Nintendo doesn't have exclusive rights to MotionPlus

by Justin McElroy { Aug 8th 2008 at 1:15PM }

We're criminally forgetful around these parts, so usually refer to the Wiimote MotionPlus accessory as "that thing that makes the Wiimote work the way it should have in the first place." But as it turns out it may also someday be "that thing that makes the 360 controller or DualShock 3 work the way the Wiimote should have in the first place." InvenSense, the company behind the tech, says that Nintendo doesn't have the exclusive rights to it, and that other companies have expressed an interest. To be fair though, they don't name anyone specifically.

So, Nintendo, out of curiosity: You invest in an addition to your console's primary feature and you don't even lock up the rights? How about you dig through Miyamoto's office cushions and buy the exclusivity, the company and a gold-plated hover-castle for them to work in? What are you saving for?

Tags: invensense, motionplus, nintendo, wiimote, wiimotionplus

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

samfish @ Aug 8th 2008 1:19PM

Actually the RAM expansion pack wasn't exclusive. I remember seeing 3rd party ones myself.

Kye - Me_DF @ Aug 8th 2008 1:44PM

I may be wrong but I think they mean exclusive as in; only Nintendo will use it. Which, if I can remember correctly, only Nintendo used that RAM expansion pack (1st or 3rd party), so therefore it was exclusive.

One a side note; put me down for 78 comments.

Karen @ Aug 8th 2008 2:42PM

I own one of the third party ram extension pak, it came with my N64 when I bough it used.
I remember Star Wars episode one racer was one game that used it not developed by Nintendo, wiki lists more.

PS36Wii Fanboy @ Aug 8th 2008 7:40PM

Rofl I stil remember having that, Actually I still do have it...right behind me... I really should wipe the dust on my N64 and play me some original Mario Party :P... or finish DK 64....

T @ Aug 8th 2008 1:22PM

But if WiiMotion is only a "plus" on top of the standard remote function, then does that mean MS and Sony would have to come up with their own version of WiiMotion-standard?

Komfomp @ Aug 8th 2008 2:54PM

Thats a good question.
IDK the answer lol.

But regardless of how usefull the motion pluss can be alone and if it sony or microsoft can really use it to make their own motion ,why would Nintendo leave these happen?

I know nintendo is cheap but they are flooded with money,these is a potential threat to the wii that could be fixed if they invest and buy the rights.

Grey Acumen @ Aug 8th 2008 4:03PM

yeah, I was kinda thinking myself "you mean, wii motion plus comes with it's own ir camera and automatically shaves off half of any standard controller that it gets connected to?"

Shagittarius @ Aug 8th 2008 1:22PM

The end is Nigh!

jackbauer @ Aug 8th 2008 1:28PM

Never compromise. Not even in the face of Armageddon. never compromise.

deaftly @ Aug 8th 2008 1:24PM

Well theres your 360 motion controller, this thing could prob just plug into the top of the controller.

Trickob @ Aug 8th 2008 1:36PM

This made me Laugh Out Loud.

FOXHOUND @ Aug 8th 2008 1:41PM

LoL I like the the initial slant of the article... it's as if Nintendo made the product then, "whoops, We forgot it's someone else's tech" was uttered from their R&D collectively.

And yeah, given the crazy profits from the Wii, you'd think they would just try to buy out the company...

Shignami @ Aug 8th 2008 1:41PM

Actually, the first conclusion I jumped to was the iPhone.

LaughingTarget @ Aug 8th 2008 1:42PM

The reason Nintendo couldn't give them a gold hover castle is because Mario wrecked the last one after Bowser stole it, before they could deliver it. Nintendo can't get them anywhere without Bowser hijacking it.

LaughingTarget @ Aug 8th 2008 1:43PM

benjor0x0r @ Aug 8th 2008 1:45PM

Actually it almost seems to make sense NOT to lock down the motion control patent.

Nintendo has banked on (and made bank from) a slew of games that integrate motion controls into their game play. If they allow the other major consoles to integrate this feature as well, it means more developers on board developing games that will work on the Wii which normally would have only been developed for the 360 or PS3.

Misfit Toy @ Aug 8th 2008 1:44PM

Sad. I actually remember buying one of those for Perfect Dark.

Shadow El @ Aug 8th 2008 2:02PM

This can only benefit the gaming world come next generation, so I'm all for it. I really do think motion control is the way to go in a lot of cases, and even though many companies are doin' it way wrong, there's lots of potential.

FSK405K @ Aug 8th 2008 2:16PM

Sadly? I loved my memory expansion. It made Rogue Squadron even more impressive.

JS Beckerist @ Aug 8th 2008 2:42PM

Yeah remember how you couldn't do ANYTHING in the game without it? Just campaign, no multiplayer and there was no shooting range or ANYTHING. The main menu was just that, a menu, no slick "walking through the facility" pre-game lounge. Donkey Kong Country was the same way, but at least it CAME with it.

Shadow El @ Aug 8th 2008 3:13PM

Woah, whoops, that wasn't meant as a reply.

Kye - Me_DF @ Aug 8th 2008 1:45PM

It looks like the competition in next generation of consoles will be very interesting indeed.

Vegnagun bwf @ Aug 8th 2008 1:46PM

I hope they don't botch together some Frankenstein Dual Shock or 360 controller with this. I'd rather not see a ton of gimmicky motion based games on the other systems.

Raikage (GOLDEN Gun Of The Patriots) @ Aug 8th 2008 1:54PM

Well, if they all have motion controls, maybe... just maybe, someone will do it right and then spread to the rest of them.

I wouldn't hold my breath though...

Kye - Me_DF @ Aug 8th 2008 2:22PM

To be honest, motion control isn't gimmicky if it's implemented properly and isn't over-done.

T @ Aug 8th 2008 3:07PM

"I hope they don't botch together some Frankenstein Dual Shock or 360 controller with this."

Isn't that what the DualS(IXAXIS)hock3 already is?

CarpeD1em500 @ Aug 8th 2008 1:57PM

This post is utter win simply b/c of the picture.

Bravo boys.

John @ Aug 11th 2008 2:14AM

Except that bill gates is retired from MS, bet he doesn't even care what nintendo does.

jason @ Aug 8th 2008 2:02PM

Well Guys this means that you people cant blame sony or M.S. for coping Nintendo now lol boy i love this gen .....and did you know that Motion controls is free that means no one has the rights to it ooooooops i guess you people forgot that ...

and Nintendo cant out buy M.S. i mean M. S. can thow billons on dollars to the people that made MotionPlus accessory and sue nintendo and they will be out for good .

turkeybaster @ Aug 8th 2008 2:40PM

I dunno. Nintendo is the richest company in Japan. Microsoft is not the richest company in the US. Heck, it's not even NEAR it.

jason @ Aug 8th 2008 2:54PM

Well turkeybaster i think you dont know M.S. that good i mean not even Ninitedo stocks worth 50 up 60 billon dollars .....sure they made money on the Wii but M.S. is much bigger then nintedno is .....look at M.S. is doing to some of sonys games they are buying them out under them ....

and i will best you on my life that M.S. in the future will try to buy out Nintedno or Sony ....i mean Bill gates owns more money then nintendo dose in its 20 plus years in the gaming .

JRM @ Aug 8th 2008 2:05PM

you could also see the other side of the coin. By Nintendo not having the exclusive rights to this motion control, Sony and MS could very well copy and eventually standardize motion as the default controller input. If Nintendo were to own all the motion tech, then it gives more reason for critics to say the wiimote is a fad.

umm....hello??? @ Aug 8th 2008 2:09PM

they need to save the money so that they can build 15 million more castles for the Princess not to be in....

Orion @ Aug 8th 2008 2:22PM

geez what's with all the negative articles on nintendo recently joystiq? First it was Sony for a long while, now it's nintendo again. Do you people do rock paper scissors every 3 months or so to see who you pick on next?

Your fanbiy sites are actually now much more enjoyable to read than joystiq itself. Which is ironic as they are the ones with "fanboy" in their titles. How about some non-biased journalism. Take a clue from psp and wii fanboy.

Raikage (GOLDEN Gun Of The Patriots) @ Aug 8th 2008 2:29PM

Well all this negativity toward Nintendo is completely justified. They are doing stupid crap just like Sony was doing. I wonder if MS will pull something stupid this gen too (excluding RRoD)...

How does it feel now Nintendo fanboys?!

J @ Aug 8th 2008 2:37PM

Would they be non-biased if they instead reported the opposite - lie/misinform? I like what you're getting at.

They're all gaming news. You want them to cherry pick only the positive ones? I don't even see this article as negative, (maybe just against Nintendo). It would be awesome if the current gen powerhouses can have near 1:1 motion controls as well. Imagine the possibilities.

Justin McElroy @ Aug 8th 2008 6:48PM

I don't even really see how this is negative. I thought it was weird they didn't lock down the exclusivitiy.

Fin.

SoCoolCurt (PSN: KillaKornbread) @ Aug 8th 2008 7:09PM

yea im with J. Mc (pronounced Jay Mack). i just assumed that Nintendo had bought the exclusive rights to this with all the money they are printing. oh well, my dreams of point and click LBP still live on!

James @ Aug 9th 2008 9:52AM

Accelerometers arn't nintendo exclusive why on earth would gyroscopes be... :|

i am ajle @ Aug 8th 2008 2:26PM

the "motion plus" tech, while impressive, really MUST be paired with the gyroscope based tech found in the Wiimote to do the (really really close to) 1:1 motion seen demoed in wii sports resort.

in other words, simply leasing and adding "motion plus" technology to say, a dual shock or xbox controller, would absolutely NOT offer anything like the control offered when pairing "motion plus" to the Wiimote.