Patent reveals Wii Remote began life as GameCube add-on

by Randy Nelson { Jan 9th 2009 at 2:20PM }

What's so interesting about the above image? Is it that the man (?) has no eyes? Is it that he's not using the strap on the Wii Remote? No: it's that this isn't a patent drawing for the Wii Remote at all -- it's for a GameCube controller. The original Japanese patent was submitted by Nintendo in 2006, around the time Shigeru Miyamoto admitted, "[Wii] is based on GC."

Now we know its controller was, too, by way of the US Patent and Trademark Office's database, which also contains related drawings. One shows what this line-art person is playing (a tennis game with Mario) and the other is the proverbial smoking gun: a Wii remote and receiver connected to a GameCube, which is, in turn, connected to a TV with sensors attached. Check them out after the break.

[Via Siliconera]

Tags: gamecube, nintendo, patent, uspto, wii, wii-remote, wiimote

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

Esat Dedezade @ Jan 9th 2009 2:25PM

I can see where this is going already... and it involves duct tape.

baby sea tuna @ Jan 9th 2009 2:36PM

Beat me to it! Damn you and your quick draw wit!

If only I hadn't taken a break to do my job...

Esat Dedezade @ Jan 9th 2009 2:44PM

The real winner in this competition is you.

I have no life.

aristokrat @ Jan 9th 2009 3:05PM

Yeah man, you've been burning up the boards today. Why don't you go look at the urinal cake in your office or something?

Esat Dedezade @ Jan 9th 2009 3:17PM

I have no office. I do however have a report. I think I have serious problems (Procrastination in the form of a real mental illness). Is that medically recognised?

Dirty @ Jan 9th 2009 3:37PM

Its called joystiq fever... I get it almost every Friday.

Esat Dedezade @ Jan 9th 2009 3:42PM

Is the only precsription Moar Cowbell?

Dirty @ Jan 9th 2009 4:13PM

I usually get rid of it by playing a shit ton of games all weekend..... and with beer.

Levi @ Jan 9th 2009 8:55PM

Estat, you certainly get the weekly Joystiq MVP award for your fourth quarter heroics today.

Esat Dedezade @ Jan 9th 2009 9:01PM

Thanks. Like I said before all this time spent here I should have been working... it would be fine if I was getting paid for it! :P

I may start my own blog about.. well whatever takes my fancy just for the heck of it :)

Levi @ Jan 9th 2009 9:42PM

Ok, now, don't let it get to your head.

Esat Dedezade @ Jan 9th 2009 9:50PM

Yeah sorry about that. It's 3am. I don't know what I'm saying anymore. *slinks awaaaay*

Rentaro @ Jan 9th 2009 2:25PM

What is that distant rumbling I hear?

Uh-oh.

FANBOYS! Everyone, Take cover!

Longhorn4Life @ Jan 9th 2009 2:28PM

This thread better not disappoint
*pulls out popcorn*

=Lord Negatron of the XBots= @ Jan 9th 2009 2:38PM

Whats the popcorn for sir? Ohhhhh... i seeee.

Wii SUX!!! !!!!
*runs*

samfish @ Jan 9th 2009 3:24PM

In the event that it does disappoint, at least we have another Nintendo patent story that can't POSSIBLY faiil to disappoint:
http://kotaku.com/5127251/nintendo-patent-reveals-potential-paradigm-shift-in-design

Yeesh. Look at all those comments! 340+!
We have to LET OUR POWERS COMBINE and beat that when Joystiq inevitably posts it!

Longhorn4Life @ Jan 9th 2009 4:01PM

consider myself disappointed

and wtf what kind of person that calls themselves a gamer will want that, Im guessing Nintendo know thinks that their costumers are idiots

samfish @ Jan 9th 2009 4:06PM

^IT BEGINS!

Mr Khan @ Jan 9th 2009 5:20PM

an in-game hints system that doesn't hold your hand, but allows you to follow by example, as well as a means to play through a condensed version of the story, or to return to any point of the story at any time, and this is disappointing?

Feh.

playwhutyalike @ Jan 9th 2009 2:29PM

*opens door, looks around, shuts the door*

playwhutyalike @ Jan 9th 2009 2:56PM

Okay, I'm back.

Nick the Hero of Canton @ Jan 9th 2009 6:12PM

Why is this comment NOT at 3 hearts yet?

Levi @ Jan 9th 2009 9:45PM

Because, with the exception of Saria the Cat, there's a lot of sandy vaginas in this thread?

danny. @ Jan 9th 2009 2:29PM

I thought we already knew this? Blue Ocean strategy or something... I get all my news here, so maybe I'm nuts.

Foetoid @ Jan 9th 2009 7:53PM

No you're not nuts. This was revealed 18 months ago at least. Way to post ancient news Joystiq.

mrlogical @ Jan 9th 2009 2:32PM

Good thing they developed a true next-generation system instead of crafting a mere Gamecube addon.

AlphaMatrix @ Jan 9th 2009 2:41PM

I don't think the GameCube would have sold nearly as well with this addon as the Wii has/is selling. Good business move on Ninty's part from where I'm sitting.

War Machine @ Jan 9th 2009 3:23PM

Actually, the wiimote is based on the Porwer Glove for the NES.

SuperGayParade @ Jan 9th 2009 4:36PM

Isn't the Wii just a smushed GameCube with a facelift?

Nick the Hero of Canton @ Jan 9th 2009 2:34PM

Well this should be interesting...

Erluti @ Jan 9th 2009 2:34PM

it looks like they are playing some strange mix between tennis and lacross... "lacrennis" if you will.

343 Guilty Fart @ Jan 9th 2009 2:53PM

I believe that would be 'Mario Superstars Lacrennis'.

jayeffaar @ Jan 9th 2009 2:35PM

They did? When are they releasing that system?

=Lord Negatron of the XBots= @ Jan 9th 2009 2:36PM

Randy correct me if i am wrong. Is that not a pic of Justin on a Sunday morning, getting in a quick game of Red Steel? He doesn't wear short shorts!? Surely you jape!

My question is, although i like(d) Game Cube, would having a Wiimote for it affected its popularity? Would it print money? Ahh the "what if's"...

baby sea tuna @ Jan 9th 2009 2:39PM

Probably not. The Wii branding and design elements are the real goldmine.

Mr Khan @ Jan 9th 2009 2:39PM

I've said it before, if Nintendo fell a generation behind, it was in the GameCube generation, not now

An online system that would have been much more palatable in 2001, simple multimedia capabilities that would equally have been more palatable in that day, as well as utilizing DVD technology (not entirely, but close enough)

Of course, as it was, it simply would have fizzled as a GameCube add-on, a gimmick for a dead system, as opposed to the console that brought gaming to the masses

Killjebus @ Jan 9th 2009 2:44PM

When and IF the wiicube surpasses 140+ sold WW, then and only then will I agree that the wii brought gaming to the masses....only 100m more to go.

For now and for years to come the PS1 and PS2 are the ONLY consoles to sell over 100m. To me that is selling to the masses.

Yes the wiicube is a big hit with grandma and soccermoms, but I doubt it will have the longevity of the PS2.

reguy @ Jan 9th 2009 2:45PM

Brought gaming to the masses? What does the PS2 have to do with this? Please stay on topic

Eric @ Jan 9th 2009 2:57PM

Do the PlayStation numbers include the original PlayStation and the PSone, the PlayStation 2 and the newer version, and all of the PlayStations that failed and were replaced?

I'm not trying to get into a fanboy war, but the PlayStations both had two revisions and one was known for its failures - plus the PlayStation 2 has been available for eight years, with the PlayStation being available for a similar number of years, while the Wii has only been available for two years.

mr mobius @ Jan 9th 2009 2:59PM

The wii has sold more than PS2 has in the first 2 years, and continues to sell well. Tell me then it hasn't the potential to better the PS2? Nintendo may not whore a console for years after it's successor is released though which might not help.

Mr Khan @ Jan 9th 2009 3:00PM

Yeah, see, what Wii has achieved is 45 million in two years, with no price-drops, and strained supply

100 million is an inevitability, at this point

samfish @ Jan 9th 2009 3:28PM

Hey KillJebus, how's that "fads only last two years" thing workin' out for ya? I thought you KNEW the Wii would crater by November because fads only last 2 years.

Or are you going to say you've always claimed fads only last 3 years?

HA HA *HA*, sir. HA HA HA!

The Espiritu (Somebody get me a tie! And it sure as hell better be red!) @ Jan 9th 2009 3:46PM

I fucking hate it when Sony fanboys try to compare PS2 sales with current generation console sales. The PS2 was successful because it had the most games all the good exclusives and the most support from developers and publishers than the Xbox and Gamecube had. But this generation the Wii doesn't even have all of that and it sold over 45 million consoles Worldwide in just two years and is still going strong for another successful year.

Everybody loves the Wii and not just Soccer moms and grandmas, but casual and even hardcore gamers as well.

You're full of shit Killjebus.