Nintendo is always experimenting with ideas and patents are a very important part of this process. Sometimes it will file something to do with hardware and other times it's more focused on gameplay experiences.
On this occasion, it's about the gameplay side of things - with the latest filing apparently focused on improving mini-maps. The gist of it according to Axios' Stephen Totilo is that it's about making "better mini-maps" for series like Splatoon.
You can see the original patent filing here (it's a huge wall of text). There are various references to "shooting ink" and "painting" areas with ink, throughout the patent - which means it could potentially be something to do with the upcoming Switch release Splatoon 3. GoNintendo has also provided a brief summary:
"this mini-map approach aims to make it easier for players to understand not just their own position, but the position of helpful items and other areas of import on the map. The cameras used will shift dynamically based on moment-to-moment action, as well as with the changing areas of importance on the map."
As with all patents, there's no saying Nintendo will actually take things any further. So, we'll just have to see what comes of it.
This filing follows some controller patent news in March, dating back to a patent last year:
[source patft.uspto.gov, via twitter.com, gonintendo.com]
Comments 24
Isn't this the same map system implemented in Splatoon 2?
Cool? I guess? Don't really know what to make of this yet, but hopefully this patent and the one for skyward bow aiming in BotW 2 means these won't just be iterative sequels and will innovate in meaningful ways. I'm gonna pick both games up at launch, but I'm not really dying for either of them yet.
Yep, that’s definitely Splatoon! Would be a nice addition, I guess I’ll have to see it in action, though.
It wasn't a huge feature, but that second screen on the Wii U being able to quickly jump anywhere on the map with a quick tap on the screen without disrupting the main screen gameplay really was the ideal way for such a feature to be implemented. One of the only features that was better in the original over the second. I don't believe any kind of trickery or patents will be able to replace the convenience and speed of the original game's implementation, unless the patent essentially gives the game a second screen.
Now I don't see that being the case, but it seems like a simple Joy Con adapter could hold your smartphone between the 2 Joy Con, looking like a thinner Wii U GamePad. Have the Switch app on the phone pair with Splatoon 3, and maybe it could display the map on the phone so that, like the GamePad you could quickly tap on a location and in the game immediately jump there. That certainly doesn't look like what this patent describes, but it could be a great way to get some second screen features back that were actually beneficial back in the Wii U days, and it could actually give that Switch app some more value than what little it currently has.
I feel like the people who design stuff like this get sorely forgotten about when praising this game. Those Splatoon maps/UIs are super good. Quite a bit of information communicated in a way that's clear, snappy, and stylish. Can't wait to see what's new this time around!
The more a think about it the more I notice how many amazing games that are coming out this year, more then enough to hod me off till BOTW 2 comes out in my opinion.
@duffmmann Before the launch of Splatoon 2 I was unsure if it'd translate well to a single screen but now I think it actually works just as well as the first game and if anything I might like it even more that way. Jumping to any teammate is still as quick and easy with the gyro aiming and it's kinda nice being able to check the map without looking away from the main screen.
One thing I've always appreciated when playing the Splatoon games is the mini map and how easy it is to use with absolute minimum interruption to gameplay.
@Minfinity Agreed.
They're finally going to let us use our Wii U gamepad for the Switch.
😜
@Snatcher word. by Christmas people would probably be wondering what games to get!
@Greatluigi True.
People are waiting for Splatoon to become a completely different game before they play it again. They’re going to need a little more than this
@NinChocolate it is strange to me how ppl are kinda putting this one down and saying "just make it a dlc." I dont have too hard an opinion on it and cant force anyone to be excited about the game, but just not sure what they expect. Franchises pump out the same crud all the time at a more frequent rate. Cant put my finger on it
@NinChocolate even zelda had link to past, links awakening, awakeningdx, oracles ages, seasons, and minish cap in a short period of time. Granted they had major leaps in their 3d titles during that same period, but any of the above to me are just the same with new gimmicks/weapons, which I feel splat 3 will be? I'm probably way off
How about some MINI GAMES...
Switch 2 DS and problem solved.😁
Don't really see how this is worthy of patent, but OK.
isn't patenting it bad? just means it won't be used and improved and will be forgotten like with loading screen minigames.
@BenAV It's fine, I can certainly use it effectively, but I absolutely prefer the original's method at the end of the day. And the way I held the GamePad when using the feature, meant I never actually looked away from the main screen, I just had a view of both at once, not unlike a DS or 3DS.
this looks like it was/is for 2 when you bring up the map of the Reef.
If you go into images on page 5 it has a picture of a map.(link https://pdfpiw.uspto.gov/.piw?docid=11310474&PageNum=5&IDKey=247D071FAD0F&HomeUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fpatft.uspto.gov%2Fnetacgi%2Fnph-Parser%3FSect2%3DPTO1%2526Sect2%3DHITOFF%2526p%3D1%2526u%3D%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html%2526r%3D1%2526f%3DG%2526l%3D50%2526d%3DPALL%2526S1%3D11310474.PN.%2526OS%3DPN%2F11310474%2526RS%3DPN%2F11310474) The map is a lot like The Reef from Splatoon 2. (https://splatoonwiki.org/wiki/File:S2_Map_The_Reef_Turf_War.png) Either they are just patenting the map from Splatoon 2, or they just used The Reef as an example because of its bridge. The map in the patent does look very similar to the existing one, but maybe there are some changes that I missed.
@duffmmann this is exactly what I was thinking. Having the ability to sync your phone to the game and tap to jump. There were a couple of specials I liked better in the first game but this was the number one thing I missed. Tap to Jump
This would be great, I always have trouble keeping track of where my team members are and how many are alive.
Tap here to load 24 comments
Leave A Comment
Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...