Nintendo patents "controller with screen"

[Santo]

"DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0023] The present invention provides a video game system 11, as shown in FIGS. 1-6. The video game system 11, according to the present invention, includes a conventional video game console 21 and a video game controller 31 that has a display screen 41 attached to the video game controller, as shown in FIGS. 1-4. The video game console 21 is connected to a power source 51 that powers the video game system 11. The controller 31 and the display screen 41 are both connected to the video game console 21. The display screen 41 may be any type display, such as an LED, OLED or LCD, but preferably is an LCD."

[Spartacus]

May I ask where did you get this info? And if it is true, then that's cool. I wouldn't mind that, and it'd be far from a disappointment....But now that I think of it, what sense does it make to have a LCD screen on a controller (basically an un-portable hand held thingy).:confused:

[ETEP1]

HEY! THE DREAMCAST HAD A SCREEN ON THEIR CONTROLLER! WHERE IS THE LOVE!?!?

[Spartacus]

But from the sound of it, it seems as though it'll do more then the VMU did.....Ok, maybe that's just me wishing.

[Professor Go]

I'm confused. Santo please post the reference you got this from - I was thinking the Dreamcast would have patented that too.. hell the GBA is practically a controller with a screen :P

[The_gamer]

Maybe this controller would be used for games like FF:CC, etc.

What do you think?

[blablamax]

I really dont think it have something with this genration consoles. from what it sound its like tsome machine of Nintendo have Console controller + screen on iT AND THAT SOUND LIKE kind of HANDHELD console or iQue+screen.

I gonna check from where he get it from and when it was regrister

[Pinch the Pooh]

The DC didnt really have a screen on its controller. It had a memory unit with a little thingy that showed a picture. It served no purpose, except for the little games that you could put on. Please dont shout again either, its annoying.

Where do you get your info Mr... Santo and Johny?

[Bishman]

http://www.bluemoonshop.com/megaton.jpg

[4thDimension]

cool, that looks like a portable Gamecube. Or a Gameboy Advance Controller for the Gamecube. Interesting....

[Just Gabriel]

OR.... the controller for the N5 :D

[Pied_Piper]

Originally posted by Gabriel-GCA
OR.... the controller for the N5 :D
If thats the controller for N5 count me out its to big. Its problaby there new unique product they say they were going to anounce next year.

[Matt]

Mabye Nintendo has gotten smart. The N5 could have a full color LCD screen. This would result in it being the most advanced controller ever. More advanced than PS3 and Xbox 2 probably, and more Advanced than SEGA's DreamCast's VMU.

[Rensa]

It looks more like a third-party Cube controller - although whoever designed it was prolly concentrating on the implementation of the screen rather than details of the controller itself. :\

I'd like to hope Ninty are thinking up something new in terms of next^gen input. Games are too complex these days for controllers to stay the way they are.

[blablamax]

Its looks like earleir design for the cube contorller than a new software.

Someone can check when it was registred?

[Messiah]

Basically the same as using an SP as a controller with FFCC

[Shoxx]

I bet this does have a bit something to do with the N5.

[Briton-AMN]

Come on guys, think now. This is the same controller they already have out for the Consoles, the one u plug into the console and u dont need a tv, like in a car or whatever. You can go to Gamestop and see it if you dont beleive me.

[Monkeylord]

I don't think this is a stand alone console design... look what it says under "Abstract" on that screen-dump -

A video game controller assembly having a contoller adapted to comunicate with a video games console for interfacing with a video game . A display is attached to the controller for displaying an image corresponding to a signal recieved from a video games console.

Looks to me like it's either a new controller for the GCN for games that use the GBA as an additional controller (like FF:CC) or a new controller for the N5 - although Nintendo do have a habit of creating inovative (and SUPREME) controllers with each console released - this does kinda look too much like the GCN controller to be for the N5.

Just my opinion.

[Shoxx]

Or... something for like when you're onboard an airplane? This would be the perfect thing for the spring announcement... a combination of hardware and software... it fits perfectly.

[Monkeylord]

It would be cool... I've been thinking of getting a screen for my Cube, so I can play it on the train to/from work. The drawback is that multiplayer is awkward - the screen is big enough for 1 player, bearable for 2 player split, but impossible for more. Now, if each controller displayed ONLY that player then it would indeed rock!

[Shoxx]

Yeah, that's the only disadvantage of that.

[Monkeylord]

Also... (cos I wouldn't really use it multiplayer) it would be handy cos I wouldn't have to have the whole thing Cube on my lap/table. I could leave it in the carrier, and hold it as near to me as necessary.

I know that in the US there is a 3rd party controller available with a screen attached - but from what I hear the screen is tiny and crappy... plus 3rd party controllers simply don't cut it once you've used and official Nintendo one!!!

So far this sounds like the most likely explanation of what this is.

[Shoxx]

Yeah, I always thought there was a third-party controller that had a screen, but can you really trust third party products like you can an official Nintendo product? No, you can't.

[Messiah]

What would the third party controller screen display? Must be just a gimick thing cause really, it would serve no real purpose.

[Matt]

Developers could make games that use it though.

[Messiah]

No what i'm saying is, if its not official, then game developers wouldn't implement anything that uses it so its basically useless. If there was an official controller released then they could uses it to display stuff like images, info etc. See what i'm saying

[GBA]

That would be really awesome, and it would be cool if you could save one game on the controller so you can play it when you go somewere and you dont have power. But for that you would need a N5. That would be totally wicked.

[Cooolcorey]

Someone said that it looks too much like the GameCube controller to be the N5's controller or something like that. But, if the N5 will be backwards compatible with the GC, then shouldn't the controller be similar?

And whoever said that the controller is too big, don't judge the size by the drawing. When I first saw the GC and it's controller, I thought they were huge, but it turned out to be the smallest system out of all of them.

[Monkeylord]

The 3rd party controller with screen that I saw displayed the game... it was a tiny (and apparently bad) mobile monitor that was slightly smaller than the GBA screen and was attached to the gamepad. That's all it was. It wasn't to display anything special... just an alternative to using a TV or mobile monitor that was attached to the GCN.

[Jaga]

i don't like to use controllers with screens (using your GBA as a controlelr isn't smart, it cost alot)

[GFeedJustin]

Dunno if someone's said it yet because I didn't read the whole thread, BUT:

DreamCast VMU. The idea isn't THAT revolutionary, people.

[Messiah]

Yeah someone already mentioned that but hey, whos keepin track ;)

[Monkeylord]

The VMU was a completely different thing.

[Casey-AMN]

Once more, read my premiere editorial on Wednesday... it should seem my theory is being proven true, little by little.

[Shoxx]

Okay fine... but we can still guess until then.

[karter316]

EXACTLY!!!!!!!!! Nothing is wrong with guessing! But then again we're not really guessing more or less hoping......ah but we can hope too right? And um this whole controller idea looks like a very early prototype. Just look at the gamecubes prototype controllers, ugly boxy things. That controller could be a very early prototype for a next generation console. Hopefully it will get smaller though.