Certain Nintendo controllers face retail ban

by Alexander Sliwinski on Jul 22nd 2008 3:30PM

Nintendo could see its GameCube, Wavebird and Wii Classic Controller banned from retail shelves. Bloomberg reports that Nintendo has lost its attempt to overturn a $21 million patent-infringement verdict brought against the company by ~~patent trolls~~ patent holders Anascape Ltd. of Tyler, Texas. The house of Mario has a stay on the ban by putting the judgment amount in escrow until its case goes to the US Court of Appeals in the Federal Circuit.

The Texas jury found the Wiimote and Nunchuk controllers did not violate Anascape's patent; previously, Sony paid off Anascape back in 2004 and Microsoft settled on May 1, just before the Nintendo trial began. Anascape argued for the ban because it wants to enter the market and Nintendo has "clogged the channel." Yeah, we're very much looking forward to seeing if the third-party Anascape controller ever gets released.

Source

Tags: anascape, GameCube, lawsuit, nintendo, patent, texas, Wii

Reader Comments (94)

Yeah, this is retarded since Sony's controllers haven't changed since PS1 dualshock, so I don't understand how these trolls could have patented what essentially sounds like regular controllers beforehand.

The patent law is just shitty, basically they have on file a input system that rumbles. That can be ANYTHING. Its to freaking broad.

joe noob N64 definitely wasnt the first to have analog sticks. many systems before had 'em, including the PSOne.

You mean like the Playstation that didn't receive analog controls until April 1997, almost a full year after the N64 was released (June 1996)?

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/N64 ; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dual_Analog_Controller

The original PSX controller did not have analog sticks. It wasn't until after the N64 came out that sony added them to their controller. Besides, I wasn't even saying that Nintendo had the first controller with an analog stick (maybe they were, I don't know or care). But if my memory serves me, the patent of Anascape's in question was filled back in 1999. Well after the N64 or even the PSX (it was still called the PSX back then) where controlling 3D environments with an analog stick.

lol Arex you're an even bigger noob man...

suck on this:
PS Analog Joystiq released April 96 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PlayStation_Analog_Joystick

dont make me hit u with more links dude, just quit right now.

Actually, if i remember correctly, The Sega Saturn was the first console with analog. When it released Nights into Dreams with the bundled controller.

Uh, Curmeo, are you retarded? That's a flightstick. What everyone here is referring to is the use of an analog stick controlled with a thumb rather than the entire hand.

Okay, you got me...=) Never even heard of that one. But seeing as I've been playing games since the days of the 2600, I'm hardly a noob. I'm just not quite the analog controller historian you are.

You're all wrong. Not only were most Apple ][ joysticks analog in 1978, but also the Atari 5200 had analog joysticks standard in 1982.

Curmeo, the PSone didn't exactly have it before the N64, but Sony in general had indeed developed it before Nintendo.

Besides, it wasn't even Nintendo nor Sony who first brought it to videogames, hell, it dates back to the Atari 52000

You are all wrong!

The Romans invented the analog stick, the only difference was that the stick was much bigger and you inserted it into a certain part of the body.

"I saw, I inserted, I came." (Julius Ceasar)

The first PSX CONTROLLER to have Analog was the Dualshock, which I believe was the first with Dual-Analog.The 64 controller (weirdest motherfucking thing I've ever held with 2 hands) had analog first

@shaq-fu:

Wrong! The original PSX came with just a SNES ripoff controller, then they released the Dual Analog controller which had no rumble. Only after that did they release the Dual Shock, which was actually a little smaller than the Dual Analog.

Yay for parent trolls.

...and speaking of trolls, Joystiq is being over run with them again, it seems.

That explains the recent dip in the goat population.

oh the irony. ladies and gentlemen, above me is the Nintendonald's King of Trolls...

Oops. Patent.
Can't spell today.

lol parent trolls. Are they people that troll parents or trolls that have procreated?

Oh, and hail to the troll king.

I don't think you have any room to talk, Curmeo, seeing as your opinion is universally rejected around these parts.

Oh wait, you don't actually give your opinion on shit. You just spit out the same tired shtick every post. Yeah, we get it. You hate Nintendo. So do I, after that god awful E3 showing they had. But guess what? I'm not fucking stupid about it. And that's what separates you and me, or you and Samfish, or you and anyone here who isn't a troll. Your posts are just plain annoyimg/

the comment system really needs to be fixed

Joke's on Anascape. I'd refuse to buy an Anascape controller just for this stupid crap. I'm willing to bet many people feel the same.

I only buy First party accessories, anyway.

Someone just blow up Anascape...their so annoying...

I live in the next town over from Tyler (about 30 miles away). I'd be happy to oblige.

It really does need to be fixed.

...Well that sucks for Nintendo.

SO whats up with the Vii these days?

Havent heard any news about it. They didnt even bring up anything at E3.

only stupid comments are appearing in the wrong place for some reason on this post

dont forget they was a saturn analoge pad for nights sure that beats them all psx , n64 :)

Why does it take like 10 years for companies to figure these things out and put out a lawsuit?

Maybe their case wasn't this strong in the beginning, but then after Sony and Microsoft settled, it gave them the appearance of having a more legitimate claim than they might have

Either way, something will have to be done. While the GC controller could go away, the classic controller is necessary for Wii

Let's see, Sony licensed the technology in 2004, Microsoft eventually settled the case, and Nintendo has refused to resolve anything. It's Anascape's intellectual property and Nintendo infringed on it.

Right, remember when Sony was sued by Immersion for it's rumble technology. Where were these arguments in Sony's favor then?

You'd better tell that to every outlet that deals with movies, considering every one has a banner reading "Come check out our hot, new releases!" or something to that effect.

Copyrighting is just a way to shut down competition; big name companies do it all the time to smaller upstarts in order to keep their finances in check and stay #1; aka, monopoly. I personally don't care that a bigger company is being hit by a smaller one as a way of showing "copyrights are the most inane laws ever put into place."

Development will eventually cease if nobody is allowed to borrow ideas.

I think Curmeo needs to be fixed, and by fixed I mean hit over the head with a large Nintendo product so it's even more embarrassing for him.

What I don't understand is why hasn't z internetz risen up and crushed the anascape!?!?

Eh, just pay it off and get it over with.

Look at the first page of this patent

http://www.google.com/patents?id=OLIVAAAAEBAJ&printsec=abstract&zoom=4&dq=anascape

That controller looks alot like an atari 5200 joystick (sans vibration, of course)

On page 7, that looks like a trackball.

That controller looks nothing like the GameCubes, or the classic. But pages 14 and 32 sorta looks like a wiimote or those Buzz/Scene it controllers. The only other thing I can see is the ingenious creation of a keyboard with analog instead of arrow keys, pages 15 and 24

Fucking hate patent trolls.

So 3rd party controllers it is?

This is so f()cking stupid, nothing good is going to come out of this...goes to show how broken our code of law has become.

Man, I need to file a patent on how to be a patent troll...I'd make a killing.

As for what they claim they infringed upon: this web page tells all: http://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/Anascape
Other goodies regarding Anascape included ;)

Previous 50 Comments

Certain Nintendo controllers face retail ban

Reader Comments (94)

Posted: Jul 22nd 2008 4:06PM iofthestorm said

Posted: Jul 22nd 2008 7:19PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Jul 22nd 2008 3:58PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Jul 22nd 2008 4:07PM arex said

Posted: Jul 22nd 2008 4:10PM JoeTheRed said

Posted: Jul 22nd 2008 4:17PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Jul 22nd 2008 4:29PM Thwiipp said

Posted: Jul 22nd 2008 4:30PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Jul 22nd 2008 4:34PM arex said

Posted: Jul 22nd 2008 4:40PM spin cycle said

Posted: Jul 22nd 2008 4:50PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Jul 22nd 2008 5:49PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Jul 22nd 2008 8:41PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Jul 23rd 2008 2:55AM JnZooger said

Posted: Jul 22nd 2008 4:00PM samfish said

Posted: Jul 22nd 2008 4:04PM Zertoss said

Posted: Jul 22nd 2008 4:05PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Jul 22nd 2008 4:12PM samfish said

Posted: Jul 22nd 2008 4:16PM Zertoss said

Posted: Jul 22nd 2008 4:34PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Jul 22nd 2008 4:03PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Jul 22nd 2008 4:03PM Dragod said

Posted: Jul 22nd 2008 4:05PM Krow said

Posted: Jul 22nd 2008 6:31PM Tephlon said

Posted: Jul 22nd 2008 4:11PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Jul 22nd 2008 4:12PM Negativecool said

Posted: Jul 22nd 2008 4:15PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Jul 22nd 2008 4:23PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Jul 22nd 2008 4:34PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Jul 22nd 2008 4:41PM Misfit Toy said

Posted: Jul 22nd 2008 4:48PM Mr Khan said

Posted: Jul 22nd 2008 4:51PM Jacksons said

Posted: Jul 22nd 2008 5:19PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Jul 22nd 2008 4:52PM Jacksons said

Posted: Jul 22nd 2008 5:24PM Vandell said

Posted: Jul 22nd 2008 5:34PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Jul 22nd 2008 5:34PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Jul 22nd 2008 5:43PM cesaria said

Posted: Jul 22nd 2008 5:52PM Neebick said

Posted: Jul 22nd 2008 8:56PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Jul 22nd 2008 8:55PM billy5000 said

Posted: Jul 22nd 2008 10:49PM ThornedVenom said

Posted: Jul 22nd 2008 11:31PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Jul 23rd 2008 5:35PM Tye El Czar said

Info

Description

MSRP

Release Date

Genre

Developer

Publisher

Rating

Breaking News

WB conjures up Harry Potter for Kinect this fall

Featured Stories

Silver Lining: I Am Alive's unfeeling world

Game Of Thrones and the paradoxes of adaptation

Super Joystiq Podcast 004: 38 Studios meltdown, Gravity Rush, Civilization 5: Gods & Kings, Dragon's Dogma

Engadget

TUAW

Massively

WoW