Throughout the course of 2015 Nintendo filed multiple patents that reinforce a widely held belief - that Nintendo NX will have a portable / handheld component in addition to being a 'home console'. We already know, based on game announcements such as The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Just Dance 2017 that the system will be a 'home console' in the sense it'll be playable on TVs, but there's plenty of logic and evidence to suggest that the system will have a portable element as well.
One of the most well-known of these patents relates to a 'free-form screen' application, with images that now tellingly (in hindsight) draw comparisons to Breath of the Wild in terms of in-game items and so on. You can see the full details and those images in the article from that time.
Another patent that's now available to see actually draws comparison with a 'haptic feedback' equivalent from last year. Filed in December last year and available to publicly view for a little under a week, a fresh patent also shows a simple and square touch-based interface, though the focus of the application is on sound and vibration technology.
A non-limiting example information processing apparatus comprises a housing, and a left speaker and a right speaker are provided in a left end portion and a right portion of the housing and in an inside of this housing. Each speaker is arranged such that a vibration direction of a diaphragm becomes in a direction perpendicular to a plane surface of a display panel that is provided in the front of the housing. Sound emission portions for emitting sounds from the speakers are formed in both end portions of the housing and on a side surface at near side or this side that the speakers are arranged. Therefore, sounds are emitted toward a side of a player who holds the information processing apparatus. A vibrator that is provided between the two speakers is driven simultaneously with the speakers or in a predetermined order.
In basic terms the application explains, in great detail, how vibrators placed throughout the device combine with 3D sound - so for example as a character runs from left to right across the screen the sound follows between two speakers on either side. The vibration can also be designed to react to on-screen actions and the sound, so it's clearly aiming for a solution well beyond the standard 'rumble on/off' that we've seen in Nintendo hardware up to now.
Beyond that focus, one of our favourite images shows a peripheral that can be placed on the core device; as you can see it replaces parts of the screen that would otherwise be virtual buttons with physical inputs. It's similar in concept to plenty of controller options available on smart devices, for example, though as this is a patent we'd expect a final product to have more of a 'Nintendo touch'.
Overall, this patent is interesting primarily for the fact that it reinforces the prospect of a portable aspect to the Nintendo NX. With Nintendo having merged its portable and home console departments some years ago, talk of a 'new way to play' and the sense that the company will want to shift to one set of development projects rather than supporting two (as with Wii U / 3DS), then it certainly seems likely.
Let us know what you think of all this in the comments.
[source appft.uspto.gov]
Comments 132
If they end up using this idea, for the love of all that's holy, add a second analog to that thing. I'm getting PSP/O3DS flashbacks when I look at it.
Interesting... Not much else to say other than that at this point as it raises more questions than providing any real answers being that everything is currently pure speculation.
@Marce2240 Patents are used for protecting concepts. The final result could be drastically different
Please don't forget the second stick again...
I spend a lot of time with the sound off on my handheld...
@GrandpaPixel That's why I said "if", not "when"
@Marce2240 My mistake XD
"In basic terms the application explains, in great detail, how vibrators placed throughout the device combine with 3D sound - so for example as a character runs from left to right across the screen the sound follows between two speakers on either side."
Umm... Stereo, then?
I feel this would take off in Japan, the rest of the world not so much.
Plus with the PS4 remote play, & the Xbox play anywhere feature coming in September, this rumoured hybrid thing isn't exactly a revolutionary idea. I just don't see anyone really caring.
Am I missing something here?!
@Ichiban I think Nintendo's idea is to make it fully portable. PS4 and Xbox still require some form of connectivity to the home/internet. Nintendo might be trying to make it so you can take your game on the go without the need to be connected to the internet or a console
I hope when they do eventually reveal it we are as in the dark about whatever it will be as we are now. Basically no one has a clue what it is yet.I'd like it to stay that way.
I'm pretty sure I've seen these before so this is nothing new. The thing I'm not getting from this hybrid idea that everyone seems so sure about is the new way to play and unique idea that Nintendo keeps mentioning. This has been talked about for so long now that if that's what the big hook is it will be a bit of a damp squib.
One thing is for certain
This console will make or break the Nintendo hardware division
If it fails they will go the SEGA route for sure
I had a dream last night about the NX being a green DS called the "FlipFlop" that could run Breath of the Wild natively. I remember thinking in the dream "'FlipFlop', what a perfect name!"
The dream also contained a massive model GamePad, the sides of which were made of massive AK-47 rifles. Don't judge ;_;
Looks like JXD S5100... a lot. I'd love to have handheld retro-console made by Nintendo, and if it doubles as NX-controller, even better!
Wow, is that Nintendo 1DS ? Just kidding.
If NX has a design somewhat like that, i can imagine we will play much like Wii U but in perfect version.
@GrandpaPixel good point!
I guess because I'm not a handheld gamer myself that this doesn't appeal to me at all. I just hope that for whatever reason the home console versions don't get watered down to accommodate the handheld portion.
That design... is beautiful. I'm not kidding. If I can play Zelda on a thing that small, then I'm buying it.
If the NX does come with a removable screen on a separate peripheral it seems like a no brainer to have VR functions, a Google Cardboard style add on would work wonders. Add in the Wii remote accelerometer technology and they could have something amazing built right in to the cost of the console. Using the AMD Polaris it could also be cheap and as powerful as the competitors despite the additional hardware costs for a peripheral such as this.
@Marce2240 why? The second stick on N3DS is used by so few games that I won't miss it.
@Inkling
Its basically a neogeo gold system
@TheNomad
I highly doubt that. The 3DS is still a success, they only failed on half of their console generation and the last one of the Wii/DS was the most successful generation for any console manufacturer of all time. They are BY FAR the most financially secure company out of the big 3. What it will most likely mean is they will try another approach and continue to diversify, they've made too much money on hardware and are too financially secure to abandon hardware so easily.
Well I mean if we want to play certain wii u games in. Addition to D's or maybe even 3ds games on nx there has to be some kind of second touchscreen.
@GrandpaPixel No problem.
@manu0 Of course it wasn't used, since the original model didn't have one. Doesn't mean MGS3, RE:Revelations or KI:U wouldn't have benefited from it, for example. Even games like Monster Hunter control much better on the N3DS thanks to it.
If you had a PSP, you'd see that many third-party titles missed it sorely. Just try to play Peace Walker, Coded Arms or any other game that forces you to aim with the face buttons. Having more input options is never a bad thing, and most major releases use both sticks nowadays, even if it's just to give the player control over the camera.
Looks good, but no 2nd stick worries me. Hopefully that won't be omitted.
I know we're still in speculation mode, but I really hope that out of everything new that will be revealed, we get to keep some facet of dual-screens, AND the clam shell design.
Not only has it been great at protecting screens long-term, but I find it hard to lose so much real estate after nearly 12 years of having it.
@Marce2240 so? None of these PSP titles are on Nintendo platforms and probably won't be. There are pretty much no games on 3DS where I felt that I missed a second stick.
Same with PSP, which I owned btw. Never missed a second stick. Actually I even avoided using the left one because it was crap.
Two analogue sticks/nubs/circle pads and analogue triggers or go home Nintendo!
@TheNomad And that's (mostly) a good thing.
@Marce2240 I guess my point is: even if the device would have two sticks I doubt that many games would use them.
I'm kinda glad this uses the Circle Pad, as opposed to a clickable stick. Never thought that was a good choice for an extra button.
@manu0 "None of these PSP titles are on Nintendo platforms and probably won't be"
Gee, I wonder why...
If NX is to have a portable screen that means higher cost and not every one wants a portable screen.
And this is not making use of the 3Ds. So the 3ds would either be replaced by the portable screen or continue much as we do now except that the portable screen is more portable than the Gamepad.
I can't see Wii U gamepad 2.0. Particularly one that lacks dual analog .
Playing Breath of the Wild on a portable device I need to see to believe. The idea of a full console on the go has been toyed with before and I cant think of one thats fully successful but Nintendo wouldn't be Nintendo if they couldnt get lightning in a jar.
As far as potential size to handle a machine like that we've past the days of the Game Gear and Lynx and the Nomad but if we can carry around tablets, Ipads, giant smartphones, etc we can handle a rather large gaming device. Carry cases exist for a reason
so that's a old 3ds
@Kevlar44
The 3DS isn't really successful compared to expectations. Right now it has sold a little over a third of it's predecessor and sales are pretty bad right now. It sold 6.6 million last year and it's losing steam quickly with no successor in sight.
Also, not sure where you get Nintendo is the most financially secure. If you mean current profits, then no. Playstation and Microsoft seem to be profiting right now where Nintendo has basically been break even the last 4 years. If you mean cash on hand, then also no. Nintendo has 9 billion in cash on hand, Sony has 19 billion, and Microsoft has 96 billion.
@cleveland124
Nintendo is a videogame and toy company that occasionally does stuff outside of that. Sony is an electronics and technology company that has a videogame department. Microsoft are a computing supergiant with their fingers in all sorts of business, one of them being their videogames.
That being said, it's not really fair to attempt business analysis on exclusively the videogame side of all of these companies. Unless of course that's your day job, in which case, cool, keep it at work.
@TheDavyStar I dread to think of the mocking Nintendo would receive if their next console was called the Flip-Flop.It'll be doomed to flop before it even has a chance to flip.The Nintendo Flip-Flopped.
@manu0 Are you actually arguing against the next system having a second stick or are you just being goofy?
Nintendo just gave away what NX is! According to the latest briefing (Quoted Below)
Shinya Takahashi (Director, General Manager of Entertainment Planning and Development Division):
"Physical controllers for smart device applications are available in the market and it is possible that we may also develop something new by ourselves"
It is clear that NX is cross communication. There have been rumblings of a Nintendo-like or partnered smart phone for some time. NX is a home console that is able to in some how communicate with both this and your existing mobile phone.
The patent design here is clearly referring to an overlay of physical buttons. I believe it is shown this way to put us off the scent of simply placing a 'Nintendo's words' "peripheral over existing digital devices" .
I could be wrong here but all signs point to this as a conclusion. Although I am struggling to work out the medium for sharing such large programs. Is Ninty building some sort of gaming cloud with DENA? That allows us to stream the content directly from the home source?
I really hope NX will have a potable handset. This one need another analog stick though, or at least a litte button like the New 3DS got.
add a second analog nub or i will not buy that thing. it's 2016, nintendo!!!
@SpaceboyScreams regarding the portable version: yes, if if makes the system cheaper and let's it have a bigger screen instead.
that;s just the bottom half of the og 3ds.
@cleveland124 Wii & DS were anomalies, ones that simply won't be happening again sometime soon because of what markets they were successful with and simply doesn't exist anymore in a similar form.
As for Nintendo being financially secure, yeah, they can screw up for a LONG TIME!
"Buried in reams of financial data is the revelation that Nintendo have 812.8 billion Yen (£6.7/$10.5 billion) in the bank – enough for it to take a 20 billion Yen loss (£163/$257 million) every year until 2052. Then there’s almost 469 billion Yen (£3.8/$6.0 billion) held in premises, equipment and investments. When that runs out – we’re in the year 2075 by this point – they’ve got some of the most valuable intellectual property in gaming to sell off before the company goes out of business."
@muhep
I know that Sony/Microsoft are more diversified as I hope the original poster does. I'm just not sure how Nintendo is more financially secure than those companies by any metric. Being less diversified generally makes a company less secure rather than more secure.
Also, if you don't want to talk about how well companies are doing, I would appreciate you admonishing those who talk about Nintendo's success as well. I was merely responding to a previous comment so not sure why you singled me out and not the 526,804 other comments on this website about Nintendo's financial ability or lack thereof. Also not sure why you feel the need to moderate the comment section when Nintendolife has people on staff to do that.
Cool, it´s a new Gameboy
Yes, yes, YES PLEASE.
I sense a metric crapton of third-party support coming.
@Vegaphil "this is nothing new"
Indeed, I completely agree with the rest of your sentiment on that.
As it so happens, I was on Reddit yesterday and a new rumor article I read there, also concerning a "newly resurfaced" patent sounded WAY more like a new way to play (as Nintendo keeps saying) than this single analog stick handheld. I also posted it in another article, but to spare you the trouble to find that, here it is:
An interesting rumor that is currently all the rage on the Reddit forums:
https://www.reddit.com/r/NintendoNX/comments/4qnmhr/nintendo_nx_a_3d_home_console/
Take it with some salt, but if true, it could actually be interesting and it is definitely a new way to play, provided they can make the original design work for multiple players. You'll understand once you've watched these videos here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jd3-eiid-Uw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LC_KKxAuLQw
Although the quality of the clips is low, you should watch them full screen for maximum effect, and even in low resolution, the effect is clearly noticeable.
I actually kinda liked it, and it certainly is something different. Just imagine it being used in existing franchises...
And you can even test it out for yourself, since the program can be downloaded from the developer's site to install on your own PC. All you need to do then is pair some Wiimotes via bluetooth and you're ready to go...
ok 1 thing all of you need to realize is Nintendo is thinking of making a controler for Smart devices. So before you go hating these patents just remember that these touchscreen controllers would make sense for a smart phone device
@Warruz
My comment was simply Nintendo is not as financially stable as Sony/Microsoft not that they would go bankrupt. They have alot of cash on hand so I wouldn't make that argument. However, they have to run the business for the shareholders best interest. My concern has always been Nintendo will change and not be the company I love rather than go under.
Also, your numbers seem a little out of date. Nintendo has 909 Billion yen (3/31/16), which using current exchange rates ($1 USD = $100 Yen) is $9 billion dollars. This actually includes $3.4 billion in short term investment which is what I believe you are referencing above as an addition, but it's actually included in the cash & short term investment number.
Nintendo have tonnes of patients. A lot of which never see realisation.
@S-C-G kinda reminds me of the tv show lost, more questions than the stupid answers they gave us
@patbacknitro18
A touch screen controller add-on makes sense for a device with a touchscreen?
The picture of the handheld looks like a dream come true! Return to gameboy style!
@MADGAZ "Nintendo just gave away what NX is!"
Well, I honestly don't see what's new about that. Overlays/addons for physical buttons on smart phones have already been done to death, so that is definitely not something that could be designated as "a new way to play", which Nintendo keeps saying of late.
Cross communication between devices could be something, although that doesn't really sound to stunning to me either, and knowing Nintendo, it must be something really odd and quirky that no one has thought of yet, so I guess we'll just have to wait a few more months to find out what "new way to play" actually means...
@N-Gage a portable virtual console player spanning all classic consoles and handhelds would be amazing!
@cleveland124 Ofcourse. Well for 1 it is a smart phone controler after all. It having a touchscreen selection makes as much sense as if it didn't. So if these are patents for smart phone controlers what is the problem
@patbacknitro18
I just don't understand why you wouldn't use the smart phone screen and touchscreen. I mean are you turning the phone into a Wii U, where the phone powers the controller and the display is on the controller? Just seems really odd to me. Carrying a 2nd device on-top of your phone in general just doesn't make alot of sense to me. I mean if you're going to do that, why not just go standalone like the 3DS?
Please let this be a thing. I'm really digging the design, especially the add-on with physical buttons. Reminds me of the Game Boy Micro and that thing was awesome! I only ever game on my 3DS, so a home console NX doesn't really appeal to me all that much.
Well I mean I think their just basically making a phone screen with buttons. And it still makes sense. I mean if its purely for playing games, atleast Nintendo mobile games. Then haveing a 3ds type controller would make alot of sense, and it would still be like playing on the phone, just with buttons to make it easier
If it turns out not to be a hybrid system I'm gonna be disappointed.
Wave Race: Blue Storm on the go is my dream. Make it happen Nintendo 😎
Well, nx is an iOS controller.
@Kevlar44 Totally agree. Add that to the report Bloomberg came out with last year that stated, Nintendo would have to DRASTICALLY fail the next FIVE (5) generations of consoles, before they would need to start selling off assets.
That would never happen though, as share holders would not allow it to happen.
Of all the rumors, the one I'm I hoping turn out to be true is this one. Having a console that is both home and portable just sounds wonderful.
@patbacknitro18
Ah, ok. It makes sense that this could be a Nintendo phone. Nintendo has talked about having multiple pieces of hardware so a console, handheld, and phone would make sense. I'd think the phone would have to run a modified android o/s to make it appealing to a mass audience. If they were also able to run some vc and eshop games that would be great.
@cleveland124 I dont necisarily think Nintendo would be making mobile devices, yet. I mean if yjeir mobile games endeavor proves successful then they could be the microsoft of Phones or tablets. But I think the controller could work as a separate screen. Like the phone is the WiiU and the Controller is the gamepad. As you can link your games to the controller and play them without needing to use your phone. Similar to the WiiU's offscreen play functionality.
@Fidu
Second stick and 4 shoulder buttons, it needs to conform to third party control schemes if we want third party support..
If this ends up being the NX controller then count me out on the NX. I absolutely hate the Circle Pad with a passion. It's a terrible control stick that made playing games like Majoras Mask and Ocarina of Time a chore for me. Also no 2nd analog stick is just as bad. There is a reason why I prefer gaming on my Vita rather than my 3DS
What if NX is a home console with a gamepad 2.0 controller that can connect to your smartphone/tablet and play games at home and on the go. 1 controller, multiple options and ever evolving smart device screens for great visuals
That peripheral better be included or I'm out. No way I'm playing full length games exclusively on touch screen buttons.
"Nintendo Vibrator" confirmed!!!
@majinsoul both of those games are n64 games, which had one stick, and played great
This is my theory:
Nintendo is not making VR hardware but the games will support VR. I believe NX is capable of streaming to the smartphone and PC (just like PS4 streaming to Xperia and PC). Using your VR headgear for PC/smartphone you will be able to play the games in VR.
The streaming latency for Wii U gamepad is 1ms, that's incredibly fast. Over the last few years they would've done enough R&D to improve on it for higher resolution streaming.
Maybe they purposely delayed launching the NX to let more people buy VR headset during the end of the year. It could be their new strategy: instead of fighting against the mobile and other technologies, they will use them to their advantages.
This may explained why rumours keep surfacing about NX being VR or Nintendo delaying NX for VR, etc. Nintendo is not lying in saying that NX is not a VR hardware, the hidden surprise is NX will play games in VR.
@HappyMaskedGuy
True? untrue?
Nintendo puts their own games on their own devices. We knew this was coming as soon as they said they are making mobile games.
@dew12333 I have it on good authority that the device is in fact a Braille printing unit that describes on screen action literally minute by minute.
The vibration technology enhances the effect twofold.
@dew12333 It is also coming in two colours- Turned Avocado and Cataract White
I'm not sure if I read the article correctly, but I really don't like the idea of a fully touch screen based controller (even with the add-on). At least the Wii U gamepad has buttons and analogs sticks (two!) without the need for an add-on.
I just hope that all of the rumours and speculation based on patents turns out to be wrong and that Nintendo really surprises us with a brilliant, ergonomic, and fun design.
@manu0 If the 3DS originally came with two circle pads, a ton of games would use it. The reason why most games don't is because the original model (the one the vast majority of people own) doesn't and the N3DS has come pretty late in the life cycle, so most devs didn't program with two in mind.
Why are you so opposed to a second one? It would in no way hurt the games you enjoy. It would only enhance certain games that could really use it.
@burninmylight as I said: it might lead to the system having a smaller screen then it could have otherwise. That's assuming they would go for a full size second stick.
@HappyMaskedGuy
Day one purchase for me. Thanks for the heads up.
(and your probably closer to the truth!)
I don't know about everyone else but I really want to play that game of circle man walking down a path with trees.
I don't know what to say about this. Not so crazy about it. This has been rumored So many times. I wouldn't be surprised if it's NOT a hybrid.
This is more likely just about the potential control add-on for mobile phones and tablets that Nintendo recently mentioned.
@Ichiban you can't play those anywhere. If Nintendo utilises portable wi-fi technology, you could.
Oh look, the 1DS is real.
I Reported this 2 DAYS AGO Come on NintendoLife https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wMy3hGyrhQ4
The Nintendo NX has just been released andit is already a favourite, due to it's compatibility, graphics and price: http://nintendonx.yolasite.com/
I hope they learned from the wii u and don't make the thing too heavy
I don't like the WiiU pad. Why would I like another one? Nintendo, your awesome and I love you. But try to understand that a regular controller is all most of us will ever need.
@DTFaux
I love your rabbit avatar
The peripheral is a case for your phone, but not as we know it but a controller case,your phone is already the touch screen. You just add the game cart to that case that was in your NX and away you go.
This is genius, actually. If they can get the screen to respond perfectly to the shell's commands, we could have different shells to work with different games, as in a 3ds shell for ds/3ds virtual console (screen laud out vertically), a wiiu shell for general purpose, a six-button plus joystick shell for fighting games... Awesome!
@LetsGoRetro
I wonder if it'll come with a complimentary Super Princess Peach and Vibe Scepter Amiibo. XD
I think I have seen something that looks like the images without the physical buttons somewhere... cell phone...
Dear Nintendo:
JUST SHOW THE SYSTEM ALREADY!!!
Sincerely,
Everyone
@Tempestryke
LOL. XD
Scan the color for certain Emotion. Voila !
I would love to see a device that is essentially a handheld with a high quality screen, but can also plug into a docking station that allows the games to be played on an HD TV with proper controllers. All of the games and save data are on the portable device so there is no need to sync data between a console and a handheld. You just treat it as console when it is in the docking station and treat it as a handheld when it is out of the docking station.
whatever
This just looks like Nintendo might be going into mobile phone creation to me, nothing to do with NX, If they bought out a "Nintendo Phone" I would have to buy it
PLEASE, GOD, WE NEED 2 ANALOG STICKS!!
@TheDavyStar Well, here ya go, then:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=efglxfrryRE
Dream along, my friend, dream along. No one is judging.
In my dream about the NX it actually had a cheese toast or pizza maker powered by the Supplemental Computing Devices, so I wouldn't have to go to the kitchen to get something to eat...
LMAO looks almost like that I came up with!
https://www.anony.ws/i/2016/07/06/NintendoNX.jpg
@Anti-Matter
Rofl
@N-Gage You mean it looks like the original concept of the gamepad back when they first showed it at E3
For the love of Nintendo, don't use the 3DS slide analog thing. That thing gives me cramps after 10 minutes of playing! Use the analogs on the Wii U!
This concept device is literally just a bottom half of a launch 3DS - without the start and select.
I would have hoped by now they've got the sense to put a second circle pad in. Fingers crossed...
I would miss the second screen, too.
@Anti-Matter Don't you mean Nintendo SS? (Single Screen)
@Anti-Matter I wish the 1DS had been real. It was a great hoax, that would be a great way to keep two screens on the handheld.
@TheNomad Nah, Nintendo's not even remotely in the same financial situation as Sega.
They aren't going third party; you might as well quit thinking that.
I dunno, this just seems clunky. I'm intrigued by the all touchscreen part however, as it would be a true 3rd pillar approch bridging the gap between traditional dedicated hardware and full on smart phone gaming.
And don't forget, Nintendo recently is posting smart phone based development hirings.
@Gamer-Jay
Yeah... i forgot. Not DS dual screen, but SS single screen. XD
It'd best to remember that patents always show "non-limiting examples".
I think that these patents have some bearing on the actual NX, but the form factor and final set of features will most likely be drastically different.
@manu0
The Vita ain't that much bigger than a 3DS (certainly more pocketable than a 2DS), yet has a bigger screen than any 3DS model and...gasp TWO ANALOG STICKS!
Anyway, it's curious to see this concept device using the Dingoo stereo speaker placement.
Everybody has already said it but I hope they don't leave out a 2nd analog stick.
@AVahne
Wow....
Perfect prototype of Nintendo Single Screen.
@cleveland124
The 3DS is successful, it doesn't matter if it isn't as successful as the DS. That's like saying the PS3 was a failure because the PS2 did so much better. It's been out since 2011, it should be losing momentum in terms of hardware sales, 6.6 million isn't that bad at this point as there comes a point of market saturation. We all know that mobile devices shrunk the 3DS' market share but as a console it's sold a very healthy number.
When i say financially secure i'm referring to the debt to profit ratio, Sony as a company has not been doing well for years now and is massively in debt, but i can't deny that the Playstation division is doing very well. For example General Motors is a much larger company than Nintendo or Hyundai but it's certainly much less financially secure. The financial health of Sony as a whole has the potential to be a major drain on the Playstation brand going forward, as of now i'd certainly agree that the size of the company's operating budget and technological diversity is an asset but in terms of pure video game R&D i seriously doubt they invest as much as Nintendo does and they likely can't afford to instead having to leverage other R&D within the company to help the PS division (this is admittedly speculation).
You need to consider that the 2nd pillar of the PS division (PSP, Vita) hasn't ever done all that well. You also need to consider that traditionally the hardware doesn't generate as much profit as Nintendo's as it's produced with a larger overhead and sold at a much smaller profit margin, in fact iirc the PS3 was sold at a loss. And lastly Playstation makes the majority of their profit off royalties as they don't produce nearly as much software as Nintendo does meaning that again the profit margin is far less. Nintendo doesn't want to abandon hardware in part because it would mean they would have to pay royalties and as of now they still sell millions of copies of numerous games per year. Nintendo is also understood to develop software much more cost effectively.
Also in regards to software and IP in general Nintendo has the potential to make much more money than Sony as it's now developing for smart devices and is able to and focusing on leveraging IP in new ways such as merchandising, media, and theme parks. Playstation does not have the IP's to allow for this kind of revenue stream as related to video games.
I agree Nintendo needs to reverse some fortunes here but my point is that as a company they have a much more forgiving business model and the potential to generate far higher profits than their counterparts for the reasons listed above. Eventually the share holders aren't going to tolerate hardware failure after failure but as of now they've had one true failure in the companies lifespan, with even the Gamecube returning modest profits, and they've had the majority of huge success' in terms of consoles to their credit. Nintendo's business model has hardware as an essential component, if they gave hardware up they would be drastically reducing the profit potential of their company and that's not something shareholders are going to want to do so easily. It's not like they are hemorrhaging money nor have they ever, they've posted some relatively modest losses for a company of their size. It happens.
As for Xbox it's widely been speculated that it's long lost Microsoft money and hence theirs been persistnet rumors for years about them getting out of the console buisness. Now i don't think they will leave the market, as Xbox losing some money helps them create a larger and more diverse business as it relates to computing and software but Xbox as a brand is not doing very well and never has. It's merely staying afloat and that's largely due to being backed by one of the largest companies in the world.
None of the big 3 are really doing that poorly but my point stands in terms of the video game divisions of the companies, which Nintendo essentially wholly is, Nintendo has the most financially secure situation. They tend to generate profit and when they lose money in times of bust it's not that much, they have higher profit potential in boom times, and they don't have to be concerned with the financial health of other divisions within the company (PS) nor do the have to be concerned with being a deemed an unnecessary burden on the company as a whole (Xbox).
Sorry for being late to the party and for the wall of text but i felt a well written opinion such as yours deserved an honest rebuttal. I really do appreciate the well thought out and honest reply, even if we don't agree i respect your right to an opinion and feel it's been developed in good faith and intelligently. Kudos.
Looks like a neo geo pocket wow have nintendo not learned anything . The ps vita is the best build but 3ds has the best games. Mmmmmm circle stick pro pfft + lol
Don't people take these patents too much at face value?
And since DS means Dual Screen, 1DS means 1 Dual Screen, which basically means DS. lol
Shut up and take my money
That's a bit of a stretch. Not to say that it won't happen, but, there isn't anything in the article that mentions anything about a portable element. The picture shows a controller for the system, the only thing I don't understand is where the right thumbstick is.
@AVahne vita is too wide for me to hold comfortably. Also which games on vita actually use the right stick? Almost none.
@burninmylight @Marce2240 now that the vita has been mentioned: it has had two sticks since the beginning, but just as with new 3DS almost no games use the second stick. So again, I'm all in favor of the portable NX only having one stick.
Streaming gaming... it's not good, for obvious reasons. We've seen numerous streaming gaming services and technologies (OnLive, Sony Remote Play, etc) fall by the wayside because there just isn't enough wireless bandwidth to support the data demands of modern console gaming. I highly doubt Nintendo would be stupid enough to try and launch a product that relies on the integrity of a mobile wireless connection (and your monthly mobile wireless data cap) in order to provide its free-roam gaming experience. That would be a huge fail, plain and simple.
That being said, I only see one way Nintendo can make a hybrid system work, and that's by employing the same PC gaming-like graphics adjustments that Sony and Microsoft are going to use when the new Playstation Neo and Xbox Scorpio are released.
On those consoles, new titles will run at higher resolutions with higher frame rates and better graphic fidelity. Newer titles will still run on the older Xbox One and Playstation 4, but simply at a lower resolution with lower graphic fidelity (and perhaps a lower minimum frame rate).
If Nintendo is using an Nvidia Pascal-based GPU to power its NX home console as some reports suggest, it could easily use the mobile 'Tegra' version of that GPU to power the handheld component. Anyone who's seen the Nvidia Shield TV in action knows that its Maxwell-based Tegra GPU is capable of playing fairly recent and graphically demanding PC games at decent resolutions and frame rates (Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance being one of them).
In the case of a hybrid system using Pascal-based GPU's, the loss in graphic fidelity from home console to handheld might not even need be that great since simply halving the resolution on the handheld unit would make up for most if not all of the difference in performance (depending on the thermal characteristics of the handheld unit).
In this scenario, one could easily envision a next-gen AAA console title running on the NX home console at 1080p/60fps (or higher) and 720p/60fps on the handheld unit with little to no perceived loss in graphic fidelity, thanks in large part to the higher pixel density of the handheld's display.
I haven't purchased a Nintendo console for myself since the Nintendo Gamecube. If the NX offers what I speculated above, I imagine that's going to change soon.
@manu0
The hell are you on about? Every FPS on Vita obviously uses the stick, every Monster Hunter-type game, every action-adventure game, every 3D beat-em-up, a bunch of JRPGs, hell even Need For Speed allows the use of the right stick for stuff. Oh, and I definitely can't forget Touch My Katamari. That uses the right stick, too.
At this point I can't help but feel that you're merely yet another troll.
so technically its like a wii u 2?
When nintendo now gonna release mobile games i doubt they will do a handheld. I think 3ds was their last handheld.
The real question we all want answered is.. can you play Pokemon Go on it?
please do not do the double screen, I can't stand it.
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