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 least half of their prescribed anti-crazy pills: it's a squishy American football shell.
Multiple versions of the peripheral are covered, including one that uses the remote only and one that integrates the nunchuck, even one with MotionPlus support.
The patent outlines possible implementation of the controller, too. For running, the football would sense body motion by the player jogging in place. Moving left and right would enable a dodging action and raising the ball could make your digital player jump. Gamers could strap their hand to it and make a throwing motion to pass, with the force and angle of the throw determining it's trajectory. Like we need more people flinging their remotes into the screen by accident.
As always, just because Nintendo has filed a patent doesn't necessarily mean that the item in question will ever see the light of day. Still, if this is the first sign of the company developing a football game, things might get interesting.
[source siliconera.com]
Comments 40
Come on, just got outside and play football. Sheesh. Pretty soon we're going to have to install line and hash marks on our floor and put up goal posts.
Oh good.
"Go Long!"
Falls backwards over couch
I wanna see them sell a LAX Stick peripheral.
Geez whats next? A basketball controller?
LOL. Its getting a bit silly.
The angry man on the TV doesn't seem to particularly care for the prancings-about of the player.
If people were worried about putting the Wiimote through the TV, exactly what is going to happen with this?
I think it's a great idea. [American] football is HUGE in this country! Then again, it's not accomplishing anything you can't already do with a little bit of imagination and a standard Wiimote Just plug a big hole into a NERF Football, insert Wiimote into said hole. Problem solved!
Fun fact: I have never used the wrist strap, never broken any TVs either
I still say nintendo is just making useless patents to confuse microsoft and sony
Microsoft-"Stop natal! WE NEED INFLATABLE HORSES AND FOOTBALLS!"
"Come on, just got outside and play football. Sheesh."
^ what he said. Bring me back to the days of button-based Mario platforming. Ahhhh.
Hmm....maybe they're just patenting the ideas just because they came up with the ideas.
Why is it that people say "go play a real sport" whenever stuff like this comes up, but nobody ever says "go join the real army" when war games come out?
How are they going to work this into Sexy Poker 2?
EDIT: @Panda, I would assume because playing a sport is far less dangerous? And I personally don't want my country defended by a bunch of 360 and PC addicts!
Hey, people die playing football. It's happened.
Anyway, my point is that people play games to do things they wouldn't/couldn't do in real life. Sports games allow you to, for instance, take control of the Baltimore Ravens and lead them to Superbowl victory. Can't really do that in your backyard.
The only reason I play football is that it gives me an excuse to knock people's blocks off. (And occasionally get my own block knocked off)
I say why not? It might be fun for the Madden games. As long as it's an optional periphial I say go for it.
@Corbie: ...and that's how people die!
lol, that's true Panda.
Though the premise of a football controller IS ridiculous
@chunky_droid: Yeah, it's hard to argue against that.
A patent doesn't mean, that they're using it as an actual product. They're probably patenting every crap idea, so they can sue or at least charge all those third parties, who are developing similar peripherals.
Well, at least it's nothing, that could be used in Zelda. Because the horseback thing gives me nightmares.
This is actually a good idea, I wouldn't mind this at all. I think it can improve football video games on the Wii tremendously.
lol Nintendo loves to have fun with their ideas
I still think he appears to be figure skating with a football.
I swear at this point Nintendo is just putting these patents out to make everyone think they are utterly insane and try to catch us off-guard when a real good patent comes along.
But I love the crazy drawings still. Between this, the horse riding controller and the Sony man who looks too similar to the Joker laughing at TV there is Photoshop material for years to come.
I don't mind sports video games, and even using the Wii Remote motion controls is alright, but I was trying to make a point that they might be taking this a bit too far. And everybody's gotta die, it might as well be knocking each other around on the football field. Where's your sense of adventure? You guys didn't play football in high school?
I have been playing football since I was 6. I am 14 now and still play football. 8 years Corbie, count 'em. Over half my life too.
I didn't start playing until 8th grade and then I played until I graduated. I was a wide receiver and safety.
I think this peripheral looks stupid, but at least it shows that Nintendo is somewhat interested in football now. Only way I want to play a football game is if it stars Mario!
"'Go Long!'
Falls backwards over couch"
I lol'd.
I do not get this. @Cheezy You play laccrosse?
@Corbie: I was always more of a baseball fan. I'd pitch and play shortstop, which are probably the two scariest positions in terms of things flying at you unexpectedly.
Bless the inventor of the jock strap.
Oh, and have you seen the MW2 special edition? Comes with night vision goggles. Now that's ridonkulis.
I'm surprise Nerf didn't come out with this already, they pretty much made attachments for golf, tennis, baseball and the sword-fighting game in Wii Sports Resort.
@LoopyLuigi: THAT WAS HILARIOUS!
But this is pretty...dumb. How many peripherals do we need??
Oh well. I wouldn't buy a football game if that was the only game in the store, and I had a $5000 shopping spree for just that one day.
I don't see how this might sell in Europe . they have soccer, er, football there! Gosh, I hate it when people do this!
you know.... i'm sure this will never actually be developed and sold, but i don't actually think it's all that bad of an idea. i could see myself having fun with that. like being the kid who goes out in the backyard and pretends to be the center, quarterback, O-line, runningback, and reciever all in one imaginary play. that horseback patent, however... let's not get started.
I think is a great idea. right there. is simple. There is the most important thing that they sell on wii, the feeling of playing something. nothing else.
this is weird
It's official. Ninty is off their nut.
@bro2dragons - I totally agree. Imaginary playing was the best part of childhood. Running outside playing soccer by yourself scoring goals. Screaming the commentary. Running outside to play football. Acting as the center, throwing the ball back, catching it, passing it across the field to no one, running and catching that, going for the touchdown. always a fun time.
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