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Nintendo patents a new Wii controller photo

This new Wii controller patent was filed on June 26th. This was uncovered by the good people at Spong, who were actually looking for more details on the rumored Xbox 360 motion-sensing controller. Hey Sony, do you want to make another controller as well? Oh wait, you already have a motion-sensing one.

Hell, if you stand back and squint your eyes a bit, this new Nintendo controller could be an Xbox 360 motion-sensing controller. Well, except for the Gamecube-looking controls. And what's that thing in the middle? I tried reading the patent text. You try:

An X button 46 and a Y button are further arranged in line on the upper surface of the housing. An imaging information arithmetic unit is provided at a front end of the housing in a longitudinal direction in such a manner that an imaging device thereof is exposed from a front-end surface.

What do you make of that? I still don't know what the hell I'm looking at!

Check out the patent text for some interesting reading. There's also a mention of a gun-style controller within the text. 

What do you make of this? Do you think it's something that will just sit in a file forever? Or will Nintendo actually do something with this?


Continue: More wii stories





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66 comments | showing # 1 to 50

Remo's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/09/2008 11:52
Remo
I'd say its a new classic controller compatible with gamecube games.
infinity's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/09/2008 11:53
infinity
clearly you're supposed to stick a wiimote into it or something.
groebo's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/09/2008 11:54
groebo
agree with remo... slide the wii remote in the middle and no more nasty wires... not sure if weight would be a factor though...
GoS-CPT-Stewart's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/09/2008 11:55
GoS-CPT-Stewart
Infinity beat me to it. Looks like the Wiimote goes in there.
eternalplayer2345's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/09/2008 11:55
eternalplayer2345
This could be incase nintendo makes more brawl-esque games people don't demand a gamecube controller reprint.
Scrixx's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/09/2008 11:56
Scrixx
Spiritual Successor to the Gamecube Controller.
king3vbo's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/09/2008 11:58
king3vbo
Looks like a Gamecube controller...
Syn's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/09/2008 11:59
Syn
It definitely looks like the wiimote is supposed to go there, but the patent text says it's an imaging arithmetic unit. Or rather I understand it that way, whoever writes these fuckin' things needs to be kicked in the bag.
DrachulaX's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/09/2008 11:59
DrachulaX
Its clearly a flat Gamecube controller. This should be interesting...
RonBurgandy2010's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/09/2008 12:00
RonBurgandy2010
What Remo said
galagabug 's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/09/2008 12:00
galagabug
yeah this is what should have been done in the first place, looks like a mashup of the cube and classic controller with a place for the wiimote, offering the best of both worlds.

mario kart with that controller, but being able to waggle to get the boost off jumps would be quite nice.
BlackSheep's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/09/2008 12:00
BlackSheep
it can't look like a GCN controller, where's the huge ugly horrible shoulder buttons?
Rifter01's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/09/2008 12:01
Rifter01
It's the balls for the cock.

Sorry all, I couldn't help myself.. xD
Wexx's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/09/2008 12:01
Wexx
Yeah, definitely a gamecube controller. Does it ahve shoulder buttons? I'm sure it does, but the picture doesn't have arrows pointing to them.
Dead Movie Star's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/09/2008 12:02
Dead Movie Star
Return of the VMU's?
sweetchuck's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/09/2008 12:05
sweetchuck
For everyone buying cheap gamecube games and never got a wavebird.
vishusdelishus's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/09/2008 12:06
vishusdelishus
Not going to happen - they already have a million controllers.

I think this is a 'just in case' design to compromise in the event they eliminate the cube controller ports from the Wii.
Syn's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/09/2008 12:07
Syn
And still no one notices the imaging unit...
Novakaine's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/09/2008 12:07
Novakaine
I hope they do--I've been wanting a "GC" controller where you slide in the Wiimote ever since the Wii was announced. Better late than never, and I'd put down money for it!
Scary Womanizing Pig Mask's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/09/2008 12:09
Scary Womanizing Pig Mask
I liked the Gamecube's face button layout so happy so see it come back. The thing in the center kind of reminds of the mini screen in the Dremcast controller. That's probably just wishful thinking though :P
Syn's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/09/2008 12:12
Syn
Hm, it looks like they're putting the start and select buttons on the back? And...I think it says they're trying to give your index fingers more to do...but
and I'm pretty sure it's in english...but

I still don't understand what the hell they're saying!

sorry for double post
Justice's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/09/2008 12:15
Justice
Actually SWMP I was thinking the same thing about the VM units with the DC.
PappaDukes's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/09/2008 12:18
PappaDukes
It looks like you put your weed in it. Definitely weed.
Spitfire's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/09/2008 12:19
Spitfire
Does anyone else think this looks like the NeoGeo Pocket?
Phoenix Gamma's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/09/2008 12:20
Phoenix Gamma
Looks like the "controller shell" Nintendo spoke of when they first showed the remote years back. I actually really WANTED the controller shell, just because there are a lot of possibilities outside of having another controller. Like using it as a cursor for shooting while using a standard controller. Maybe point where to pass a football in Madden or something.
Scientist tz's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/09/2008 12:31
Scientist tz
My first thought is that it's a controller with a slot for a little screen that displays info to the player (like the dreamcast has) but it's clearly a slot for a wiimote.

But yeah this thing is the balls to the wiimote schlong.
The-Excel's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/09/2008 12:31
The-Excel
Sounds like a camera.
Scary Womanizing Pig Mask's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/09/2008 12:33
Scary Womanizing Pig Mask
@Justice
The what units?
covah's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/09/2008 12:33
covah
a gamecube controller you stick the Wii Mote in? it's going to look like a cock and balls
perri's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/09/2008 12:42
perri
want it.

remote slides in the center- I would call this "The Starfox Controller"

think about it.

Another Peripheral for another first party game- I will not object!
Rifter01's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/09/2008 12:43
Rifter01
@covah

Oh my, you went there? I now befriend you, great minds think alike.. Lol
naia-the-gamer's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/09/2008 12:46
naia-the-gamer
I actually really like the way the classic controller is set up. I don't want to go back to the way the buttons were set up on the gamecube. I'd constantly press the X button when I should have been pushing the Y.

I'm curious to see if/when they do anything with this though.
Dan CiTi's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/09/2008 13:05
Dan CiTi
looks perfect.
Comrade Snarky's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/09/2008 13:09
Comrade Snarky
Looks remarkably like this early IGN mock-up of the Classic Controller:

glandseck's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/09/2008 13:13
glandseck
" imaging information arithmetic unit " = wiimote.

The tip of the wiimote holds an infrared camera, and does what the name describes: It grabs information from the image it receives (the cam checks for the infrared lights), and calculates its position based on that. I don't think they could have given it a more pedantic name, though.
Tubatic's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/09/2008 13:17
Tubatic
I'd like a classic controller that houses the wiimote without dangle
Dexter345's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/09/2008 13:18
Dexter345
Looks like a cross between a GameCube controller (the buttons), and original Game Boy Advance (the shape), and a Dreamcast controller (the VMU holder thing).
mr showtime's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/09/2008 13:19
mr showtime
shallow AND pedantic
guermogamer's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/09/2008 13:19
guermogamer
isn't it OBVIOUS?!

It's the new hammer brother controller, for the next "mario" game!

You hold it by the wiirmote, what isn't shown is the giant piece of plexi-glass to protect your tv screen!
mistic's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/09/2008 13:30
mistic
An imaging information arithmetic unit is provided at a front end of the housing in a longitudinal direction in such a manner that an imaging device thereof is exposed from a front-end surface.

as clear as it will ever be, its a slot for the VMU from the Dreamcast!


that's an arithmetich imaging device and it would fit :-)
mistic's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/09/2008 13:31
mistic
crap huge image :-( sorry :p
Infinite Obscurity's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/09/2008 13:38
Infinite Obscurity
Finally, VMU support for the Wii.
PappaDukes's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/09/2008 13:39
PappaDukes
HOLY HUGE IMAGE BATMAN!
Mushman's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/09/2008 13:51
Mushman
@Mistic, WHAT THE SHIT MAN!!!!!
woah, that's a fecking huge pic dude. :)
Fallen Angel's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/09/2008 13:54
Fallen Angel
Actually I suspect the slot will house a IR unit for a variant of the Wii's 'motion sensor' controls.

Perhaps the slot is added so you can use a combination IR unit (explaining the bit abouot a 'n such a manner that an imaging device thereof is exposed from a front-end surface') and battery unit. If you purchase two, you can swap out a used one for a fresh one. A money making idea is to sell you a multi-battery recharging station - of course, for some reason, a single battery charging station will also be sold.

Additionally, if Nintendo still has the copyright for the 'rumble pack, expect a rumble enabled version of the power/IR pack. (Infact, expect a mere battery/wireless version and a IR enabled version to be seperate items.)
MisterMingo's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/09/2008 13:59
MisterMingo
...Or a Wiimote goes in the slot.
PappaDukes's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/09/2008 14:19
PappaDukes
Dear god, what if this slot holds NOTHING!? Such a large empty hole that was devised to drive us all mad with speculation... I just can't take the suspense!

*Jumps from window of 55th floor building*
mr showtime's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/09/2008 14:20
mr showtime
@mistic

I've always wanted a wallpaper of a used Dreamcast VMU that looks like its been sitting at the bottom of a cereal bowl for weeks.

Thanks!
jdub28's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/09/2008 15:08
jdub28
lol, Dreamcast games will be introduced to VC and this will be the controller everyone has to buy to play with their Chao(s) on the VMU.

or it's the illegitimate son of the GCN Controller.
Vyruz's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/09/2008 15:26
Vyruz
Finally!
Nintendo makes a current-gen "normal" controller that simply holds the Wiimote like that mockup, except fo having wires and no rumble, why didn't they make that one in the first place?

Anyhow, the only thing I'm a bit worried about was that it has the gamecube layout, and that layout plays kind of awkwardly with SNES games...
But if it's useable with GC games it would be sweet.
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