Yet another Nintendo patent: handheld with outward-facing linear image sensors
Posted on 8 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in General Nintendo, News | 33 Comments
Fans have been on a Nintendo patent hunt over the past few days. A filing for clickable scroll wheel shoulder buttons was found on Thursday, followed shortly after by one involving haptic feedback.
The latest patent we have is for a handheld with outward-facing linear image sensors. This one was filed for in February as well and was published this month. While Nintendo isn’t behind the patent directly, it was assigned to Fumihiko Inoue. Inoue is absolutely connected to the company and is listed as one of the inventors of the Big N’s older patents.
Here’s the abstract from the latest patent:
“An example system includes a housing having at least one surface provided with a display, a linear image sensor located, facing outside the housing, at a side part or a corner part of the housing when the surface provided with the display is viewed as a front surface, and an information processing unit performing information processing based on an image obtained by the linear image sensor.”
Here are some other tidbits from the filing:
– Linear image sensors on all four sides of a handheld device
– Space Pointer Function – For example if the device is positioned on a desk, these sensors can detect location/distance of finger (sliding on desk on side of device) and move cursor/character accordingly
– Side Surface Touching Operation – When holding the device in hands, these sensors can detect touch (e.g slide finger up/down to zoom)
– Figure Detection Function – Sensors can read barcodes (e.g on Amiibos) and detect rotation/distance
– Use Mode Determining Function – Sensors can help with accuracy of acceleration sensor e.g when rotating device to/from landscape/portrait orientation while device is horizontal
– Pulse Detecting Function – Detect user’s pulse rate (based on the reflection/intensity of skin)
You can find more information and images pertaining to the patent here.
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Buy a select Mario game on the Nintendo UK store, get a free T-shirt
Posted on 8 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in General Nintendo, News | 0 comments
Those who purchase a select Mario game from the Nintendo UK store can receive a free T-shirt. The selection includes Super Mario 3D World, Super Mario 3D Land, New Super Mario Bros. U, and more. You can check out the full lineup here.
More: UK
Green Man Gaming starting to sell digital Nintendo games in the UK
Posted on 8 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in General Nintendo, News | 17 Comments
Green Man Gaming and Nintendo UK have teamed up to begin selling digital Wii U and 3DS titles. The initial lineup includes retail titles like Super Mario Maker and Xenoblade Chronicles 3D, but also Virtual Console games such as The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past. This news is notable since Green Man Gaming is the global number two digital games retailer.
If you’re in the UK, you can find all of the offerings here. There’s also a brief announcement featuring Charles Martinet below.
More: Green Man Gaming, UK
Video: Nintendo’s Damon Baker interviews Graphite Lab about Hive Jump
Posted on 8 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in General Nintendo, Videos | 2 Comments
Nintendo has published its third indie interview coming from PAX Prime 2015. In the latest one, the company’s Damon Baker talks with Graphite Lab about Hive Jump. Check it out below.
More: Graphite Lab, Hive Jump, indie
Club Nintendo Europe – Nintendo Sound Selection unboxing video
Posted on 8 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in General Nintendo, Videos | 2 Comments
The Nintendo Sound Selection was among Club Nintendo Europe’s final rewards. You can now watch an unboxing video of the item below.
More: Club Nintendo, Europe, unboxing
GameStop should have pretty good stock of the Animal Crossing amiibo cards
Posted on 8 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in General Nintendo, News | 3 Comments
Nintendo will be releasing the first set of Animal Crossing amiibo cards in North America next week. If one GameStop store is anything to go by, they should be pretty well stocked.
The image above shows the unit amount for the cards at one GameStop location. This is a small store, so people are counting on the amiibo seeing similar numbers (if not higher) at other outlets.
Photos of the Japanese Club Nintendo 2016 Calendar
Posted on 8 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in General Nintendo, Images | 0 comments
Photos are now available showing the Japanese Club Nintendo 2016 Calendar. You’ll find the full set below.
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Mega Yarn Yoshi amiibo, standalone Chibi-Robo, Falco up on Amazon Italy
Posted on 8 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in General Nintendo, News | 0 comments
A trio of amiibo are now available for pre-order on Amazon Italy. They are as follows:
Get yours Mega Yarn Yoshi
Standalone Chibi-Robo
Falco
Each one of these amiibo should ship to the U.S. Of course, when actual North American retailers begin taking pre-orders, we’ll let you know!
Video: Image & Form on why each SteamWorld game is different
Posted on 8 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in 3DS eShop, General Nintendo, Videos, Wii U eShop | 0 comments
Image & Form tackles a few more topics regarding the SteamWorld franchise in its second episode of “The Engine Room”. In today’s video, the studio talks about why each SteamWorld game is in a different genre, shares thoughts on SteamWorld sequels, and discusses future SteamWorld genre wishes. Check out The Engine Room #2 below.
More: Image & Form, indie
Blue and Pink Yarn Yoshi pre-orders live on Walmart
Posted on 8 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in General Nintendo, News | 8 Comments
Walmart has two of the upcoming Yarn Yoshi amiibo up for pre-order. You can reserve the Blue Yoshi and Pink Yoshi. Both have price errors ($13 rather than $16), so you’ll be saving $3!
