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[Tom Nook Sawyer]

Question: Why would this even need to be patented?

Specifically, what's unique here that other consoles aren't doing?

 

[KingBroly]

What if the "controller with the screen" is the handheld?

 

[ShockingAlberto]

If they can make this work, it would be cool from a "I want to play my portable copy of Monster Hunter on a big screen" perspective.

But I feel like this asks more questions than it answers.

 

[Obliterator]

Sure, 'likely'. companies tend to take a scatter approach to patents though, so its still possible itll never be anything. hence you dont title your article, and reference throughout, like this is a design document for the NX - especially given the sensitive topic of download only consoles/always online.

edit: and especially given its not a full picture. e.g. what Fourth said that there could be an optical drive variant. but nuance tends to be lost by these rushed articles.

Yeah I can agree with that. Its irresponsible if places are flat out saying its an "NX info leak."

I think saying its likely NX info or that its possible is ok, as evidence points to NX being deep into development and details gotta start leaking heavily soon

 

[WiiRevolution1]

Yes. We are looking at 3 internal memories here.

Maybe two are for 3DS & WiiU BC? IDK tech speak. >_< lol.

 

[Wagram]

Not a chance in hell i'm dropping money on a digital only machine. It's not a PC.

 

[Fourth Storm]

Maybe two are for 3DS & WiiU BC? IDK tech speak. >_< lol.

I've tried to break it down here. Shamelessly quoting myself for the new page...

Someone else will have to do a detailed summary, but it seems to describe:

• A system without an optical drive (but it mentions compatibility w/ a system that does have one)
  
• Games are downloaded over the internet and stored on an HDD.
  
• The OS is stored on a separate internal flash memory.
  
• A second intenal flash memory is used to back up important data, such as game saves.
  
• Memory card reader (SD cards mentioned) included w/ the use of providing OS updates to those without an internet connection.
  
• Speed control unit is used to put HDD into high or low speed read/write modes. Still fuzzy on this, but it seems that the internal HDD, in some instances, may need to lower the speed to match an external HDD or optical drive.
  
• The controller has a screen and is charged via cable connected to the console itself via an internal PSU.
  
• A storage medium which includes several different sets of code, each for a different hardware configuration. The console's processor has an ID unit and Selection Unit, which is used to choose which of the code sets to run on that hardware.

Those are the major things I took away, although I may have missed something.

 

[Teppic]

Not going to buy it if it's digital only. Just like I haven't bought much digital content for console and handhelds. One big reason for that is that you can't lend games that are digital, plus you can't sell them. If it's going to be digital only I would like to see the prices for the games to be under €10 for me to be interested, or DRM-free. I don't think either of those things are happening, so I hope Nintendo has some good plan in store for this new console/handheld or they will lose me as a costumer.

 

[x-Lundz-x]

What if the "controller with the screen" is the handheld?

Thanks the only thing that makes sense. What I see Nintendo doing is selling the handheld on its own, but also include it as the controller for the home console.

This could b interesting if it works well and you can get the same exact experience on both. We will see though. Honestly I think if the NX is WiiU level of failure they are done in the console space.

 

[ec0ec0]

It's the memory card that's shown in the patent.

but you're all just assuming that it would be used for that, right!? unless i missed something, that use was not mentioned in the patent?

 

[Toparaman]

Holy shit bros...could a hybrid console actually be happening?

 

[Obliterator]

but you're all just assuming that it would be used for that, right!? unless i missed something, that use was not mentioned in the patent?

Reading the patent I don't get the impression the SD card is meant for games, but more for providing updates.

Could be 100% off on that though as some of this thing is pretty damn deeply detailed, and also I dont see anything expressly saying it cant read games in this manner. But also nothing explicitly stating that it does

 

[Neoxon]

Holy shit bros...could a hybrid console actually be happening?

We already know that the NX isn't a hybrid.

 

[Fourth Storm]

Reading the patent I don't get the impression the SD card is meant for games, but more for providing updates.

Could be 100% off on that though as some of this thing is pretty damn deeply detailed, and also I dont see anything expressly saying it cant read games in this manner. But also nothing explicitly stating that it does

This is what I gathered as well.

 

[jeffers]

I've tried to break it down here. Shamelessly quoting myself for the new page...

which bit is your bottom point? in the speed unit section it talks about mapping code to the high/low speed access in a table.

edit: nvm

17. A non-transitory recording medium recording a computer program executed by the processor of the stationary game apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the computer program includes a processing routine for the stationary game apparatus, and one or more processing routines for a game apparatus having a hardware configuration different from the stationary game apparatus, and the computer program causes the processor to operate as an identification information obtaining unit obtaining identification information of a game apparatus, and a selection unit selecting a processing routine in accordance with the identification information obtained by the identification information obtaining unit.

edit2: broken out to new post.

 

[farisr]

Holy shit bros...could a hybrid console actually be happening?

My prediction is, if there is going to be a hybrid aspect, it'll be the games rather than the console.

They will play on both the console and whatever handheld nintendo has at the time. So folks will finally get that "console pokemon rpg" that they were waiting for, but in reality will just be a regular handheld pokemon game that can be played on the console.

 

[Peterc]

If they can stream content through the internet to NX console with high level games that runs on high servers. Is that possible? Without noticeable lag.

 

[Vanillalite]

Reading the patent I don't get the impression the SD card is meant for games, but more for providing updates.

Could be 100% off on that though as some of this thing is pretty damn deeply detailed, and also I dont see anything expressly saying it cant read games in this manner. But also nothing explicitly stating that it does

This is what I gathered as well.

Ditto, but I'm happy to be proven wrong either way.

 

[SmokedMeat]

Are Vita games expensive?

Vita games aren't 50GB.

 

[Obliterator]

This is what I gathered as well.

Yeah its kind of up in the air from the patent at least unless I am not reading something correctly. No definitive statement either way. I think the SD card game theory is anyones ball game right now. Could be or could be digital download only. The only clear thing is no optical disc drive

 

[Neoxon]

If they can stream content through the internet to NX console with high level games that runs on high servers. Is that possible? Without noticeable lag.

Not that I know of, no.

 

[pswii60]

Not a chance of me buying if it's digital only, certainly not with how Nintendo does everything backwards when it comes to online purchases being tied to your console and not your account.

 

[VariantX]

I guess It's too much to hope this thing will have an Ethernet cable port and will not force me to use up a USB slot for an adapter because I dont see one on any of those diagrams

 

[Fourth Storm]

Not that I know of, no.

Yeah, Iwata shut down the idea of streaming via cloud last year at a couple different Investor Q&As, iirc. Nintendo are definitely working on something(s) with the cloud, but it's almost definitely not game streaming.

 

[Fourth Storm]

I guess It's too much to hope this thing will have an Ethernet cable and will force me to use up a USB slot for an adapter because I dont see one on any of those diagrams

Well, if it gives you any hope, the line connecting the "communication unit" to the server isn't dotted like the one "wireless communication unit" is. But it's also not as dark as the lines which indicate a wired connection (A/V output and controller charger).

 

[jeffers]

this one has weird wording. why would a system have code on it thats not specific to itself? you'd expect the OS model to build 2 versions for the differing hardware.

26. A non-transitory recording medium recording a computer program executed by processors of a plurality of types of game apparatuses with different hardware configurations, wherein the computer program includes a plurality of processing routines for each of the plurality of types of game apparatuses, and the computer program causes the processor to operate as an identification information obtaining unit obtaining identification information of a game apparatus; and a selection unit selecting a processing routine in accordance with the identification information obtained by the identification information obtaining unit.

Dunno if its just patent-speak or makes sense to some devs here as to how builds work.

 

[Kjellson]

God I can't wait for next year. Console hype is the best.

 

[11redder]

People are really missing the "Example console" part of the patent

my take:
hi NX
you are multiple systems
you can interface with a disc drive
you have a serious OS
I see you have a GamePad, that's cool I like that

That's basically what I got from it as well, sounds intriguing.

 

[ArchedThunder]

It's the memory card that's shown in the patent.

It's not though, "Game Program" is only listed on the HDD and the text in the patent only refers to games being on the hard drive and the memory card section mentions nothing about games.

 

[Drilbit777]

I really hope it isn't digital only, I enjoy buying physical games and having something to look at my shelf rather than just be stored on my hard drive.

 

[Vanillalite]

You think Gamestop will start taking preorders now?

:jnc

 

[Oregano]

this one has weird wording. why would a system have code on it thats not specific to itself? you'd expect the OS model to build 2 versions for the differing hardware.

26. A non-transitory recording medium recording a computer program executed by processors of a plurality of types of game apparatuses with different hardware configurations, wherein the computer program includes a plurality of processing routines for each of the plurality of types of game apparatuses, and the computer program causes the processor to operate as an identification information obtaining unit obtaining identification information of a game apparatus; and a selection unit selecting a processing routine in accordance with the identification information obtained by the identification information obtaining unit.

Dunno if its just patent-speak or makes sense to some devs here as to how builds work.

It sounds like a relatively straightforward reference to how games on iOS/Android work and something Nintendo implied they wanted to do.

 

[ArchedThunder]

NX won't be a digital-only console. There may be a digital-only SKU but Japan isn't even close to adopting a digital-only future and considering the fact that Japan factors into about 95% of Nintendo's decision making, digital-only isn't happening anytime soon. This patent is probably in reference to one possible NX configuration consumers will be able to choose from.

You realize that mobile games are digital only, right?

 

[madstarr12]

Is it possible for them to offer a digital only version of the Console? Perhaps there will be one that'll accept physical media, and one model that doesn't. Maybe the non-physical media Console will have larger storage space (HDD) while the one with physical media won't. Also one that has a lot of storage space and the physical media for those who want both. Those could be determining factors in the cost of different SKUs.

 

[timshundo]

I really hope it isn't digital only, I enjoy buying physical games and having something to look at my shelf rather than just be stored on my hard drive.

You are a dying breed.

 

[Oersted]

Not a chance of me buying if it's digital only, certainly not with how Nintendo does everything backwards when it comes to online purchases being tied to your console and not your account.

Everything is set in stone and will never change.

 

[Game Guru]

Isn't that what Microsoft was trying to do with the Xbox One?

Well, no... Both the PS4 and XB1 work on the same principle of installing the game to the hard drive before being able to play the game. However, both consoles also make an initial check of the disc inside the console before allowing the game on the hard drive to be played. Theoretically, Nintendo could do the same thing with their cards. SD Cards, at least assuming that Nintendo is going with something like SD Cards, also have a mode where content is locked to the SD Card. The way I see it, Nintendo won't go digital-only if only because they aren't in the position to piss off retailers and won't go online-only if only because they don't want to piss off consumers, but that doesn't mean that Nintendo needs to use discs to sell games. I can see distinct advantages to going with cards for Nintendo, mainly that it means the console and the games are truly cross-compatible with their handheld, both the console and games will take up less space since they don't need a large disc drive, and that Nintendo won't have to worry about load times again. The major issues are mainly the cost of cards compared to discs.

However, given Nintendo's handhelds are doing better than their consoles and the handhelds use card based media, it might not be as much of an issue as one may think, especially if games on the handheld and console are truly cross-compatible. In reality, it would just be Nintendo killing off their console section and possibly expanding their handheld section for retailers with just the addition of a small console SKU for the handheld line. As for third-parties, the ones that Nintendo has relationships with mainly make and sell 3DS games already, so they are already using cards for the majority of their sales on Nintendo systems and would continue to use cards for future sales on Nintendo systems.

 

[jeffers]

It sounds like a relatively straightforward reference to how games on iOS/Android work and something Nintendo implied they wanted to do.

Yeah what I thought. Guess it doesnt have to be full different sets of code, just 1 set of code made with a common API, then device specific enhancements (i.e. bigger screen buffer)

 

[Obliterator]

this one has weird wording. why would a system have code on it thats not specific to itself? you'd expect the OS model to build 2 versions for the differing hardware.

26. A non-transitory recording medium recording a computer program executed by processors of a plurality of types of game apparatuses with different hardware configurations, wherein the computer program includes a plurality of processing routines for each of the plurality of types of game apparatuses, and the computer program causes the processor to operate as an identification information obtaining unit obtaining identification information of a game apparatus; and a selection unit selecting a processing routine in accordance with the identification information obtained by the identification information obtaining unit.

Dunno if its just patent-speak or makes sense to some devs here as to how builds work.

It sounds like a relatively straightforward reference to how games on iOS/Android work and something Nintendo implied they wanted to do.

Yeah the more I look at it the more I think this thing is digital only and using a mobile type interface

But idk maybe I'm off on that

 

[Oregano]

Yeah what I thought. Guess it doesnt have to be full different sets of code, just 1 set of code made with a common API, then device specific enhancements (i.e. bigger screen buffer)

It's actually an important detail because there was a lot of debate about whether Nintendo just meant making it easier to share assets but still develop/sell games separately like Smash Bros.

 

[jeffers]

Yeah the more I look at it the more I think this thing is digital only and using a mobile type interface

But idk maybe I'm off on that

tbh none of that says digital only. just says that code can be used on different hardware configurations.

 

[Umibozu]

could the memory unit be like an expanion pack?

 

[GnawtyDog]

Digital only? NO.
Cart based? Maybe...if they get third party support and they put up a competent console spec wise.

 

[Oregano]

tbh none of that says digital only. just says that code can be used on different hardware configurations.

I think it's a somewhat natural assumption based on the fact that cross buy only really works for DD presently. If Nintendo used the same media across from factors though it would easily work.

 

[Obliterator]

tbh none of that says digital only. just says that code can be used on different hardware configurations.

Its the combination of that, no optical drive, and no mention of the SD Card being able to read actual game software.

As I said earlier there is nothing stating it doesnt read it but also nothing stating it does.

It looks like a digital platform to me

 

[SmokedMeat]

You are a dying breed.

You think GameStop manufactures all of those used games?

Obviously mobile and PC are mainly digital, but consoles are still dominated by physical media.

 

[Koozek]

Man, I think this really could be a patent for the NX. Can't wait to see more, super excited. New-Nintendo-hardware-hype is the best hype.

 

[ec0ec0]

But also nothing explicitly stating that it does

this is what i was talking about. It's never mentioned if the "game program" can be read from the cart.

edit:

It's not though, "Game Program" is only listed on the HDD and the text in the patent only refers to games being on the hard drive and the memory card section mentions nothing about games.

.

 

[KingV]

I don't understand what in this concept is freaking patentable.

It's just looks like 'a design for a system that runs an OS while playing games but doesnt have a disk drive.'

conceptually, I very much doubt that can be enforced.

Is there anything truly unique in here?

 

[Neoxon]

You are a dying breed.

I also prefer physical. On top of collecting, it's also good to be sure that your games won't go anywhere (unless you disc/cartridge breaks somehow).