Nintendo console patent sparks rumors

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A recent patent filed by Nintendo has sparked a series of rumors that the company was reversing its position on "convergence"--the combination of game consoles with multimedia and online functionality. On August 3, the US Patent and Trademark Office approved patent #6,769,989. The abstract for the patent describes the device as "an existing video game system...modified to include additional communication and storage capability via a modem and hard disk drive." The hard drive "permits downloading from the Internet of entire games."

The device's communication system would be expanded with the "use of an expansion device coupled to a video game system port." This expansion would incorporate "a cable TV tuner" that would allow a user to "watch TV while viewing overlay information from the video game console." Users could also "receive a TV channel guide downloaded via the Internet, spot a program which the user desires to view and immediately access, via an IR input, the desired channel through the expansion device TV tuner." The machine would also let a user "watch TV while simultaneously logging onto the Internet." The abstract did not say whether or not the machine could record shows on its hard drive like Sony's PS2/PVR hybrid, the PSX.

Given the concrete proof of the machine's existence, theories quickly sprung up about what it could be. Some Nintendophiles pegged it as the vaunted Revolution, the next-generation console that will be unveiled at next year's E3. However, given that the patent is for "an existing video game system," a more reasonable theory was that it was a revamped, online-enabled GameCube with content-download capabilities reminiscent of Xbox Live.

However, all those theories are wrong. After acquiring a scan of the actual patent documents (pictured), GameSpot has learned the August 3, 2004, filing was merely for a supplementary patent to the 64DD, the online peripheral for the N64 console. The patent #6,769,989 was originally filed in April 1999, eight months before the 64DD's lackluster release. Shunned by consumers, it was discontinued, and its online support was shut down in March 2001. Nintendo reps contacted by GameSpot confirmed the patent was indeed for the 64DD and not for a new console.