Nintendo has big plans in 2016 for its Nintendo NX console and amiibo toys. (Photo : YouTube/Nintendo)
A new patent sighting has been linked to Nintendo. And by default, this has also been linked to the upcoming new gaming console from the Japanese company, which has been dubbed the Nintendo NX.
The patent, spotted by Gamingbolt, depicts a new controller that could very well be the Nintendo NX controller. According to the source, the patent pushes a new controller design in that the screen is now the entire front of the controller is the actual screen.
Seen in the images in the link above, there will be two areas on the controller face that could be designated for the buttons and analog sticks. Think of it as playing with a smartphone screen, only there will be two physical areas that the player will need to press in order to access the controllers.
Despite the physical areas where the buttons are, the possible Nintendo NX controller is also touchscreen, so developers will no longer be held back by button layouts. This is not the end of the innovation as suggested by the patent. It appears that, unlike the PS4 and Xbox One's respective controllers, Nintendo's patented controller may even be a standalone unit.
This is due to the accompanying CPU, GPU, RAM, speaker and even a cartridge slot for games. Coupling this with other patents and ideas that Nintendo has pushed for its Nintendo NX console, such as cloud processing and some form of remote play, and it suggests a possible powerful, play anywhere kind of console that can still be played in a regular living room setting.
Nintendo has not yet confirmed any of these, however, especially since the company has been keeping mum about any design ideas. The company has promised that more details will come in 2016, suggesting that fans may be looking at an explanation of the design sightings, in case Nintendo does go for these patented designs.
The Nintendo NX is not the only thing that fans are expecting to see in the company's overall development for the coming year. There have been talks that Nintendo will be focusing more, namely amiibo and mobile titles.
Previously, the company has already hinted its plans to take the company in the direction of mobile gaming. This time, the company's American arm president, Reggie Fils-Aime of Nintendo of America has cleared up the plans for mobile games.
Fils-Aime shared in an interview with Polygon that mobile games will not be mere ports from their Nintendo counterparts. It follows what the late Nintendo president Satoru Iwata had planned for the company as well, which I to ensure that specific titles will be coming to targeted smart devices.
This is a great way to view game development, especially if Nintendo plans to tap a platform that already has a lot of competitors and developers. One good leverage and difference that Nintendo's mobile titles will have is that Nintendo gamers will still find a way to enjoy these games via their consoles and handheld gaming devices. Nintendo has yet to expound on what these will entail, but there is significant emphasis on ensuring that each platform has a unique capability that makes use of functions that are integral to the specific platform.
As far as amiibo are concerned, Nintendo has also shared its plans to ensure that the collectibles will have more function beyond collectability. For the most part, the company is aiming ot put more connectivity features that will predominantly make use of the IP for the benefit and additional features offered by the amiibo toys.
