Wii HD

[Alex W.]

So Nintendo, true innovative geniuses that they are, include a six-inch SD screen with each console for people play their Nintendo games on - problem solved!

Seriously, though, what's the sales pitch on this? "It's like the NGP meets the iPad, but you can't use it outside of your house." Call it Game Gear 2.0 and stick a bad Sonic port on it and you've got a brand.

[SMD]

Seriously, though, what's the sales pitch on this? "It's like the NGP meets the iPad, but you can't use it outside of your house." Call it Game Gear 2.0 and stick a bad Sonic port on it and you've got a brand.

Well at least that's something guaranteed.

[phresh]

What if the controller has an HDMI port on it for connecting to a TV? Phones and shit have them these days so it wouldn't be impossible.

[Alex W.]

What if the controller has an HDMI port on it for connecting to a TV? Phones and shit have them these days so it wouldn't be impossible.

Here's a revelatory innovation, how about they put one on the console?

[Stanley]

Are we just discarding the roumour about one developer saying is has more accurate motion control than Move?

Everyone is just thinking about this screen at the moment, but I doubt it's gonna be a standard controller with a screen, and then some sixaxis style motion control.

It was still have proper motion and pointer controls.

[Keyboard Koala]

Some more details regarding 'Project Café':

- ‘Parent’ device and ‘Child’ devices

- ‘Child’ device connects to ‘Parent’ devices to stream data/games

- ‘Child’ device can communicate with multiple ‘Parent’ devices, receive identification date

- A sort of “GBA+Gamecube” without the cords

- ‘Child’ device houses game cartridge, can be detached from ‘Parent’ device

- ‘Child’ device can send requests to ‘Parent’ devices for data transfers

- Multiple ‘Child’ devices meant to be used at the same time in constant communication

- Has a sort of ‘Download Play’ option

- Uses Bluetooth for communication

- Mario Kart and F-Zero are mentioned multiple times throughout the patent

[Stanley]

I'm confused. The parent is the console, the controller the child, yeah? So, multiple parents ?? Cartridge in the controller ???

Bizarre.

[Liquid Myth]

So Nintendo make... child devices?

[JohnC]

So if you really like this, you are a pedophile.

[SharkEnergy]

Whatever it is Nintendo will show it off with a brand new f zero and a brand new mario kart and everyone, hardcore or casual alike, will jizz their pants and print nintendo some money.

[Stanley]

Does anyone else feel like they're spectacularly missing the point here?

What I'm imagining is a console that connects to the TV for playing HD games, but which can also stream the same image from the TV to the screen on the controller. So if someone wants to watch TV they can and I can carry on playing my game using the controller screen, or play multiplayer with multiple users using their own controllers. But I can't play it outside of the house, or I'm guessing even too far away from the console itself.

I really don't get it. It sounds pointless.

[ras el hanout]

Nintendo is not about to announce its re-entry into high-specs big-budget gaming with a $400 console that can only be played* on a six-inch, sub-HD screen.

*By one person at a time, unless you shell out God knows how much for an extra tablet.

Little Johnny Dickhead is playing the new Mario on his thing. Dad comes along, turns his on and he's in the game. Mum finishes watching gok and so they put it on the tv. What's so special about that? The games Nintendo have thought up to go with it, that's what is so special.

Of course perhaps I am wrong and Nintendo are making an xbox 360 with a screen in the controller.

[Massive Invisible Dog]

Little Johnny Dickhead is playing the new Mario on his thing. Dad comes along, turns his on and he's in the game. Mum finishes watching gok and so they put it on the tv. What's so special about that? The games Nintendo have thought up to go with it, that's what is so special.

Of course perhaps I am wrong and Nintendo are making an xbox 360 with a screen in the controller.

That's not the same as something that doesn't connect to the TV and only has the controller screen.

[Alex W.]

Little Johnny Dickhead is playing the new Mario on his thing. Dad comes along, turns his on and he's in the game. Mum finishes watching gok and so they put it on the tv. What's so special about that? The games Nintendo have thought up to go with it, that's what is so special.

What you are describing is a portable console that streams to a television, not a good usage case for the reverse.

[Yoshimax]

Are we just discarding the roumour about one developer saying is has more accurate motion control than Move?

Yes we've all seen how well move has done with it's "better than wii" motion control.

[ras el hanout]

That's not the same as something that doesn't connect to the TV and only has the controller screen.

It's something that doesn't have to be connected to the tv which is what I said so take a deep breath, back up and watch that smart mouth of yours.

[Alex W.]

Some more details regarding 'Project Café':

It's more likely to be an old patent to do with Nintendo covering their asses in the DS-Wii link and closely related ideas.

[ras el hanout]

What you are describing is a portable console that streams to a television, not a good usage case for the reverse.

No I'm not. The console is a server type thing and isn't portable at all. It streams to controller screens or the tv.

[the_debaser]

A sort of GBA and GC without the cords?

Maybe Nintendo are trying to paint the picture that this will literally be the shittest thing of all time only to pull the rug from under us and give use something amazing come E3.

Maybe.

[Stanley]

Yes we've all seen how well move has done with it's "better than wii" motion control.

It's done alright considering they've not really pushed it thay hard, but that's hardly the point I'm making. There was a rumour which apparently came from a developer. Are we really to believe Nintendo has completely done away with Wii controls?

[Alex W.]

No I'm not. The console is a server type thing and isn't portable at all. It streams to controller screens or the tv.

But in usage, it works exactly the same as a normal portable games system. Except that you can stream it to the TV. And it doesn't work outside of your house.

Nintendo will never, ever release something like that while they have a proper handheld on the market.

[the_debaser]

It's more likely to be an old patent to do with Nintendo covering their asses in the DS-Wii link and closely related ideas.

That would make sense. I'm not sure that the bandwidth of Bluetooth would allow the console to stream games to loads of devices given that it seems to be mostly used for earpieces and waggle.

[Alex W.]

The "parent and child" controller patent was filed eight years ago and is, to the closest possible tolerances, just a description of the little electronic dance that went on when a GBA and a GameCube linked up. Except in the patent it's done wirelessly, so it has to account for the possibility of having multiple consoles visible at once.

Edit - The "download" aspect is just a description of single-cartridge multiplayer or cartridgeless GBA-GC/DS-Wii link.

[ras el hanout]

But in usage, it works exactly the same as a normal portable games system. Except that you can stream it to the TV. And it doesn't work outside of your house.

Nintendo will never, ever release something like that while they have a proper handheld on the market.

Hey this is just going on what we know. My suggestion fits pretty well with what we know, even that parent child stuff. The idea they're making s ppwerful hardcore console is hilarious.

[Stanley]

Hey this is just going on what we know.

Which is nothing apart from that Nintendo is releasing a new console next year. All the rumours contradict each other but my gut feeling is that this controller-with-screen streaming stuff is a massive red herring.

[dizogg]

The HD in Wii HD stands for "Heads Down".

[Massive Invisible Dog]

I'd be very surprised if the controller with a screen information is wrong.

[Alex W.]

I know it's pointless, and that Kotaku are probably firing up a big story already, but I really want to nip this parent/child console stuff in the bud. Here is the gist:

* It's a system for letting a console connect to another console when several are available, by giving the user a screen by which to pick which console they want to talk to.

* The "parent and child" aspect is better described as "host and client", in that one console adopts the role of the host to which other consoles connect.

* The details describe a wireless version of GBA-GC link, and a wireless version of the GBA's one-cartridge multiplayer (what we now call DS single-card wireless play) and a wireless version of conventional multi-cartridge multiplayer, all of which would use this method of communicating.

In 2003, when this was filed, it would've been a clue to how wireless gameplay could work on Nintendo's next handheld console, albeit one built upon the existing ideas about how wireless devices talk to each other. Today, it's a footnote.

[Alex W.]

I'd be very surprised if the controller with a screen information is wrong.

If it has a touchscreen controller, it will be optional, or it will be small. If it streams the games from the console, it will definitely be optional, and it will be expensive.

[Stanley]

I'd be very surprised if the controller with a screen information is wrong.

I just don't think it will be its USP. It's so cost prohibitive and ultimately pointless. I can't think of many people who'll be willing to fork out for extra controllers. People complained about Wii remotes being expensive.

If it has a screen it will be basic and cheap, like something on a £10 mobile phone. The games will be played on the TV.