Maneauleau
Member
Unless that tablet doubles up as a real handheld too and vice-versa
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New Nintendo patent application - Nintendo NX related?
- Thread starter Disorientator
- Start date
Unless that tablet doubles up as a real handheld too and vice-versa
Cosmonaut X
Member
I'd be surprised if they did. They are the only (?) company working with dual screens, and it's a strong differentiator, as well as offering lots of flexibility for their developers.
I suspect they will be dropping the different-sized screens and 3D for their next handheld system though, as aside from the added cost it hobbled quite a number of the unique applications the DS family had, and it limits things like automatic screen rotation which is so commonplace on devices like phones and tablets now that I can't see them doing without it.
Chris Ticehurst
Member
I'm trying to picture what use these shoulder buttons could be used for. What possible ideas that can come out of this.
TheMoon
Member
what are you smoking? what do scrolling shoulder buttons have to do with content distribution?
Exactly, and i'd even say after Splatoon. I can't imagine that game without a second screen tbh.
After all the gamepad did have an advantage over classic controllers, but it had two big problems (ergonomy and battery life) that made it worse for certain games. But having a smaller screen and a shape more similar to a classic controller would mean getting the best of both worlds, and if a game doesn't need the screen devs can just turn it off to save battery life.
Graphics Horse
Member
One thing I spotted, it mentions breifly that their handheld example includes an 'external terminal'!
The vast, vast majority of Wii U games play fine on a single screen handheld alone.
The vast, vast majority of Wii U games play fine on a single screen handheld alone.
Disorientator
Member
TheMoon
Member
The vast majority of videogames overall also play fine with a d-pad. But an analog stick makes it better.
Including analog + d-pad options on a controller is very cheap on the manufacturing side. A screen is not. It's not worth the financial investment, given the minor benefits it offers.
Graphics Horse
Member
The patent actually gves an example of steering a car using both at once, lol
I'd like it if you could tilt them sideways like some mousewheels but that might be getting overcomplicated.
I'd like it if you could tilt them sideways like some mousewheels but that might be getting overcomplicated.
Or tripples as a smart phone and qadruples as a Wiimote too!
I'm crazy.
Jorok Goldblade
Member
Using a scroll wheel made massive arsenals manageable in PC fps games, rather than the two gun setup geared toward consoles. Inventory management is a huge plus here.
You could also use them to toggle the level of zoom on a camera or sniper rifle, or scroll through menus or blocks of text.
They're an easy addition to bumpers that open up new possibilities without sacrificing anything.
TheSlySoul
Member
Wii U gamepad can simulate dual screens anyway, so I figured they would just make one screen to make it cheaper. Main thing it seems they are ditching 3D.
What I hope for is the handheld can also work as a controller for the main system.
BronzeWolf
Banned
So far the main use for the dual screen in the handhelds have as maps or inventory displays. The rotatory shoulders take care of the inventory part, making the second screen less relevant.
UltimaWeapon
Member
In my opinion I believe this has little to do with the NX dedicated home or handheld console. I feel like it's meant to accommodate mobile gaming. How and in what capacity I'm not too sure of though.
I don't believe Nintendo would sacrifice the ZL/ZR-style layout for their currently-being-developed dedicated gaming system(s).
Dat speculation tho.
I don't believe Nintendo would sacrifice the ZL/ZR-style layout for their currently-being-developed dedicated gaming system(s).
Dat speculation tho.
BronzeWolf
Banned
This does not invalidate the Z buttons though
TheMoon
Member
= making things possible like Mario Maker? Wouldn't call that minor.
Don't think too much about the drawing there. It means nothing. This is all about the button functions, they use generic interface designs for these patent illustrations.
Do you understand how parents work? The number of face buttons is not part of the claim, therefore, it isn't going to be represented in the illustration. The illustration is just there for ease of understanding, not for a complete breakdown of the system. It's only for the claims in the patent.
I was satirising people who jumped to the same conclusion based on absolutely nothing in the previous Nintendo patent thread.
lol what
this is 100% compatible with the current style of shoulder layout
just put the scrollies in place of the bumpers and done
Patent mentions that it could be configured as either a scroll wheel that scrolls infinitely, like a mouse, or one that just scrolls 180deg. I think that's just Nintendo leaving some room for experimentation in, but I actually would prefer an 180deg scroller with a spring, so you can just "hold down" the scroller in a direction instead of having to move your finger again and again. Would make "lean" control options more intuitive without sacrificing menu scrolling.
sixteen-bit
Member
I'm skeptical, but would try it.
I really like the idea of a scrollable shoulder button the more I think about it. But it could be a problem in shooters when selecting weapons is mapped to that and you accidentally change the weapon when you actually wanted to shoot. (assuming this is the only button on the shoulder and no trigger)
wild wild rice
Member
Scrollable shoulder buttons...sounds interesting!
Also, I'm all for Nintendo keeping and improving on the idea of a screen in the controller. There are plenty of games for Wii U that were better for it.
Also, I'm all for Nintendo keeping and improving on the idea of a screen in the controller. There are plenty of games for Wii U that were better for it.
There may be a feature I'm not aware of, but I'm pretty sure you could do everything in Mario Maker without touch. Touch makes it better of course, but in the grand scale of an entire console generation, I would most certainly count that as a minor benefit.
wild wild rice
Member
For some reason the pics in the OP aren't loading for me. Anyway for me to view them?
Mario Maker hangs its hat on the accessibility of its level editor. that would not be possible without the touch screen.
Cosmonaut X
Member
Oooh... so could you possibly incorporate resistance to turning the wheels too? That has some fun applications...
TheMoon
Member
TheMoon
Member
the pics aren't relevant anyway. the description is what matters.
Like I said before, you can also play any game with d-pad but it is vastly inferior to an analog stick for most of them. Of course you CAN do everything without a second screen. You could design Wii Sports without motion controls if you really wanted to. The point isn't that it can't be done without it, it's that it's so much better with it.
Disorientator
Member
You can download the patent application pdf itself from the link provided in the OP.
wild wild rice
Member
Gotcha. Is there a screen in the controller in the pic? Just wondering if people are speculating or if it's actually there.
Help a blind man see...
Yes, there is a screen in the controller in the pic. But it's just a basic scheme. It doesn't have triggers and has only 2 face buttons. The screen might point out the fact that it's a handheld.
Scroll through menus
Lean left and right from cover
Cycle through weapons/combat modes
Give unit orders
Pan the screen etch-a-sketch style
Increase/decrease speed
Control 'intensity' etc etc.
If they make them click shoulder buttons too, this could bring a whole new opportunity for control.
Lean left and right from cover
Cycle through weapons/combat modes
Give unit orders
Pan the screen etch-a-sketch style
Increase/decrease speed
Control 'intensity' etc etc.
If they make them click shoulder buttons too, this could bring a whole new opportunity for control.
wild wild rice
Member
Cool. I'm one of the ones hoping the NX controller has a screen.
Fair enough. However I stand by my assessment that Mario Maker's ease of use does not warrant putting out another console with a $100 controller.
Me too. You can't beat the convenience of a touch screen.
……forgetit
Member
Pretty sure the screen will be gone guys. Honestly the best thing for Nintendo would be to do a complete refresh, but I don't see that happening. They love their backwards compatibility.
How is a controller with a small screen 100$? I'm pretty sure not even the Wii U Gamepad was THAT expensive to make.
wild wild rice
Member
Plus technology typically gets cheaper by the day.
TheMoon
Member
It's a fictional number based on some speculative component pricing mixed with rumors and costs for a replacement unit from customer support. Using it as a reference point is mostly useless.