komodo
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Joined: 16 May 2006
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Sat Jun 17, 2006 3:40 pm |
 Post subject: Nintendo planning Instant Messenger for Wii? |
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According to the latest United States patent (7056217) filed by Nintendo (planned six years ago) and is now published on June 6th, 2006 it states the following:
Title: Messaging service for video game systems with buddy list that displays game being played
Description: A messaging system includes a web server computer and at least two video game systems. Each game system is configured to connect to the web server computer via the Internet and to communicate status data indicative of an activity engaged in by a user thereof. The web server computer generates a session file indicative of user status and the status of each of two or persons on a buddy list of the user.
The messaging service client provides the user with an opportunity to create a user profile that is stored in the memory of network server…The user profile may contain any desired user-specific information including, but not limited to, an alias, first name, last name, gender, age, city, state, favorite game, favorite food, favorite sport, hobbies, recommended URL and notes…If desired, users may also be given an opportunity to indicate high scores and other accomplishments achieved on the game network or on stand-alone games. Users may also be provided with the capability of including in their profiles customized faces (images) made up of various user-selected features (e.g., a particular nose, mouth, mustache, etc.) in order to enhance the “persona” of the user. These customized faces may be included with messages. Users may even be provided with the capability of including in their profiles digital images of their own faces generated, for example, using a digital camera…
The messaging service client allows the user to create a list (”buddy list”) of other users (”buddies”) with whom he/she wishes to remain in contact…The connecting user and his/her buddies can then communicate with each other on an individual basis and private chat sessions can be set up. These chat sessions are typically text-based, but it also possible to set up voice over Internet sessions between two users…
Each of the game systems includes an input device(s) that is usable by a user to create messages. In the case of a game console, an on-screen keyboard may be used and the game controls are usable to select characters from the on-screen keyboard to create messages. In another implementation, a separate keyboard (not shown) may be connected to the game console. In still another implementation, the input device may be a microphone to enable voice over IP communications. Voice over IP may be implemented within the messaging service.
According to the patent the system will have a View Associate List, Block List, User Preferences, Profile, Access, Status, Rules list, Alerts and Autostart Alerts. It also speaks about the possibility of a portable game console to use this (DS + Wii? sounds mindblowing).
Although Nintendo has always had this planned it seems with the Wii this is now possible. Keep in mind a motion-sensing controller was always planned for the Gamecube long ago. But with these revelations of a possible keyboard, a headset, a ability to most likely use SD Cards to upload pictures and an amazing instant messenger system, it seems highly likely this will end up on the Wii. The Wii just gets better.
COMMENTS:
# Blue Phoenix Says:
June 6th, 2006 at 4:34 pm
That puts a smile on my face. With Xbox Live, you can play a single player game while you chat to your buddy, can’t you? Let’s just pretend that it is totally comfirmed that there will be a microphone in the Wiimote: If they had Voice Conversations during single player games using the Wiimote as a VoIP phone or whatever, it might not work because of the sound effects coming out of the Wiimote’s speaker, which I’m sure will be really important for some games. Solution: Wireless Bluetooth headset!
I’m sure I remember reading a story about the company that is supplying Nintendo with the Bluetooth technology and it said something about using any Bluetooth headsets that would usually be used for mobile/cellular phones could be used for the Wii.
Also, I remember reading somethig about a patent that Nintendo registered a while ago, which was somehting to do with voice recognition. I remember it said that as you speak, the words would appear on screen and it would have the ability to change the size and color of the words, depending on the tone and loudness of your voice.
It all starts fitting into place now doesn’t it?
Also, I’m loving all of these possible uses of Wii-DS connectivity.
# PsychoDuck Says:
June 6th, 2006 at 4:50 pm
@ Blue Phoenix:
Yeah, I remember that voice recognition thing, too! I wonder…
What would they call the instant messenger service? It they took the cue from AOL they could call it NIM!
The Duck Has Spoken.
# Blue Phoenix Says:
June 6th, 2006 at 5:11 pm
I wonder what they’re planning with the whole friend list thing. I remember (I remember a lot of things) I think it was one of the lead developers or Animal Crossing for Wii or something (at least I think it was Wii), anyway, he said they wou;d keep the same kind of friend code system for the Wii and you would probbaly have a different code for each game.
The way Nintendo seems to be actually going with the Wii’s profile thing is starting to look like they’re going to use something similar to the Xbox 360’s profile system, except you will design your own face (or even a celebrity or character’s face) so that in compatible games, such as Wii Sports, the character you play as will have the same face as your profile. I think it would be cool if small developers brought released small games with simple graphics, like the games found in Wii Sports and it would be cool if these games used your profile’s face. These games woul be released on the Virtual Console of course.
I think what they’re going to do with the whole friend code thing is (as somone in a forum suggested) have a small amount of memory in each controller. This memory would be used to store profiles and friend codes and stuff. I can’t remember if it was Miyamoto or Iwata but one of them said they would like everyone to have their own Wiimote. Imagine everyone in your family or each oerson you live with having their own Wiimote with their own profile on it.
If the Wii was used as a VoIP phone, using WiiConnect24, I guess while your Wii was sleeping or whatever but of course still connected ot the internet, your friend could call you and a ring tone (you could select any music track stored on your Wii to be your ring tone) would be streamed to your controller through Bluetooth so the controller’s memory doesn’t need to be used up to store ring tones and stuff, which means the memory wouldn’t need to be a lot. When your friend calls you, he/she could even schoose which controller to call or choose to call all of the controller that are connected to your Wii so make sure you get the call. The Wii could even have it’s own answer machine thing so your friend could leave a message and when you next look at your Wii, the light will be pulsing to say you have a voice message stored in your Wii, waiting for you to listen to it.
These are just a few possibilities for using the Wii’s features. If the Wiimote has a microphone in it, you’ll be able to call your friends without even turning your Wii on!!!!
If Nintendo don’t include any of these features, I’m not even joking, I will cry. Ok I guess playing any of the super games that are coming to the Wii will cheer me up so I probably won’t cry, but I’ll still be quite upset.
# Adam Says:
June 6th, 2006 at 5:19 pm
This is cool and all, but I don’t see a point.
# Blue Phoenix Says:
June 6th, 2006 at 5:27 pm
At first it doesn’t seem that good because the Xbox 360 can do the same thing and the PS3 almost certainly will but as you can see above, when I got a bit carried away, the Wiimote’s speaker and possibly microphone just gives it that edge over the X360 and PS3 with the VoIP because you could actually hold the controller the same way you would hold a phone or use any old Bluetooth headset (which the PS3 could probabaly do if they wanted to).
The cool thing about all of the stuff being connected to the Internet is that even if some of these features aren’t included out of the box on the day it comes out, there is deffinately the possibility of including these features later with a software update. Another cool thing is that you wouldn’t even need to have access to the internet to update your system because the updates could be included with new games (as done with the PSP)
Damn! I was trying to write just one paragraph!
# CrazyForSw Says:
June 6th, 2006 at 5:47 pm
In reply to Blue Phoenix:
“…Let’s just pretend that it is totally comfirmed that there will be a microphone in the Wiimote: If they had Voice Conversations during single player games using the Wiimote as a VoIP phone or whatever, it might not work because of the sound effects coming out of the Wiimote’s speaker, which I’m sure will be really important for some games. Solution: Wireless Bluetooth headset!”
That’s not entirely correct. The purpose of the speaker is for small sound effects (the sound of a bow, gun, etc.) not for main game effects. Now, say you’re in a war, talking on the radio to your team. Would’nt they be able to hear the sound of your gun, let alone the sound of fighting. Leaving it would be allowing it to be more real, not easy. Well, I’d like that sort of thing.
I also like your idea of the profiles being stored in the contollers, that’s really creative. But, with this whole Connet24 thing, it would assumably be easier to just access them online via username/password.
Now, the calling individual contollers is an insanely good idea. I haven’t heard that yet, but I really like it. The only thing is, Nintendo is creating a video gaming system, not a phone. Still a great idea, though.
# Go Nintendo » Blog Archive » *RUMOR* Wii messaging service planned?- What are you waiting for? Says:
June 6th, 2006 at 6:25 pm
[…] Click here to view the patent Link […]
# Ndoki Says:
June 6th, 2006 at 7:47 pm
That sounds awesome.
# Dylan Yetter Says:
June 6th, 2006 at 7:51 pm
If this turns out to be true, which it seems it will being that Nintendo is pushing communication and acceptance of non-gamers in the community, then the Wii WILL become the console to get, whether it be by itself, with PS3, or with 360.
# Lotus Says:
June 7th, 2006 at 12:13 am
awesome… this may very well be the edge Nintendo needs for online gaming. still don’t like the friend code idea. but i’ll roll with it.
# Mr. Punch Says:
June 7th, 2006 at 12:41 am
Nintendo continues to copy the 360 and call it innovation. First came the innovative online marketplace, now the oh so innovative instant messenger. What will they think of next?
# Blistering_thumbs Says:
June 7th, 2006 at 2:05 am
sure, this SOUNDS great, but i bet there is gonna be a crapload of child molesters and stuff.
# hmm Says:
June 7th, 2006 at 3:09 am
whether they add this functionality to the Wii or not, the fact that they are patenting this is very questionable.
This kind of functionality has been around for quite some time - and by patenting it, it would look like they are hoping to pretend that they ‘invented’ this concept.
By recieving the patent, they would be in the position to prevent ANY other game, whether console, PC or otherwise, from having any kind of friends list or instant messaging component to it.
I don’t see how everyone can be so eager to support a company patenting such blatantly obvious things. The FEATURE is a good thing, the fact that Nintendo is PATENTING it, is a very bad thing.
Then again, they are playing by the US patent system’s rules - which are completely broken, so it is more a case of Nintendo ‘pwning’ the US gaming market in this regard.
# Bio Says:
June 7th, 2006 at 6:10 am
I think it would be sweet if the wiimote had a headphones jack on it.
# katelin Says:
June 16th, 2006 at 7:02 pm
 i think uit would be really cool! because everyone could talk about what games they are playing and which ones is good to buy.I hope they will make this messenger soon!
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