Re/Code speculates: NX secret could be "social AR" gaming?

[BD1]

A opinion piece Posted on Re/Code today by Tim Merel, the Managing Director of Digi-Capital, speculates that NX could be a console designed for social AR/VR gaming. It really is 100% speculation, and he bases a lot of his reasoning in the "Blue Ocean" Wii mantra, but he does back it up with some solid assumptions, plus reasonable quotes and facts.

The whole article is linked, here is an excerpt:

Put all this together and there could be a Blue Ocean which Nintendo (or someone else) might open. Let’s call it “social AR/VR games”:

• Low-cost dedicated video-game console (i.e., spec equal to or lower than PS4/Xbox One) optimized for AR/VR with high-quality positional tracking for immersion
• Low-cost VR, AR or mixed-reality head-mounted displays to enable social gameplay. These could either be dedicated HMDs or smartphone HMD holders similar to Samsung GearVR/Google Cardboard.
• “Non-gamer”-friendly dedicated wireless controllers to address the mass market
• Integrated hardware/software platform for consistent performance
• Multiple high-quality (and fun) bundled games at launch
• Dedicated SDK for third-party game developers.
• This looks a bit like the original Wii strategy applied to the AR/VR market in the context of smartphones, and could enable Nintendo to leverage its IP to again “disrupt an entire industry, and in a good way.”

I've honestly never given much thought that NX would be a VR heavy machine based on the comments of the Nintendo brass, but I've never really considered AR. Nintendo is no stranger to AR (3DS) and its probably a more accessible technology than VR. And if you think about it, a thousand little Pikmin running around your living room seems so much more Nintendoish than being immersed in a virtual Koppai.

Thoughts GAF? AR as the NX hook?

 

[Tathanen]

Sure! As long as it's not just a Wii U+ box with a standard controller playing normal games I'll be happy. Gimme something totally weird like this.

 

[Plinko]

I'm fairly certain that years ago, Miyamoto or Iwata talked about liking the possibility of having a projector in your room that would allow you to play Mario Kart all around the place. This would be a step toward that situation, but I can't see how they could do it cheaply.

 

[KingBroly]

I don't see how this would sell many units when there are so many software applications out there that do AR.

 

[Stumpokapow]

Dedicated SDK for third-party game developers.

wow really going out on a limb to suggest that there will be an SDK... really very deep speculation...

 

[neogaffer1]

so... holo-lens?

 

[BD1]

so... holo-lens?

Yes, the author does acknowledge Holo-Lens, but points out that Microsoft has publicly stated that gaming is on the back burner for that tech.

 

[Tathanen]

wow really going out on a limb to suggest that there will be an SDK... really very deep speculation...

I bet they are even doing preliminary research into whether or not they can provide APIs.

:O

 

[Azure Dream]

One of the few things they aggressively did at E3 was crap on VR. Reggie did it blatantly, and I believe Miyamoto was down on it as well.

It would be rather shortsighted for them to present anything like VR so soon after that.

Edit: My fault for not reading the article, apparently these very quotes are covered. And then... tried to turn that into a "Ha ha, they're trying to mislead you!" theory...

 

[Gleethor]

Sounds like it would scare off and alienate absolutely everyone.

 

[Trojan]

Didn't Reggie go on record saying VR was "not fun"?

 

[Koppai]

I really hope whatever Nintendo releases puts them back at the top and companies want to embrace Nintendo instead of ignore them. It has a lot of potential if Nintendo has learned anything from the Wii U and GC.

 

[Kimawolf]

With yokai Watch, Pokemon, Monster Hunter, the AR potential would be great for their audience. I doubt they'd make a "high end" VR model though, seems to expensive for them.

 

[4Tran]

AR is so far from the kinds of projects that Nintendo is up to that I think it's more likely that NX will ship with a pair of leprechauns.

 

[greg400]

“Non-gamer”-friendly dedicated wireless controllers to address the mass market

So Wii remotes?

 

[Fourth Storm]

Glasses AR? Nah...

There was that crazy patent, but I don't think they are going the wearables route...or are they?

 

[MrPhiliasfrog]

It was a good article to read, but I really doubt Nintendo will go on the AR/VR path.

 

[Azure Dream]

Glasses AR? Nah...

There was that crazy patent, but I don't think they are going the wearables route...or are they?

You tell me.

 

[meltingparappa]

It's weird finally seeing it written in the OP, but I have a hard time believing that Nintendo can pull off an affordable PS4/Xbox One caliber system right now, even a few years after its launch.

 

[mosdl]

I think Sony/MS should offer a "Non-gamer-friendly dedicated wireless controllers to address the mass market", would make it easier to get less dedicated gamers.

 

[Fourth Storm]

You tell me.

That's for QoL. Nintendo are still doing console and mobile. Why not wearables too?

http://www.google.com/patents/US8704879

 

[InsaneZero]

A opinion piece Posted on Re/Code today by Tim Merel, the Managing Director of Digi-Capital, speculates that NX could be a console designed for social AR/VR gaming. It really is 100% speculation, and he bases a lot of his reasoning in the "Blue Ocean" Wii mantra, but he does back it up with some solid assumptions, plus reasonable quotes and facts.

The whole article is linked, here is an excerpt:


I've honestly never given much thought that NX would be a VR heavy machine based on the comments of the Nintendo brass, but I've never really considered AR. Nintendo is no stranger to AR (3DS) and its probably a more accessible technology than VR. And if you think about it, a thousand little Pikmin running around your living room seems so much more Nintendoish than being immersed in a virtual Koppai.

Thoughts GAF? AR as the NX hook?

This article makes a very basic logical fallacy of assuming that if Nintendo says that they're not doing something, then they MUST be doing the complete opposite and using that as the foundation of the argument.

The article also notes that the advising company DigiCapital is making a prediction that AR/VR will disrupt mobile and grow into a $150 billion dollar industry by 2020, so there might be some form of bias here.

 

[Sterok]

I do think Nintendo is very interested in AR. They've certainly dabbled in it a fair bit, but it hasn't become something big that they can really sell yet. Maybe they've got something cool, simple, and affordable for the technology like they did with motion controls on the Wii. If they go for another gimmick, this is where I've been thinking they'll be going.

 

[Terrell]

I could see them trying something AR related, but not right now. VR has already been shot down by a bunch of Nintendo executives, so if they try something new, it'll be AR, not VR. And so long as it's an easy solution that doesn't cost a fortune, it's what they'll go for.

 

[Sho_Nuff82]

A console potentially weaker than the XboxOne is not doing much to push VR gaming forward. Just saying. If this is remotely their vision, they'd better put the specs behind it to make it worthwhile.

Interestingly enough, this would almost completely remove Nintendo from the local multiplayer arena.

 

[TheXfactor]

if it dont cost a lot, maybe. they are going for cheap this time(and rightfully so)

 

[Oriel]

A opinion piece Posted on Re/Code today by Tim Merel, the Managing Director of Digi-Capital, speculates that NX could be a console designed for social AR/VR gaming. It really is 100% speculation, and he bases a lot of his reasoning in the "Blue Ocean" Wii mantra, but he does back it up with some solid assumptions, plus reasonable quotes and facts.

The whole article is linked, here is an excerpt:


I've honestly never given much thought that NX would be a VR heavy machine based on the comments of the Nintendo brass, but I've never really considered AR. Nintendo is no stranger to AR (3DS) and its probably a more accessible technology than VR. And if you think about it, a thousand little Pikmin running around your living room seems so much more Nintendoish than being immersed in a virtual Koppai.

Thoughts GAF? AR as the NX hook?

A lot of those would have been a given I would have thought. A dedicated SDK and "fun launch games"? Really?

 

[The Broken Ska Record]

If they do AR, I hope they have the developers lined up to actually showcase its uses.

 

[0.1.1.2.3.5.8.13.21.34.55]

Nintendo... don't build that. Please.

 

[Neff]

Iwata's quote about NX being able to 'surprise' and 'innovate' makes me think that it has some sort of crazy AR hook that people won't be expecting. Projection, flexible display, Power Glove revivals, clothes with screens on them... who knows. Nintendo do crazy shit.

 

[AstroNut325]

A console potentially weaker than the XboxOne is not doing much to push VR gaming forward. Just saying. If this is remotely their vision, they'd better put the specs behind it to make it worthwhile.

Interestingly enough, this would almost completely remove Nintendo from the local multiplayer arena.

If all they're going to do is stick with the cartoon and cartoonish art styles, you can probably do VR with X1 level power. Imagine Wii graphics in VR.

 

[tengiants]

I've mentioned this idea a few times. I think it could be a good direction if they are actually doing it. Imagine being able to project two screens in any position on any surface in your house. Even the 2D content would feel fresh.

I'm personally more interested in AR than VR, especially after seeing what Microsoft is doing. Given the technology that the Wii and DS family has made available to them (gyroscopes, low latency video stream, motion controls, software libraries for dual screen development), and them eyeing those free form LCD screens, it seems they are positioned to do something interesting in AR.

 

[To Far Away Times]

Nintendo, never stop being crazy please.

 

[TheXfactor]

Iwata's quote about NX being able to 'surprise' and 'innovate' makes me think that it has some sort of crazy AR hook that people won't be expecting. Projection, flexible display, Power Glove revivals, clothes with screens on them... who knows. Nintendo do crazy shit.

flexible display would be tight as hell, just dont put it on the side of the system, that was the most pointless use to me for samsung with such cool tech

 

[Mr. Pointy]

I think AR is a good possibility. But I don't know if that'll be the thing. They tried AR with the 3DS and that didn't really blow up.

 

[vagabondarts]

A/R doesn't interest me in the least. Hopefully this is wrong.

 

[DXB-KNIGHT]

I think AR is a good possibility. But I don't know if that'll be the thing. They tried AR with the 3DS and that didn't really blow up.

They had the right ideas but the camera quality really killed it.

 

[Neiteio]

I just want it to be futuristic. Like the console doesn't even have a solid structure, it's just an amorphous blob of liquid mercury that floats in your living room and talks like Zordon from Power Rangers.

 

[Akhe]

Sounds interesting...

Nintendo, never stop being crazy please.

 

[magnumpy]

IMO, AR is far less exciting than VR. not that I think NX will promote either AR or VR.

nintendo has tried AR with 3DS and it didn't exactly set the world on fire.

 

[Azure Dream]

That's for QoL. Nintendo are still doing console and mobile. Why not wearables too?

http://www.google.com/patents/US8704879

True, I just find it funny how they posed things as "We're so clever by leapfrogging these flooded markets," when much of their other business will happen in those markets.

 

[Bowl0l]

Doubt that Nintendo will do VR. The VR headset cost will kill them. Unless Nintendo assume that their fans will buy the VR headset themselves...

 

[Tabris]

Sure! As long as it's not just a Wii U+ box with a standard controller playing normal games I'll be happy. Gimme something totally weird like this.

Most Nintendo fans want that.

 

[Socordia]

Most Nintendo fans want that.

And there is not that many nintendo fans that can keep nintendo in black so.....

 

[ramparter]

Thank god this is just speculation

Spoiler

garbage

.

The best case scenario I've read so far is that NX will be android compatible. We need business ideas, not gimmicks.

I just want it to be futuristic. Like the console doesn't even have a solid structure, it's just an amorphous blob of liquid mercury that floats in your living room and talks like Zordon from Power Rangers.

Console has no physical form, you just wear some earphones, take some pills, go to sleep and when you wake up you have momery of actually playing a game and stuff. When you go into game again you continue depending on what your consiousness actually remembers, if you have forgotten you have found a weapon then you don't have it in your inventory.

 

[Chittagong]

Worst speculation ever. Headsets cost money, Nintendo consoles don't have costly components. Also wearing a headset is the opposite of mainstream.

 

[Shuggananas]

NX is a godsend for all these rumors/speculations garbage sites isn't it

 

[Seanspeed]

Nintendo is no stranger to AR (3DS) and its probably a more accessible technology than VR.

Accessible, as in user-friendly, maybe. But it's also a lot more limited in what you can do with it at the moment. Nobody has really proven we can do *good* AR right now, either. The shit on 3DS was pretty lame.

No way they base their new platform on this.

 

[Dagobert Duck]

Accessible, as in user-friendly, maybe. But it's also a lot more limited in what you can do with it at the moment. Nobody has really proven we can do *good* AR right now, either. The shit on 3DS was pretty lame.

No way they base their new platform on this.

But the gamepad, basically already is almost VR compatible...if you add a backfacing camera you could easily implement "virtual reality" and make it social if you could easily hook up other devices with a backfacing camera with an app...like phones and tablets and stuff.

So NX is like a console with a gamepad (deal with it) and other controllers can include phones or tablets and maybe the NX handheld will be a tablet (with buttons) sharing the same architecture. Its not VR in the vein of "glasses just for you" but a really social way to incorporate it...

 

[Graphics Horse]

Low cost head mounted display? What.
Bear in mind that Palmer Luckey's original goal was simply to create a low cost head mounted display and it's a lot easier to do a VR one than an AR one.

Every Nintendo console that comes around seems to be associated with some off the wall speculation about holographic displays. The closest they've got is a cheap 480p resistive touch screen.