Nintendo 64DD patent drives Revolution rumours

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http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?section_name=dev&aid=4006

Nintendo 64DD patent drives Revolution rumours

Rob Fahey 16:29 18/08/2004
The Revolution will not be... um, patented.


A patent granted to Nintendo earlier this month, describing a device
that would add hard disc, online and TV functions to a console, has
sparked rumours about the company's plans - but is actually related
the ill-fated 64DD peripheral.

US patent 6,769,989, which was granted on the 3rd of August, refers to
a console add-on device which would modify an existing system to
include "additional communication and storage capability via a modem
and hard disk drive."

The system would also include a cable TV tuner, allowing a "picture in
picture" mode whereby users could play games while watching TV in a
smaller overlaid window, and the downloading of electronic program
guide information from the Internet.

Interestingly given Nintendo's stance on online services on its
current console, the GameCube, the patent also describes the device as
allowing the download of complete games from the Internet onto the
hard drive.

Naturally, given the timing, there has been intense speculation that
this patent might represent an inkling of the company's plans for the
so-called "Revolution" console, or more likely, a planned add-on for
the GameCube.

However, despite only being granted this month, the original patent
was actually filed back in 1999, and the picture attached to the
patent clearly displays a 64DD unit attached to an N64. The ill-fated
peripheral offered many of the functions described by the patent, but
was unpopular with consumers and was rapidly discontinued by Nintendo.

This isn't to say that some of that functionality won't make it into
Revolution, although in general Nintendo has aimed for pure game
devices rather than trying to compete with Sony's vision for building
a home media empire based on the PlayStation brand.
 
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radeonr520@yahoo.com (R500-- R520) wrote:
>http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?section_name=dev&aid=4006
>
>Nintendo 64DD patent drives Revolution rumours
>
>Rob Fahey 16:29 18/08/2004
>The Revolution will not be... um, patented.
>
>
>A patent granted to Nintendo earlier this month, describing a device
>that would add hard disc, online and TV functions to a console, has
>sparked rumours about the company's plans - but is actually related
>the ill-fated 64DD peripheral.
>
>US patent 6,769,989, which was granted on the 3rd of August, refers to
>a console add-on device which would modify an existing system to
>include "additional communication and storage capability via a modem
>and hard disk drive."
>
>The system would also include a cable TV tuner, allowing a "picture in
>picture" mode whereby users could play games while watching TV in a
>smaller overlaid window, and the downloading of electronic program
>guide information from the Internet.
>
>Interestingly given Nintendo's stance on online services on its
>current console, the GameCube, the patent also describes the device as
>allowing the download of complete games from the Internet onto the
>hard drive.
>
>Naturally, given the timing, there has been intense speculation that
>this patent might represent an inkling of the company's plans for the
>so-called "Revolution" console, or more likely, a planned add-on for
>the GameCube.
>
>However, despite only being granted this month, the original patent
>was actually filed back in 1999, and the picture attached to the
>patent clearly displays a 64DD unit attached to an N64. The ill-fated
>peripheral offered many of the functions described by the patent, but
>was unpopular with consumers and was rapidly discontinued by Nintendo.
>
>This isn't to say that some of that functionality won't make it into
>Revolution, although in general Nintendo has aimed for pure game
>devices rather than trying to compete with Sony's vision for building
>a home media empire based on the PlayStation brand.

Console owners won't go out and buy something like that, but they will
pay extra for it at the initial purchase and let it sway their decision
of what console to buy. Console addons are idiotic. They go against the
whole concept of a console.