Haptic Feedback Patent Could Hint At Full Touchscreen Interface On NX

um, isn't that called a tablet?

So...is that stereo haptic feedback?

It's interesting.

@rjejr No, you call it an iPad™®© :^)

4ds confirmed!! The next patent will be device which emits fragrances from electronic command inputs

@rjejr jesus christ do you ever do anything except look at the pictures?

Nothing mind blowing here! The rolling shoulder buttons are a great idea but this doesn't exactly look new. It seems more like an advanced vibration feature on a tablet, not a gaming revolution of any kind.....

Apple Force Touch isn't an impossibility in future control inputs either. The idea of a gamepad without physical buttons and a unique per-game config isn't far off...

If Nintendo drops physical buttons, I drop Nintendo. I don't want to have to look down to see whether or not my fingers are on the buttons.

But I would be very surprised if they did. This technology could be combined with any other, like buttons.

@tjhiphop Only when I'm looking at Playboy, I read that for the articles.

@rjejr You hold onto those physical copies of Playboy they'll be worth a mint in the future. Vinyl records sound better, vintage games play better and soon women in magazines will look better!

@ghostjoshu @rjejr so off topic but absolutely funny

Hmm, interesting. But it's probably, as the article says, just a patient for names sake.

Looks like a tablet as others have said. But it might be incorporated into whatever the NX('s) is(are).

I'm convinced NX is a number of different devices at this stage. All with same OS. Much like Apple or Microsoft. Which Nintendo did praise Apple for that at the end of last year, start of this year? Clues

@hiptanaka Same goes here, I hope Nintendo can cool it on the innovation side of things and actually focus on a decent system which third parties will develop for.

Eh. Patents don't really mean anything.

@hiptanaka not whilst Miyamoto is there they wont.

No more controllers with screens thanks. Keep off screen play, let people stream their games to their laptop or tablet screens while using the NX controller.

I remember there was an article on here with a rumour stating the Wii U would have haptic feedback about a year before it was officially announced.Not just any haptic feedback either,the kind where you can actually feel textured and liquid surfaces.The Wii Feel or something like that?I'm positive I never dreamt that haha

Maybe this is that slime version of the game pad that was rumored last year..

No button controller = No buy.

I'd be surprised if they dropped buttons. Plenty of challenging games that require precise controls would be almost impossible to play on touch screens, even with haptic feedback. Lots of patents go unused, so it's not worth worrying about it.

No. Oh, no. Hell no. Please.

This could be the screen for the other patent we saw with rotational buttons. Having physical buttons, analogs, rotational shoulders, and a screen with haptic feedback could make for a really versatile gaming controller.

Yeah, how 'bout no.

This isn't a good idea. The normal house hold will look at it and say "we'll we already have one of those."

Go with the scrolling shoulder buttons Nintendo! Please?

I'm wondering if this has something to do with the collaboration between Nintendo and Sharp? https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2014/12/sharp_gearing_up_to_supply_free_form_lcd_screen_technology_for_future_nintendo_hardware If this were the case, I can imagine a full screen implementation with physical buttons and analog sticks coming out of that. With haptic feedback, you give developers the chance to put in their own controls on top of the base controller (like the "spawn point" super-jump button on Splatoon that I never think to use even though I can reach it OK with my thumb)

all we need is x,y,a,b

I could take this to indicate that the NX will have a touchscreen that is capacitive rather than resistive, bringing it's tech more in line with mobile devices. Interesting if true.

Even if this was real, I doubt it would be the controller for the system. Nintendo would never drop buttons. Maybe Nintendo will make a separate device from the NX to compete in the tablet market. Or, like a lot of patents, this will never see the light of day.

I have no interest in playing games with a touchscreen, what's wrong with buttons? Also I'd like a move back to a traditional controller, very few games use it in any meaningful way and Nintendo have as good as admitted it was a mistake going with yhe gamepad, creating such a high price point for the Wii U which remains to this day. I'm not against innovation but the past couple of generations Nintendo seem to have done it just for the sake of it rather than for a purpose. Thinking back to the best games on Wii u and Wii I realise my favourite games had nothing to do with the controllers and would actually have played better with a real one

"Haptic based information processing apparatus, storage medium having stored therein information processing program, information processing system, and information processing method".

So, a touchscreen, built in memory and CPU, wired connector or wireless transceiver with other doodads (such as an accelerometer), and user input design. In other words... Something resembling a smartphone or tablet.

I would prefer building upon the analog shoulder buttons of the GameCube, instead of implementing the rollable shoulder buttons of yesterday's patent discussion. I take a similar approach here... Haptic program feedback doesn't necessarily include a fully featured tactile controller interface, but the controller should at least simulate the translation of tactile sensation onto the player controlled character or object. (For example, phones might rumble a little after typing text to simulate pressing a key.)

A pure touchscreen doesn't really allow for an accurate translation of the force, depth, and pressure taken into account with analog buttons, or even the on/off sensation of digital buttons. The hands would not be allowed to stay in a rested position, either: imagine trying to use shoulder buttons on a smartphone. In that sense, using only a touchscreen does not make for an ergonomic controller. Even the Wiimote at least allowed you to make more slight movements with your arms to allow the hands to stay in one rested position.

If the device is being used as a dedicated controller, the engineers would be remiss to not include some kind of embossed tactile feedback method... Buttons are the traditional implement here. If it has no buttons, then it at least needs some kind of indents or other distinguishable parts, so that even a blind user can memorize the controller without needing voice/sound feedback. Otherwise, it can't really be called a proper controller.

@wazlon Third party support is more about getting a decent install base, I think. If you mean getting ports of all the AAA games, I doubt that will happen on a Nintendo console. I just hope they have something with NX that is more easily "graspable", and has a much better online infrastructure.

Just sounds like what Apple's new devices are using. I believe Asus's new gaming tablets and phone are using the same thing as well. Nothing to see here then.

I'm confused... haptic feedback is a technology that's on almost every phone. How did Nintendo get a patent on existing technology? I assumed that someone already had a patent on it.

@ghostjoshu Unfortuanelty when I moved from grad school in KY back to NY to move in w/ my future fiance I trashed them all. She never asked me to, just seemed like a better idea then asking her where I should keep them when I got there.

oh please no

@Savino @TheWPCTraveler @megamanlink I really need to stop posting pre-caffeine, things always seem to degenerate so quickly in the morning.

I think it's just a patent they'll never use. If it was the main idea for the system, bye bye Nintendo home consoles.

I'm pretty sure that the NX is going to be a platform for universal apps that will run on 3DS, Wii U, Apple TV, iPad and other devices... goes along with the app development deal and stating that NX is a new platform that does not replace either existing ones. Whatever this thing is... perhaps it's a co-branded device that is optimized to access NX content and one of the first licensed NX devices.

@helbertpina it pains me but I have to agree.

Still, I can't see there being no front buttons, seems way too farfetched, bet it's merely a patent for an idea they want to protect.

Haptic feedback is pretty amazing when at the cutting edge of its tech. It can be programmed to simulate different surfaces and textures. It's got amazing potential in the right hands. Along with the other diagrams 'all taken with a pinch of salt' it isn't hard to see a controller with fewer buttons and more touch control. Haptic feedback tricks the brain into feeling edges and layers of touch (just ask apple) so feels a lot different too just what is currently available on touch screen devices. If the unit is to be used as a portable device as well as a home controller then less physical buttons makes more sense for transport. It also allows companies to program their own triggers and inputs into the touch device. If true people would be up in arms about its radical nature, but it would offer a unique way to approach gaming in the home which is what Nintendo strives to do and all Nintendo would have to do is allow the system to support the pro controller to keep everyone happy anyway. Look at the Wii and remember how well that did. Less moving parts means easier production, less chance of defect ability to adjust button layout to different trends.

Not saying for one minute any of this is accurate. But I can't see Nintendo coming to the table next year with a more powerful Wii u. It needs to have the usp.

Please don't let this come to be,Try playing any game that require exact movement on a smartphone, its horrible.

Oh god please NO!
Mobile gaming is the worst. controls are so unresponsive or the glitch out its just a pain in the ass.

@hiptanaka I agree and I'm not bothered about getting ports of AAA games as I always buy one of the rival consoles. I want better online from Nintendo as well as as a platform which third parties make money on and can develop for, but I just hope we get a more traditional console experience with NX - if they want to add gimmicky controllers then I just hope this is an extra and note essential to the console - I play most Wii U games with the pro controller as the gamepad is just too big.

the patent states that there could be buttons on the final device in which the patent's concept will be used in. It surprises me how many people don't go further deeper into things like patents. So much information in that rotary patent that nobody talks about, like how it can be used for a handheld (as used as the example system) or a home console controller, and that the final design may not have a touch screen.

MORE RUMBLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Nintendo Phone, anyone?

Creative Feller won't allow. It will have to have buttons. But if a NX gamepad had heptic feedback and rotatable shoulder buttons, that would make it the world's best controller.

Bologna.

Please please please no more touch screen stuff... physical controls is so much better, I even skipped a lot of DS games that heavily relied on the touch screen, as it was usually just hand cramping awkwardness compared to a good game that just use the buttons, I have no problem with the occasional touch screen touch like it was on the DSS with most games like for picking menus and such, but actually playing the game. No Thank you

Vomit. Please don't do this nintendo. Vomit.

@wazlon

"I hope Nintendo can cool it on the innovation side of things and actually focus on a decent system which third parties will develop for"

Why? If you want a decent powered system that third parties develop for, why wait for Nintendo to make one? You've already got two perfectly excellent choices available right now.

I say let them keep innovating. The worst case scenario is we don't see a third copycat console with the exact same games as PS/Xbox/PC. Which, IMO, is actually a best case scenario. Why forfeit the only remaining innovative platform to gain a copy of something we can already buy this moment. Twice. Three times counting PC.

As long as options like the Pro Controller exist, everyone wins.

I still think motion controls are superior for certain games ( and in different forms- Wiimote was superior for Pikmin 3 and Metroid Prime 3, while gyro/analog hybrid was superior for Splatoon), and I still think having a secondary screen is always better than not (even for games like Mario Maker- setting comments to show only on gamepad so I can look IF I want and not spoil secrets).

Just a few examples of how their innovations consistently benefit me personally. I'm not too keen on seeing that come to an end.

Nintendo NX: The ONLY console bundled with an non-uninstallable copy of Candy™®© Crush™®©Saga™®©!

I think I know what NX is now:

The portable unit is like a smartphone, with haptic feedback.
Back at home, you insert it into a goggle unit (like Samsung VR gear) and connect it to the console for VR gameplay.

This makes NX a hybrid system.

Not more gimmicks. They need to just make a normal console for right now, to get their current situation back on track. Bring back 3rd parties, make a console that will bring in older gamers, and don't continue the same thing that you just did. Hopefully, this whole story is just one big rumor, and hopefully, when Nintendo finally gives insight into the NX, we can stop this whole rumor boat.

@rjejr Haha, you caved in! I've got a big cardboard box in my living room which is half-filled with alcohol bottlecaps that i have saved up for 5 years. Maybe that's why the last woman left, but no regrets! I'm gonna fill that box to the top one day and no woman can ever get in the way of that!

Whatever Nintendo does I trust them. I love the GamePad and I hope the NX has something similar.

Psst: Its a smartphone!

@rjejr + to you for making me laugh like that.

enough with screen controllers! That's the reason why I hate Wii U and if NX has such controller, it'll will most likely be bad move.

@TantXL With me or at me?

Yes because playing mario on a touchscreen with no buttons really feels great.....

Oh please no. If this is actually a controller, then I'm going to be very hard-pressed to get an NX. I will not deal will crappy touch screen controls.

@rjejr >Playboy
>buying porn
>being a complete pleb

Oh Nintendo. Where are you going?
I hope it's some place amazing!

@Nintendian that is my idea.

Haptic feedback was long overdue for a Nintendo handheld.