Nintendo patent details force feedback in a handheld
At this point, nothing has really been confirmed about this whole “DS2” thing — motion-sensitivity and snazzy graphics were both apparently hinted at by Iwata (via Japanese newspaper Asahi Shimbun). Later, he said those statements were “misinterpretations,” but it hasn’t kept some from thinking Nintendo’s prepping a new handheld for sometime later this year
Now, the latest chapter in this ongoing tale comes from a January 28 update to a Nintendo patent from back in 2005, which describes a system of force feedback (aka rumble) produced by an interaction between an apparatus (likely a stylus) and a LCD touch-screen. The vibration is presented as dynamic, with the example being that an enemy being struck with a stick in the background only vibrates the device lightly, whereas interaction with an enemy in the foreground produces a stronger vibration.
Current Nintendo handhelds have no such built-in functionality, leading many to believe this is in reference to brand-new hardware — a possible DS successor — and with GDC and E3 quickly approaching, if it’s coming, an announcement likely isn’t that far off. We’ll keep you posted.
[Via Broke My Controller and Eurogamer]
Nintendo patent details force feedback in a handheld originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 22 Feb 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Sony Applies For More Futuristic PS3 Controller Patents
Sony quietly took another step last week in the game of catch-up they and Microsoft are playing as they attempt to capture the wave of interactivity and interest following Nintendo’s success with the Wii. It began with Sony trotting out the Sixaxis and its tilt-functionality mere months after word of the Wii-mote’s motion-detection capabilities came to light and was seen largely as a hasty “me-too” by Sony that might have cost its agreement with Immersion for force-feedback in the controller.
Little over a year ago word of Microsoft’s Project Natal was leaked and a patent filing by Sony lawyers for a break-apart “hybrid video capture and ultrasonic tracking system” was discovered followed by applications for emotion sensing controllers and tech.
Sony’s latest filing with the US Patent and Trademark Office details controllers capable of accepting a variety of attachments including a biometric reader, maracas, flashlights, and microphones.
It also talks of the controllers having onboard memory accessible through USB ports which could hold user profiles or downloadable content. It all sounds a little crazy to us and covers mostly conceptual tech rather than something actual and in the prototype stage sitting on an engineer’s desk in a Sony R&D lab somewhere.
Perhaps next month someone will come across a patent application for an inflatable holodeck attachment for the PS3 or a wireless matter teleportation device for use in multiplayer games?
Nintendo patents football controller, looks a lot like a football
At some point, it really behooves a gamer to ask the question, “How many peripherals is enough peripherals?” The Wii remote is a pretty sweet piece of technology. We get that. The nunchuk adds some much-needed flexibility, sure. MotionPlus adds some extra sensitivity for 1:1 play. Okay, we all want that, right? But a football?
Siliconera reports that Nintendo vice president of R&D, Howard Cheng, has submitted a patent for a Wii football peripheral. Specifically, it’s a football shaped shell for the Wii remote with different variations, like the tweaked MotionPlus version featured above. The patent cites different examples of how to use the peripheral. Obviously, throwing motions are mentioned. The Wii remote could also detect body motion and interpret it as “running.” Call us cynics, but can’t the Wii remote do all of that without a squishy football wrapped around it?
Then again, it’s probably awesome for Punch-OutII.
Nintendo patents football controller, looks a lot like a football originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 25 Aug 2009 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Nintendo, Hillcrest Labs settle patent infringement case
According to a Bloomberg report, Nintendo and Hillcrest Labs have settled a patent infringement case that was initially brought to the attention of the U.S. International Trade Commission in 2008. Had the case, er, yielded a consumer worst-case scenario, Nintendo could have faced a U.S. import ban on its Wii, the device cited by Hillcrest as containing infringing motion-sensing techno-thingies (academic term).
Neither of the involved companies cared to comment on the settlement’s particulars, leaving the question of whether Nintendo reneged and domestically licensed the technology from Hillcrest well in the realm of speculation. Still, the end result has surely been deemed preferable to the Wii’s banishment from the United States — as interesting as that would have made the monthly NPD results.
[Via GamePolitics]
Nintendo, Hillcrest Labs settle patent infringement case originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 25 Aug 2009 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Bandspeed claims Sony, Nintendo, Apple infringed on its patents
Wireless broadcasting technology news now courtesy of Patent Arcade, which presents us with a lawsuit filed by Bandspeed against Sony, Nintendo and Apple. It has to do with a pair of Bandspeed patents dealing with “selecting communications channels” and “managing communications channels” based on performance and the company claims Nintendo’s Wii, Sony’s PS3 and Apple’s iPhone 3G infringed upon ‘em.
What? That’s it, guys. There isn’t anything else. The post is over.
Bandspeed claims Sony, Nintendo, Apple infringed on its patents originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 12 Aug 2009 01:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Nintendo patents inflatable cushion — you know, for horseback riding
Siliconera discovered a European patent filed by Nintendo for … that thing. It’s an “inflatable air cushion or other type seat” with a pocket for the Wii Remote. It’s for simulating horseback riding, or, as the patent description notes, to simulate the riding of other animals, real or imagined, or even vehicles.
A Nunchuk (or another Wii Remote) is used as the reins of the beast, and the Wii Remote in the pocket detects the player’s movement on the seat, which can be used either for balance or, in one example, to indicate the gait of the horse: “gentle forward/backward motion = walking, fast forward/backward rocking motion = gallop.”
While we don’t feel any particular pull to play a game by bouncing on a cushion, we really want this controller idea to come to fruition — because we know that every time we get to write about the Nintendo Bouncy Seat is going to be like Christmas morning. Seriously, Nintendo, thank you.
Nintendo patents inflatable cushion — you know, for horseback riding originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 11 Aug 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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New Monkey Ball trademark discovered, may use Wii Balance Board
Isn’t it weird when you wake up in the morning, covered in sweat, waking up from a dream where you are trapped in a plastic ball, forced to roll around in hundreds of deadly mazes — collecting bananas you have no way of eating? This happens to us all the time. It looks like our dream may be becoming a reality, as Sega looks to be creating a Wii Balance Board-centric Monkey Ball game.
The US Patent & Trademark Office has revealed the title of a brand new game in Sega’s long-running series, called Super Monkey Ball: Step & Roll. While the listing doesn’t confirm use of the Balance Board, it seems like a perfect fit for the franchise. The active nature of the title makes us believe this is indeed Sega’s attempt at letting players use their real-life balance to navigate the tricky Monkey Ball worlds. It’s such an easy concept to visualize, we’re surprised it hasn’t already been made yet.
New Monkey Ball trademark discovered, may use Wii Balance Board originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 16 Jun 2009 16:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Nintendo wins yet another patent infringement case
Nintendo seems to be on a streak as of late, laying down a good old Mario stomp over any patent infringement case thrown its way. Back in March, Nintendo won a case filed in Texas by Fenner Investments Ltd, and now Nintendo has won another one filed by Guardian Media Technologies, Ltd. On June 8th, only six months after the lawsuit was filed in California, Judge Manuel Real ruled in favor of Nintendo and dismissed the case.
Nintendo’s VP of legal and general counsel, Rick Flamm, is jovial over the court’s decision. He said that the case was dismissed because Nintendo convinced the court that “Guardian’s patent had nothing to do with Nintendo’s products.” Mr. Flamm must be keeping one of those glittery stars in his pocket, because it looks like Nintendo’s legal game is invincible.
Nintendo wins yet another patent infringement case originally appeared on Joystiq Nintendo on Mon, 15 Jun 2009 17:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Touch! Monsters in Miyamoto’s patented RPG design
Shigeru Miyamoto still thinks about games that aren’t about exercise, as evidenced by this patent for an unused DS RPG discovered by Siliconera. The concept is simple, but sounds like a lot of fun: it’s your basic RPG with random battles, but the combat is all touch-controlled.
In this patented game design, monsters move around on the screen, and you poke them with the stylus to cause damage. Jab a weak point for massive damage (of course), and less damage results from missing or hitting more armored areas.
There’s only one aspect of this design that confuses us: why it isn’t a game yet. We’d love to see Miyamoto’s take on the classic turn-based RPG.
Touch! Monsters in Miyamoto’s patented RPG design originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 20 Apr 2009 13:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Nintendo’s next step may be into the playpen
A patent filed with the US Patent and Trademark Office today tells the tale of an edutainment-laden future for Nintendo, reports Siliconera. According to the patent, the console maker’s next property (properties?) may feature a mess of different learning tools aimed at young children, defined in the patent as, “toddlers and pre-kindergartners, and/or people with disabilities.” The various ideas presented within the patent range from matching animal sounds with animal pictures to lessons in daily chores to building your first laser gun. Alright — fine — we made up that last one.
Littered throughout the images included with the patent are a couple of familiar Nintendo characters (Mario and Pikachu), though, according to Siliconera, the report specifically mentions “television and/or licensed cartoon characters like Pikachu, Dora the Explorer, and Bob the Builder.”
Though this patent may have been filed, we want to remind you that none of these plans are by any means final and for all anyone knows, could be nothing more than what they are now — ideas. One thing is for sure, no matter what happens, we all now know that Nintendo believes children to wear totally badass future shoes. Check out the gallery below for an extensive visual tour of what may very well be the next step Nintendo takes.
Nintendo’s next step may be into the playpen originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 20 Mar 2009 19:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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