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Nintendo patents inflatable horseback riding peripheral

Japanese publisher details vibrating, air-filled cushion that would let gamers use Wii Remote, Nunchuk as reins.

Nintendo's prime directive for this current console generation has been to broaden the ways in which Wii owners interact with their games. Beginning with the motion-sensing Wii Remote and Nunchuk, the Japanese company has since introduced a Balance Board, which has taken on the functionality of anything from a bathroom scale to a pair of skis, and a Vitality Sensor, which Nintendo announced at the 2009 Electronic Entertainment Expo.

An artist's representation of the device.

An artist's representation of the device.

All that's fine and well for getting gamers to interact with their Wii in different ways, but as noted by Nintendo in a patent filing with the European Patent Office spotted by gaming site Siliconera, sometimes people just need to get on their horses and ride. Bemoaning the fact that most horse-riding simulations are often monstrous contraptions, Nintendo states that: "It would be desirable to provide an inexpensive, convenient way to realistically simulate, in the home, riding on horseback or on other animals."

As outlined in Nintendo's patent filing, said device involves attaching motion-sensing controllers to an inflatable cushion or other sitting device. Giving the example of the Wii Remote and Nunchuk, Nintendo states that the accelerometers on the controllers would be able to sense a gamer's motion as he or she bounces on an inflatable cushion. In response, the game being played on the Wii would respond accordingly, mimicking the motion of a player riding an animal in-game.

Here's how the cushion might work.

Here's how the cushion might work.

Force feedback could also be incorporated into the device. Nintendo notes that the electronic, inflatable cushion could be outfitted with haptic feedback transmitters, which would vibrate in response to occurrences within the game. Taking it one step further, the patent also details a way in which the game could jostle the rider around to mimic a bumpy in-game ride.

Nintendo's horseback riding simulator patent was initially filed with the European Patent Office on January 15, 2009, and was published on the organization's Web site in late July.

729 Comments

  • snakes3425

    Posted Sep 20, 2009 7:33 pm GMT

    I have to say that it's more fun, and less embarrasing, to ride horses for real

  • Zappykins

    Posted Aug 18, 2009 12:08 pm GMT

    I guess I'm one of the few that thinks Wii is bringing us closer to virtual reality and the sort of 'holodecks' they had on Next Gen Star Trek.

    So I think this could be interesting.

  • TheSergeant

    Posted Aug 14, 2009 9:36 am GMT

    Oh man, I love the Wii as a family console but this is just too funny. It makes a strange bit of sense though.

    The Wii started off with a name that evoked phallic images, then we had to start wrapping the wiimotes in rubber to "protect them". This vibrating air bag is just the next logical step in the biggest penis joke of all time.

  • BaronSector

    Posted Aug 14, 2009 12:28 am GMT

    Interesting... Very Interesting...

  • supertegwyn

    Posted Aug 13, 2009 11:44 pm GMT

  • Fang_Wolf

    Posted Aug 13, 2009 5:04 pm GMT

    Never thought I would see the day Nintendo would go into the adult toy business...

  • invictuslemming

    Posted Aug 13, 2009 3:10 pm GMT

    XD

    Sounds like they're getting near the bottom of the suggestion box in the R&D department at the HQ

  • angelGP32

    Posted Aug 13, 2009 9:27 am GMT

    everything up to this point has just been updates to the same kind of crap already done. Wii-mote/power glove, Balance board/power pad. So instead of garbage like this, where's the upgrade to R.O.B. ? I'm sure it would end up like Skynet and ROBs would take over the planet, but hell, it's a lot better idea than this thing.

  • VexedLucifer

    Posted Aug 13, 2009 9:03 am GMT

    lolwut?

  • damonkeypirate

    Posted Aug 13, 2009 7:56 am GMT

    HA!

    Wii= $250

    Wii + All Accessories= Life Savings

  • HappyBB

    Posted Aug 13, 2009 2:52 am GMT

    Ha! Nintendo can't make money from software. So instead, it turns to hardware. I am sure to fully enjoy Wii in the near future, gamers will need to shell out more money than a high-end PS3!! Wii then becomes the most expensive system in the market and people will probably not even realize that and continue to be ripped off by Nintendo!!

  • DAAVV-O

    Posted Aug 13, 2009 1:31 am GMT

    @YoungFang:

    I second that motion.

  • lostn

    Posted Aug 13, 2009 1:31 am GMT

    Wii Horse TBA 2010.

  • YoungFang

    Posted Aug 13, 2009 12:43 am GMT

    *facepalm*

  • firehawk998

    Posted Aug 12, 2009 11:28 pm GMT

    Nintendo usually creates games these days to for the whole family. This peripheral is made to create families. ( if you know what I mean).

  • Glade_Gnarr

    Posted Aug 12, 2009 11:17 pm GMT

    Why does Nintendo keep patenting all this crap?

  • Jedilink109

    Posted Aug 12, 2009 10:15 pm GMT

    Haha, they'll probably have to make it extra hefty for us fat Americans...not that I'm one of them though. Haha. They had to do that with the Balance Board after all.

  • Jedilink109

    Posted Aug 12, 2009 10:11 pm GMT

    What in the world would anyone use this for besides this one thing? I have a Wii and I like it, but this seems kinda silly...

  • Madrak_Arakeen

    Posted Aug 12, 2009 10:04 pm GMT

    Somehow, I think this is an example of trying too hard. Sounds fun in premise. In practice however, I can see a lot of these coming back to the factory after being popped like bad exercise balls.

    This is one of few times I find myself agreeing with the haters. Time to get R&D working on games instead of more hare-brained schemes.

  • 1FedUpGamer

    Posted Aug 12, 2009 6:59 pm GMT

    "It would be desirable to provide an inexpensive, convenient way to realistically simulate, in the home, riding on horseback or on other animals."

    Realistic? I doubt riding a horse is going to be like sitting on a vibrating bean bag. I hate to say this but even though this is the one of the dumbest gaming peripherals ever, you know this is going to sell millions at Christmas.

  • iucidium

    Posted Aug 12, 2009 6:59 pm GMT

    The crumbling japanese economy has sent them mad, mad I tell you! Tbh, zaphod_b hit the nail on the head... Miyamoto and co might be doing the same, with a plastic bag over theirs

  • thingta42

    Posted Aug 12, 2009 5:58 pm GMT

    I got a better idea.. Why not make a peripheral that acts like a Toliet and then use the Wii Remote as a peice of crap and There you go! you can Simulate going to the loo with the Nintendo Wii without having to go in real life... and ofc Bundle it with a game cos we all know that any game bundled with this sort of thing draws in all those casual gamers into buying it.

  • chorinator

    Posted Aug 12, 2009 5:24 pm GMT

    Behold mortals! Humanity Biggest Creation. The N-Sybian

  • fjjb

    Posted Aug 12, 2009 4:57 pm GMT

    o no this looks bad, do you know haw many things you cas simulate if this thing is hacked?(if you know what i mean) lol

  • hannify

    Posted Aug 12, 2009 4:01 pm GMT

    rider her [nintendo] like a pooony

  • gobbo00

    Posted Aug 12, 2009 3:50 pm GMT

    wow ever heard of a space hopper nintendo? if its anything like final furlong i would konk out and need defibing pass for me (must stop eating pork).

  • snake289

    Posted Aug 12, 2009 3:46 pm GMT

    Good job sell out Nintendo good job indeed ¬_¬

  • DaCostaRican

    Posted Aug 12, 2009 3:43 pm GMT

    sounds stupid!

  • auysal

    Posted Aug 12, 2009 3:13 pm GMT

    I hope they call it "Horse Feedback"...

  • slayersdeath200

    Posted Aug 12, 2009 2:23 pm GMT

    seriously what the hell are Nintendo thinking, If anyone actually thinks that this is a good idea then you need a slap with a wet fish

  • i_PWN_fanboys

    Posted Aug 12, 2009 2:08 pm GMT

    What is everyone talking about. This idea is a technological breakthrough that will revolutionize the gaming industry lol.

  • melty3219

    Posted Aug 12, 2009 2:00 pm GMT

    Nintendo have lost my respect now... no good games and lots of accessories and shovelware and now THIS!?

    screw you nintendo i will be much better off with a 360/PS3

  • Avenger1324

    Posted Aug 12, 2009 1:48 pm GMT

    so many opportunities for jokes and innuendo.

    This could prove to be just as popular as the vibrating Nimbus 2000 Harry Potter toy

  • phil_shampoo2k4

    Posted Aug 12, 2009 1:43 pm GMT

    Hummm... I wonder how the Nintendo fanboys will manage to actually find something to like with this thing. Nintendo are out of their goddamned mind!

  • cluelesspug

    Posted Aug 12, 2009 1:33 pm GMT

    What...the...hell?

  • AzelKosMos

    Posted Aug 12, 2009 1:30 pm GMT

    They have really lost the plot from my point of view...

  • enoslives7

    Posted Aug 12, 2009 1:21 pm GMT

    WTF?!?!? really.....WTF???

  • burnout_toreach

    Posted Aug 12, 2009 1:15 pm GMT

    maybe Nintendo can allow the bottom up and then you could take it camping with you and use it as a portable potty

    Or just think you could be playing your Wii and sitting on potty and never having to leave great job Nintendo!

  • Superdude475

    Posted Aug 12, 2009 1:13 pm GMT

    Just from reading the title, the first thing I uttered was "WTF?"

  • aura_enchanted

    Posted Aug 12, 2009 1:12 pm GMT

    nintendo just stop trying please.. like.. ive run out of things to say about how to express the stupidity of all this. GAME OVER DO NOT INSERT 3 CREDITS TO CONTINUE..YOU FAIL

  • burnout_toreach

    Posted Aug 12, 2009 1:09 pm GMT

    Just pathetic

  • JimmeyBurrows

    Posted Aug 12, 2009 1:04 pm GMT

    I hear women get certain pleasures out of horse riding, while men just get a sore ball bag... Clearly targeted at the women gamers... But will anyone actually buy it?
    reading through these comments the answer is clearly a big fat "no."

  • Dr_Corndog

    Posted Aug 12, 2009 12:56 pm GMT

    Day one buy!!! Well, maybe not...

  • MirageX13

    Posted Aug 12, 2009 12:54 pm GMT

    Hmm...It's still slightly less lame than the Wii Vitality Sensor.

  • 2bitSmOkEy

    Posted Aug 12, 2009 12:47 pm GMT

    fail

  • kamikaze_pigmy

    Posted Aug 12, 2009 12:46 pm GMT

    They've invented a vibrating cushion? Sounds cutting edge.

  • skullboy950

    Posted Aug 12, 2009 12:27 pm GMT

    What were they smoking when they crafted THIS abomination!?

  • iucidium

    Posted Aug 12, 2009 12:20 pm GMT

    @Zaphod_b: yep, guaranteed to be, maybe a wiimake of final furlong too

  • Rey_Sword

    Posted Aug 12, 2009 12:11 pm GMT

    lol lol lol lol lol lol lol

  • zaphod_b

    Posted Aug 12, 2009 12:10 pm GMT

    Give me a break. Why do I fear this will be part of the new Zelda game?

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