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Nintendo Patents Projector That Displays Flat Images On Uneven Surfaces
- Thread starter Serenitynow
- Start date
You're not alone, I definitely recall seeing a proof of concept video. A projector was also scanning four illuminated corners, and could distort an image near instantly so that it would project flat, even through a mirror's reflection. Really cool tech
TheGreatMightyPoo
Banned
I'm ignorant about this jazz but how can this be cheap???
Bjoern the Smexy
Member
I know you're not completely serious here, but the TV button on Wii U did exactly what it was supposed to, you just had to set it up in the Wii U settings menu.
Serenitynow
Member
The Eurogamer report did mention a kickstand.
TheGreatMightyPoo
Banned
The TV button was the Wii U's killer app.
Why have one TV when you can have like 10 or more?
The patent is related to software tech.
There are already miniature projectors called Pico projectors which I learned some time ago on Wikipedia.
Since it is an already existing product, it's possible the tech for it is cheap.
Now imagine getting to set up your own local tournament without having to put TVs all over the place... That is pretty awesome because it is very accessible and can bring in crowds to play with local multiplayer controllers on one system.
Other than that, I had an idea about the projection from past patents that were a consequence of this.
(As in, this patent is a consequence of all their previous patents putting in research into optics technology, including projection.)
ggx2ac said:
http://m.neogaf.com/showpost.php?p=217781204
ggx2ac said:
Fredrik
Member
Exactly, this tech can't be for the handheld unit, every time you hit a button the picture would shake.
But it would work if the controllers were disconnected from the screen and the screen was the projector.
Bragmariosan
Banned
could be useful to play WiiU games if there is backward compatibilty
AcademicSaucer
Member
That looks really cool
Technically this is overcomable in the same way OIS works but I don't think they would include a projector. To get anything of decent quality would be very costly with not a huge amount of gain.
Reallink
Member
I mean I guess it's neat if you want to play games that look worse than a circa 1970 TV. It's effectively impossible to make a projection even approach good on a non-white non-reflective surfaces, especially not even flat. That's precisely why illumiroom fell flat on its face. Best they could do is maybe pull off table-top/diorama scale by shipping games with prop-up cardboard cut outs and such to project onto. Doesn't sound particularly compelling though with bonafide AR headsets presumably right around the corner.
TheGreatMightyPoo
Banned
That's 500$.
abstract alien
Member
I remember an interview with Shiggy where someone asked him about HD or something and said something to the effect of "we want the room to be what you play in and not need a TV at all". This was around the GameCube era, if I remember correctly.
Calm Mind
Member
A prelude to the madness.
Oh, I thought he had some similar comment that was referring to the Wii U Gamepad, it sounded like, "we want people to play games without being bounded to the TV screen."
Something like that, I have to see if I can find it.
(I thought it was the Gamepad because it gave you 360 degree motion with the Gamepad screen in those tech demos.)
Maybe they want us to play in a cube like in this commercial. 0:47 for reference
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yji_sBjt0_U
cooljeanius
Member
I use the TV button all the time. Are you getting it confused with the TVii application that used to exist?
FireBeaver
Banned
We know everything, yet nothing about the NX at the same time.
Dark Cloud
Member
It would make complete sense to have a projector and detachable controllers on the go. It can project a bigger screen on the wall for two player multiplayer would be awesome!
Mr. Pointy
Member
abstract alien
Member
I could be remembering what was said incorrectly. My memory is terrible, after all lol
Kissenkopf
Banned
It's a nice idea but who needs it? Does it change the way I play games? Does it change gameplay? It seems like a nice concept but nothing what 100 million people want to have in their hands. A lot of consumers would ask why their handheld needs a projector, when they have a TV at home.
The nornal consumer wouldn't see a benefit in it.
The nornal consumer wouldn't see a benefit in it.
Jubenhimer
Member
A console where you can project a large screen gaming experience on to any surface sound awesome on paper. But as always, it all depends on execution. Even great ideas can be murdered by bad execution, see Wii U Gamepad.
Dark Cloud
Member
I still think if it can project in the air with fog technology it will be huge!
Now I can see one way this can go bad.
People projecting porn or shock stuff in public spaces. (Using the internet browser.)
They'll get stopped by police but all you'll see is news blaming Nintendo for it.
Um... what? That button is secretly one of the GamePad's best features.
While I doubt this will end up in the NX, it's interesting that having a projector built in could make for large(-ish) screen gaming that isn't reliant on having a TV and can plan for low latency.
Nintendo had another patent using projectors and object detection
http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1204802
And even this patent for an image sensor that I could imagine being used in conjunction with a projector as another way to possibly do something similiar
http://alwaysnintendo.com/more-nintendo-patents-surface-haptic-feedback-and-linear-image-sensors/
Nintendo always has some interesting patents, but who knows if we ever see anything come out of them.
Nintendo had another patent using projectors and object detection
http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1204802
And even this patent for an image sensor that I could imagine being used in conjunction with a projector as another way to possibly do something similiar
http://alwaysnintendo.com/more-nintendo-patents-surface-haptic-feedback-and-linear-image-sensors/
Nintendo always has some interesting patents, but who knows if we ever see anything come out of them.
The thing about those projectors is you need to be in absolute darkness. Wonder if Nintendo has a solution for that issue.
Cool, never seen some of these.
Calm Mind
Member
you must have got it twisted homie. that button gets used every day. every controller needs one
D
Deleted member 465307
Unconfirmed Member
I don't understand what the appeal of having this in NX would be (note: I know it's not necessarily for NX; this is in response to comments in here that link them). If the system has a built-in screen and most people have a TV, I don't get why this would be a compelling thing, from a user perspective or from a game design perspective. I could see Nintendo releasing a projector attachment separately for people who want it or putting it in the dock, but I can't see how it would make sense to build this into a game system and increase cost. Plus, given that it might already be a high-powered handheld with a limited battery life, what would the battery life be if this were part of the main hardware and in use?
On-topic: This is some pretty cool tech.
On-topic: This is some pretty cool tech.
Dreamwriter
Member
Most people don't have an 80" TV they can take with them wherever they go, and project on a wall at the DMV for some great multiplayer "couch" gaming...
See how most Nintendo games are made for multiplayer? Well, go back to school and remember recess. You got the new NX with super Smash Bros and you and your friend are itching to play, but you only got one NX and of course there are not TV's near.
You detach the two sides of the NX and turn into controllers and activate the projector and Smash NX is now on the wall, while you and your friend have their own controller.