What competitors have taken from Nintendo
Nintendo, for the most part, are the makers of “fun” and family oriented consoles, but did you know almost all of Nintendo’s successes and failures have been used after the fact?
We examine just what features were brought back to life due to Nintendo.
Wireless Controllers
Did you know Nintendo had made plans to release the original NES with wireless controllers? It was part of a HUD more computer for the day than video game console. The intent was to use infrared controllers, but the idea fell through in the final design.
Downloadable Content
Satellaview was a modem was attached directly below the Super Famicon of the day and was released in Japan. This peripheral was used for downloading uniquely designed games that were either remade NES/Famicon games aswell as the upload of gaming news. The original Famicon also had such a feature that allowed Nintendo news, jokes, and weather to be accessible.
Online Gaming
XBAND was another modem for the Super Famicon/SNES that allowed users to connect to the internet via dial up modem to battle it out against other players online. Although online gaming had been thought of for the original Famicon years earlier.
RANDnet was the service the N64DD included that allowed for online gaming and internet browsing. Mario Artist/mario Paint was the game most used for online play. The game included online contests, artist swaps and special events. There was also a monthly charge for the service.
The games that were to make use of the online service included Legend of Zelda:OoT, Super Mario 64, Final Fantasy VII, EarthBound 64 (turned into a GameBoy game), and a port of Unreal Tournament(cancelled).
Controller innovations
From the NES pad down to the Wii remote, Nintendo has made controller designs important for further generations. Controller ideas take from competitors include the D-pad, shoulder buttons, analog controls, motion controls, and rumble.
Voice Recognition
The VRU was a voice recognition peripheral that allowed you to talk with characters in Nintendo games. Although the peripheral only had 2 compatible games for it on the N64, it was still a great idea that never came into fruition.
Nes Slim looks a lot like the Wii, old design turned new?
PS3 looks a lot like the original Nes prototype?
This is just for fun, but it is interesting the similarities. Even the buttons are in the exact spot.
Nintendo didn’t pioneer the above features as much as some, but the thought that at one point Nintendo tried all of these is impressive, to bad Nintendo didn’t push all of these to the max. Imagine Nintendo then …
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