Nintendo files to patent new handheld device
The new apparatus would have speakers, vibration, and possibly a touch interface.
Nintendo has filed a new patent at the U.S Patent Office for a new handheld device.
Spotted by Twitter user ZhugeEX (via IGN), the new device would have what appears to be a touch screen, vibration effects and two speakers at the bottom. There are three buttons on the right side. Another version of the appartus (Fig. 8), shows the more traditional circle and d-pad on the left and ABXY buttons on the right.
Of course, what is patented isn't always used. Patents are designed to protect ideas, and Nintendo historically has had plenty of them. It doesn;t necessarily mean we will be seeing this handheld any time in the near future.
Shigeru Miyamoto said Nintendo has not talked about its upcoming NX console very much because of "an idea we're working on." It is highly doubtful the schematics have anything to do with the NX given the late timing of the patent application and the planned release on the new unit in March. Nintendo's CEO has said that NX would not be a successor to the Wii U or 3DS, so to be honest your guess is as good as ours at this point.
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replyJohn Keefer posted a new article, Nintendo files to patent new handheld device
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i briefly read over it. sounds like a nintendo ds with the ability to have a rear touch area, the ability to change orientation, acceleometer/gyroscope so you can play games like you do on your iphone by tilting, and the ability to have localized rumble coming from different parts of the screen as you touch or as things happen on screen,
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That sounds really cool
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Yes, but this would be for a device that people play games on. *ba-dump.ching*
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This reads like they would try to take the hardware of a tablet, but make it specifically as a game device instead of a general use device. Also, most tablets (all that I've used) do not have vibration, and don't have chambered sound.
Curious though, there's no specific mention (illustration, I didn't read the entire text) of storage. Just the flash ram, but nothing about how the data is loaded until it's completely from the wireless connection.
Interesting that it specifically shows on-screen controls, but fig 9 also shows physical buttons. I may need to go back and read the detail section on the figures.
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