Tag: Patents
News Newly Discovered Nintendo Filing Shows Off "Dual-Screen, Detachable Device"
Sending Switch successor rumours into overdrive (again)
Switch successor rumours have got louder in recent months and now some new Nintendo filings have been discovered. New ideas and designs from Nintendo, which were originally filed by the Japanese video game company on 11th November 2022, have been discovered on the 'World Intellectual Property...
News Patent Suggests That New Nintendogs Is On The Horizon, Potentially For Mobile
Are we barking up the wrong tree?
It has been 12 long years since we last heard the infamous instructions of "Lucky, Daisy, Baxter" while we sat in a completely sound-proofed room attempting to teach our dog its name in the 3DS' Nintendogs + Cats. Of course, this followed the six-year wait after the release of the original Nintendogs on the DS — a...
News Five Years Later, Nintendo's Lawsuit Against 'White Cat Project' Has Finally Been Settled
Nintendo initially asked for $40m in damages
Colopl's White Cat Project In a new statement (Japanese), Nintendo has confirmed that its patent infringement lawsuit filed against Colopl and its 'White Cat Project' mobile game has now been settled, with Colopl agreeing to pay an undisclosed figure. If you need a quick catch up, the case can be traced...
News Nintendo Switch eShop Accounts Could Soon Display Personalised Game Suggestions
According to a new patent
A newly-published patent applied for by Nintendo reveals potential plans to display individualised game ratings on the Switch eShop. As spotted by Game Rant, the patent in question describes a system that can "generate a base rating that is a function of gameplay data for a specific user," as well as "an average external...
News Tencent Has Patented Its Own Handheld Console, And It Looks A Lot Like A Nintendo Switch
Tencent previously helped distribute the Switch in China
Tencent's been making a name for itself in Nintendo circles in recent years. As it continues working on Pokémon Unite through TiMi Studios, the Chinese tech giant also obtained exclusive distribution rights for the Switch launch in China back in 2019. Now, if a recent patent is to be...
News New Nintendo Patent Suggests A Standalone Switch Joy-Con Could Be On The Way
A new controller for the Switch Pro?
A newly-discovered Nintendo patent suggests that the company may be planning to release a new form of Joy-Con style controller. The patent, which was originally filed in May 2018 and then registered this April, shows several images of a controller design that looks very similar to the Joy-Con found on current...
News Nintendo's Quality Of Life Project Pops Up Yet Again In New Patent
First new details in almost a year
Nintendo's 'Quality of Life' initiative has been in the works for years now - the first time we heard about it was way back in 2014 - but it's been a little while since we last received any new info. Today, however, it has been revealed that the Big N has applied for a new patent that's concerned with measuring...
News Nintendo Files Patent For The Switch Lite
Better late than never
Companies are always filing patents for new product designs, but this time it's a little different. Nintendo Co., Ltd. recently registered a design at the Japanese patent office for the Switch Lite – a handheld system which launched in September last year. The description notes how the device is "an electronic computer...
News New Nintendo Patent Shows Touch Pen Attachment For Switch Joy-Con
Images reveal software ideas
A newly published patent has been discovered which shows a 'Touch P
News Nintendo's Wider Switch Joy-Con Design Was One Of Many Ideas That Never Saw The Light Of Day
What could have been
Prior to the release of the Switch, Nintendo filed a series of Joy-Con patents with the Japanese patent office in August 2016. Some had buttons in different locations, D-pads, no control sticks and there was even a wide design in consideration. Although we already know
Feature Digging Through Nintendo Patents
Ideas that surfaced or sank without trace
The recent discovery of a patent for Joy-Con controllers with hinges set tongues wagging with speculation as to what it could mean for Switch and potential future directions for the platform. Will Switch ‘Pro’ feature a curved screen? Is the angle of the two parts measured and translated into the game?...
News Patent Filed For New Nintendo Switch VR Headset
Update on the Labo kit on the way?
While it may not have been quite as convincing as other VR offerings in the market, Nintendo's Labo VR kit was a likeable experiment which proved that even on tech as humble as Switch, a decent virtual reality experience could be achieved. VR modes have since been added to several key releases, and it would seem...
News Super Mario Party On Switch Appears To Make Use Of Nintendo's Recent Multi-Screen Patent
Two consoles working together
Just over a month ago we reported on a new multi-screen patent filed by Nintendo which seemed to make use of two separate screens, running on two separate devices, with information and displays being shared between them seamlessly. After closer inspection of the recent Super Mario Party trailer, it appears that this...
News Nintendo's New "Extended Input" Patent Hints At Donkey Konga Bongo Support On Switch
Game Boy emulation patent also filed recently
We've already seen how Nintendo Labo is leveraging the power of the Switch hardware in new and exciting ways, but it would seem that Nintendo isn't stopping there. According to a new "extended input" patent filed by the company in August last year, the capabilities of the hardware - including the...
News Nintendo is Suing Mobile Game Company Colopl For $40 Million
Ouch!
Nintendo has reportedly filed a lawsuit against Japanese mobile game company Colopl, currently asking for a rather staggering $40 million in damages. According to an official statement from Colopl, Nintendo has claimed that five tech patent rights have been violated in the game Shiro Neko Project. One of these patents is said to involve...
News United States Appeals Court Rules In Nintendo's Favour In Tomita Technologies 3DS Patent Case
Another one bites the dust
It looks as if the saga of Seijiro Tomita's patent case against the Nintendo 3DS is finally coming to an end. The United States Appeals Court has just confirmed that handheld console does not use technology covered in a patent asserted by Tomita Technologies USA, Inc. and Tomita Technologies International, Inc, stating...
Editorial Don't Let Patents Be The New Source of Unrealistic Nintendo Switch Expectations
Let the hype be real, not fantastical
Now that the Nintendo Switch has been unveiled, we're thankfully past the stage of particularly unlikely rumours and 'leaks' getting the web all hot under the collar. After all, the scope for exaggeration is greatly reduced now that the system is visible, and reports can focus on sensible considerations such as...
News Fresh Nintendo Patents Reinforce Concept of NX Featuring Detachable Controllers
Gesture recognition patents also get more details
It seems that as Nintendo gets closer to revealing the NX more clues surface, and a few freshly released patents - filed in January this year and now visible to the public - appear to reinforce aspects of notable recent reports on the system. NeoGAF poster Disorientator has picked up on these...
News Texas Court Ruling States That Game Mechanics Can't Be Protected by Copyright
As long as it looks different, it's acceptable
It's always an interesting debate when discussing whether or not one game is stepping on another's toes when it comes to the actual way that each game plays. After one game innovates and does something new, subsequent games that copy that are sometimes viewed as "clones" that offer very little in the...
A "video game fabricating system" with editing tools and data sharing
Super Mario Maker has been a smash hit for Nintendo, and has finally given players the chance to create their own unique Super Mario experiences. However, if a 1994 patent is anything to go by, Nintendo has been thinking about this kind of user-generated approach for quite some...
News You'll Now Be Able To Play Mini-Games During Loading Times
Bandai Namco's "Ridge Racer" patent has expired
Once upon a time, consoles were sold on the fact that they loaded software instantly without the waiting times associated with formats that used tapes, floppies or sluggish CD drives, but these days that distinction has all but vanished, with some next-gen releases making players stare at...
News Fresh Nintendo Patent Shows Handheld Device With "Outward-Facing Linear Image Sensors"
Toy scanning and pulse detection included
We recently reported on two patents which - given the hype surrounding Nintendo's next console, the Nintendo NX - have understandably triggered quite a bit of interest. The first involved clickable, shoulder-placed scroll wheels while the second was related to
News Nintendo Renews Patent On Multi-Platform Game Boy Emulation, But Don't Get Too Excited
Unlikely that official games will be on your iPhone any time soon
Patents are funny things. Every new product needs them, but there are countless patents filed every year which never get used for anything productive. Take Nintendo's patent for
News Philips Secures Wii Patent Victory Over Nintendo in the UK
Nintendo to appeal, may affect similar claims in other countries
Not too long ago we reported on a Philips patent claim against Nintendo related to Wii technology, specifically with regards to recognising hand gestures and motion. It's not the first such claim against the Wii in this regard, of course, but is certainly significant considering the...
News Philips Claims Wii And Wii U Infringe Two Of Its Patents, Seeks Ban In The United States
Dutch electronics giant seeking compensation package, too
Dutch electronics manufacturer Philips is claiming that the Nintendo Wii and Wii U systems infringe on two of its patents — one of which dates back to 1996. According to Dutch site NU, Philips has submitted documents in the United States which call for a ban on selling both systems in that...
News Nintendo Involved In Patent Dispute Over Wii U's Dual Screen Capabilities
It's that time again
Nintendo is no stranger to patent cases, and it has been revealed that the company is involved in yet another — this time relating to the Wii U's selling point: its ability to display two screens at once. Nintendo Co. Ltd., Nintendo of America, Inc. and several other companies — including retailers who sell the system in...
News Dallas Tech Company iLife Thinks Nintendo Stole Its Idea For Motion Control
Federal lawsuit has been filed by the firm
A Dallas-based technology company has filed a federal lawsuit against Nintendo claiming that the Japanese video game manufacturer has violated six of its patents by including motion-sensing tech in its Wii and Wii U consoles. iLife Technologies and Solutions — which claims to invent "innovative...
News 3DS Patent Can Tell When You've Returned Home
Not as creepy as it sounds
Back to the Future Part II's vision of 2015 was an intelligent house that greeted people as they walked in. "Welcome home, Marty!" it would say. "Lord of the manor, King of the castle!" Well, this new patent application from Nintendo might lead to that mythical home of the increasingly-near future. The patent shows a...
News 3DS Patent Covers Vibrating Stylus, New Kinds of Control
The plot thickens
Nintendo's filed a patent for a new kind of input on 3DS — one that requires no physical contact with the console at all. The application uses the 3DS console's inner-facing camera along with a stylus to manipulate 3D images on the top screen without the need for buttons, touch screen or moving the console. The inward-facing...
News Colour-Based AR Patent is Hot Stuff
You'll see what we mean
The augmented reality games bundled with the 3DS are all well and good, but many of you want more. Nintendo's applied for a patent on a new colour-based AR concept that would make a very welcome addition to the system's AR suite. The document refers to using colour to influence the game world, giving several intriguing...
News Nintendo Patent Reveals Wii U and Remote Interactivity
Drag and drop
So far a lot of the Wii U video and technology has focused on how one player will use the Wii U controller and others will use Wii Remotes, but a new patent shows the potential for a single player using both controllers together. The patent outlines how a player could use the Wii Remote to interact with both the TV and Wii U...
News Nintendo Patents 'Ornamental Design' for 3DS Circle Pad
It's so pretty
One of the first things we noticed when Satoru Iwata stood on stage at E3 2010 with a 3DS was the Circle Pad. Some called it a slider pad, others opted for analogue stick: whatever name you chose, it ultimately meant that Nintendo was giving us analogue control in its shiny new handheld. It's since given us the Circle Pad Pro to...
News Nintendo Applies for Patent on Wii U Golf Tech
Taking a swing
Remember Nintendo's bold new vision for sports games on Wii U, shown off at E3 last year? It's dead serious about making it a reality, applying for a patent on its concept for golf. The patent pertains to using the new controller on the ground to see the lie of the ball, but it goes into more detail, revealing it's possible to 'miss'...
Rumour This is Wii U's Controller Charging Dock
Looks the part
Wii U's controller will come with a built-in rechargeable battery, so naturally Nintendo will provide a means of charging it with the console. It may not be as boring as a cable though: it could be an immensely exciting cradle. NeoGAF user Aostia claims to have unearthed a patent showing off a charging dock for the controller, which...
News U.S. Patent Cites Wii U as "Universal Remote Controller"
What else could it do?
THQ's Danny Bilson wasn't kidding when he called the Wii U controller the "Swiss army knife of video game controllers." Touch screen, game streaming, motion control and near-field communication technology is all well and good, but the latest rumour points to the pad controlling more than just the Wii U console. A...
News Nintendo: "We Refuse to Succumb to Patent Trolls"
Wii Fit patent case dismissed
Rick Flamm, Nintendo of America's senior vice president of Legal & General Counsel, has spoken out against "patent trolls" after winning a third litigation case this year. Californian firm IA Labs claimed that the Wii Balance Board and Wii Fit software infringed on U.S. Patent No. 7,121,982. IA Labs'...
News Nintendo Patents Touch Pad for Wii Remote
But to what end?
We've seen plenty of Wii controller patents in the past, not all of which saw the light of day — remember the inflatable horse and American football? Now the company's put out a patent for a Wii Remote touch-sensitive pad, as spotted by
Feature Wii Controllers - What Could Have Been
Wii never knew...
Part of our mission at Nintendo Life is to highlight parts of the gaming world that were previously unknown. To that end, our experienced researchers have been rooting around the archives of Wii history and discovered the original patent application for the Wii Remote. Reading patent documentation isn’t the most stimulating of...
News Wii U Controller Patent Reveals Interesting Features
Fingers crossed for a mini George Foreman grill
At this stage in the game, Nintendo has officially revealed relatively little about the specifics behind the upcoming Wii U and its controller technology. Apart from the standard features one would come to expect from any brand of console controller, we know the Wii U's will also sport a 6.2-inch touch...
News Nintendo Said Unto the Patent Office: Let There Be Wii Light
Another wacky peripheral gets uncovered
Nintendo's always been one for experimenting with peripheral accessories designed to boost the functionality of its hardware. From football controllers, to inflatable horseback saddles, Nintendo's patented them all. A recent uncovering by Siliconera
News New Patents Reveal Balance Board Motorcycle Game
New patents unearthed
It's been a while since we saw a Nintendo-published game that uses the Balance Board, surprising considering the number of boards sat in living rooms around the world, but a new patent filing has revealed a motorcycle game could be in the works at Nintendo Software Technology. The application shows a first-person motorcycle...
News The DS Isn't Just for Gaming, It Can Help With Shopping Too
Turning visits to the supermarket into a real-time strategy game
What makes technology so marvelous is the multitude of tasks we can get a single piece of hardware to do. Single women (and men, we suppose) can probably find more than one use for an electric toothbrush, drivers prone to getting lost can use their phone to make calls as well as...
News Vitality Sensor Details and Game Ideas Emerge in Patent Application
It's all about haemoglobin, apparently
E3 2010, TGS 2010 and Nintendo's Conference all came and went without even so much as a snifter of new information about the Vitality Sensor. Although Nintendo is still keeping the device behind closed doors, Siliconera has uncovered patent applications that reveal more about how the sensor works as well as its...
News Nintendo Files Patent for Wii Hard Drive
But to what end?
Mysterious patents, electronic goods and the Internet can often be a volatile combination, so take this latest application as you will. Nintendo has recently filed for a patent that offers the ability to install Wii games to a hard drive, though there's little information available as to its wider applications. Certain retailers...
News Nintendo Wins Appeal in Controller Patents Case
No infringement going on here, Officer
You may remember (if you have a watertight memory) a lawsuit arising a few years ago between Nintendo, Microsoft and a third company named Anascape, who sued both hardware manufacturers for apparently infringing their patents. Anascape won that time, netting a cool $21m from Nintendo and an undisclosed sum from...
News Nintendo Patents Touch Screen Rumble Feature
No news of a new Star Fox to go with it
Nintendo have recently filed a patent for touch screen rumble feedback. The patent reveals a tactile feature, wherein rumble feedback is applied through the touch screen consequent to the user’s interaction. The patent confirms that the hardware to which the technology relates to consists of two screens,...
News Sony Patents Universal Game Controller
Would work with all three current home consoles - including Wii
Owners of multiple consoles can attest to the clutter and occasionally annoying battery maintenance that comes with having several different controllers kicking around the house. Televisions, stereos and DVD players can all be programmed to use one remote control, but gamers are stuck...
News More Nintendo Shenanigans Reveal Football Controller Patent
American football, that is.
Nintendo's R&D department can be called many things, but no one can rightly label them as boring. The inflatable horseback riding peripheral revealed a few weeks ago made Nintendo look like it was on the brink of insanity, but this new patent (also discovered by Siliconera) seems to indicate that they're taking at...
News Nintendo Patents Inflatable Horseback Riding Peripheral
Yep.
Well, this was unexpected. A European patent held by Nintendo (discovered by Siliconera) shows the company isn't content with just having peripherals like the Balance Board, Vitality Sensor, Zapper, Wheel, MotionPlus and the Nunchuck. No, Nintendo wants to peripheralize your badonkadonk as well. An inflatable horse saddle is the latest...