Computer game (and playing card) company Nintendo has a bunch of clever patents that are probably impossible to link to future computer consoles.
However, Guide Strats have tried to do just that and have had fun trying.
Shinya Takahashi, Nintendo’s general manager of development, told the British newspaper The Guardian;
It’s not that we’re consciously trying to innovate; we’re trying to find ways to make people happy. The result is that we come up with things other people have not done.”
Nearly 70% of Nintendo’s 8,500 patents are active, meaning the tech is entirely their own.
Nintendo Playable Game Boy Smartphone Case
(Patent No: US20180275769A1)
Nintendo could release a playable smartphone cover that embraces the joy of push-buttons and the childlike pleasure of a carry case.
A patent describes a cover that transforms a cellphone into a Game Boy. It has a window at the top to act as the “screen” and the rest of the phone’s front serves as buttons and the control pad.
Nintendo Switch Joy-Cons with Hinges
(Patent No: JP2019146737A)
The new handles for the Nintendo Switch Joy-Cons could provide better ergonomics for gamers who often find them uncomfortable after long gaming sessions. Additionally, the handles may also add new in-game functionality for both new and existing games.
Nintendo Wii Football Controller
(Patent No: EP2090346B1)
Have you ever played football on the spot? Back when the first Wii consoles were only three years old, Nintendo filed a patent for a physical football equipped with a motion sensor. Gamers could use this ball to simulate various actions such as throwing (without letting go), dodging (moving the ball from side to side) and running (yes, on the spot).
Nintendo’s patent noted;
The game playing public generally expects a football video game to provide a reasonably accurate model of at least some aspects of the actual game of football,”
Most game players will expect a football video game to be played on a field 100 yards long marked off in 10-yard increments, with two opposing teams each having 11 players. High realism is in high demand.”
Prediction: If this gets made then things are going to be broken!
Nintendo Portable System with Interchangeable Controls
(Patent No: US20140121023A1)
A decade ago, Nintendo patented a portable gaming system similar to the 3DS, but with interchangeable control pads. Players could change and configure button units, joysticks, or cross keys for different games.
Modular controls could improve accessibility and ergonomics, as well as increase the potential of a portable device. Developers could create new controls as needed, and multiple ports could be connected for more versatility.
This invention may spark a new era of controller customization, with third-party companies and home inventors creating interchangeable controls for accessibility, improved gameplay, or aesthetics.
Nintendo Wii Inflatable Horseback Riding Peripheral
(Patent No: US8277327B2)
In 2009, Nintendo actually said
It would be desirable to provide an inexpensive, convenient way to realistically simulate, in the home, riding on horseback or on other animals,”
Nintendo has an inflatable cushion with sensors that detect player movement while interacting with 3D footage of fields and hurdles. One controller simulates reins, while another simulates a riding crop or revolver.
Quick Links
Read: Guide Strats’ article.
Official: Nintendo hardware.
