Wii U Controller Patent Reveals Extras

By Jorge Ba-oh 14.08.2011 5

Wii U Controller Patent Reveals Extras on Nintendo gaming news, videos and discussion

A patent for Nintendo's upcoming Wii U controller reveals nifty possible extras - including a magnetometer and flash memory.

The new peripheral is packed to the brim with a mammoth amount of features - including its central touchscreen, camera, screen and speaker, but the uncovered documents also suggest that the Wii U Controller will also contain an infrared port to presumably connect with the Wii sensor bar.

The device may also include an onboard magnetometer, described by Nintendo as a "magnetic sensor". The device is often used to find "true North" in GPS/mapping, but also in gesture based input. Flash memory may also be included in the controller as a means of storage - perhaps for something as small as Miis, to additional software and games that might be playable without the need to turn on the Wii U.

Via Joystiq.

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Vorash Kadan 14.08.2011#1

It's a shame I won't be able to get this at launch....you know being poor & all....T_T

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RudyC3 is offline. RudyC3 14.08.2011#2

I can see the infrared be used to send orders to TV sets, like when you want to come back to TV programs before continuing your gameplay on the controller, or vice versa.

Like a Universal TV remote implemented into a game controller Smilie. (Reminds me of Mission Impossible on Game Boy Color which had this gadget functionality to turn the console into an infrared remote)

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Darkflame is offline. Darkflame 14.08.2011#3

Well, the things showen already clearly didnt have any IR functions as that would need to be on the back.

IR would certainly help put it back up to nearly as flexible as a Wiimote, but the form factor still isnt very practical for aiming at stuff.

Incidently...the 3DS has a IR port that has got almost zero attention. GBC compatibility or something more?

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Magnetic sensor is indeed weird though.
I would guess its to make Gyro calibration more automated - a true north referance would help prevent the need to manualy fix the gyro in place before each play session.

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jb is offline. jb 14.08.2011#4

I think one of the aspects sites fail to mention is the ability to make toast and walk the dog!

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Cheesing It Up is offline. Cheesing It Up 15.08.2011#5

The device may also include an onboard magnetometer, described by Nintendo as a "magnetic sensor". The device is often used to find "true North" in GPS/mapping, but also in gesture based input.

Er, wouldn't a magnetometer find magnet north...?

 

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