Rumour: Report Points to the Nintendo NX Potentially Monitoring Your Heart Rate

Oh no...

It's downright impressive how Nintendo is able to keep this thing a secret. Or it's worrying.

Just one question: For what purpose?

Just give us great games please

"It could be super effective if Pokémon GO was to be one of the NX handheld games"

No it couldn't. Pokemon GO is as popular as it is and is as big a cultural phenomenon that it became because it's on smart phones.

I don't mind too much if they put it in there, just don't try to make it a selling point, b/c it won't be, it will be a laughingstock.

I think new tech always gets a bad reception - rumble, gryo, motion, whatever - but it can be good if it sneaks up on you and you arne't really aware you are using it. Trying to market a new device based on new tech as the newest bestest thing ever only tends to turn people off. Wii Sports being a huge exception, not the rule, Nintendo needs to stop trying to recapture fad lightning in a bottle. But if it's in there and 1 or 2 games use it, no harm.

Could this work as a fingerprint lock like on iPhone? I think kids would really think it's cool if their 2DS replacement would only work on THEIR finger, not a parents or siblings. So maybe market it as a security device, that's ok, but not a game play element.

After playing "A Story about my Uncle" on pc I realize now that a first-person Mario game is possible. If Nintendo implements VR, I would expect to see a first-person Mario game. It could be really cool.

Wouldn't be the first time Nintendo has toyed with this idea. Remember the Tetris 64 Bio Sensor?

@rjejr If the next Nintendo mobile platform doesn't measure your heart rate it is missing par for the course. Fitbits, digital watches have this as a primary feature and health benefits attached to the portable game device you give your kid is no laughing stock. Whatever the new mobile device from Nintendo is it needs to be as much of a smart phone as it can be and also far superior at gaming, in my opinion. Physical controls will help take care of the gaming but the other stuff has to be competitive.

If we are talking console capability it could just be for cross-platform compatibility.

Next Monster Hunter game will have Deviljho tracking you everywhere by sensing your heartbeat. Stay calm mofo, stay calm.

I've been wanting something like this in games for years. Imagine playing a Resident Evil where it detects your heart has slowed down because you're feeling safe so it then has a Tyrant smash the wall down and start pursuing you. Or it detects your heart is racing and so just keeps generating false scares (e.g. something harmless tumbling to the floor). It could be awesome.

I can see some application of this. For example, instead of choosing a difficulty, the games adapts after how frustrated you are.

But this was one of the things xone tried too do, and they got panned.

Tetris Bio Sensor guys, that Nintendo released nearly 20 years ago. Heart rate goes up, blocks fall faster. Nintendo has already toyed with this idea...

@Therad What if I am frustrated by how badly the game personalized the experience for me?

@Project_Dolphin "You know that's not how Nintendo works. The word "conventional" is not in their vocabulary."

Well I know it won't be conventional, but trying to promote a "heart monitor" is not going to win them over any gaming fans. There are plenty of other non-conventional things they can do to sell the console. I'm really hoping 1 cartridge fitting into both the home and handheld versions of the console, and using the same save point both at home and away, is the big selling point. And then making the games better if you own both consoles to get 2 screen gaming. Or something else entirely I haven't thought of yet. But a heart monitor isn't it.

I had always wondered what would become of the canceled Wii Vitality Sensor from E3 2009...

http://nintendo.wikia.com/wiki/Wii_Vitality_Sensor

It's 7 years since we first seen the technology. You've got to figure Nintendo have perfected it by now.

I guess it could be useful for a Wii Fit style game, or something to do either Nintendo's Quality of Life idea.

Just as long as it's completely optional and can be disabled, then I don't have any problems with it.

Would Pokemon Go even work on a handheld device? Unless it had a data plan but then, why would anybody use it over their smartphones, unless of course.....
..... It's a smartphone.....

I'm calling it. NX is a code name for NOSES. NX will be a smellator and be able to transmit all kinds of smells... roses.. pies... firepowder.... Wario....

@aaronsullivan As I said, it's ok to have it in it, but if they try to promote a heart monitor w/ a series of minigames like they did w/ the Gamepad's "asymmetrical gameplay" and Ntinedo Land then the NX is doomed from the start. Wii had Wii Sports which worked well, but they dind't really promote Wii Play which was basically free w/ a Wiimote. Nintnedo Land should have been free w/ the Gamepad, Wii 2 should have sold for $199 w/o the GMaepad, like Wii Fit and the $90 balance board.

If they spend a lot of time, money and effort trying to come up w/ games built around a heart monitor, then that's no good. Actually it's way past no good into really bad territory.

And I know exactly what you are saying about the handheld having it. I think they should have a really good $199 handheld and a $99 tablet to replace the 2DS which is actually a tablet, not a NX game machine, just to keep the kids happy. And the handheld and tablet can have things like heart monitors in them, but they can't promote it, just let some games make use of them.

I do hate that the Pokemon Go Plus $35 device doesn't have a watch, so I don't know if Ntineod adds in devices for no reason. I'm ok w/ haptic feedback, that's basically just vibration to the casual gamer, and if this helps make games feel more interactive, then fine, but don't call it a heart monitor. And don't say "haptic feedback", that sucks too.

I think you're way off base w/ the whole Fitbits thing though. I suppose the balance board means they could head in that direction, but I'd rather they make that an entirely separate device working off of Poekmon Go Plus then try and build it into a handheld or tablet. People already have smartphones, just build a separate bluetooth device, dont' try to turn the 4DS into exercise equipment. blech

Nintendo: the only thing I want from you is modern hardware, and even that's probably asking too much. You have the games (and the purportedly some type of online infrastructure now via DeNA) - bring some actual 21st century hardware. (I'm not counting on it, though.) I couldn't care less about your "innovations," "new ways to play," or heart-rate monitors.

@Project_Dolphin No matter what, it will irk gamers. The $60 NES Mini irked some gamers b/c it dind't play actual NES cartridges and it din't have online to download more games. And gamers are irked about Pokemon Go being popular. Gamers irk easily.

But, adding something in isn't the same as presenting it as new and revolutionary and changing how we play games forever.

Bottom line - Gamecube and N64 dind't sell very well, Wii sold extremely well, Wii U sold worst of all. So Nintnedo's only real chance is to try and catch lighting in a bottle again, power doesn' twork, being out there too much doesn't work, going it alone doesnt seem to work. But I think this time it's all about the marketing. And the price. To me it's always about the price. Price low compared to your own past and competition, sell well, price high, dont sell well. If they try to use fancy free form controllers that raise the price, they are doomed. Focus on something stupid like heart monitors, doomed. Find a new way to play games that people like, it could work, but it needs to be presented sensibly. Nintnedo really really really really needs some focus groups. The NDE at E3 2015 was 1 of the worst things I ever watched, no modern western gamer would have approved that. Mitomo is a joke. Even w/ all the Pokemon Go news is Miitomo seeing a boost? Nintneod is very very bad at getting their point across, they need to do better. NES Mini is a good start.

Imagine this is the "super secret new way to play" that they have been trying to hide this whole time.

NICEEE!!!! I'm hoping this brings back the often-forgotten QOL (Quality of Life) research Nintendo has been working on. I'm hoping NX ties into it somehow, where NX is a part of everyone's daily lives.

Nintendo is definitely looking for a blue ocean product...something in this vein is definitely very "blue".

@daveh30
Seriously guys! What he said! Bio Sensor!

Even more recently, the Vitality Sensor... and that only faded out a couple years ago. God, people's memories suck these days.

Just don't try to visualize my heartbeat in real time or anything. I don't know why but I get grossed out when I can 'see' my own heartbeat. I can't stand heartbeat sounds either. lol

No F-ing way! This cannot be true! It's too good to be true! Everyone... take this with a HUGE grain of salt! If this IS true, the NX will sell like CRAZY!

I can do that with two fingers. So now one less reason to buy an NX. 😁

@Project_Dolphin It's just not sinking in is it?

A quick search on Amazon for PS4 and you can get a console with power, a so-called traditional controller, loads of third party support and all that achievement nonsense if you so desire. The vast amount of time wasted asking for it on here, where Nintendo don't even listen to vocal minorities, when they could have had what they wanted all along...

On the plus side it should make NX sites and forums more enjoyable because all these people turning their backs on Nintendo won't be there. Lol....

Hope this is not the top secret gimmick that will help sell millions NX

@Project_Dolphin I actually read that post while I was typing my last post, and I knew that was the 1 you meant.

This is a Nintendo gaming website, people on here should want good games and for Ninteod to do well, and everybody has their own ideas about what that means. And Nintendo has ideas that most of the time seem to defy logic as far as I'm concerned.

But I think the NES Mini is a really good sign. Give the people something that they want in a small and affordable package. That system is about 3 years overdue, but at least it's finally here. And the 2DS - despite the fact I think it is a horrible piece of hardware - just got a price drop to $79 and a 12 city tour in the US to promote kids games on it. So I feel like Nitneod may be starting to turn it around. Which will probably annoy a lot of fans as they continue to push mobile and amiibo, but Ntineod is a company, and companies exist to make money, and that's where the money is. Nintendo won't make a PS4 and Xbox One clone, 2 of them is enough. Its strength is it's handheld, it needs to expand that, a 3DS w/ TV out would make for a nice NX. A home console that plays handheld games would help. The rest shouldn't matter, just don't be to expensive or get too weird.

The problem is, when it comes to Nintendo, who knows if there is such a thing as "too weird"?

There are actually a lot of applications for this, as long as its not overly intrusive. Horror games are the prime candidate. If your heart rate starts to climb, your character's view could start to pulsate and alter. Eternal Darkness could have a field day with this. Even heavy action games could utilize this to some extent. As for other game genres, I struggle to see any real application other than fitness games.

@rjejr At least that horrible piece of hardware doesn't have to be repaired every three months because of its hinge breaking.

@rjejr "The problem is, when it comes to Nintendo, who knows if there is such a thing as "too weird"?"

I'm guessing that's a rhetorical question...

@rjejr In the immortal words of SMD64: "Hello guys, I'm back!"

Couldn't stay silent anymore after your latest few comments here...

Without diving in too deep on the whole NES Mini "debacle" (since that has already left a decidedly foul taste in my mouth) I just want to say that it is my true and honest opinion that it is perfect the way it is, except maybe for some of the games on there, that may not be to each of our liking, or perhaps it should have been a couple more, say 50...

But the system itself not being upgradable and not being online is not worthy of any complaint, because what it is supposed to give you, is a classic NES experience (okay, minus the cartridge slot, but still), and not a VC Channel in a box.

The only two modern things about it are the HDMI connection and the possibility to connect your own Wii/Wii U classic controllers. The first one is perfectly fine by me, since it means having a better picture on modern day TV's, that not only have a much more detailed picture quality, but most people also have a considerably bigger screen than the old tube TV's had nowadays, and being able to add your own controllers is a nice bonus, although I would just buy a second NES pad, to get the real experience for both players...

Now, onto the topic at hand:

First of all, this article is NOT originally from Digitimes, but from Chinatimes, which is in no way affiliated to them, even though the names are alike.

There has been next to no mentioning of heart rate monitors and also no specific mentioning of "to complete tape-out of chips supporting VR (virtual reality) technology by year-end 2016"

The original article has been translated by a native speaker on NeoGAF, and it contains a lot more details that might make clear what this is about:

"Meanwhile, Pixart has been using 3D depth imaging technology for the position sensing of virtual reality (VR) applications, complemented with augmented reality (AR) concept implemented by popular smartphone app Pokemon Go. Investors are optimistic that Pixart can successfully be a part of the supply chain of Nintendo’s VR-supported Nintendo NX, which will be released next year.

In respect of the popular VR market, Pixart joined Open Source Virtual Reality (OSVR) organization at the end of last year, estimating that finalized chip design can be completed before the end of this year and can be sent to the clients for authentication. Industry expects Pixart can smoothly enter the supply chain of Nintendo’s next generation VR-supported Nintendo NX. Investors are optimistic that the new Nintendo console will continue contributing to the popularity of Pokemon Go. Therefore, Pixart is listed as a concept stock."

I see a minor difference in interpretation, making one of the two not feasible before release of the NX. To me, "by year-end" would seem to indicate a considerably smaller window than "before the end of this year" which, for all intent and purposes could be anywhere from September to December.

As for what it's hinting at where the NX is concerned, it sounds to me like a mix of AR and VR, with "sense of depth" and touch of your surroundings, either by visual or sound feedback/motion detection, something that has been previously hinted at in some older patents (the one with a controller/handheld detecting motion from all sides) but obviously I'm just speculating. In any case, no heart rate monitor, although tying such functionality to a horror game and making staying calm an integral part of that, could be fun, if implemented right...

To close this wall of text and since I started this reaction by quoting him: as it so happens, Dave made a video on this topic, and he gives his opinion on where this might be going:

I'm quite curious how this comes across to you, so I'll be keeping an eye on the comments section...

Reworked vitality sensor perhaps? The technology was pretty cumbersome back in the day. Maybe this is the time for it? I remember the idea of a horror game reacting to an increase in heart rate which I found pretty interesting... Could see a Wii Fit type application using it too.

@k8sMum "I'm guessing that's a rhetorical question..."

The Virtual Boy says yes, yes it is.

@Rukiafan7 " doesn't have to be repaired every three months because of its hinge breaking."

My wife and 2 sons each have had a 3DS since launch, all 3 work fine, none of have been repaired. Some people just can't have nice things, that doesn't make the 2DS good.

@ThanosReXXX Not sure why you bothered to write all that about the NES Mini, I've been promoting the thing for a year, don't have to convince me. HDMI only has bothered me in the past - every tv streaming device is HDMI only and my first HDTV was DVI. I gave it to my son, now he wants a NES Mini but can't hook it up to his tv. But that's about me, I expect things to be HDMI only these days.

I do like your translation better, heart monitor isn't doing it for me. Though VR isn't doing it for me either. It would be good if NX were comparable to a standard PS4, but I'm afraid they'll price themselves out of the market w/ something comparable to the Neo. Though I suppose if you made Neo power, but took out the HDD and blu ray player, leaving only empty slots for game cartridges and SD cards for storage, you could compete on the price front.

Price is first and foremost for me, I can't get past Nitneod as a second "toy" console and it should be priced as such. If people see NX as a $399 powerhouse, they'll just buy a NES mini instead.

@rjejr I mentioned the Classic Mini because of your comment #27, in which you said it would irk people. Well, in my opinion (and probably also in Nintendo's) those people are either wrong or simply not the target audience, if they basically want what I called a VC Channel in a box. It's to relive the exact classic way of gaming without internet and updatability.

Your TV connection problem can be quite easily solved by an HDMI adapter. They come in all flavors, and I'm pretty sure DVI to HDMI is one of them.

And what I meant for the NX was not just VR, but the option of VR, as explained in the video and the quoted text, but also something to do with AR and tactile input/feedback. Maybe all this talk about screens with buttons popping up out of it and sticks that give you proportional feedback has been interpreted entirely wrong.

On PC you have the Novint Falcon, which is a tactile feedback device, that even lets you "feel" weight and size if you pick something up in a game.

This talk about VR in combination with AR and sense of depth/space and surroundings also made me think of this technology. Some other examples with a different technology are shown here and here.

And although that's probably not the NX's angle, it did come to mind when trying to wrap my head around the sentence "3D depth imaging technology for the position sensing of virtual reality (VR) applications, complemented with augmented reality (AR)".

And as for "I can't get past Nitneod as a second "toy" console and it should be priced as such."

Well, I think you should keep the possibility in mind with the likelyhood of the NX being competitive on the hardware front.

If it's equal or better than the PS4, then you could hardly call it a toy console. Besides all that, this is the exact frame of mind that needs to change, or else we will never get past the kiddie stigma, which should once again be reshaped into the more correctly coined "all ages" or "family friendly", which is something entirely different.

Otherwise we would have to place all Nintendo hardware on the Fisher-Price store shelves, instead of next to the other game consoles, where they belong.

And if they do hit the right spot this time, then I see no reason why they should not be priced accordingly. And that doesn't even exclude it being competitively priced, so there's possibly some extra light at the end of the tunnel even in that scenario...

P.S.

And thinking about extreme levels of merging AR with VR, I think having this in your living room would be pretty neat as well, although in reality, probably none of the current (and upcoming) console's hardware would suffice to run it:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5CqUYBopWLs

But still cool either way...

@Therad
The X1 got panned for trying to force online connections and then stating "if you want to play offline we have the 360"

Not for anything like this

@rjejr
"Well I know it won't be conventional, but trying to promote a "heart monitor" is not going to win them over any gaming fans"

I don't think this would be something they promote. They don't go advertising 3DS for its pedometer or street pass.

It's just a nifty little feature/function that helps round out the handheld.

Consoles/handhelds need stuff like this. The more the better. It's not a selling point in itself, but it becomes one as part of the complete package.

I'm reminded of the Kinect 2.0 in the original Xbox One SKU's. They were also capable of monitoring one's heart rate. Reportedly, that information was used to record when people would be more or less excited by certain stimuli at certain points while playing a game, browsing the store, and navigating user interface. And then that information was sold to data miners and advertising companies. And perhaps certain other organizations, given Microsoft's role in PRISM.

Don't go that route, Nintendo. Just... Don't do it. Keep personal information localized.

@SLIGEACH_EIRE LOL, even I'm not that cynical.

They actually experimented with this in the N64 era. I wouldn't be surprised if it made a comeback!

@BulkSlash , hmmm....I wonder now about Eternal Darkness. That game and franchise has been waiting in the shadows far too long.

This is one of those weird rumors that no one expects that usually ends up being true, like the Mario Maker leak.

@ThanosReXXX , that was an interesting video. I never even heard of open system virtual reality before this. I'm guessing Nintendo heard about the PS Neo, and are playing chicken on the NX reveal because the specs will be comparable. Now all I'm thinking about is Eternal Darkness with a heart monitor and augmented or virtual reality mixed in. That would force me back to Nintendo day one.

Return of the Vitality Sensor!

Back then I thought it could be used for setting individual difficulty in games based on heart rate and this sounds like it could do the same.

while we are at it, reports say the NX is can toast, clean grills, cook eggs, clean fish tanks, and gives you the ability to fly.

@Cyberbotv2 Yeah, I'd sign up for that too, albeit in a Full HD remake. Now imagine that your success in the game would be linked to staying calm: what with all the sanity effects going on in that game that would be a tough nut to crack, let alone if they would apply that to a real horror game like Resident Evil or Silent Hill...

And then add to that the haptics like shown in the other videos I linked to (the highlighted words, just in case) and imagine what could be done with AR like in Pokemon GO, but also with actual sense of touch because of the haptics...

Man, I just hope it is going to be September soon, since that is the supposed date when the NX will be revealed...

I like speculating as much as the next guy, as you can probably tell, but I wouldn't mind if we got some official news soon.

@Project_Dolphin
Toaster + Video games = Mm...Yummy.
I'm full while playing Nintendo games. XD

@Project_Dolphin
It's okay for Nintendo to being different. Gaming world will not so colorful if there is no "different one". No need to worry to embrace that difference. It will be okay and safe.

@JaxonH they got even more panned for the Kinect, which had this kind of feature. If it was only the online part, why did they remove Kinect?

It'll just be a sensor in the control pad wont it?

It should play Staying Alive when it detects you're having a heart attack.

@ThanosReXXX "If it's equal or better than the PS4, then you could hardly call it a toy console. "

The most powerful console of it's generation says "Hi", in all it's children's lunchbox design glory.

No console has ever said "toy" more than the powerful normal game playing Gamecube. It doesn't matter how much power you put inside the box, if it's pink or purple w/ a handle then it's viewed as a "toy".

I 100% agree w/ "family friendly" instead of "kids", but I usually tend to use the vernacular of the day. Well unless I can create my own cool names like NX Home and NX Away. But I really think a "family friendly" console is the target audience, Sony owns the gamer, and MS has more money to spend in their effort to get th eEdge web browser into the living room. People just aren't going to spend $399 on a Ninteod console. See $299 and $349 Wii U not selling a lick even w/ SSB, MK8, Bayeontta, Hyrule Warrirors, Darksiders, Batman, Spaltoon, SMM. Contrary to popular belief the system does have some really good games, what it doesn't have is a price people are willing to pay for a system that doesn't have FPS or sports game like Madden and FIFA.

As long as it doesn't get Titanfall, COD, Destiny, MGS, GTA, Mafia 3, Fallout, The Witcher, it is a family friendly toy. It can be as powerful as it wants, but it isn't a competitor, it's a complement. Like the 3DS is a complement to PS4 and Xbox One.

@Project_Dolphin A toaster, yes, microwave oven, no. And a screen in the fridge door would be normal at this point.

Come on Nintendo don't waste money on things like this. If it was a bad idea in the previous console why is it a good idea in this console?

Sigh, oh man. Please don't be a gimmicky joke of a console NX.

@rjejr On the heart monitor and fitbit comparisons to the portable NX. I agree it's not something huge to promote, but it seems to me that there is a segment of gamers that are mostly below 12 that don't have data-enabled smart phones and Nintendo would be wise to try and convince them to take along their own device instead of hand-me-downs. Whatever Nintendo can do to make that balance work seems like a good idea to me.

Is a heart-rate monitor part of that? Well... it's a bit of stretch and I was over-playing it, but Nintendo is competing with veritable tricorders here.

@crimsontadpoles ever thought of trying to play Resident Evil or Eternal Darkness with this thing? Hell, a adrenaline fueled Platinum game? Yeah. Now you see where this is going. In fact I see this as a good opportunity for Platinum to keep the hype up in their own games.

@rjejr Well, we don't know what it will look like yet, so if it looks nothing remotely like a lunchbox or anything odd, then my point stands. And I usually only go by my own vernacular or the terminology that is correct. I don't put much stock in derogatory terms like "kid's toy", "purple lunch box", "waggle console" or whatever.

And if the console delivers, then people will most definitely pay whatever it goes for. All of the previous generation's consoles have proved that point by no small margin. Guess we'll have to wait to find out...

The people wanting to pay a certain price for something has nothing to do with a brand/being a Nintendo console. That was the Wii perception, and gauging from the success they are having right now with various efforts, all is pointing towards proof that they are indeed on track to deliver something good.

And of course the Wii U had some good games, quite a few actually, but the damage was already done from the beginning, and a lot of third party efforts were either too expensive in comparison with other platforms (like giving Wii U owners a single part of a game and the others a trilogy for the same price; Mass Effect) or gimped in some way: no multiplayer, no online, no dlc.

Of course multi console owners would want to buy the more complete version of a game, and people that didn't have a Wii U yet were certainly not going to be swayed by such shenanigans and so they went for another console instead, or just kept it to the console they already owned.

And with that you will understand that I obviously don't agree with your final sentence. Nintendo is the first and the ONLY true video game console maker left over and the only one that has this as its core business. Their entire company is being deployed to make dedicated consoles and dedicated handhelds, not kid's toys.
And looking at the overall demographic owning and playing on Nintendo platforms only corroborates that they are definitely able to deliver a serious contender.

Companion console maybe, kid's toy definitely not. That's just ignorant people speak...

It would also be weird to see their new console as "not competitive" if it is equally powerful as the PS4, or more likely: more powerful than.

It is as most people always say: even though Nintendo themselves don't see themselves competing with the others, the fact that they are in the same business automatically makes it so.

I'm paranoid about my health so no nothing will monitor me.

@aaronsullivan I feel like we passed tricorder tech about 5 years ago, but I still don't think a kids toy needs to have it. But again, it's fine if they put it in there, just don't tell me it's going to make my game playing experience better. TVii certainly didn't.

@rjejr Well, that was just Reggie doing his best to make it relevant to the US, in my estimation. I should know better than to bring him up with you, though.

I will say that I usually choose to watch Amazon Prime shows on Wii U because the second screen is nice sometimes when it shows the current actors on the screen and all that. I see why they tried. It was way too little and no follow up on promises once the numbers didn't warrant it so big fail.

I just see mobile as different. There's a crazy baseline for tech in these portable devices. Also, don't sell tricorders short! They could scan for life signs and find ailments in people and analyze minerals. We aren't there yet, but it is funny to see the communications devices imagined in Star Trek in action. Still, those communicators could communicate to space ships, so...

@aaronsullivan But the communicators failed to communicate w/ spaceships about half the time, so there's that.

I don't like Prime on my Wii U b/c the sound doesn't seem right. I have my PS3 and Wii U plugged into the same HDMI sound system, and PS3 sounds like real 5.1, Wii U sounds like stereo. The Gamepad stuff is way cool though. My wife got a Kindle Fire for Prime day and it's supposed to do it' sX-ray thing w/ PS3. We haven't tried it out yet, but in sounds good in theory.

@ThanosReXXX " the fact that they are in the same business automatically makes it so."

But what makes them so? Is the NVidia Shield and Ouya and Amzaon Fire in the same competitive business? Are those retro Sega consoles. Is the NES Mini in competition w/ the Vita? If th e Nintnedo NX only plays 1st party games and other exclusives, is it really in competition w/ other consoles? A gaming console is about the games, and unless you think the NES Mini is in competition against the PS4, then you can't say the NX is in competition w/ the PS4 b/c you don't know anything about the NX other than it playing Zelda Wild and Just Dance. Oh, and it's a "gaming platform". What the frak does "gaming platform" even mean?

@rjejr Okay, let me clarify: they are in competition because it is a main console, which has been said many times already. I agree that NX is not a single system, but they will more than likely come out with the home console version first, since it obviously needs to be able to run the new Zelda game.

NES Mini/Vita: no comparison, same as Ouya and Amazon Fire, although both run on Android. That would make both of these also be in direct competition with smart phones.

And to me, a gaming platform can be both a system as well as an environment/ecosystem, like what I think NX will be: a shared OS across multiple system, with options to scale software to the hardware and ease of development because of that.

And every known OS (such as Windows, Apple OS or Linux) is also a platform, except not a gaming platform, but the idea is the same.

"A gaming console is about the games, and unless you think the NES Mini is in competition against the PS4, then you can't say the NX is in competition w/ the PS4 b/c you don't know anything about the NX other than it playing Zelda Wild and Just Dance."

That one slightly puzzles me. No, I don't think the NES Mini is in direct competition with the PS4, and I never said it was. I only said that if the (first) NX system is a home console, then it is automatically in competition, since there are only two other true dedicated home console out there. Not counting all the fake retro consoles or Android devices, obviously, since these don't qualify for many reasons.

@ThanosReXXX "since these don't qualify for many reasons."

Well that's kind of my point/question now isn't it, what are the reasons? Whats the dividing line between NX being in competition vs a game playing Apple TV or Shield vs a PS4?

I know you can't answr that now, b/c we dont know what NX is. I do think you are wrong abut the Home console being first though. I used to think that, but now I think it's all at once. If the NX was first and as you say - in competition w/ PS4 and X1 - then it would have been unvieled at E3 where those types of home consoles compete. But they didn't show it there, b/c it isn't, in their minds, in competition w/ those 2. I think they show off the home and whatever else they have at the same time, then the Home will release in March, handheld/tablet over the holidays. Or who knows, maybe even at the same time. Does 3DS have a lot of new games coming after Pokemon S&M and DQ8?

So we'll find out if it's still in the competition when it unveils. I think it needs FIFA and COD or at least FF7 remake. If there are no major AA 3rd party ports, FPS or otherwise, GTA is 3rd person i think, then it isn't. It can't compete w/o those games. And if it doesn't have a disc drive, then it really isn't b/c besides being game machines those are mutlimedia machines as well, the new X1 S is even getting a 4K drive, which shocked me. And if it doesn't have at least say 128GB or storage, it isn't in competition either.

We'll see.

@rjejr Well, I can actually answer that pretty easily and confidently...

Of course we will have to wait to find out for sure, but I'm pretty confident that they will not muddy the waters by releasing a home console and a handheld component at the same time, unless that component is an integral part of the console, in which case it would actually qualify being labeled a Wii U 2, or Wii 3 or whatever, which it isn't, obviously, so I am going to stick to my guns here, my friend.

And Nintendo always says they're not in competition, but that is like saying Ford is not in competition with Nissan because it's an American car or some other vague excuse. Nintendo and the other two parties are all in the dedicated home console business, and as such they are ALWAYS in competition, every single generation they come out with another piece of hardware.

Android consoles, retro consoles (also mostly Android, by the way) and smart devices simply don't compare, so you can't take these as an example or comparison. And being in competition also has nothing to do with release dates or reveal dates: it has to do with generations only. And similar devices, obviously.

The disc drive point is completely moot: the other consoles only use these as a means to install the game to a hard drive, so whether you play your game from a hard drive or a cartridge isn't really all that relevant, and neither is the multimedia ability: it could still stream media without a disc drive, much as the PS4 NEO is rumored to be capable of: 4K media streaming, NOT playing, so whether it will support 4K discs remains to be seen.

They might very well go completely digital, save for the games.

You can do this on an iPhone many years ago:

https://itunes.apple.com/au/app/instant-heart-rate-heart-rate/id409625068?mt=8

I wonder what Nintendo will use for this heart rate data? Gauge players' excitement during the game to research what they like?

@Cyberbotv2 Concerning your optional ticket back to Nintendo, this might be it, if it follows through:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lc1DAdhxI7k

@ThanosReXXX : That was good speculation. I just hope some of it comes true.

@Cyberbotv2 If you have the time for it, I would look up the podcast SMD64 did with Denis Dyack on his channel. A lot of the things he briefly mentions in the video I just linked to you are discussed in more detail and also some other interesting Nintendo related topics.

@Cyberbotv2 And just in case you haven't seen anything from Shadow of the Eternals yet: here is some news I reported in May that has all the latest trailers in it:
https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2016/05/denis_dyack_blames_unethical_journalists_for_almost_killing_shadow_of_the_eternals

@ThanosReXXX : Thanks! I'll delve into all of this tonight. If the NX were to launch with anything Eternal Darkness related, it would diversify Nintendo's offerings and might allow outside appeal. I wonder if they have other IP's out there other than the mainstays that are being prepped for the NX.

@Cyberbotv2 You're most welcome. And to save you the potential trouble of scouring the article and comments for more info (since not all videos were placed in the article), here's my comment on that article with the rest of the videos, among which one in which they explain the tech behind it.

Fun fact: the original demo of the game ran on the Wii U in CryENGINE 3, as shown in the tech explanation video, hence all the familiar white buttons in gameplay segments...

EDIT:
Seems that in my rush to respond to you, I actually forgot to paste the link, so here:
https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2016/05/denis_dyack_blames_unethical_journalists_for_almost_killing_shadow_of_the_eternals#comment3509443

Its the Sensitivity sensor all over again (or what was it called, that thing around your finger that never got released?)!

@ThanosReXXX So, I'm trying to catch up to about a weeks worth of email, so I just read that one, and I think I'll just leave us where we are for awhile, waiting to see what NX is.