Another new Nintendo patent has popped up, and it just may alleviate any worries you had about their next system.
The patent is for a supplemental computing device for a game console. The way it works, is it uses cloud computing to offset certain computing tasks. This includes speed, processing, storage, viewing pics, playing video, and more.
This seems like an interesting way to increase power for consoles. Nintendo can set a lower baseline for games that they can use, but provide power to make third parties interested. Nintendo can also sell this device separately from the console, so that they can keep targeting lower income markets.
But, it gets better. The patent also says the device can track your time spent using the device, and reward you points for doing so. These points could then be used to compensate players as in-store credit, digital tokens (like Facebook badges), game discounts, game content unlocks, and more.
Finally, as you may have hoped, it will allow you to daisy chain these devices onto the console to ramp up power even more. In essence, if this product comes to market, it will have the modularity of a gaming PC.
Nintendo has had cloud computing in mind for quite some time already. We know from this Iwata Asks in 2013 that their French developer, NERD (Nintendo European Research and Development SAS), has been working on cloud computing and GPU technology. The late Nintendo president, Satoru Iwata, himself stated his concerns with cloud gaming mostly involved latency. It seems, with this device, they have sought out answers to those concerns, with the help of NERD.
How do you feel about the news regarding this patent? Are you hopeful this will come to the NX? Share your thoughts with us in the comments.
