Nintendo has patent on motion sensing portable

by Justin McElroy { Aug 7th 2007 at 10:25AM }

When is news not at all surprising but really exciting just the same? When it's word that Nintendo is, according to a patent filed in March, possibly working on a portable system with Wii-like motion sensing tech. The patent describes the system as having "a housing to be held by a player. The housing incorporates an XY-axis acceleration sensor to detect an acceleration in an X-axis and Y-axis direction and a Z-axis contact switch to detect an acceleration in a Z-axis direction." Remind you of anyone you know?

In diagrams, the system has been represented by a Game Boy-esque figure, but we imagine that's just a placeholder. See, there's this other thing that Nintendo makes, and if they combined this thing with that first thing ... well, let's just pray our new overlords will be benevolent.

[Via technabob]

Tags: ds, nintendo, patents, portablewii, wii

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Justin @ Aug 7th 2007 10:31AM

Yeah... They Would.... Wouldnt They.... lol

AnonymousTipster @ Aug 7th 2007 10:36AM

Pokemon Mini FTW

CJC @ Aug 7th 2007 10:47AM

They'd better put some grips on the damn thing. Some morons still can't hold onto a Wiimote, apparently. I'd hate to see a bunch of flying gameboys smacking people and destroying property.

baby sea tuna @ Aug 7th 2007 10:48AM

Can't they just make a cartridge add-on that functions the same way as Wario Ware Twisted and use that in the DS?

Then again, I guess they couldn't get you to buy a whole new system that way...

Marasai @ Aug 7th 2007 10:56AM

Well they need to save something for the DS2. Since the psp2 will almost certainly include a revolutionary and totally innovative touchscreen.

Exo @ Aug 7th 2007 10:59AM

Its always better haveing it built in though so its available to all games, otherwise it would require you to buy the add on. and seeing as motion sensing seems like a biggerpart of gameplay then rumble there would be no way to play without having it.

NintendoFanbot @ Aug 7th 2007 2:01PM

Yeah the DS Rumble cart turned out well.

WarioWare Twisted's cartridge adds unecessarry bulk.

They could make it available free with games but not all the games that could use it.

It's better off launching with the next system packed-in with the new feature [see: DS; Wii] or risk a very small userbase penetration rate.

upz @ Aug 7th 2007 10:58AM

*Sigh... Another Nintendo product that I will never buy, but will sell like hot griddle cakes.

I can't argue that they don't know how to do business, but here's yet another step toward aerobics games and disappointing E3s.

Exo @ Aug 7th 2007 11:01AM

still amazing how soem hardcore gamers dont get that there are games being designd for audiances other then them.

James @ Aug 7th 2007 11:03AM

Since the Wii was announced they had 1 lacklustre E3, and 1 E3 that pretty much pushed aside everything else.

I'm all for this. More steps in the right direction.

whosmav @ Aug 7th 2007 11:06AM

Ummm...what the hell are all 3 of you on?

waLLy @ Aug 7th 2007 12:42PM

why, hot griddle cakes, of course...

upz @ Aug 7th 2007 3:39PM

Actually Exo, what's amazing is that you couldn't gauge from the wording of my post that I do understand, and it's this migration towards mass-appeal, casual gaming that's concerning me as a "hardcore" gamer.

It's really a question of which direction you'd like to see the industry move in - more realistic virtual worlds or more intuitive user control? Newer, faster technology or new ways to interact with pre-existing technology? We could argue fun factor, perceived value and opportunity costs all day, but from the perspective of a discerning consumer, it's nigh impossible to rationalize how lower tech at higher corporate profit margins is a better purchase than highly subsidized bleeding edge hardware.

History has shown that the direction of gaming is dictated by the leaders of their hardware generations. Of course there will always be hardcore games, but if Nintendo's gamble pays off this round, you can bet the farm that we'll see a lot less of them.

ssuk @ Aug 7th 2007 11:02AM

I think in hindsight... The DS makes DS games dead in the water when, eventually... the DS dies. I don't see any future Nintendo handheld having 2 screens, especially those with motion sensing abilities.

I dunno though, it seems a bit of a silly idea. It's bad enough when you're at home and you're swinging the Wii-mote around, but now they want you outside or in public places doing it? Just make a DS2, Nintendo and cash-in on backwards compatability and the same hype the DS has had.

unfriendly_cat @ Aug 7th 2007 11:06AM

Why do you think having two screens would interfere with motion sensing? I don't really see a connection.

Exo @ Aug 7th 2007 11:18AM

maybe he works for sony, they think when you add motion sensing you have to take out one other feature.

zing!

baby sea tuna @ Aug 7th 2007 11:22AM

You do make a good point in there, somewhere. At 30, I already get weird looks from some people when I break out my DS in public...just wait until I start flailing around with it like a fucking mental patient.

I dunno...

whosmav @ Aug 7th 2007 11:04AM

You know what? This is NOT gonna come out. Whats the point when you could augment gameplay right in the GBA slot? No way this comes out.

Exo @ Aug 7th 2007 11:23AM

not if new games require it, if they made a new system, then all new games could use the feature, if they made it an add on, then games could only use it as extra feature and not a gameplay element cause it would require them to own the add on.

teh rumble pack is an alltogether difrent thing, it isnt required to play, it only enhances the game experiece, where as motion would be key to gameplay elements.

WiNG @ Aug 7th 2007 11:29AM

imo part of the benefit of a portable is being able to play it incognito in a train or someting. If they start releasing games like Boogie on a portable, expect a LOT of people to get hit by cars!

Mr.π @ Aug 24th 2007 4:29PM

How about Ds Fit?

Mo @ Aug 7th 2007 11:46AM

Wonder if this is going to be the next generation portable that is will replace the current DS Lite.

Prof_Chaos @ Aug 7th 2007 11:41AM

It's also likely that this is a filed patent to make it tougher for Sony to add motion sensing to the PSP2. Whatever happens with this, it's unlikely that there will be Wii-like actions required since the screen is attached part of the controller. It's more likely that motion sensing in a portable device would require Tilt and other smaller (ie. less ridiculous looking) movements.

OnimushaSoki @ Aug 7th 2007 11:49AM

Though it's not patent infringement from the look of things -- does this diagram remind anyone of the old SEGA Dreamcast VMU(virtual memory unit)?

...still my fav' console of all time.

LessThanMrt @ Aug 7th 2007 11:51AM

the VMU was awesome!

LessThanMrt @ Aug 7th 2007 11:50AM

I really doubt that Nintendo would drastically change the money-printing DS. I see this as a DS2.0 addition.

I would enjoy the additional interaction that this patent would employ, but I surely don't want it to be the only interaction I have with a handheld device. As an older gamer, i definitely get strange looks for being a gamer. I'm sure that would only get worse if I'm waggling on the bus...

Jouten @ Aug 7th 2007 1:00PM

As far as 'getting strange looks' goes, I get them here and there once in a great while. But for the most part, people in my area are either indifferent or they are curious as to what I'm doing. There were quite a few people that I met that gave me these 'strange looks' that you described and come to find out later they were just as much a gamer as I or more.

Try to remember (although it's hard to) that most gamers around today are in the 30's (39 and holding here);)

cliffjeff @ Aug 7th 2007 11:56AM

how exactly are you supposed to see what you're doing when you're shaking the screen you're looking at?

SKI @ Aug 7th 2007 11:56AM

Just because the patented it, doesn't mean they will make it.

Makaveli @ Aug 7th 2007 12:09PM

This is just another step closer to the arcade experience, so I'm all for it. No one complains about DDR or Guitar Hero, but this is basically a cheaper, more generic way of providing the same semi-athletic interactive experience. And with all the supersized kids missing gym class these days, Nintendo could eventually have them saying "Whoa, I know Kung Fu!!!"

Word of the street. @ Aug 7th 2007 12:16PM

Another gimmick.

Really Nintendo do everyone a favor and put some Tv conectivity like the one the PSP has.

Exo @ Aug 7th 2007 12:36PM

why the fuck does it need tv connectivity? its a portable system for playing games , consoles play on tv. more functionality doesnt = better, its just means theres more random shit on the system.

psp is a multimedia device, and thats where it gets its success. thats why it gets tv connectivity

Prof_Chaos @ Aug 7th 2007 1:06PM

Word, you're an idiot. Why would you want to see a portable app on a TV? That's what that ridiculously expensive PS3 you just bought is for.

Rob Accomando @ Aug 7th 2007 12:18PM

I see a press release from Sony in the near future: " "Tilt sensing" in the new PSP. It will revolutionize handheld gaming like never before!"

Tahiri @ Aug 7th 2007 3:48PM

Sony announced it years ago for PSP. Look up MErcury.

Nintendo is copying here

hvnlysoldr @ Aug 7th 2007 12:18PM

A triple screen, motion sensing, iphone killing game boy cell phone? What am Nintendo thunking?

waLLy @ Aug 7th 2007 12:46PM

zomg!!!1 therez no wayz i'm guna plays cumputer games with teh stylus!!!

Splinter @ Aug 7th 2007 1:47PM

What happens when playing in the car?

eM @ Aug 7th 2007 2:07PM

"Nintendo has patent on motion sensing portable"

A patent *application* is not a patent.

NintendoFanbot @ Aug 7th 2007 2:10PM

Could be soon, seeing as has been published on the US Patent Office's website.

point09micron @ Aug 7th 2007 2:58PM

For the record, Nintendo does not currently "have a patent", nor is there a "patent that describes" anything, nor a "patent filed in March." The proper terminology is an "application for patent."

Just throwing that out there.

p-diddy @ Aug 9th 2007 1:13PM

thank you thank you thank you

this misapplication of terms is a HUGE pet peeve of mine. Having a patent and filing an application and having your application publish are all very diferent things

-p-

Slize Kalfer @ Aug 7th 2007 8:23PM

I think its rather interesting that nobody has mentioned this device

http://ndsmotion.com/

Who is Nintendo copying again?

Eeon Boylee @ Aug 8th 2007 3:02AM

Who is Nintendo copying again? Maybe themseleves. Or it
could be Microsoft. No wait! Microsoft didn't create online gaming. It was hackers in the 80s. Nintendo definitely has something up their sleeves. I am totally
expecting this but knowing Nintendo, they will still shock me beyond belief with many things in the future.
Hell! IGN thinks that WarioWare Twisted! is the best GameBoy Advance game ever, no doubt due to this being the only waggle-compatible GBA game ever. If anybody can make this work it is Nintendo.

Joshua Martz @ Aug 8th 2007 6:10AM

No one else sees a problem with shaking the screen you are trying to watch?

Scooby Doo @ Aug 8th 2007 7:30AM

I thought about that as well. You could probably tilt or slightly shake the unit, but I couldn't use it like the Wii remote and be able to tell what's going on in the game. Then it hit me, perhaps they are planning on using this device to interface WITH the Wii.

It's pure conjecture, but once I started thinking outside the box as they say, I could easily see this being used with the unit. I read the patent though and I don't see any mention of Blue-Tooth or infrared sensors, however perhaps that isn't important for their patent application at this time.

ThornedVenom @ Aug 8th 2007 2:14PM

Like anyone, motion sensing is a concern when you're watching the screen you're shaking. My guess is if motion sensing gets incorporated in the console that way (sounds like a primitive concept to me), there'd be really bad games at first but eventually, developers will find a way to make great games by incorporating subtle intuitive natural movements to make the interface an extension of input and not some force-fed "gimmick".