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Nintendo Working On Football Controller

Siliconera found patent filings from Nintendo for a football controller addon that will work with the Wii. After tucking the Wii Remote into a lateral slot on the football, you slip your hand through a strap so that your fingers touch the Remote's buttons. Then you mimic running and throwing, which is interpreted by the accelerometer. 'The pitch angle and force of the throw determines the trajectory arc of the throw. Side to side motion determines the yaw angle. Pressing buttons on the Wii remote can adjust other options.' The device is described as 'squishy,' so your TV is probably safe, but I'd try it at a friend's house first.

8 of 123 comments (clear)

  1. As a european... by mikael_j · · Score: 5, Insightful

    As a european my first thought was "that sounds really dangerous", then I read the whole summary and realized that they were talking about what some people like to refer to as a "handegg" and not an actual football.

    /Mikael

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  2. slip your hand? by Punto · · Score: 5, Funny

    someone needs to let them know you're not supposed to touch the football with your hands

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  3. What's the point by Swizec · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Ok this is getting rather ridiculous. What's the point of having such a controller? If you're doing all that running around and stuff anyway, why not just go out and ... you know, do some actual sports?

    Why are they doing all of this and still leaving behind the single best application of the wiimote - swordfights. That's the only place where I can see a benefit from doing sports electronically since it's a lot friendlier to slash at your friends with an electronic sword rather than a real one.

    What's next? Everyone wears a Wiimote-shirt that can read smashing into other players so it can translate said readings into electronic caricatures of the game?

  4. Interesting patent, but... by raving+griff · · Score: 5, Interesting

    ...I'm not so sure this design will ever hit market. Nintendo's got a bit of a history for filing patents on applications of the Wii Remote and never following through with them.

  5. As an American... by RobotRunAmok · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I used to read European news sites and blogs, and wonder why they would write the word "football" when they meant "soccer." Then I reminded myself that I was reading a European news site or blog, and I would feel really, really foolish. But that was years ago, and I've become much more cosmopolitan now.

  6. Attention, non-Americans! by Megane · · Score: 4, Funny

    Please replace all references to "football" in the summary with "throwball".

    Thank you for your patience.

    Now a proper footy game for the Wii, that would be interesting. Maybe they could strap a Wiimote to each leg or something.

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  7. Wii Sports Resort - Swordplay by AlpineR · · Score: 4, Informative

    Why are they doing all of this and still leaving behind the single best application of the wiimote - swordfights.

    There's a popular new game called Wii Sports Resort that uses a position-sensitive controller add-on to simulate several sports. One of them is Swordplay. You can jab, slice, and block your friend or computer characters. There's even a Nerf sword you can stick the controller into if you want to feel a little more dorky.

  8. Re:What's funny here... by LanMan04 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Good thing Slashdot is a European site...oh wait.

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