Rumor: Sharp Corporation providing Nintendo with Free-Form Display

A report coming from Sankei indicates that Sharp Corporation is to provide Nintendo with a special Free-Form Display.

[Reeze]

This could turn out to be very cool!

[marloc_x]

A gamepad with thumbsticks and buttons poking through the display.

Lol..not a bad idea, would be a large display!

[N4g_null]

http://www.digitaltrends.co...

Very cool stuff! This can be used for transistors also. A %40 yeild! Or boost in power! Wow.

So they could make a new game pad out of this and possibly add this to chips. Oh a it uses less power! Slim gamepad and console shrink coming?

Very cool stuff. Nice partnership also.

[superchiller]

YAY! More gimmicks from the Big N!

[Dubaman]

Any feature a games console possesses, which is not required to play the actual games, is a gimmick. Like playing Blu-rays, streaming Netflix, streaming gameplay, having an internet browser, having a blue light on the back of the controller or even something as simple as Force Feedback. All "gimmicks"

A gimmick is there to make the product stand out and differentiate its self from the competition. Don't worry though, whatever it is i'm sure it will be ridiculed by its competitors and their "fan" bases, but will then be haphazardly incorporated in their next hardware's. All the while acting as though it's an original idea and applauded by their loyal "fans". Like, the SixAxis, PSMove and Off-TV Play.

[LOL_WUT]

Yes, but when it compromises the hardware specs then it's a cause for concern as games get more demanding. You'll practically be alienating any future 3rd party support as is the case now.

But like everyone else i'm looking forward to what this partnership may bring ;)

[Dubaman]

@LOL_WUT
"but when it compromises the hardware specs then it's a cause for concern as games get more demanding."

Where does it say any of that?

This is merely a new type of screen which will be used to display the game. Also, these type of screens are more efficient and require less power to run than a standard screen. Thus freeing up resources for the hardware, giving higher performance for less power and in a smaller form factor.
How exactly will this alienate third party support? You're trying really hard to find faults in something you nor anyone else outside of Nintendo and Sharp, know anything about or how it will be applied in reality.

[LOL_WUT]

@Dubaman I was referring to your comment about Blu-Rays, streaming media, internet browser etc. all being gimmicks. The difference between that and lets say the gamepad is that the latter took away from the actual hardware hence my original comment. I mean did it really warrant an explanation?

My concern is they'll be focusing on stuff that nobody REALLY wants and therefore they'll be in the same situation they're now which brings up superchiller's post. I'd rather they focus on their hardware first and foremost and leave the expensive peripherals ideas on the drawing board ;)

[Realplaya]

@LOL have you seen the 3rd party software offering for all consoles this GEN? Theres nothing to brag about hardware about.

[Dubaman]

@LOL_WUT

So, you think having the gamepad, essentially a standard controller but it has a touchscreen(as well as other useful features), takes away/limits the hardware? If third parties are somehow alienated by that then i think they should revisit why they hell they are in the games industry if a touch screen can flummox them.

So, in your head the situation goes like this:
Nintendo: "Hey developers, remember when you kept complaining about how the games industry is going stagnant and that it needs a shake up, so you can express your creative skills with minimal limitations? Here's the WiiU gamepad which will be a part of every system sold so you don't have to worry about convincing people to buy it separately or it limiting the hardware in anyway. Go nuts!"

Third party devs: "It's too hard. We feel as though we'd be much better off with Blu-Ray playback, media streaming and offering similar or the exact same experiences we always have."

"I'd rather they focus on their hardware first and foremost and leave the expensive peripherals ideas on the drawing board ;)"

Peripherals are hardware and the topic at hand is a new free form display, which will more than likely be an integral part of their next handheld and maybe home console. Its a screen which doesn't have the limitations of current tech, so consoles and controllers and be designed more freely, allowing for better/custom UI's and the user experience, while still offering something new yet familiar. It's Not just a tacked on peripheral which will gain a separate audience and consumer base from the main core console, thus alienating third parties and consumers alike. Something akin to the Project Morpheus, which will be limited by it's hardware, in terms of game play experiences delivered, quality of the visuals therein and more. Why don't Sony just save themselves a load of money and make it so you can just use an Oculus Rift with the PS4?

"I'd rather they focus on their hardware first and foremost"
I still have my original NES, SNES, Gamecube, Wii and WiiU and they are all in perfect working condition. As well as my GBA and GB pocket. How many other consoles manufacturers can say they build quality products which last the test of time? The only reason i have a X360 is because it's my brothers 3rd replacement and he gave it to me after he got the Halo Slim version a few Christmases back. There is nothing wrong with the actual hardware Nintendo puts out, especially when compared to what other's release. Though if you're talking in terms of "it needs more power to be relevant", then i challenge you to find any point in gaming history where the most powerful console of the generation was leading the industry in terms of game play experiences, user experiences and just by flat out being the better console, no questions asked. Can you do it? I doubt it.

[Swiftcricket]

Genuine question, why do you consider Blu-ray a gimmick? You said a gimmick was something not required to play the games, when the systems that have Blu-ray DO require it to play games. Unless you mean playing movies. But even then the tech is already in there and wasn't thrown in solely to add to the list of features. I agree with you other than that.

And I will give credit to Nintendo for fleshing out remote play, but the original idea really can't be credited to them. I think both Nintendo and Sony got some things right. Nintendo got it right by making it work well with what came with the console while adding an element to games. Sony did something nice by making it where you don't have to be in the same house, but it's not very feasible unless you actually want the expensive thing required to make use of it for the games it has.

I'm hoping whatever this technology is they're working on helps with the only problem I have with the Wii U. Even a simple game like Mario Kart 8, it's really fun but the really bad aliasing can be distracting with all the shimmering on some of the tracks. If this has anything to do with increasing performance while maintaining the gamepad for it's useful features (and a bit of a redesign, it's kind of uncomfortable) for the Wii U's successor that would be great. It's really depressing seeing Nintendo stumble so hard this time and I'd like to see them come back strong next outing.

[Dubaman]

@SwiftCricket
When i said by Blu-Ray playback it was with movies in mind. As you said, XOne and the PS4 do use Blu-Ray discs in order to play the games. The difference between the two is that in order to have movie playback you need certain licences and specific playback features. It's a feature which isn't entirely required for the games console to play games. So, thats what i meant by gimmick. However, the licencing fees to enable movie playback and for the use of the Blu-Ray disc it's self for playing games, are costs which will be passed on to the consumer. Now, that's a point which is irrelevant to my answer but i think it's a point that has it's own merits and is worth mentioning.
In comparison, Nintendo has a proprietary disc made by Panasonic who were one of the founders of the Blu-ray Disc Association. The group of companies dedicated to developing and promoting the Blu-ray Disc format. Nintendo's is essentially a BluRay but it doesn't infringe on any licenses or patents. That saves a huge amount of money and Iwata thankfully agree's:
"Wii U does not have DVD or Blu-ray playback capabilities. The reason for that is that we feel that enough people already have devices that are capable of playing DVDs and Blu-ray, such that it didn't warrant the cost involved to build that functionality into the Wii U console because of the patents related to those technologies."

@LOL_WUT
Once again, focussing on the hardware.

[EliteGameKnight]

I recall reading something from TV Tropes about Nintendo, let me see if I can find it. Ah! Morton's Fork, where something is either A or B, but both lead to a negative outcome for different reasons. The exact excerpt for Nintendo is as follows:

"Morton's Fork: Played with by the internet at large. If Nintendo releases their usual products, they're all kiddie stuff. If they go for darker, edgier content, they're seen as overstepping their comfort zone. If they appeal to the hardcore game, they're going for an audience they've lost. If they appeal to the casual gamer, they're ignoring the essential hardcore crowd."

I feel that this sums it up pretty well. no matter what they do, it will always be judged negatively. This of course applies to any prominent figure, Nintendo, Sony, Microsoft, Valve, EA, Ubisoft, Et Cetera, and isn't exclusive to games in any way

[Activemessiah]

I have no idea what i'm looking at...

[Reeze]

I read into it, and apparently these types of screens have always had to be rectangular in shape. Like TVs- the technology limits it so the screen has to continue BEYOND what you can see just to function.

This technology allows these screens to be any shape they want as long as one side is straight. It also allows the edges to stop where you want them and not be hidden behind plastic. It could be huge, and it's great that Nintendo is taking advantage of it!

[Activemessiah]

Thanks +1

[Major_Bogart74]

Nintendos infatuation with stupid crappy controller designs continue.

[SteamPowered]

That looks patently ridiculous. Nintendo needs to go back to a regular console with a regular controller. Fashion the console with a retro look in mind ie) Snes, Nes, N64, and give it some decent hardware. Leave the gimmicks and such behind. Nintendo thrives on nostalgia and I think that is a path they should stick to.

[AJBACK2FRAG]

Did you just call the N64 controller a regular controller?! That thing is the freakiest thing on Earth!

[SteamPowered]

Not N64 controller. A retro CONSOLE. The WiiU is very small and dainty. I think Nintendo can pack a lot of hardware in a bigger case.

[truechainz]

All this technology does is provide other forms of displays. So if it means that much to you that displays be rectangles then you are going to have a hard time adjusting to anything in the future my friend. Not to mention that this isn't even for sure set for consoles as it could be QOL. You are on the gimmick bandwagon, and that will get you left behind in any tech industry, let alone gaming.

[C_Ali88]

Nobody said this was a controller or gimmick its a screen and for all we know ( WHICH IS NOTHING) it can be a QoL device.... Gamers are such whiners how about shutting up and waiting.. yeah? yeah?

https://www.youtube.com/wat...

https://www.youtube.com/wat...

Free form meaning its not constricted to being a box!! Not that it will essentially have holes, comprehend before commenting.

[canek]

C-Ali88 I agree with you!

[Agent_hitman]

Maybe Nintendo will use it for the next gen handheld which is the 3DS's successor.

[CaptainN]

All of you people commenting about how this is going to be stupid if its put into a console or portable really dont pay much attention to Nintendo at all ! This technology is most likely for their Quality of Life products coming out in 2015-2016...not videogame stuff...so many haters and complainers, just go away already!!