Nintendo Phone (?)

[Bahamut]

http://www.t3.co.uk/news/247/games/gamecube/wii-phone_incoming

(Supposed) pic from the patent:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v480/jjmahoney/nintendophone.jpg

So...anyone know the patent in question referred to? This does sound a little interesting if true though.

[Guy In Rubber Suit]

That mock up certainly isn't as sexy as the iPhone. Shame too.

[Bahamut]

Well, the mockups for patents are only there for legalistic reasons - they're usually far from the actual look of the device.

[anthonium]

I wish it resembled the wiimote instead but an interesting idea nonetheless.

[linkspast]

Well, the mockups for patents are only there for legalistic reasons - they're usually far from the actual look of the device.

Yeah but still It looks awful I remember seeing some Mock ups for the wiimote and some of them were rather nice.

[Arek the Absolute]

ring ring ring ring ring ring ring
nintendo phone
*coin sounds instead of do doo do do do do *

Seriously though, I wonder which phone service they would give this phone to.

[CE]

This flatout spells fake.

[Smoke]

It looks rather large with a tiny screen, and the external antenna makes it look old.

Would be better with internal antenna and slide-out numberpad, as well as a bigger screen.

EDIT: appears that the patent is from 2001:

http://www.nintendowiifanboy.com/2007/02/07/nintendo-thought-about-going-into-the-cell-phone-business/

[Ab56 v2 aka Ash]

At least we know it'll be durable.

[!Nekko!]

Thats really tall if it doesn't fold. Needs more horizontal N-gage awesomeness.
I kid, I kid.

[watkinzez]

What's the bet that Nintendo were going to use some sort of friend code system for this phone? Both people have to be 'online' for a call to take place, and say goodbye to using the phone directory.

[G_D]

In response to Smoke:

The patent was applied for in 2001. It was received in June 2006.

Also, I'm not soon going back on my prior decision that cellphones and video games don't mix.

[Antipode]

I wish it resembled the wiimote instead but an interesting idea nonetheless.

Didn't you click the link? The mockup they provide looks a lot like a wiimote to me...

http://www.t3.co.uk/__data/assets/fp_auto_layout_image/711945/varieties/4.jpg

And heh, if I had to choose between this and an iPhone I'd probably take this, depending on specs...if I want a cell phone, I wouldn't care about a touch screen or web browsing or ipod capabilities. But I wouldn't mind a random mario game on it. And wii connectability would certainly be interesting.

By the way, I don't think this is ever going to happen. Doesn't sound at all like something nintendo would have in mind.

[Czar Diego]

Didn't you click the link? The mockup they provide looks a lot like a wiimote to me...

http://www.t3.co.uk/__data/assets/fp_auto_layout_image/711945/varieties/4.jpg

And heh, if I had to choose between this and an iPhone I'd probably take this, depending on specs...if I want a cell phone, I wouldn't care about a touch screen or web browsing or ipod capabilities. But I wouldn't mind a random mario game on it. And wii connectability would certainly be interesting.

By the way, I don't think this is ever going to happen. Doesn't sound at all like something nintendo would have in mind.
That's most definitely fake.

[Penfold]

That's most definitely fake.

lol, hence "mockup."

[SosusOCR]

Wow, that would have been a great phone if it was made in the early to mid 90's. I mean I like playing games with my Wiimote but holding it to my head and having a conversation on it... It'd look even dumber than when I play Warioware in front of family and friends.

[Soma]

i'd buy a nintendo phone, but i wouldn't buy a nintendo phone that looked like that. I'm sure if they put some actual effort into it, that it would turn out pretty sweet. Though i'll say this' i don't think the world needs a nintendo phone. I'd buy an xbox phone maybe, just because of the "live anywhere" stuff. But i barely play my xbox. If nintendo had some cool online service with the wii, and maybe i could take my VC games on the go (maybe just a port for the Classic controller, haha that would be akward as hell.) it would be pretty gnarly.

[G_D]

And heh, if I had to choose between this and an iPhone I'd probably take this, depending on specs...if I want a cell phone, I wouldn't care about a touch screen or web browsing or ipod capabilities.

Well, at least it wouldn't be $600 if Nintendo made it :p

[linkspast]

Well, at least it wouldn't be $600 if Nintendo made it :p

Yeah come on 600 for a phone. and people were getting all pissy about the ps3`s price.

[Guy In Rubber Suit]

The only way I'd really buy this is if it took GBA carts. Because I really wouldn't want to have to pay download games I already own. It'd be very convient to have a cellphone and GameBoy in one, but I'd like to put in my own games that I own.

[Arek the Absolute]

nin-gage lol

[Specter]

After the N-Gage, I don't think Nintendo would be stupid enough to release a gaming phone. Of course, they do have enough mindless fanboys who will buy anything with the company's name on it. Even the iPhone is a more reasonable idea, and that isn't going to be nearly as successful as everyone thinks it's going to be. The only way Nintendo could pull a phone off is if they: a) made it compatible with GBA games, b) made it cheap and, c) had a good/slick design.

[BabyfaceGlasses]

You know...I really wanted to like the N-gage, but poor design and horrible games is what really killed it. Not so much the idea of it. Nintendo could pull it off.

[Antipode]

The only way I'd really buy this is if it took GBA carts. Because I really wouldn't want to have to pay download games I already own. It'd be very convient to have a cellphone and GameBoy in one, but I'd like to put in my own games that I own.

But it WOULD be cool to play virtual console games on it!
But only if it was under $150.

And if you're thinking of the N-Gage as an example, I'd mention the comparison of the Game.com and the DS. Both were online capable, touchscreen handhelds. Yet the Game.com was a miserable failure and the DS is the #1 handheld currently on the market. I think they could pull off a Nin-Gage if they did it right.

[Zero_Infiniti]

isn't it a little early for april fool's day? or maybe someone's just dug up an ancient one...

[megadave]

Cool, but I've already 'Nintendized' my phone pretty well.

[Screaming Cucumber]

Inbound 4chan material, though not entirely irrelevant:

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b322/Yurple/Bongophone.jpg

[Hector]

Lets not joke too much about a Nintendo-phone yet. Though not expected from Nintendo, it would be a very smart move in the near future. Cell phones are already merging with a wide variety of other portably technologies (even credit cards), especially in Nintendo's native Japan. Most likely Nintendo is debating about when it would be the ideal time rather than if they should do it (kind of like their online plan). Also, it would be a great way to prop up the GBA brand if they base it off of that--though the GBA slots would be rather bulky for a cell and the cell-phone market is based off of downloadable content. If Nintendo launched it at this juncture, it would most likely a Nintendo-phone would evolve as an extension of the Wii, being able to download games from the wii-console to play on the way.

Of course, there is also the chance that Nintendo would half-ass it and sell the license to another company to produce. Which would likely result in it being swept under the carpet.

[RealFolkBlues]

Holy crap, I just thought of something that is either brilliant or retarded. A NinGage that would integrate with the Wii, particularly for mobile titles or vice versa. Imagine playing a game, possibly on the Nintendo network, then receiving a call as part of the gameplay. I dunno, I at least see some minigame potential here. Hmm.