A patent filed with the US Patent and Trademark Office today tells the tale of an edutainment-laden future for Nintendo, reports Siliconera. According to the patent, the console maker's next property (properties?) may feature a mess of different learning tools aimed at young children, defined in the patent as, "toddlers and pre-kindergartners, and/or people with disabilities." The various ideas presented within the patent range from matching animal sounds with animal pictures to lessons in daily chores to building your first laser gun. Alright -- fine -- we made up that last one.
Littered throughout the images included with the patent are a couple of familiar Nintendo characters (Mario and Pikachu), though, according to Siliconera, the report specifically mentions "television and/or licensed cartoon characters like Pikachu, Dora the Explorer, and Bob the Builder."
Though this patent may have been filed, we want to remind you that none of these plans are by any means final and for all anyone knows, could be nothing more than what they are now -- ideas. One thing is for sure, no matter what happens, we all now know that Nintendo believes children to wear totally badass future shoes. Check out the gallery below for an extensive visual tour of what may very well be the next step Nintendo takes.
Reader Comments (52)
Posted: Mar 20th 2009 7:14PM Chris DPSN AggieCEO XBLThe Aggi said
Maybe this isnt that bad if it comes into fruition....
My 2 & 4 year old daughter know how to play not only their V-tech "V-Motion", but also the Tennis, Bowling, and boxing on Wii sports....
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My 2 & 4 year old daughter know how to play not only their V-tech "V-Motion", but also the Tennis, Bowling, and boxing on Wii sports....
Posted: Mar 20th 2009 7:25PM (Unverified) said
I'm glad I wasn't the only one that was disturbed by what he was doing to the cat. And they're going to sell this to children!
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Posted: Mar 20th 2009 7:27PM (Unverified) said
He's raping it's side.
My hypthesis is that he drilled a hole in the cat first. I'm an analyst, so it must be true. :)
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My hypthesis is that he drilled a hole in the cat first. I'm an analyst, so it must be true. :)
Posted: Mar 20th 2009 7:32PM (Unverified) said
Goatse: the game!
You heard it here first.
"Use the Wii Remote and Nunchuk like REAL hands to see how far you can a photorealistic anus. Compatible with disturbing Kororinpa peripheral."
Although a Meatspin game would be better, where you have to both spin the nunchuk and thrust the Wiimote at the same time to music (you know which song).
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You heard it here first.
"Use the Wii Remote and Nunchuk like REAL hands to see how far you can a photorealistic anus. Compatible with disturbing Kororinpa peripheral."
Although a Meatspin game would be better, where you have to both spin the nunchuk and thrust the Wiimote at the same time to music (you know which song).
Posted: Mar 20th 2009 7:24PM (Unverified) said
Nintendo catering to (very young) children, news at 11.
(sorry guys, but you're making it way too easy for me today)
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(sorry guys, but you're making it way too easy for me today)
Posted: Mar 20th 2009 7:29PM (Unverified) said
Alright, on behalf of all Wii owners we give you that one, and we would all like to say RROD/YLOD. So there.
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Posted: Mar 20th 2009 7:44PM RobS the 3rd said
Not only that, but they'll make their kids play with it too.
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Posted: Mar 20th 2009 7:53PM NutMan said
Exactly Disney's success mainly lies with their ability to produce toys, blankets, clothes etc for little kids so that the kids become accustomed to the characters and their parents continue to buy the stuff for them. Then when the kids grow up they do the same thing with their own children.
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Posted: Mar 20th 2009 7:36PM Scarlet Spider said
What's Mario doing to those animals? Hmm... I wonder what PETA will think when they see this...
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Posted: Mar 20th 2009 7:41PM (Unverified) said
Whilst my kids will love this, come off it Nintendo and bring us something proper.
Yea so Nintendo were casual back in the NES days too, at least compared to Microcomputers as consoles. But this is getting reekdickulars
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Yea so Nintendo were casual back in the NES days too, at least compared to Microcomputers as consoles. But this is getting reekdickulars
Posted: Mar 20th 2009 7:41PM manyquestions said
what -exactly- is this patent even for? The general concept of "edutainment Nintendo game" seems to broad to even warrant a patent.
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Posted: Mar 20th 2009 8:56PM (Unverified) said
I predict that this will come out around the same time as the PS2mote and the Sony Playbot
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Posted: Mar 20th 2009 9:12PM (Unverified) said
you mean all those kids...who got NES's and SNES's because of how family friendly Nintendo was? That crowd?
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Posted: Mar 20th 2009 9:57PM (Unverified) said
As Moptimus said Nintendo knows its public.
Also they make more money with games for kids ages 3+ than a game for the core crowd and the core crowd will buy Nintendo stuff anyway.
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Also they make more money with games for kids ages 3+ than a game for the core crowd and the core crowd will buy Nintendo stuff anyway.
Posted: Mar 21st 2009 11:35AM (Unverified) said
Scroll up :P
I didn't really rip into this cause it's too easy. It's just kinda sad when I was very young (not as young as this is going for though) I was playing contra 3 with my friends and other games that I probably can't even beat now because of how easy games have become, but to see what Nintendo is doing now it's just...sad. Catering to the lowest common denominator doesn't even best describe what they're doing.
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I didn't really rip into this cause it's too easy. It's just kinda sad when I was very young (not as young as this is going for though) I was playing contra 3 with my friends and other games that I probably can't even beat now because of how easy games have become, but to see what Nintendo is doing now it's just...sad. Catering to the lowest common denominator doesn't even best describe what they're doing.
Posted: Mar 20th 2009 9:34PM JoshMilewski said
Yeah, those shoes. O.o
Besides that, there's not really much to say about this patent. If it produces something, then good for Nintendo for trying to stay innovative. Otherwise, I guess it was kind of interesting to see what ideas Nintendo had... But I'm sure they come up with stuff like this all the time.
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Besides that, there's not really much to say about this patent. If it produces something, then good for Nintendo for trying to stay innovative. Otherwise, I guess it was kind of interesting to see what ideas Nintendo had... But I'm sure they come up with stuff like this all the time.
Posted: Mar 21st 2009 12:11AM (Unverified) said
What is everyones damn problem with this!? Nintendo CAN do more then one thing at a time you know. So they are developing an edutainment game. So freaking what! They are doing a number of other projects too. It's like getting upset at an ice cream shop for trying to sell more then 2 flavors of ice cream.
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Posted: Mar 24th 2009 5:36AM Nick Frost said
Whoa, calm down! Who's upset? I don't see anyone with any problem with this. Well, except for maybe tmac, but... ya know.
You're barking at shadows, my friend.
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You're barking at shadows, my friend.
Posted: Jun 17th 2009 11:17AM Cypher FDP said
Clearly, no one recognizes the potential of this marketing move.
Fanshippers will finally be able make Bob and Dora a couple.
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Fanshippers will finally be able make Bob and Dora a couple.
Posted: Mar 21st 2009 5:16AM (Unverified) said
I don't have a big problem with this per se; it's about as necessary and useful as those toy computers for little kids. I would never get such a thing for my child. More imagination and less plastic junk I say!
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Posted: Mar 21st 2009 8:18AM (Unverified) said
Mmmhmmm...
So long as this doesn't interfere with my Zelda, go for it, Nintendo.
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So long as this doesn't interfere with my Zelda, go for it, Nintendo.
Posted: Mar 21st 2009 1:20PM buckyboy28 said
Toddler + Wii Remote + 60'' Plasma = Not happening in my house
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Posted: Mar 22nd 2009 10:56AM AntiVillian said
If Nintendo makes lots of money off this will they be encouraged to make more core games?
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Posted: Mar 22nd 2009 1:35PM (Unverified) said
I like the idea, because my 4 yr old was playing the Ds when she was 2. she can handle the control on the both the DS and the Wii, I've been wanting good stimulating games for her to learn with, and this would be great!
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Posted: Mar 22nd 2009 3:28PM Dblade said
How can this be patented though? There's nothing distinctive about it, its just using the wiimote as a pointer.
The cynic in me thinks nintendo is trying to do an end run around third parties who have the licenses to dora, bob the builder, etc, by patenting the bare blocks to wii edutainment software.
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The cynic in me thinks nintendo is trying to do an end run around third parties who have the licenses to dora, bob the builder, etc, by patenting the bare blocks to wii edutainment software.
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