Support NeoGAF

[Nerrel]

There are lots of signs that this could be fake, but....


We had a rumor about the free form displays being sourced...
then we had Nintendo's patent strongly corroborating that rumor...
then we had a leaked photo of that exact controller, which wasn't outright denied by anyone...
now we have a second leak that's also not being denied. In fact, it lines up with what most people have heard about the device.

I don't know. This leak does look a little rough at the seams up close and the nub definitely looks like printed plastic. But, it's also an unfinished development version, so maybe it's not quite as polished.

If it is real, Nintendo needs to announce this thing right away. The longer they let people get repulsed by the lack of buttons without doing anything to explain or defend it, the less and less interest there'll be when they finally show it. Hopefully this isn't real and that's all irrelevant, but it's hard to ignore that sharp free-form LCD rumor and the patent.

Also:

so you CAN have physical buttons if you really want them, but you'll need to buy the attachment separately.

Physical button DLC- a first for the industry. Maybe they can lock those tactus bubble buttons under a paywall.

 

[shouamabane]

Nintendo is cheap.

I prefer to think of them as frugal.

 

[R00bot]

It's actually kinda pretty. Still don't like the idea. Hoping it's fake.

Also, in the second picture you can quite clearly see that the touch screen ends towards the left side of the device, which did not happen in the other leak. Of course, it could be a strange reflection.

 

[Pancake Mix]

Looks like the "screen' was made with this:

Look how it looks different in color from the Wii U screen:

This is a good point, but don't different screen panel types look different when turned off? It could just not be TN like the Wii U Gamepad's scree is.. Not to mention the Gamepad has a resistive touch screen layer overtop, the NX might not.

Not 100 percent #TeamReal myself, but just pointing that out.

 

[Doctre81]

Painting something a different color in a week shouldn't be too hard lmao

lol that's not even the same model.

 

[timshundo]

I watching all of you and are reminded of all those desperate people who thought the DS was announced with two screens so that it could display a projected hologram between the two because it had to be something more revolutionary than just two lcd screens.

 

[DataStream]

Deep breaths people.

Do we really want a gaming world where Nintendo is being normal? I'd rather have them burn out spectacularly and go third party than make a "me too" system.

 

[Codeblue]

#TeamReal from the jump. #TeamFake never learns do they. Poor souls wrong about the esrb smash leaks, Pokemon x & y evolutions etc. TeamFake needs some innovation in their lives

To be fair there were a thousand other Smash leaks that turned out to be fake, like the chorus kids.

 

[kitsuneyo]

What if the buttons are on the back??

 

[reelbigtink]

Why so much anger about this before we've even seen it in motion or had hands-on experience? Or before we even know if it's real (which I believe it is)? I get wanting a traditional controller but even if this is fake Nintendo is NOT going the traditional route ever again, so it's a little pointless to hope for that. Embrace the insanity.

Deep breaths people.

Do we really want a gaming world where Nintendo is being normal? I'd rather have them burn out spectacularly and go third party than make a "me too" system.

Yeah, DataStream gets it.

 

[Mihael Mello Keehl]

Watch the hologram controller be the only thing that comes true from all of this shit

 

[AfroDust]

The "use" should be fairly obvious. Senior figures at Nintendo (notably Iwata) have commented on numerous occasions that they think games controllers are intimidating for non-gamers, and that they have too many buttons, sticks and input devices. So, they want a controller that has as few buttons as possible to be more approachable to people who haven't played games consoles before. On the other hand, they also want a full suite of buttons to accommodate whatever third party games they may get (however few).

This design accommodates both seemingly contradictory requirements. When a non-gamer picks up the controller, they only see a big screen with two control sticks, no more intimidating than their phone or tablet. When they start the game, only the buttons that the game actually requires appear. And, instead of being labelled with arbitrary letters or symbols, they're labelled with what they actually do, which makes it a lot easier for new gamers to realise which button does what. So when you start the tutorial for Super Mario Multiverse, there aren't any buttons on screen, just the stick for you to get used to moving Mario around. Then a jump button appears, and you learn to jump. Then a fireball button, etc., etc.

At the same time, the design would accommodate an arbitrary number of buttons to accommodate the control schemes that existing gamers are used to (and potentially even add functionality like allowing players to adjust the position and size of each of the buttons).

Of course, the whole thing would depend entirely on good quality haptic feedback, and I have no idea how likely that would be. Personally I'm still of the opinion that this is fake, but if Nintendo does go this route (and given the patents they've filed, they've certainly been considering it), then it seems clear to me that they're doing it for the reason above.

You just took me from "on the fence," to "when does this shit come out."

 

[Nerrel]

I'd rather have them burn out spectacularly and go third party than make a "me too" system.

They did that last gen (aside from the 3rd party bit). This time let's have a good system.

 

[Doctre81]

What if the buttons are on the back??

I am pretty sure there could be. But don't expect a 6 button configuration back there.

 

[Nanashrew]

There are lots of signs that this could be fake, but....


We had a rumor about the free form displays being sourced...
then we had Nintendo's patent strongly corroborating that rumor...
then we had a leaked photo of that exact controller, which wasn't outright denied by anyone...
now we have a second leak that's also not being denied. In fact, it lines up with what most people have heard about the device.

I don't know. This leak does look a little rough at the seams up close and the nub definitely looks like printed plastic. But, it's also an unfinished development version, so maybe it's not quite as polished.

If it is real, Nintendo needs to announce this thing right away. The longer they let people get repulsed by the lack of buttons without doing anything to explain or defend it, the less and less interest there'll be when they finally show it. Hopefully this isn't real and that's all irrelevant, but it's hard to ignore that sharp free-form LCD rumor and the patent.

Keep in mind that the patent only described a function and also showed various way to cut the display and in no way was a hint at design.

Further more, I see the bottom one used for this sort of thing

 

[WordAssassin]

Find a piece of plastic that you think you can do this with and I will buy it for you. No problem at all.

Here:

Not saying this image is real or fake...but yeah. This. If you wanted to manufacture it, the screen (if non-functional!) would probably be the easiest part. If I remember my manufacturing class properly, acrylic is really easy to work with if you have access to a laser cutter. It's actually awesome because of how nice acrylic looks. It was my favorite material because it makes everything look fancier for not much money. To be honest, back in those days, I would have had access to everything necessary to model this. However, I definitely wouldn't have put in the time to do so, so if someone actually did that, props to them.

To reiterate, though, I'm not saying that it's fake. It's just that, if you were to ask me to rank the individual parts in terms of "how easy would it be to model this?," the screen would be my #1. Quick outline in Adobe Illustrator + spend a couple dollars on acrylic + laser cutter.

This is all I'm saying. I appreciate your offer but I'm just apathetic about it and don't actually care nearly enough to go buy and cut some acrylic, even for $100. First it was people going "Uh it's obviously a physical thing and not a photoshop so duh it's real" and now that we've got people arguing that because it is a physical thing there's somehow no way on earth anyone without access to a manufacturing plant can make one.

I'm not trying to say it's fake. I'm not trying to make anyone else think it's fake. I'm just arguing that if it is fake, it's not some kind of ridiculously difficult thing to create that only an elite few could make. It takes someone with the ability to model something in 3D, with access to a 3D printer and a sheet of acrylic. I don't think you even need a laser cutter, you just need any kind of saw and then you sand down the edges to make it look nice.

It could totally be real. I don't actually care one way or the other because I like Nintendo and am going to buy it no matter what it looks like. But if it is fake, all I am saying is that it's not out of the realm of possibility that someone with access to the tools made it. People make fakes based on patents all the time in the Apple world, be it complex 3D renders meant to look like photos or people actually machining fake iPhones based on case specs. I think the reason I'm being so stubborn is because I just don't understand how people can think that making a fake controller is an impossible task. Like... what do y'all think people did before there was Photoshop and 3D modeling software? They made physical fakes. This wouldn't be the first time someone actually built a fake thing and tried to pass it off as real, should it turn out to actually be fake.

 

[shezbot]

All I see is ROB

 

[Kouriozan]

Guns in Zelda U/NX confirmed then.

 

[generic_username]

Why are they doublting down on WiiU's mistakes?

 

[Nerrel]

Guns in Zelda U/NX confirmed then.

...why the fuck would you use a bow and arrow when you've got a fucking gun? This game has some serious issues to figure out.

EDIT: NX doomed.

 

[Badlucktroll]

They will probably have a "pro-controller" for FPS games and stuff.

 

[Already Torn]

...why the fuck would you use a bow and arrow when you've got a fucking gun? This game has some serious issues to figure out.

Framerate's terrible too

 

[i-Jest]

I pray people don't drop the thing, less they want the face to shatter like an iPhone's.

 

[Luke_Wal]

To be fair there were a thousand other Smash leaks that turned out to be fake, like the chorus kids.

To be even more fair: wasn't there some evidence found in the code of the 3DS version that Chorus Kids might have been planned at some point? I seem to remember some weirdness of something like that, because I was obsessed with Chorus Kids making it into the game.

 

[Tregard]

They will probably have a "pro-controller" for FPS games and stuff.

NX Elite Controller

 

[PapaEmeritus]

THE TREES DAMMIT

 

[javac]

Guns in Zelda U/NX confirmed then.

Talk shit get shot. Dragon had it coming.

 

[HawthorneKitty]

...why the fuck would you use a bow and arrow when you've got a fucking gun? This game has some serious issues to figure out.

Tomb Raider?

 

[Doctre81]

...why the fuck would you use a bow and arrow when you've got a fucking gun? This game has some serious issues to figure out.

EDIT: NX doomed.

Somebody never played Turok lol

 

[Nerrel]

Framerate's terrible too

No buy.

 

[ForsakenLotus]

Deep breaths people.

Do we really want a gaming world where Nintendo is being normal? I'd rather have them burn out spectacularly and go third party than make a "me too" system.

While I agree, should we also want a Nintendo who does something different for difference sake? If they wanted to push new technology or innovate on input method or control gimmicks, I think that's fair (even though I like traditional design with controllers). This doesn't seem like that. This seems like making something flashy that mobile gamers will be comfortable with while sacrificing some pretty fundamental benefits of traditional consoles.

Maybe Nintendo should be different, but they should still be smart while doing it.

 

[IchigoSharingan]

I'm guessing parts of the screen can be clicked on like buttons

 

[Dysun]

gross

why

 

[DeuceGamer]

Your iPhone screen isn't made by Sharp.

Never said it was...I replied to a person that stated the controller was fake because the screen in the Wii U and the potential NX controller were different looking colors. My Wii U and iPhone have a different color screen and neither of those are fake.

And your iPhone also cost a shit ton more than a Wii U gamepad. Nintendo is cheap.

Thanks for pointing out my iPhone cost more than my Wii U. Not sure how that's relevant to the post I replied to. Just because the Wii U screen has a different color to it than the NX screen doesn't mean it's fake.

Also, I doubt the Sharp free form displays are cheap, if that is indeed what they are using.

This is a good point, but don't different screen panel types look different when turned off? It could just not be TN like the Wii U Gamepad's scree is.. Not to mention the Gamepad has a resistive touch screen layer overtop, the NX might not.

Not 100 percent #TeamReal myself, but just pointing that out.

This is the point I was making. Just because the screens look different doesn't necessarily mean it's fake (or real).

 

[Mihael Mello Keehl]

Not saying this image is real or fake...but yeah. This. If you wanted to manufacture it, the screen (if non-functional!) would probably be the easiest part. If I remember my manufacturing class properly, acrylic is really easy to work with if you have access to a laser cutter. It's actually awesome because of how nice acrylic looks. It was my favorite material because it makes everything look fancier for not much money. To be honest, back in those days, I would have had access to everything necessary to model this. However, I definitely wouldn't have put in the time to do so, so if someone actually did that, props to them.

To reiterate, though, I'm not saying that it's fake. It's just that, if you were to ask me to rank the individual parts in terms of "how easy would it be to model this?," the screen would be my #1. Quick outline in Adobe Illustrator + spend a couple dollars on acrylic + laser cutter.

But are you an expert?

 

[Starfish Hero]

To be even more fair: wasn't there some evidence found in the code of the 3DS version that Chorus Kids might have been planned at some point? I seem to remember some weirdness of something like that, because I was obsessed with Chorus Kids making it into the game.

If I'm not mistaken, the prevailing theory is that the leak in question was probably legit, its info was just outdated.

 

[Clefargle]

I am pretty sure there could be. But don't expect a 6 button configuration back there.

WISHLIST:

Clickable scroll wheel triggers with haptic motor feedback
Secondary triggers

Touch pads

Clickable thumbsticks


You really could supplement the lack of physical buttons with this setup.

 

[James Scott]

...why the fuck would you use a bow and arrow when you've got a fucking gun? This game has some serious issues to figure out.

EDIT: NX doomed.

Far Cry confirmed

 

[LordOfChaos]

There are some sacrifices, but also a lot of possibilities with this.

 

[Nanashrew]

Guns in Zelda U/NX confirmed then.

I think the bigger thing is that so many only focused on this one design that anyone with photoshop was making mock-ups only for this one type ignoring just about everything else the patent talked about. Everyone was woe is me, the buttons are gone despite the patent also talking about physical buttons, alternative layouts and back panel buttons.

 

[Somnid]

The entire ball is required for haptics? Alright, at least it's a plausible argument, although the Steam controller is able to have haptics underneath a flat touch pad. This must be some crazy impressive stick haptics. Although you're not going to feel any touch sensitive haptics given the thick nub. So it could only be rumble and a bit of tension, something I can't see needing a tiny sliding nub on top of a sphere instead of just a regular nub or a regular stick.

I guess I'll remain skeptical for now.

Well I don't interpret a haptic stick to be the same sort of "tapping" a haptic button or surface would have. I'd imagine resistance changes and if such a thing is even technically feasible I imagine it would take a fair amount of space.

 

[Sorceror12]

obviously fake.. where is NFC. haha

 

[SirPenguin]

Here:
snip

Just wanted to say I can appreciate this position, and I'm sorry for pushing it too far to force your hand

No one knows anything for sure, and I can admit that there's at least some chance it's faked by the means you describe

 

[Falchion]

Still not a fan, doesn't look enjoyable to play on.

 

[reelbigtink]

WISHLIST:

Clickable scroll wheel triggers with haptic motor feedback
Secondary triggers

Touch pads

Clickable thumbsticks


You really could supplement the lack of physical buttons with this setup.

A ton of people who aren't on Gaf will be fine with non-physical buttons. I've got a bunch of friends who loaded their phones up with emulators to play Gameboy games with virtual buttons and it doesn't even phase them.

I mean, I'm all for the extra inputs but it's not a dealbreaker for the general public.

 

[J@hranimo]

I can believe haptic touch buttons are gonna happen on this controller.

 

[Simbabbad]

I'm willing to believe it might be a fake, but I don't understand the reasoning of the bolded above. If you look at this comparison, you can see that the screenshot is adjusted for the angle of the controller.

See how the edges of the screenshot are all at different angles to adjust for perspective?

It doesn't make sense at all for the game/application to show only the cropped top of an interactive 3D world, though. How would the game camera work? It's like displaying only the top half of a film. If this was indeed a real application running, the shot in the demo would be centred.

Here, I made a photoshop to illustrate:

I don't know where the device come from, but the image on it makes no sense.

Ha, I hadn't seen this, it pretty much obliterates that argument...wow. (it's not just resized, it's completely skewed)

Obviously it is, to go with the perspective of the device, but it makes no sense whatsoever for the device to show the cropped top of the picture. The picture couldn't superpose if the image was generated for the device, because the 3D angle would be totally different. The perspective is completely wrong for an interactive image.

 

[Doomsday]

Is there a poll somewhere where we can vote for #TeamReal and #TeamFake?

From what I can see, #TeamReal had about 30% before today's "leak" and now it seems like it has shifted toward 70%.

I'm still #TeamFake 'til the end, mostly because of the self-aware "you will say wow" comment from the first "leak".

 

[James Scott]

There are some sacrifices, but also a lot of possibilities with this.

I think the patent says you can use the right stick as a button so I think it could be more like this

 

[Ashodin]

It doesn't make sense at all for the game/application to show only the cropped top of an interactive 3D world, though. How would the game camera work? It's like displaying only the top half of a film. If this was indeed a real application running, the shot in the demo would be centred.

It makes sense if the demo wasn't optimized to the controller's display. Or it was manually setup that way on purpose to be able to see the FPS counter on the device.