to disagree on Nintendo's weird innovations (I find them more hit than miss, and the 3DS is honestly my favorite Nintendo system since the SNES), but @ the bolded, I think this may have been the time where they put the greatest emphasis on designing hardware around trying to introduce a "better" way to play a game. That ridiculous looking N64 controller designed for people with 3 hands looks that way because Miyamoto really, really wanted you to feel just right when controlling Mario.
Is this now the new trend response on everyone who does not really like VR? Like VR is totally the end game and everyone should love the thing?
I had tried the thing and i hate it. It gives me headaches and motion sickness. Why should i love things that hurt me here.
would love to see how they are actually using it.
i have plenty of ideas how to improve regular controllers, its so sad to see, how the basic controllers havent improved over the years.
since the dual shock, there was nothing done. its pretty much the standard. nonone tries to improve controls except for nintendo. nothing really revolutionary is out there, only a few tweaks here and there.
colour me interested because of the oculus rift controller and the new steam controller, but they do not seem like something coming up in the main-stream in the next 1-2years...
i have plenty of ideas how to improve regular controllers, its so sad to see, how the basic controllers havent improved over the years.
since the dual shock, there was nothing done. its pretty much the standard. nonone tries to improve controls except for nintendo. nothing really revolutionary is out there, only a few tweaks here and there.
colour me interested because of the oculus rift controller and the new steam controller, but they do not seem like something coming up in the main-stream in the next 1-2years...
This is simply dismissive of all the facts that happened last gen. The DS and Wii were directly related to growing the market for women, casuals, and elderly. Yes apple may have seen success with motion and touch screen interface but that did not change the fact that the DS and Wii were absolutely major players and were hugely influential. Their philosophy has always been to use existing tech for game play experiences. And the fact that others capitalize on their ideas is actually a major reason why people see Nintendo as innovative.