Author Topic: An idea for the next Gameboy (Read 9344 times)

Jensen · « **on:** January 21, 2007, 03:41:07 PM »

A few recent developments have given me some ideas for the next portable Nintendo system.

The iPod now has a few games available for it.... But the control interface doesn't work for games. If the next iPod works like the iPhone, it might have some pretty good touch games available. Even better, why not build a controller for it to dock into?

The Wii already has 4 different controller units.

The Wii has built in memory, and features several non-game functions Nintendo has shunned in the past.

The DS is a great system, but it has a few faults. It doesn't have analog control sticks, so it isn't best for 3d games like Mario 64. With some games, the controller game become uncomfortable... mostly those that use the shoulder buttons a lot, such as Mario Kart DS. Though not a fault as a game system, it can't be used as a mp3/video/photo media player.

My idea is to make a Gameboy that has no buttons. It would contain a 4 inch, 3:2 touch screen, and all the necessary hardware. In this mode, you could play any game that only uses the touch screen, such as Brain Age any Kirby's Canvas curse. You could use it as a media player that has functionality similar to the Wii.

The system would come with a standard controller dock. This would look similar to a PSP or a DS without the top screen. You could also mount the screen vertically, and use it to play DS games.

Because the controller would be separate from the system, Nintendo could have an optional comfort grip, with full size analog sticks and comfortable L and R buttons. It wouldn't be pocketable, but it would still be portable.

These illustrations below aren't very well developed, and are just composites of images of existing systems to give a basic idea. I didn't show how the base would connect to the grip, and I can assure you that I don't think Nintendo should make a PSP clone.

Leck · « **Reply #1 on:** January 21, 2007, 04:55:09 PM »

Pretty pictures

Sounds like a good idea, but I think people would object to having to buy different controller thingoes to slot it into
Also, I like the two screens we have at the moment, and I think any new gameboy/ds/whatever they want to call it, will keep the dual screen idea.
Maybe even 2 touch screens.

Artimus · « **Reply #2 on:** January 21, 2007, 05:29:03 PM »

The problem is portability. It's a big pain to carry 3 different grips with you.

Nick DiMola · « **Reply #3 on:** January 21, 2007, 11:20:33 PM »

I think if Nintendo releases a new Gameboy it can only be a bad thing for them. Nintendo is already pwning the handheld market, why introduce another piece of hardware that would compete with your own product? Though, if you are talking about a DS successor, I like the ideas, but as Artimus said, it would be a pain to carry 3 different grips with you. Regardless, it is a very clever idea to have different grips and just a screen essentially as the core system, it allows you to do alot of clever things like with the Wii.

Jensen · « **Reply #4 on:** January 22, 2007, 04:23:05 AM »

the idea is that you wouldn't ever have to carry all the controllers with you, all games would be compatible with the standard grip. And although I showed a different grip for the horizontal and vertical modes, they could possibly be combined into one unit that can change width.

I don't think nintendo should release this any time soon...

Ceric · « **Reply #5 on:** January 22, 2007, 09:37:56 AM »

I really don't want a handheld with "no hard-buttons" or a phone for that matter. A PDA Great. Unless Nintendo figures out how to do haptics for cheap.

Jensen · « **Reply #6 on:** January 22, 2007, 12:42:04 PM »

Quote
Originally posted by: Ceric
I really don't want a handheld with "no hard-buttons" or a phone for that matter. A PDA Great. Unless Nintendo figures out how to do haptics for cheap.

I don't think you understand. The Wii has several controller options, depending on the game. I just think that the same idea could be applied to handhelds. I don't think a touch screen should replace buttons. My idea is to have different physical grips, not different virtual button configurations on a touch screen.

Some games don't need physical buttons, such as Brain Age.

Some only need basic buttons, like a 2d Mario platformer.

Some games need an analog stick for better control, such as Mario 64.

UltimatePartyBear · « **Reply #7 on:** January 23, 2007, 04:06:00 AM »

I like this idea. I would love to be able to attach a more comfortable grip for games like Mario Kart DS, which I was never able to complete because of intense wrist pain. Nothing else has ever caused so much pain so quickly. Sure, I've played all kinds of other games for several hours and lived to regret it, but Mario Kart DS does it before I can finish a cup.

I think the standard grip should come with the system, though, and it should be able to handle all games. You don't want to splinter the install base, after all. That's not to say that there couldn't be other attachments, but anything you can't do out of the box will be forever niche.

Instead of a separate DS grip, just let the screen be reorientable in the normal grip. Letting the screen be attached in two orientations would not only make playing older DS games work better, but it would be a cool option for new games, too. The DS has two configurations: normal and book style (like Brain Age). This imaginary handheld would have six: screen only horizontal, screen only vertical, grip and screen horizontal (like GBA), grip horizontal with screen vertical (like DS), grip and screen vertical (like a PDA or phone [hint hint]), and grip vertical with screen horizontal (like a sideways DS). It would be an unprecedented level of flexibility.

Spak-Spang · « **Reply #8 on:** January 24, 2007, 08:52:05 AM »

I can see promise with this idea. But really, I think this could be done simply by having a large foldout screen that can be locked into a 3 different positions: No button display, vertical with buttons, and horizontal. The important aspect is that the system does not have seperate pieces. It needs to be self contained.

Now, I don't want to see a new portable system for about 3-5 years after the DS has lived its life to the fullest. But what I would like to see is something that uses the virtual console model for games.

Download whatever games you have bought on the virtual console into the portable device and go. No going to the stores to buy games...simply log on to a server and download it. The device doesn't even have to have huge memory storage, because download speeds should be fast enough to not matter.

I dunno its an idea...that works for portables, because I never have the ability to care more than 2 DS or Gameboy Advance games with me on the go. If I could just have my entire library on a server I have access to, that would be amazing.

Amodaus1 · « **Reply #9 on:** January 24, 2007, 10:48:37 AM »

At this rate, the DS can weather the release of the PSP 2 or PSP 3, because PSP has suck written inbetween those letters. They should ride out the DS for a another 4 to 5 years. And if microsoft never jumps into handhelds, which they will, then they shouldn't release another handheld. Maybe they should release new models of the DS when sony repackages the PSP 2 under a new name, like non-suck or PS-Touch...

Ceric · « **Reply #10 on:** January 25, 2007, 05:17:47 AM »

I know what you meant. That was actually the short version of a much longer rant that I had mostly about the iPhone but it was lost so all was spared. Personally I'm waiting for the next revision of the DS. I'm hoping its as ergonomic as the original GBA. Thats why I'm waiting. The Lite just doesn't do it for me and I have a lot of pride in my First Revision DS.

nitsu niflheim · « **Reply #11 on:** January 25, 2007, 07:29:06 AM »

2 dual HD touch screens

Garnee · « **Reply #12 on:** January 26, 2007, 02:59:22 PM »

Neat idea, but Nintendo will think it's too complicated. Some crap about alienating consumers.

couchmonkey · « **Reply #13 on:** January 29, 2007, 03:20:11 AM »

I think it's a neat idea, but I don't personally see myself using the different grips at all. I only play my system on the bus to work or at my grandparents' house. I'd probably stick to one grip 90% the time.

Personally I think handheld gaming is always going to compromise comfort for portability.

jakeOSX · « **Reply #14 on:** February 05, 2007, 12:40:10 AM »

next gen handheld? i have a request. let me put the games on the handheld. portability? yeah, for the device, i still have to carry around a bag or something with the other games in it. let me put five or so games in the memory and just choose which i want to play.

oh and +1 to HD screens.

-j

ryancoke · « **Reply #15 on:** February 05, 2007, 02:54:25 AM »

Quote
Originally posted by: Ceric
I really don't want a handheld with "no hard-buttons" or a phone for that matter. A PDA Great. Unless Nintendo figures out how to do haptics for cheap.

There are some pretty sweet DS homebrew apps that add PDA type functionality. Nothing as complicated as an actual PDA but you can get organizers, calendars, to do lists, e-mail clients, and many others.

Spak-Spang · « **Reply #16 on:** February 12, 2007, 07:37:16 AM »

I think Nintendo needs to work with apple and create the next Gameboy with the technology of dual response touch screen.

I would be happy, with a system designed exactly like the DS lite, but more powerfully, and that technology included. Add in a 1GIG Flash drive to store your virtual Console games on the system, and perhaps an analog stick that can be locked to act like a D-PAD and you are set.

GoldenPhoenix · « **Reply #17 on:** February 12, 2007, 09:42:50 AM »

Quote
Originally posted by: Spak-Spang
I think Nintendo needs to work with apple and create the next Gameboy with the technology of dual response touch screen.

I would be happy, with a system designed exactly like the DS lite, but more powerfully, and that technology included. Add in a 1GIG Flash drive to store your virtual Console games on the system, and perhaps an analog stick that can be locked to act like a D-PAD and you are set.

That sounds like a great idea, though I do think it should be the next NDS and not Game Boy. I think the analog stick is a must as well.

Adrock · « **Reply #18 on:** February 12, 2007, 10:11:26 AM »

I think Nintendo has a patent on a dual response touch screen. Nintendo patents everything. Anything we could think of is probably patented by the company.

Kairon · « **Reply #19 on:** February 12, 2007, 11:58:40 AM »

I just hope that Nintendo and Apple don't get tangled up in a patent war.

~Carmine "Cai" M. Red
Kairon@aol.com

Spak-Spang · « **Reply #20 on:** February 13, 2007, 02:14:58 AM »

I am actually not sure Nintendo has a patient for dual response touch screen. At least not to the same degree and quality that Apple is developing.

However, if they do, then the two technologies of Apple and Nintendo just have to receive, decipher, or interpret the inputs differently and both their patients would hold up. It would obviously show that Nintendo and Apple were both working at the same time with the technology and came up with similar but different solutions to the problem.

Adding to my original post about just keeping the DS design...I think I would incorporate slightly larger screens as well, and potentially make both screens with the new touch screen controls.

As for the whether this should be the Game boy line or the DS line of systems. I don't think that matters. Personally, I think Nintendo needs to drop the Game Boy name because although well known it isn't an elegant sophisticated name...the DS is just a much cooler name.

The next hand held the DS will be the dominate name between the two. And in a few years when the new DS comes out wifi connections should be leaps and bounds ahead of today to where downloading your virtual console games and such would be nothing for the system.

Ghisy · « **Reply #21 on:** February 13, 2007, 05:39:48 AM »

Ewww, please leave Apple where they are and let Nintendo create systems/games.

Jensen · « **Reply #22 on:** February 13, 2007, 04:02:13 PM »

While I am excited for the possibilities of multi-touch for large screens, I don't see it as being very useful for a small screen. The DS touch screen is too small for even one finger touch input to be very useful, a stylus has to be used most of the time.

Mysticspike · « **Reply #23 on:** February 13, 2007, 04:29:29 PM »

Quote
Originally posted by: Leck
Pretty pictures q]

i agree

but, i didn't know there was a vertical screen like that for DS lite.

Spak-Spang · « **Reply #24 on:** February 14, 2007, 02:46:11 AM »

I wonder if there is away to have a folding half like the DS has, but allow for the two screens to still be next to each other with little to no gap for gameplay purposes?

News:

Author Topic: An idea for the next Gameboy (Read 9344 times)