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Nintendo patent application shows portable system with interchangable controls

DoubleTap

Member
customizable button layout (6-button on a portable finally!) and "tate mode" for shmups, take my money!

doing this from the get go will make it easier for all games to just detect what buttons/pads are connected so it will assign the best setup automatically.
 
With a patent like this, you have to make the terms as broad as possible, or you risk a manufacturer "being inspired" by your idea then claim yours is different because their's specifically mentions mobile and you're doesn't.

True, but combine this with the fact that this essentially allows for modular controls- i.e. it's entirely possible to have a device with a screen, and then just slide physical controls on to it if you want to game- and the idea of a Nintendo tablet being their follow up handheld doesn't seem too outlandish, does it?
 

Ataru

Unconfirmed Member
Again, I believe the "4DS" will be a tablet that can be played in either landscape or portrait mode, and you'll be able to move the controls/buttons around to accommodate playing in either mode. Portrait mode would be required to emulate DS/3DS games.
 

10k

Banned
Nintendo next gen is here!!!!!!!

Lol.

Looks interesting. I've always thought of an idea like this but always wondered if it would cost too much or sacrifice comfort.
 

Wichu

Member
The 3DS didn't have enough circle pads, you say?

loXqGN9.png
 
Edit: Giving it some further thought, wouldn't that require a physical connection to the main system though?

Yeah it would, at least with today's technology. You can store a small amount of data (64kb?) on these wireless chips but I'd think a ram expansion would be out of the question.
 
As long as the attachments are cheap or you get 2-3 with each system I could see this being really cool.

It feels too soon to replace the 3DS, right? This doesn't seem like it's backwards compatible, either. Maybe this will be the '3rd pillar'? Hosting games/apps similar to what kids play on phones, including educational/fitness apps?

I wish people would stop saying this. The Gameboy was 9 when the Gameboy Color came out, the Gameboy Color was 2 and a half when the GBA came out, the GBA was 3 and a half when the DS game out and the DS was a little over 6 when the 3DS came out. A holiday 2015 release for the next handheld would make a lot of sense, the 3DS would be almost 5 years old which would be a bit short of DS to 3DS but longer than GB to GBC or GBA to DS.

Also I've been doubting the next handheld would be backwards compatible since Iwata stated that its architecture would be based off of(not the same as) the Wii U's, so unless they want to literally put a 3DS inside of the machine and drive its price up and risk a horrible launch like the 3DS I doubt it will be backwards compatible.
 

DoubleTap

Member
Again, I believe the "4DS" will be a tablet that can be played in either landscape or portrait mode, and you'll be able to move the controls/buttons around to accommodate playing in either mode. Portrait mode would be required to emulate DS/3DS games.

With 4 customizable controller slots - The 4DS would be the appropriate name for something like this.
 
Also I've been doubting the next handheld would be backwards compatible since Iwata stated that its architecture would be based off of(not the same as) the Wii U's, so unless they want to literally put a 3DS inside of the machine and drive its price up and risk a horrible launch like the 3DS I doubt it will be backwards compatible.

I don't think it'll even have a card slot.
 
I don't think it'll even have a card slot.

This would be one way to not completely piss off retail, if most games came with custom controls (even if most of them end up being figurine joysticks). Still, Nintendo sure ain't gonna be the first to abandon physical media. They still have a big retail presence here in the U.S. at least.
 

BowieZ

Banned
I don't think it'll even have a card slot.
This.

It'll be a mobile phone and/or smart device that you can have either no physical buttons if you're not a gamey gamer, or you can buy some cheap attachments that could be released in different colors and themes and mix and match, or you switch to portrait mode to be able to play dual screen legacy DS/3DS games.
 
I don't think it'll even have a card slot.

Ehhhh... Digital distribution has been doing well for Nintendo, but it still isn't to the point where it could replace physical media. It will probably still use cards, though probably a cheaper to manufacture card that is based a bit more on SD cards.
This.

It'll be a mobile phone and/or smart device that you can have either no physical buttons if you're not a gamey gamer, or you can buy some cheap attachments that could be released in different colors and themes and mix and match, or you switch to portrait mode to be able to play dual screen legacy DS/3DS games.

You don't need portrait mode to be able to play DS and 3DS games, as long as the screen is around 5 inches and the resolution is 480 or higher you would be able to play them just fine with the screens stacked in normal mode. making the system work with a portrait mode with the interchangeable controls would be difficult and probably cost more than Nintendo is willing to put down.
Also unless they release some straight up ports of some 3DS games I doubt you will be able to play any on the system, but they will likely do a DS Virtual Console based on the Wii U's.
 

JCX

Member
I feel like I saw this mentioned during speculation for the Wii controller. Wouldn't be surprised if nintendo has been kicking around the idea for a while, since that's happened for other tech (wiimote as a peripheral for GCN, dual screens)
 

Ataru

Unconfirmed Member
This.

It'll be a mobile phone and/or smart device that you can have either no physical buttons if you're not a gamey gamer, or you can buy some cheap attachments that could be released in different colors and themes and mix and match

I would be very surprised if the controller attachments didn't come included. At least one analog pad and buttons, probably a d-pad too.
 

mikeysteena

Neo Member
Calling the system just "Gameboy" is actually not that bad an idea. Enough time had passed to prevent any confusion. Parents would immediately know what it is and where to buy it and would also be quite fitting if a Nintendo revival is really on the cards.



Then again I also think that their next console should just be called the "Nintendo"

Shrugs
 
I would be very surprised if the controller attachments didn't come included. At least one analog pad and buttons, probably a d-pad too.

At the very least it will come with 2 circle pads, a d-pad and buttons. If Nintendo is feeling generous they might pack in 2 d-pads and 2 button sets.
 
That looks like a tablet. Well that's good. I think it's a good idea that Nintendo make a portable tablet with button on it.

Though I think that Android support as well would be good.

Perhaps it's a good idea that I don't make decisions at Nintendo. I would make a lot of risky decisions that might not necessarily be good ideas, and that many people might not like.

I would make something similar to this. But make it really powerful and sell it at a loss. Like find a way to use two very processors together in the same system, one really powerful Intel chip, and a Tegra K1 chip. Is it even possible to use a RISC and a CISC chip together like that?

And an Android based operating system that would be similar to somewhere between both Android and Debian. And could run both the Google Play store and Steam. That would be pretty nifty. But I don't know much about these sorts of things.

I do think that a powerful handheld that would use a well supported and open operating system would be nice, though. And Android is the secondmost supported operating system outside of Windows.
 
That looks like a tablet. Well that's good. I think it's a good idea that Nintendo make a portable tablet with button on it.

Though I think that Android support as well would be good.

Perhaps it's a good idea that I don't make decisions at Nintendo. I would make a lot of risky decisions that might not necessarily be good ideas, and that many people might not like.

I would make something similar to this. But make it really powerful and sell it at a loss. Like find a way to use two very processors together in the same system, one really powerful Intel chip, and a Tegra K1 chip. Is it even possible to use a RISC and a CISC chip together like that?

And an Android based operating system that would be similar to somewhere between both Android and Debian. And could run both the Google Play store and Steam. That would be pretty nifty. But I don't know much about these sorts of things.

I do think that a powerful handheld that would use a well supported and open operating system would be nice, though. And Android is the secondmost supported operating system outside of Windows.
Nintendo absolutely needs to sell their next systems for profit. They can't risk taking a loss on something that might not sell well, like the Wii U. It also needs to be cheap to make so that it can be sold for under $200(handheld) and around $250(console).
 

DaBoss

Member
Please don't make it so they are vertically aligned. They need to be close somewhat while being diagonally aligned (I just made that up, but they should be diagonally away from each other like every other dual stick controller).
 
I know they are just using the bottom screen of a 3DS for an example, but man I really hope that if they are going back to a single screen design that they don't dump 16:9 and go back to 4:3 again.
 

Ataru

Unconfirmed Member
I would make something similar to this. But make it really powerful and sell it at a loss.

Eh, it doesn't need to be über powerful unless Nintendo is merging their handheld and console business (and I kinda think they should). And after the Wii-U, Nintendo is going to be even more reluctant to sell hardware at a loss.
 

Ataru

Unconfirmed Member
Please don't make it so they are vertically aligned. They need to be close somewhat while being diagonally aligned (I just made that up, but they should be diagonally away from each other like every other dual stick controller).

The point is, you can move the controller modules around and align them however you wish.
 

paolo11

Member
If Nintendo will make another portable handheld (which is great since I love portable handhelds from Nintendo and Sony), I'm curious about the power.

Will it be comparable to WiiU this time? Perhaps 360/PS3?

I do want more software support for 3DS though.
 
If Nintendo will make another portable handheld (which is great since I love portable handhelds from Nintendo and Sony), I'm curious about the power.

Will it be comparable to WiiU this time? Perhaps 360/PS3?

I do want more software support for 3DS though.

It will probably be a bit more powerful than the Vita in terms of grunt, but have more advanced capabilities in terms of shaders/lighting/effects and all that jazz that would be more directly comparable to Wii U, if not a little better. Sorta like how the 3DS was a bit more powerful than the PSP but because it was more modern it could do some things that not even the Wii could do, mainly better lighting.
 
Eh, it doesn't need to be über powerful unless Nintendo is merging their handheld and console business
Yea, that's kind of what I had in mind.

I feel like, instead of making a console for a long time, they could make a really powerful handheld that could display HD and could be connected to the TV like a console. And that would be pretty nifty.

The only problem is that I wouldn't know exactly how to do it. The Tegra K1 might be pretty good. But I get the feeling that it wouldn't be more powerful than the Wii U. Which would be great for a handheld, but I get the feeling it might disappoint some people if it were meant to also be a console for people.

There's also Intel, which are releasing Broadwell soon. And a lot of very low power consumption 14nm chips that are supposed to be very very capable for how much power they consume. But I don't really know what would be the best way to make a handheld that would be able to play lots of HD games and would be easy to port and develop for.
 
Yea, that's kind of what I had in mind.

I feel like, instead of making a console for a long time, they could make a really powerful handheld that could display HD and could be connected to the TV like a console. And that would be pretty nifty.

The only problem is that I wouldn't know exactly how to do it. The Tegra K1 might be pretty good. But I get the feeling that it wouldn't be more powerful than the Wii U. Which would be great for a handheld, but I get the feeling it might disappoint some people if it were meant to also be a console for people.

There's also Intel, which are releasing Broadwell soon. And a lot of very low power consumption 14nm chips that are supposed to be very very capable for how much power they consume. But I don't really know what would be the best way to make a handheld that would be able to play lots of HD games and would be easy to port and develop for.
Tegra can be a mess and they usually don't meet the expectations that Nvidia puts out for them. Assuming that Nintendo doesn't use another Pica chip I think the best brand they could go with would be Snapdragon. It's also kinda convenient that that company's philosophy lines up with Nintendo's pretty well.
 

Balb

Member
Seriously though.... Nintendo needs to bring back the gameboy name. The only reason why we don't have new gameboys is because the third pillar turned out to be made of solid gold... Nothing wrong with the previous one made of marble!

The Game Boy brand doesn't have a place in this industry anymore outside of being used as a nostalgia label. The name is indicative of the demographic Nintendo targeted in the 80s and 90s. It's far too limiting in 2014.
 
The Game Boy brand doesn't have a place in this industry anymore outside of being used as a nostalgia label. The name is indicative of the demographic Nintendo targeted in the 80s and 90s. It's far too limiting in 2014.

The Game Non-Specific-Gender!
 
The Game Boy brand doesn't have a place in this industry anymore outside of being used as a nostalgia label. The name is indicative of the demographic Nintendo targeted in the 80s and 90s. It's far too limiting in 2014.

Yeah, let's throw that idea out. Nintendo's female audience is way too important to them to risk alienation via silly branding.
 
Yea, that's kind of what I had in mind.

I feel like, instead of making a console for a long time, they could make a really powerful handheld that could display HD and could be connected to the TV like a console. And that would be pretty nifty.

The only problem is that I wouldn't know exactly how to do it. The Tegra K1 might be pretty good. But I get the feeling that it wouldn't be more powerful than the Wii U. Which would be great for a handheld, but I get the feeling it might disappoint some people if it were meant to also be a console for people.

There's also Intel, which are releasing Broadwell soon. And a lot of very low power consumption 14nm chips that are supposed to be very very capable for how much power they consume. But I don't really know what would be the best way to make a handheld that would be able to play lots of HD games and would be easy to port and develop for.

Iwata said a few months back that their unified architecture would "adequately absorb" the Wii U architecture. They're probably sticking with AMD. Given the timeframe, 20nm is probably the best we can hope for, but they have tablet-sized GPUs in the 128 shader range (just under Wii U) even now.
 

Ataru

Unconfirmed Member
Yeah, let's throw that idea out. Nintendo's female audience is way too important to them to risk alienation via silly branding.

I agree that there is absolutely no reason to go back to the "gameboy" name, but the suggestion that this would alienate their entire female audience is kinda ridiculous.
 
I agree that there is absolutely no reason to go back to the "gameboy" name, but the suggestion that this would alienate their entire female audience is kinda ridiculous.

Didn't mean to imply that. They should just do everything they can to reach out to a diverse audience and gameboy doesn't help that. I'm sure it wouldn't alienate all their female fans, but why risk discouraging any? Especially the nongamers they want who probably are not used to pulling out Nintendo devices in public.
 
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