Nintendo NX: Nintendo patents console without a disc drive

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Nintendo has filed a patent application for a “stationary” games console – thought to be the Nintendo NX – with the USPTO, it has recently been discovered.

The filing was originally made back in February, but was only published yesterday. According to the particulars of the patent, which refers to a prior application made in Japan back in February 2014, Nintendo’s claims apply to a “Stationary Game Apparatus, Game Apparatus, Game System, Recording Medium and Speed Control Method”, which includes a “controller with a display screen” as well as “Speed Control Processing”.

The abstract notes:

An example system includes an internal hard disk drive storing a program and/or data, a communication unit transmitting/receiving a program and/or data via a network, and a processor executing a program stored in the hard disk drive to perform game processing.

Interestingly, the synopsis goes on to state that “the example system is not provided with an optical disk drive for reading out a program and/or data from an optical disk,” while later in the document, a description reads: “[the internal hard drive] can store therein the game program and the game data”. Does this mean that the Nintendo NX could be the first major home console to go digital-only?

The fact that the filing also cites “high-speed communications” as being a method for distributing a game program from a server to the “game apparatus” certainly seems to suggests that this is the case.

Pictured below are two images attached to the application (click to enlarge). FIG. 1 shows “an example non-limiting block diagram illustrating a configuration of a game apparatus”, while FIG. 2 shows “an example non-limiting block diagram illustrating a configuration of a controller included in a game apparatus”.

Notably, the inclusion of a memory card slot is highlighted in FIG. 1, which Nintendo’s application suggests will be used, at least in part, to provide OS updates to those users without an internet connection.



Posted:
Related Forum: Gaming Discussion

Source: http://powerupgaming.co.uk/2015/08/21/nintendo-files-patent-for-new-games-console-will-not-include-optical-disk/

Comments

"Nintendo NX: Nintendo patents console without a disc drive" :: Login/Create an Account :: 45 comments

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ProPosted:

due to my very slow internet this will be really bad for me...

NissanPosted:

Wow, a complete "game on demand" console, no discs needed! Interesting!

SkyPosted:

Polygon Uh oh.
This doesn't look like it can end well


yea Nintendo has been slacking the last 8 years or so

PolygonPosted:

Uh oh.
This doesn't look like it can end well

Toasty-Posted:

I feel like this wont do well.

SpeedomPosted:

Well at least you wont have to worry about your dog biting your dics :)

-Tokyo_Ghoul-Posted:

Tiffxny
Potion
Tiffxny
Hollywood_Undead This is why Nintendo will be the first console/game company to go out of business in the near future...


This crappy console better have over 2TB if there is no disc drive.
Or free 1TB cloud space for EVERYONE.


Gamecube and below - awesome
Wii - okay, first thing to use gestures (now beaten by MS's Kinect)
Wii U - Okay what the hell Nintendo. This is utter crap.


Nintendo better make this good, after all they are doing terrible in the market right now.


They are about to fall and life alert is not going to help them up.

Big mistake on their part IMO.


Hope that you two realize that disc based media is pretty much dead. Everything is either download or can be shared by a usb. Hopefully Nintendo will sell physical copies of games on USB though.


I've never bought a game digitally, i prefer psychical discs, it's just my opinion so..


what none of you understand nintendo makes so much money if sales dropped by half they would still be around for over 50 years

TiffxnyPosted:

Potion
Tiffxny
Hollywood_Undead This is why Nintendo will be the first console/game company to go out of business in the near future...


This crappy console better have over 2TB if there is no disc drive.
Or free 1TB cloud space for EVERYONE.


Gamecube and below - awesome
Wii - okay, first thing to use gestures (now beaten by MS's Kinect)
Wii U - Okay what the hell Nintendo. This is utter crap.


Nintendo better make this good, after all they are doing terrible in the market right now.


They are about to fall and life alert is not going to help them up.

Big mistake on their part IMO.


Hope that you two realize that disc based media is pretty much dead. Everything is either download or can be shared by a usb. Hopefully Nintendo will sell physical copies of games on USB though.


I've never bought a game digitally, i prefer psychical discs, it's just my opinion so..

OwenPosted:

I just looked at those diagrams and got confused lol

SouIPosted:

Looks rather interesting, wonder what it'll be like.