Nintendo Patents Handheld with Swappable Buttons

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Offline Phi

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on: May 08, 2014, 07:28:47 PM








Here's the patent.

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The patent (via NeoGAF) was filed in October of last year. It describes a game system similar in appearance to the 3DS, though it doesn't appear as a clamshell design in the illustrations. The figures show four slots, each of which supports the ability to slide buttons or other control configurations inside. Examples shown include swapping a directional pad for an analog stick, or switching a four-button face for a three-button face.

And you can read this thread for a summary of the system's functionality.



Offline Sakura Leic

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Reply #1 on: May 08, 2014, 07:35:55 PM
Very interesting idea, I like how they are using plates with the buttons on them instead of the buttons themselves like how I replaced the joy stick on my PSP, since the joystick was broken, but had to keep replacing it since those replacements kept breaking. 

I like the concept of it and will like to see the finish product.

Current playthrough: Chrono Trigger and God Eater Ressurection


Offline Protoman Blues

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Reply #2 on: May 08, 2014, 08:35:46 PM
Very curious. Although this could just be blueprints of something that will never come to fruition. But hey, you never know.



Offline Sakura Leic

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Reply #3 on: May 08, 2014, 08:38:42 PM
I don't know, they could be taking a note from the concept of modular phones like Phonebloks and Project Ara, but just with buttons.

Current playthrough: Chrono Trigger and God Eater Ressurection


Offline Protoman Blues

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Reply #4 on: May 08, 2014, 08:43:24 PM
Oh they definitely could be, no doubt about it. I'm just saying that they might never implement it.



Offline Sakura Leic

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Reply #5 on: May 08, 2014, 08:44:06 PM
That is true, we'll have to see.

Current playthrough: Chrono Trigger and God Eater Ressurection


Offline Pyro

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Reply #6 on: May 08, 2014, 09:44:27 PM
If they plan on using it, I imagine it will not be for another few years as the 3DS is not that old and I imagine Nintendo wants to get some more mileage out of it.

Conversely, it did not take them long to jump from the GBA to the DS.

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