Motion Sensing Coming To The DS?
Apparently, Nintendo filed a patent for a motion sensing portable device several months ago. I'm sure I heard about it but likely due to my faulty memory, I forgot. Still, that patent filing read like this:
"The housing console incorporates an XY-axis acceleration sensor... and a Z-axis contact switch to detect an acceleration in a Z-axis direction."
That could mean anything. It's doubtful that it would be a new system of sort. Nintendo surely wouldn't want anything of it's own to compete against the already successful DS. So, what could this be? Well, I have to say it means some sort of add-on is on the way. One UK website suggests it could be a reference to the upcoming DS Slide Controller, which you can already take a gander at on Japan's Nintendo site.
SPOnG theorizes "that Nintendo has no plans to release the peripheral - or its MagKid game - outside of Japan yet." Here's a snippet of their article:
"Slide Controller has three actions… and lots of mini games. Three Actions: Quick slide controller movement means attacking…Move slowly means escape from attack [and] Move around (circular) recharges.”
Seems more likely that this motion sensing patent could be referring to this device. You can watch the device in action by clicking here (looks like the person is playing with a Ouija board) and see some MagKid footage right here. While it would be kind of nifty to have it, motion sensing for portable systems isn't entirely new. You'll recall WarioWare Twisted and Kirby Tilt & Tumble for the GameBoy Advance. I think it's likely that such technology might possibly be used in future Nintendo portables given the success of the Wii.
Gallery after the jump.
Revealed: Motion Sensing On DS [Kikizo]
Super Timsy
Posted to Video Games on 8 August 2007
· Comments (4)
Other stuff like this: DS, MagKid, Nintendo, Slide Controller
I'm curious as to why you think a new motion-sensitive handheld would compete with the Wii. It wasn't like the GameBoy was ever viewed as competing with the Nintendo or the GBA as competing with the GameCube. A motion-sensitive handheld would be a great avenue for games that are too low-powered for the Wii or simply make more sense as on-the-go affairs.
Also, the DS is no spring chicken. The portable is already almost three years old. Additionally, patents are filled well in advance of actually being implemented, usually by several years. This means that its very, very possible that this type of control would be implemented in a future handheld, given the timing of this patent filing would put handheld-implementation at around the time a new portable would be released to succeed the DS. Given the success Nintendo has seen with the Wii, it make sense Nintendo might try to integrate the motion-sensing into a portable handheld.
Also, the Slide Controller doesn't use the technology described in the patent. Whereas the patent describes XY-motion being detected with an accelerometer, the Slide Controller uses an optical sensor similar to that found in a computer mouse (which also means the add-on needs to be on a surface). It would therefore seem the patent describes an entirely different beast than the Slide Controller.
One theory (presented in the link I am now plugging) is that the patent, whose foreign applications were done in 1999/2000, is for the Pokemon Mini handheld system.
Ahhh!! Hmm, that would make sense given the patent's date. Thanks JC. ^_^ I was never a Pokemon Mini handheld fan so I didn't even know there was motion sensing technology in those tiny bundles of joy.
Still, the DS Slide device looks cool...in that Ouija sort of way.