Nintendo patents inflatable cushion -- you know, for horseback riding

by JC Fletcher { Aug 11th 2009 at 10:00AM }

Siliconera discovered a European patent filed by Nintendo for ... that thing. It's an "inflatable air cushion or other type seat" with a pocket for the Wii Remote. It's for simulating horseback riding, or, as the patent description notes, to simulate the riding of other animals, real or imagined, or even vehicles.

A Nunchuk (or another Wii Remote) is used as the reins of the beast, and the Wii Remote in the pocket detects the player's movement on the seat, which can be used either for balance or, in one example, to indicate the gait of the horse: "gentle forward/backward motion = walking, fast forward/backward rocking motion = gallop."

While we don't feel any particular pull to play a game by bouncing on a cushion, we really want this controller idea to come to fruition -- because we know that every time we get to write about the Nintendo Bouncy Seat is going to be like Christmas morning. Seriously, Nintendo, thank you.

Gallery: Nintendo Horseback Controller Patent (Wii)

Tags: accessories, controller, cushion, horseback, patent, what

Related From Joystiq

Nintendo gives thanks for plenty of holiday week hardware sales
6 days ago
Patent details Xbox 360 hint system
11 days ago
Nintendo 'hasn't committed' to new Zelda for Wii in 2010
28 days ago

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

PG @ Aug 11th 2009 10:06AM

Why does this child have a receding hairline?

Chris D.(PSN: Aggie_CEO | XBL:The Aggie CEO | Steam: Aggie_CEO @ Aug 11th 2009 10:08AM

bad Genes??

Rob @ Aug 11th 2009 10:09AM

His dad cut his hair?

PG @ Aug 11th 2009 10:16AM

Bad Genes, lol, so even Nintendo are expecting the only people to buy this product are those whose parents share the same blood?

borland502 (SDF Macross) @ Aug 11th 2009 10:27AM

That's no child you insensitive clod! He just happens to be shorter than average with an unhealthy interest in "Barbie Horse Adventures".

Alex @ Aug 11th 2009 10:31AM

Dirty old man.

PG @ Aug 11th 2009 10:32AM

wearing all-in-one 'jammies'? haha, my apologies!

[double post!? dont neg me bro!]

Action-Alan (BWF) @ Aug 11th 2009 10:48AM

I recognize that receding hairline from somewhere...is that Chris Grant as a child?

D-5 @ Aug 11th 2009 10:52AM

As said, it appears to be a midget of some sort in a jump suit.

Kyammi @ Aug 11th 2009 11:10AM

It's not a child. It's the one remaining Nintendo fanboy. He wears pajamas all day, he's 3 feet tall and 39 years old.

Captain Planet (now accepting new Planeteer recruits) @ Aug 11th 2009 11:15AM

Leave the kid alone. It's not his fault his dad cut his hair with the Flowbee.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zhP9mSMT0OE

Courtney @ Aug 11th 2009 11:26AM

I though it was an Oompa Loompa. Dammit, I want an Oompa Loompa packaged with my Wii!

incubeezer @ Aug 11th 2009 11:56AM

His hands, they're so small. Like a mouse's hands.

Help me! @ Aug 11th 2009 12:50PM

That's Reggie Fils-Aime

Spartan @ Aug 11th 2009 4:28PM

i thought it was a jockey

Brendan H @ Aug 11th 2009 7:13PM

Creepy child, or creepy dwarf?
YOU MAKE THE CALL!

S. Tiger @ Aug 12th 2009 8:56AM

3 feet tall? 39 years old?

...Tingle?

Also, that image on the TV reminds me of riding on a horse in Oblivion...

sydscrib @ Aug 16th 2009 9:18PM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHyU0craHKg

koehler83 @ Aug 11th 2009 10:07AM

Don't they call that a sybian?

Danthok @ Aug 11th 2009 10:07AM

That is with the rumble feature built in

danny of rough draft. @ Aug 11th 2009 11:59AM

I guess they didn't hear about the Harry Potter vibrating broom fiasco.

heyzeus @ Aug 11th 2009 3:46PM

Everyone knows Nintendo have to keep their new hardcore housewife user base happy somehow!

A tenner its called the Wii-F*ck

Storm Eagle [Resident Capcom Megafan] @ Aug 11th 2009 10:07AM

IS THERE NO END TO THE MADNESS!?

copa @ Aug 11th 2009 10:29AM

History of Wii controllers:

2006: Vibrating Wand

2009: "Controller" that you straddle like you are riding a horsie, while rocking back and forth

2010: Life-size, anatomically correct Zac Ephron doll. Oh, yeah, let's throw in a button somewhere and call it a controller. How about the nose? Yeah, the nose is a button.

Any way, I wish we could figure out why Nintendo has been so successful in capturing the elusive female gamer audience.

Storm Eagle [Resident Capcom Megafan] @ Aug 11th 2009 10:32AM

You have one-upped me, sir.

Captain Planet (now accepting new Planeteer recruits) @ Aug 11th 2009 11:23AM

The sad thing is Nintendoits will nut all over this and call it revolutionary and "next-gen".

Storm Eagle [Resident Capcom Megafan] @ Aug 11th 2009 11:28AM

You just know at E3 next year it's going to be Reggie, Carrie and Miyamoto demoing this abomination while playing Red Steel 4 with it's new horseback riding stages and Wii Motion Super Plus and Vitality Sensor that, as long you're calm, makes your shots more dead-on.

Chris D.(PSN: Aggie_CEO | XBL:The Aggie CEO | Steam: Aggie_CEO @ Aug 11th 2009 10:07AM

Dear Lord....WHEN WILL THIS END!?!?!

Fullmetal Salchemist @ Aug 11th 2009 5:38PM

@cody

Creativity? It's a freakin' chair.

tmacairjordan87 @ Aug 11th 2009 10:08AM

I'd say that's pretty shameful, but I don't think Nintendo has any honor left to lose. That's pretty awful though.

Rob @ Aug 11th 2009 10:11AM

It's just a patient, people patient shit like this all the time, it's not really a big deal.

Cody @ Aug 11th 2009 10:22AM

Yeah tmac, it's really stupid to think up ideas and stuff. R&D is dumb, why even try things out?

Creativity?? PSSHH!!

Hundreds of these things are filed by ALL three companies kid.

rooshma @ Aug 11th 2009 10:24AM

Yeah, just be patient.

tmacairjordan87 @ Aug 11th 2009 10:24AM

It is stupid to think up ideas like that, and then to actually patent it? Good lord.

borland502 (SDF Macross) @ Aug 11th 2009 10:29AM

"Hundreds of these things are filed by ALL three companies kid. "

Yes, but Nintendo released the Vitality sensor. Normally companies have the grace to file that shit away in a drawer somewhere, never to be seen again.

PedoJokerBear (aka Deeznuts) @ Aug 11th 2009 10:38AM

hey rob what does being in a hospital have to do with any of this?!?!?!

Rob @ Aug 11th 2009 10:42AM

Sorry, I have bad spelling, so sue me!

mr nimblewick @ Aug 11th 2009 11:07AM

"Yes, but Nintendo released the Vitality sensor."

Oh really? What games are you playing with it? How is it being used in them?

Do you even have any idea how it is going to be used at this point?

Seriously people, this concept is silly, but kids like silly, and kids are who it is aimed at. Plus, they haven't announced it. Just settle down.

Captain Planet (now accepting new Planeteer recruits) @ Aug 11th 2009 11:45AM

@ mr nimblewick

Even Nintendo doesn't know what the vitality sensor is going to do!

borland502 (SDF Macross) @ Aug 11th 2009 11:48AM

"Oh really? What games are you playing with it? How is it being used in them?"

I think you're the one that need to simmer down a little sparky. Of course the Vitality® is a silly little dohicky, so is the Thighmaster™. That doesn't mean it won't sell like hotcakes. And if I can enjoy metrosexual RPG master 3000 Part MCMXVII, the audience for the sensor is welcome to an endless parade of plastic crap.

But Good sir, that doesn't lesson the fact that the Vitality® sensor makes me eye this artist rendering and believe, X-Files® style, that this drawing is even now being engineered for release. The truth is out there.®

ChromeAlchemist @ Aug 11th 2009 12:01PM

You're absolutely right tmac, you wouldn't catch a respectable company like Sony doing that!

Oh wait...

Sony:

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uh8brFr1IhY/SSjQaauflzI/AAAAAAAAAZ0/5byR5H_NYYE/s400/207705-1.jpg

http://cache.gawker.com/assets/images/gizmodo/2009/03/wand2.jpg

http://techtickerblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/ps3-natal.jpg

Troll moar please. For fuck's sake they're patents, get off your high horse.

JRM @ Aug 11th 2009 1:44PM

Nintendo's vitality sensor has nothing to do with gamers. It's only an add-on for Wiis in the geriatric wards.

And, yes, this...seat is a ridiculous idea.

borland502 (SDF Macross) @ Aug 11th 2009 1:47PM

"...you wouldn't catch a respectable company like Sony doing that!"

Hmm, I think the point just zoomed over your head. Sure, both Microsoft and Sony patent crap all the time. But allow me to illustrate two differences:

1.) Neither released a Vitality Sensor.
2.) Goofy as spec you linked is, at least it intends to bring a peripheral with the theoretical ability to do many things. The one by Nintendo is a dedicated Saddle controller.

Nintendo has demonstrated the ability bring these dohickies to market. Well, that and the ability to make assloads of money. So remind me again why we can't point and laugh at this patent? Moreover, why can't we point and laugh and say, "well, that's Nintendo for you"? I fully expect Nintendo to come up with enough devices to make Activision feel inadequate.