New Nintendo Product

anyways, you know that one product that Nintendo is going to unveil in spring? the one that's completely new, and isn't a successor to GameCube or GBA. right well, there's been a little bit of rumors about the thing going around lately.

one of the ones that i've been hearing is that it's gonna be able to do stuff that the EyeToy can do.

but anyways, check out this patent.

http://appft1.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-...RS=AN/nintendo

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A compact image element encoding format selectively allocates a bit field within the format to alternately encode either multi-bit alpha resolution or increased color resolution. This encoding technique may be advantageously used to allocate encoding bits to model semi-transparency while using those same bits for other purposes (e.g., higher color resolution) in instances where semi-transparency is not required (e.g., for opaque image elements). In one advantageous embodiment, the same encoding format can provide either RGB5 or RGB4A3, on an image-element-by-image-element basis. Applications include but are not limited to texture mapping in a 3D computer graphics system such as a home video game system or a personal computer.

What is claimed is:

1. A texture map including: a first texel encoded with a semi-transparency value and having first color resolution; and a second texel encoded without any semi-transparency value and having second color resolution greater than said first color resolution.

2. A texture map as in claim 1 wherein said first and second texels each further include a flag indicating whether said texel is encoded with a multi-bit semi-transparency value.

3. A method of generating a cutout image within a 3D graphics system having a 3D graphics pipeline that generates images based on polygons, said graphics pipeline including a texture mapping unit storing a texture map including a first set of semi-transparent colored texels, and a second set of opaque, colored texels, said method comprising: encoding each of said texels in a variable bit encoding format wherein a predetermined bit field within said format is allocated to encode semi-transparency of said first set of texels, and said predetermined bit field is allocated to encode coloration of said second set of texels; applying said texel encoding as a matte to a polygon using at least one alpha operation, to generate a set of image elements; and anti-aliasing said image elements.

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anyways, guys think this might be those holographic glasses things or something that Penny Arcade was talking about right before E3 2003? they seems to be positive that they were being made down at Nintendo.

anyways, what do you guys think it could be from what that patent said?

Two things are probably certain:

It won't be online compatible and it'll feature GBA connectivity. That seems to be all Nintendo cares about.

If it's like the Eye toy, I hope it's a Wario Ware-type game. I would play the shit out of that.

i have no interest in anything eye toy like

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Originally Posted by Shin Johnpv

i have no interest in anything eye toy like

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Ditto. Not even if it was with Wario.

Well, maybe.

i doubt it'll be anything eye toy like. seems like it's gonna have more to do with holograms and stuff.

I'd say "teh Megaton !!!!!11" but that's played out.

I like the patent's overuse of the word "said."

I saw some dude wearing a Virtual Boy in a movie on TV tonight (Runaway Bride, perhaps?). He had it strapped to his head. In a movie. It was cool.

I have nothing useful to contribute here.

Sounds like a new texturing technique to me.

It does seem like something holigraphic, 3-D rendering..

VBA!!

But it wont have a backlight, just a hole that lets light it from the side and does a poor job of it.

Then The VBA-SB will come out a year later and have the backlight.

Sounds cool in a completely vague I-have-no-clue-what-the-hell-it-could-be kind of way. Maybe Nintendo's developing thermoptics.

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Originally Posted by Wildkat

Then The VBA-SB will come out a year later and have the backlight.

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...And remove the headphone jack.

- The Mainichi newspaper reported that Nintendo president Saturo Iwata intends to launch a new console system by the end of 2004, which is neither the successor of GameCube nor GameBoy Advance, the new system will have a new direction, and it will coexist with the successor of GameCube and GameBoy Advance in future. The new machine is said to have wireless data communication via radio.

Iwata has commented that the product, “will enable fun and movement not seen before... I expect it to become the third pillar, next to GameCube and Game Boy.”

Virtual Boy 2.

Its some sort of game machine that allows people to play shitty updates and rehashes of great, decade-old Nintendo games.

and it also fucks diffusions mom every night, beats up his dad and runs over his dog over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over again

Quote:

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Originally Posted by diffusionx

Its some sort of game machine that allows people to play shitty updates and rehashes of great, decade-old Nintendo games.

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a ps2?

nah the gba's already out ;)

The SUPER FX chip...PLUS!!

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Originally Posted by Saturo Iwata

will enable fun and movement not seen before... I expect it to become the third pillar, next to GameCube and Game Boy.”

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When was the GameCube a pillar?

I hope it's a better Pokemotion...
http://www.nintendo.co.jp/n09/p_motion/index.html

that nintendo robot thing part 2!

Dream game product:

a pair of glasses that scan the environment (eg, your bedroom), create and manipulate an invisible 3d world based on it, and puts characters in it, so that they can interact with it, eg, they can climb on your furniture. Along with other peripherals, you can interact with the characters, eg, a gun, a punching glove, etc. It also gives head while its loading.

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Originally Posted by Seven Force

The SUPER FX chip...PLUS!!

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*crosses fingers*
:lol:

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Originally Posted by kabuki

I'd say "teh Megaton !!!!!11" but that's played out.

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Don't let that stop you.

Whatever it is, it'll be MEGATONERIFIC.

Yeah, the VB came out of left field, maybe this'll be something equally surprising.

Alls I know is, if it comes with a Mario game, launch sales +1

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Originally Posted by Mzo

Yeah, the VB came out of left field, maybe this'll be something equally surprising.

Alls I know is, if it comes with a Mario game, launch sales +1

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You're such a whore... all it takes to get you in bed is something to do with mario.

Truth be told, even Wario will do. Or Pokémon.

my post shouldnt have been deleted :P

i think it added just as much :nod: :nod:

Nintendo: "We hate money and success."

Stop listening to Kano. He's feeding you lies.

Nintendo: It's the game

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Originally Posted by johnk_

Virtual Boy 2.

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Nintendo would never do something that would make me so happy.

And mildly dizzy, at that.

I think it has nothing to do with that patent. I think it will be a console which connects wirelessly to a network to download old Nintendo videogames. So they can get a piece of the emulation "market".

Powerglove 3000.

Nah, it'll be the Zapper 2.0.

Only Nintendo hardware that excites me is Game Boy. If it's not a new Game Boy, and it's not an awesome new Nintendo game, then it's probably gonna be disappointing.

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Originally Posted by MarkRyan

If it's not a new Game Boy, and it's not an awesome new Nintendo game, then it's probably gonna be disappointing.

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Your mastery of the obvious is astounding. You are a hero to the oblivious everywhere.

The patent describes a pixel format which differs from the standard RGBA 32bit pixel formats in that they use 4 bits for Red Green and Blue channels and 3bits for Alpha aka a total of 8 different levels of transparency and 16 shades of each color. They also say that it decreases the memory requirements to store hi-res images, naturally. And they describe a "hypothetical" hardware system which includes output to a TV which could use such a pixel storage format. Below are the pics for the storage format comparison and the hypothetical system. It does not go into specifics of this system since the patent is simply about the pixel format and just uses the system as an example.

Essentially, it is a patent on a compact pixel storage format. Which really ticks me off because it is seemingly a software patent. And I think that those hinder creative competitive research.

Actually, to me the invention is a bit retarted since they don't even use the leftmost alpha bit. They could have had 16 levels of transparency if they had used it.

OMG, you posted robot porn!

Nintendo iQue

I don't know if this is the OMFG 3rd pillar, but it qualifies as a new console concept. Sure, it would be disappointing, but that wouldn't surprise me.

See also here.

I think they're developing a giant ray gun that turns people gay.

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Originally Posted by AstroBlue

OMG, you posted robot porn!

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Futurama completely rocks.

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Originally Posted by burgundy

Nintendo iQue

I don't know if this is the OMFG 3rd pillar, but it qualifies as a new console concept. Sure, it would be disappointing, but that wouldn't surprise me.

See also here.

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that'll never leave China. 100% guarenteed.

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Originally Posted by Lucas Barton

that'll never leave China. 100% guarenteed.

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If it is manufactured by Nintendo, it probably can.

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Originally Posted by AstroBlue

OMG, you posted robot porn!

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I pity the fool that doesn't understand robot porn.

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Originally Posted by AstroBlue

I think it has nothing to do with that patent. I think it will be a console which connects wirelessly to a network to download old Nintendo videogames. So they can get a piece of the emulation "market".

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I'd probably buy it if I could go to the store and buy hard copies of games.

frome lookin at the pics of the patint or what ever. i think itll be a pc or another apextream console. but thats just me

I'll join in on the speculation.

My bets are on an iQue derivative that uses N64 carts and has no relation to the patent.

Of course, I also was convinced that the Megaton announcement was Dragon Quest 8 for the GameCube..

I'll go for gloves which control your on-screen arms and fingers directly. They could then make first person fighting games where you're like, really doing the moves. And they'll make you gay.

Are you making fun of Nintendo in a weak ploy for acceptance?

Didn't work.

I think it will be something -like- the iQue, but with an ungodly huge database of roms and emus on it. Think of it this way, Nintendo knows damn well its largest market is nostalgia driven gamers. So by making a console that'll play discs with entire libraries of NES, SNES, and N64 games on it they would literially be printing money by selling you games you've already played or could rip free off the net. In other words, what they've been doing the last 10 years.

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Originally Posted by Lucas Barton

i doubt it'll be anything eye toy like. seems like it's gonna have more to do with holograms and stuff.

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I don't see anything remotely indicative of that.

GameFAQs is asking this same question today: http://cgi.gamefaqs.com/poll/index.asp

Although CJayC forgot the all-important "I don't care because I fucking hate Nintendo" choice.

SPOnG backs up the iQue rumor. Best taken with a large vat of salt.

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According to gossip breaking this morning in Japan, Nintendo is poised to roll-out a variation of the China-only iQue games console across the world, as intense speculation - fuelled in no small part by Nintendo president Satoru Iwata's recent ambiguous comments - consumes the gaming press.

In today's Famitsu, Nintendo has confirmed that it will be showing new hardware at this year's E3, scheduled to take place in Los Angeles in May.

It was underlined that the machine is not the successor to either the Game Boy Advance or the GameCube, but something else entirely. However, it was revealed that it (whatever it may be) would play existing Nintendo games. As to whether that means existing games in their current media state, or to be transferred to a new format was not disclosed.

It would appear this morning that certain news sources have begun reporting that the machine may well be based on motion-sensing technology, a-la EyeToy. However, this would appear to stem from Iwata saying the new device will, "enable fun and movement not seen before," - hardly a reference to motion-sensing gaming.

As we exclusively revealed last week, Nintendo is scheduled to preview the device, along with its key 2004 line-up, to Japanese press in Kyoto between the 15th and 19th of January. Expect a complete briefing from the show, right here, as it breaks.

In terms of iQue being announced for the world outside of China, the concept is not as far fetched as it might sound. With the PSP about to take a large slice of Nintendo's omnipresent portable gaming income, the firm is arguably in it's darkest ever hour. To release a budget, portable Nintendo 64 at this point in time would be a masterstroke indeed.

Expect something rather special to be shown next week.

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http://spong.com/detail/news.asp?prid=6037

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Originally Posted by g0zen

I think it will be something -like- the iQue, but with an ungodly huge database of roms and emus on it. Think of it this way, Nintendo knows damn well its largest market is nostalgia driven gamers. So by making a console that'll play discs with entire libraries of NES, SNES, and N64 games on it they would literially be printing money by selling you games you've already played or could rip free off the net. In other words, what they've been doing the last 10 years.

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We have a winner!

I think Nintendo needs to concentrate on making a system that lives up to its own hype, but that's just my thought.
Heck, when they make a new system, I think that should be listed in its features on the box...

Features of :insertnewnintendosystemnamehere::
-Revolutionary Graphics!
-4 Player Game Support!
-Great Game Library!
-All the features actually mentioned above so we live up to our advertising hype!!! (for real!)

You guys got it all wrong. They are making a new Gamecube Bazooka which will come with a really crappy game and never be used for any other game again.

Then in 2 months announce the brand new and improved Power Glove!

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Originally Posted by pixelassassin

Then in 2 months announce the brand new and improved Power Glove!

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...which is a Power Glove with a Gamecube controller plug soldered onto the end of it.


"Look at the amazing technological advances we have made," they will say.

The biggest technological advance they ever made was the GBA SP, which is basically just a fold up GBA with a backlight. But that backlight took them how many years to develop?? A solid 10 years or so?

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Originally Posted by Mzo

Are you making fun of Nintendo in a weak ploy for acceptance?

Didn't work.

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Isn't it obvious, I was making fun of the haters.

"ploy for acceptance?"

?
I think you misunderstand how I feel about you guys.

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Originally Posted by kbuchanan

They could then make first person fighting games where you're like, really doing the moves.

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Ask Konami for that, and they'll make a Martial Beat US just for you, but you'll have to 'fight' figuratively... as in do lame karate moves to some crappy underground Rave music.

Or you can buy an Eye Toy, which at my local wal mart is located right next to the 5 copies of Karaoke Revolution that havent moved since it's release.

And that's ditto for the 3 copies of the Eye Toy they always have.

....or you could go to an arcade and play Mocap Boxing.

New Info

http://www.themanandhischeese.pwp.bl...er.co.uk/1.JPG
http://www.themanandhischeese.pwp.bl...er.co.uk/2.JPG
http://www.themanandhischeese.pwp.bl...er.co.uk/3.JPG
http://www.themanandhischeese.pwp.bl...er.co.uk/4.JPG

anyone want to take any guesses?

It's that cd add-on for the Super Nintendo that was never released. Sony must've tossed Nintendo a bone and gave it to them.

Does something like this hold any water? If it doesn't, what's is the patent describing? To be honest, I'm not technically savvy at all. What's DirectX do exactly?

It looks like they're patenting console games.

Sony is totally fucked.

ROMZZZZ!

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Originally Posted by kbuchanan

Isn't it obvious, I was making fun of the haters.

"ploy for acceptance?"

?
I think you misunderstand how I feel about you guys.

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If you thought I was serious, then you misunderstand me completely.

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Originally Posted by SMBChick

What's DirectX do exactly?

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It's more of a standard than anything. Hardware XYZ is DirectX 9 compatible for instance. It gives game developers a common set of hardware capabilities for which to code.

It's a godsend in my eyes.

Saves all the installation trouble of having to pick which sound card you have, what port it's in, etc., etc.

I still remember the Sam and Max sound test: "That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard."

It's always the Duke3D sound test for me. Bowling pins falling down.