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Nintendo Trademark Hints at Motion Sensitive DS Card

by James Charlton - January 18, 2009, 11:10 am EST
Total comments: 22 Source: Siliconera

New type of card could mean motion controlled DS games in the future.

Nintendo recently entered some new items into the Japanese trademark database: one of which we know about, the other a complete mystery.

The 'Wii Golden Handle' sounds peculiar at first, buts fans of Club Nintendo Japan will remember that as being the special edition of the Mario Kart Wii Wheel, available to platinum members of the online points-for-prizes service.

The second item refers to a new type of DS card, called the 'Houi Sensor Card,' which can be translated as a motion/movement card.

A similar device was made for a Japan-only title called Slide Mag-Kid, however this was a GBA slot device that required the DS to be resting on a table.

This device however seems to suggest a DS game card sized device to achieve similar results.

We can only speculate to what this means for gaming applications, and we hope our readers will leave some of those suggestions in the talkback thread.

Talkback

AVJanuary 18, 2009

Why the hell doesn't DSi have motion pre-installed ? It makes no sense at all

Bill AurionJanuary 18, 2009

Because it really wouldn't make sense to? (Extra costs for something that will be used for a handful of games) Wait for DS2...

famicomplicatedJames Charlton, Associate Editor (Japan)January 19, 2009

So would any you guys want a motion sensitive DS game?

I'm guessing some kind of Wario Ware game using this is on the horizon, a new version of Twisted would be awesomeness.


Bill AurionJanuary 19, 2009

Quote from: super_famicomplicated

I'm guessing some kind of Wario Ware game using this is on the horizon, a new version of Twisted would be awesomeness.

This... =)

AVJanuary 19, 2009

Quote from: Bill

Because it really wouldn't make sense to? (Extra costs for something that will be used for a handful of games) Wait for DS2...

That's the point DSi should be DS2. 

Bill AurionJanuary 19, 2009

The DS has been in existence for just over 4 years...Why on EARTH would they release DS2 now?

Ian SaneJanuary 19, 2009

Waggle and forced touchscreen usage at the same time?!  It's my DREAM SYSTEM!!

They had this sort of thing on the GBA.  Hell they had it on the GBC.  Maybe it's Kirby's Tilt 'n' Tumble 2 or some new Warioware game.  It's so likely going to be Warioware.  When Nintendo comes up with new ideas these days it's like the first thing they think is "how can we use this is so lame-o microgame collection?"

Motion control is pretty likely for the DS2.  I figure Nintendo is going to go more and more towards non-traditional controls until everyone suddenly realizes they make their games control like crap and then it will be a complete reversal and reintroducing normal controls will be promoted by them as a big revolution in game design.

Bill AurionJanuary 19, 2009

Quote from: Ian

When Nintendo comes up with new ideas these days it's like the first thing they think is "how can we use this is so lame-o microgame collection?"

It's called business sense...If you are showing off a new idea, the best way to promote it is through simple and varied gameplay mechanics before applying it to more complex games...

vuduJanuary 19, 2009

Quote from: Ian

When Nintendo comes up with new ideas these days it's like the first thing they think is "how can we use this is so lame-o microgame collection?"

Have you not played the WarioWare games?  The original and Twisted are two of my favorite games in recent memory.

Ian SaneJanuary 19, 2009

Quote:

It's called business sense...If you are showing off a new idea, the best way to promote it is through simple and varied gameplay mechanics before applying it to more complex games...

Did Nintendo ever actually do this before this gen?  With the N64 they went with full 3D and introduced the analog stick as a standard controller item and promoted the idea with Super Mario 64 which at the time was one of the most complex games ever made.

But from a business point of view WarioWare is a smart move because it's:

A. A popular seller.
B. Simplistic enough for non-gamers but the series also began prior to the term "non-game" even existing and thus has an established core gamer fanbase as well.  Animal Crossing has similar appeal (or would if they made a NEW Animal Crossing game for a change) as it was accepted by the old gaming market but has enough similarities to non-games to be retroactively promoted as one.
C. Probably not a difficult or expensive game to make.  The microgame design means one doesn't have to worry about level design or balance or enemy AI or anything like that.  Come up with a bunch of one button games, group them according to similar themes and done.  The hardest part is figuring out the quirks of the new hardware which Nintendo would have to do anyway.  In this case WarioWare games with touchscreen controls and motion controls already exist which would save them that part of development.  They could probably pound this game out in months.

In other words WarioWare is just non-gaming business strategy 101: make a product for less money and less time and sell it to a customer base that are not expecting better and make up a larger chunk of the audience anyway.  It's the videogame equivalent of pop music and reality TV.

KDR_11kJanuary 19, 2009

And there goes Ian again defining his kind of gaming as superior to the other kind of gaming... You know, some people don't WANT to play a 20 hour story.

NWR_pap64Pedro Hernandez, Contributing WriterJanuary 20, 2009

Quote from: KDR_11k

And there goes Ian again defining his kind of gaming as superior to the other kind of gaming... You know, some people don't WANT to play a 20 hour story.

Be careful what you say to Ian, KDR. The NWR Gods are ON HIS SIDE!

http://images.inmagine.com/img/inspirestock/ispi036/ispi036041.jpg

http://www1.istockphoto.com/file_thumbview_approve/1795210/2/istockphoto_1795210_cry_baby.jpg

GoldenPhoenixJanuary 20, 2009

Since I've never used an i-Phone this comment may be off base, but wouldn't it be lame to have motion controls in a handheld? I'd think it would get tedious, not to mention making it hard to see what is going on.

NinGurl69 *hugglesJanuary 20, 2009

Plus the danger of "oops, i Wario'd my device into the TIGER CAGE," leading to the crazy idea of having straps and condoms on all new manufactured handheld devices.

NWR_pap64Pedro Hernandez, Contributing WriterJanuary 20, 2009

Quote from: NinGurl69

Plus the danger of "oops, i Wario'd my device into the TIGER CAGE," leading to the crazy idea of having straps and condoms on all new manufactured handheld devices.

Not to mention permanent brain damage lawsuits...even from those that already had it :) .

UrkelJanuary 20, 2009
KDR_11kJanuary 20, 2009

Why does that showcase the Gamecube with GBP attachment?

UrkelJanuary 20, 2009

It's Mario Polygon Studio for 64DD. I'm assuming the Gamecube was something made by the guy who did the video.

The video shows that the origins of WarioWare were, in fact, from the N64 era. Ian's theory about WarioWare being some scheme created by Iwata is kinda shot to hell here.

KDR_11kJanuary 20, 2009

Ah okay, I thought the GC was put there by Nintendo and was wondering how a N64 game could include a fairly late version of the GC.

NWR_pap64Pedro Hernandez, Contributing WriterJanuary 20, 2009

Quote from: Urkel

I agree with Ian about one thing.

Nintendo would never make a game like WarioWare on N64.

You know, I think now its the right time for Nintendo to revive the Mario Artist/Talent Studio series.

Its been said that Nintendo really wanted to experiment with this series, but due to the N64 "failing" and a market not existing for these type of games they got scrapped.

With the Wii's wide appeal I think they could do something with them...

Let's consider Nintendo's past attempts at portable motion control:

Kirby's Tilt and Tumble (GBC) - Cool idea, bad execution.  It was very hard to play and see the game simultaneously, largely due to the reflective TFT screen.  Jerking the system to jump was obnoxious.

WarioWare Tilt - Avoids most viewing problems by restricting motion to one axis of rotation.  The subtle force feedback helps give a tactile sense of how far and how fast you are turning.

Also, Nintendo already built a handheld with motion control: Pokemon Mini.  But I don't think they used it for anything more than shaking.

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