Revealed: Nintendo Planning Game Boy Emulation for PDA and Mobile Phones!
Patent specifics show incredible strategy shift.
In an application filed to the United States Patent Office, Nintendo has revealed plans to begin a Game Boy emulation program across the globe. It would appear that a full library of Game Boy software is set to run on home computers using a Nintendo in-house emulator.
The patent reads, "Personal computers have also proliferated throughout the world and are now available at relatively low cost. A trend has shifted some entertainment from the home television set to the home personal computer, where children and adults can view interesting web pages and play downloaded video games and other applications. In some circumstances, it may be desirable to allow users to play Game Boy video games on their home personal computers."
Although this is not absolute clarification of any such plans, the wording used throughout US Patent No. 6672963 does seem to indicate that the Game Boy’s range of software is to be further exploited by way of emulation.
Another excerpt reads, "...there may be situations in which it would be desirable to play or use applications developed for Game Boy on other platforms. For example, an airline, train or other vehicle passenger might want to play video games during a long journey."
The possibility of official PDA and mobile phone emulators is specifically mentioned too: "A wide variety of so-called personal digital assistants (PDAs) have become available in recent years. Mobile cellular telephones are also becoming increasingly computationally-intensive and have better displays so they can access the World Wide Web and perform a variety of downloaded applications. In some circumstances, it may be desirable to enable people to play Game Boy videogames and other Game Boy applications on a personal digital assistant, cellular telephone or other such device."
Very interesting news, we reckon. We’ll bring you full updates on the progress of all this, as it develops.
The patent reads, "Personal computers have also proliferated throughout the world and are now available at relatively low cost. A trend has shifted some entertainment from the home television set to the home personal computer, where children and adults can view interesting web pages and play downloaded video games and other applications. In some circumstances, it may be desirable to allow users to play Game Boy video games on their home personal computers."
Although this is not absolute clarification of any such plans, the wording used throughout US Patent No. 6672963 does seem to indicate that the Game Boy’s range of software is to be further exploited by way of emulation.
Another excerpt reads, "...there may be situations in which it would be desirable to play or use applications developed for Game Boy on other platforms. For example, an airline, train or other vehicle passenger might want to play video games during a long journey."
The possibility of official PDA and mobile phone emulators is specifically mentioned too: "A wide variety of so-called personal digital assistants (PDAs) have become available in recent years. Mobile cellular telephones are also becoming increasingly computationally-intensive and have better displays so they can access the World Wide Web and perform a variety of downloaded applications. In some circumstances, it may be desirable to enable people to play Game Boy videogames and other Game Boy applications on a personal digital assistant, cellular telephone or other such device."
Very interesting news, we reckon. We’ll bring you full updates on the progress of all this, as it develops.
Companies:
Nintendo
Read More Like This
Comments
lozbag 12 Mar 2004 13:47
1/6
Thats it then. Nintendo are now third / second party publishers. I never thought I'd see the day.
ku16610 12 Mar 2004 16:17
2/6
www.retrogames.com
Nintendo are using this patent to sue Emulator authors not to make thier own emulator , anyone who thinks otherwise is nieve to say the least.
Nintendo are using this patent to sue Emulator authors not to make thier own emulator , anyone who thinks otherwise is nieve to say the least.
more comments below our sponsor's message
SPInGSPOnG 12 Mar 2004 17:20
3/6
ku16610 wrote:
>Nintendo are using this patent to sue Emulator
>authors not to make thier own emulator , anyone
>who thinks otherwise is nieve to say the least.
Dude, the fact that they are using the patent to sue the creators of other emulators does not prove, in any way that they are not producing their own emulator.
With most phones and PDAs having more power than a GameBoy, it would be a logical step.
No-one wants to be carrying (more than) a handful of of different mobile "devices". We want just one thing that does everything - Quad-band 3G Phone, Address Book, Camera, PDA, Game Boy Advance, AAC Player, MP4 movie player, video camera, Swiss army knife, unversal translator, tricorder and taser. We want it to be no bigger than a credit card, but not as thick, but with a screen the size of the side of a barn. We want reasonable battery life - 2 weeks on standby, and 4 days in continuous operation.
I think that Nintendo's recent(ish) patent shows that they are cognizant of these desires, and they working towards achieving them. Nintendo clearly want to be at the forefront of palm-top entertainment, in a platform independant manner.
>Nintendo are using this patent to sue Emulator
>authors not to make thier own emulator , anyone
>who thinks otherwise is nieve to say the least.
Dude, the fact that they are using the patent to sue the creators of other emulators does not prove, in any way that they are not producing their own emulator.
With most phones and PDAs having more power than a GameBoy, it would be a logical step.
No-one wants to be carrying (more than) a handful of of different mobile "devices". We want just one thing that does everything - Quad-band 3G Phone, Address Book, Camera, PDA, Game Boy Advance, AAC Player, MP4 movie player, video camera, Swiss army knife, unversal translator, tricorder and taser. We want it to be no bigger than a credit card, but not as thick, but with a screen the size of the side of a barn. We want reasonable battery life - 2 weeks on standby, and 4 days in continuous operation.
I think that Nintendo's recent(ish) patent shows that they are cognizant of these desires, and they working towards achieving them. Nintendo clearly want to be at the forefront of palm-top entertainment, in a platform independant manner.
Joji 12 Mar 2004 17:20
4/6
I wonder which Gameboy they'll be emulating since there has been a few models. I'd be surprised if it was GBA games, I'd say most likely Gameboy Colour. Download from a Nintendo server for a fee. A good idea and money could be made if it works. Problem is with mobile phones being able to access the internet on the fly, it might be possible to get other games on your mobile for nowt. What a result if you could get a nice free Megadrive emu and game for your Nokia 7600. Streets of Rage 2....cool.
SPInGSPOnG 12 Mar 2004 18:16
5/6
Joji wrote:
>What a result if you could get a nice free
>Megadrive emu and game for your Nokia 7600.
>Streets of Rage 2....cool.
Dude, how did you know I had a Nokia 7600?. It only arrived yesterday. That's amazing, and a little bit scary
Are you spying on me?
>What a result if you could get a nice free
>Megadrive emu and game for your Nokia 7600.
>Streets of Rage 2....cool.
Dude, how did you know I had a Nokia 7600?. It only arrived yesterday. That's amazing, and a little bit scary
Are you spying on me?
map4000 12 Apr 2004 21:38
6/6
there are already free-illegal emulators and roms in the net but it will be nice to have them on the cellphone or palm