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[Buggy Loop]

The OG thread on Neogaf on this patent focused, as many of the articles/youtubers back then, on the hall magnetic effect. Peoples stopped at HE sticks, bye bye drift! Hooray !

Or not?

The Patent in question

That patent is MUCH MORE than that. I'm surprised to not have seen this discussed here, but god help me, the search engine might have failed me.

It's also a force feedback system that influences directly the analog stick.

HOW?

Well it's a magneto rheological fluid contained inside.



Coils that have a wide range of oscillations, up to 200Hz, voltage controlled creates the magnetic field in. That magnetic field changes the viscosity of the fluid. X & Y Axis are independent from each others magnetically.

Some description in the patent will convince you that its for force feedback

The viscosity can become so thick that a joystick will not recenter by itself or require force.

Or even to make a state which the stick can be moved ONLY in X axis direction

By playing on X & Y fields at maybe different oscillations and viscosity controls, it gives the analog stick a feedback and as they put it "feelings". Corresponding to the scene.

Moving objects in the world could give that feedback, of course everything is programmable but here I can't help but think about Zelda BOTW or TOTK where sheikah abilities of moving things in the world. Blocks getting resistance when hitting an object, you would have trouble moving the stick or if it's in a different medium, like a block underwater, a block in snow, something with friction to the ground, etc. Imagine your character stuck in the mud, with a lot of resistance to movement?

Again... it can stay a patent forever, but if implemented

 

[kevboard]

a force feedback stick was already rumoured back when the Switch 1 leaks started.
what I gotta say tho, is that every mockup shown so far had weird looking sticks... could be just down to the mockups tho

 

[calistan]

That sounds cool but not the sort of tech I'd expect Nintendo to be using in a tiny thumbstick. Maybe in a high-end flight sim stick or something like that. Also, don't MR fluids deteriorate? The higher the performance (speed and strength of activation) the faster they begin to suffer from sedimentation and become less effective.

 

[Buggy Loop]

That sounds cool but not the sort of tech I'd expect Nintendo to be using in a tiny thumbstick. Maybe in a high-end flight sim stick or something like that. Also, don't MR fluids deteriorate? The higher the performance (speed and strength of activation) the faster they begin to suffer from sedimentation and become less effective.

From reports on knee joint with actuators that support human body shocks to ground it lasts 1 million cycles. But they see way high Nm of torque and energy fields than a joycon would ever see. There's also MRFs now with high stability with all kinds of recipes.

a force feedback stick was already rumoured back when the Switch 1 leaks started.
what I gotta say tho, is that every mockup shown so far had weird looking sticks... could be just down to the mockups tho

I don't remember those rumours on Switch 1 ? Cool if so. Maybe an older patent.

This one was filled in May 11, 2023.

 

[calistan]

From reports on knee joint with actuators that support human body shocks to ground it lasts 1 million cycles. But they see way high Nm of torque and energy fields than a joycon would ever see. There's also MRFs now with high stability with all kinds of recipes.

It would certainly make for a cool gimmick if it’s possible! I’d love for the new console to be something other than the Switch Pro we seem most likely to be getting.

I don’t see how it fits with Nintendo’s policy of repurposing cheap old tech though (or what it would do for the joycon’s battery life).

 

[kevboard]

I don't remember those rumours on Switch 1 ? Cool if so. Maybe an older patent.

This one was filled in May 11, 2023.

yeah, the specific example that I remember was given is if you run against a wall, the stick will push against you.
this was around the same time where the rumour about scroll wheel L and R buttons was floating around.

lot's of crazy stuff was rumoured ahead of the NX reveal lol

 

[rabbity-thing]

I suppose it'll be neat to actually FEEL the drift this time around.

 

[Buggy Loop]

It would certainly make for a cool gimmick if it’s possible! I’d love for the new console to be something other than the Switch Pro we seem most likely to be getting.

I don’t see how it fits with Nintendo’s policy of repurposing cheap old tech though (or what it would do for the joycon’s battery life).

This could be replacing the old HD rumble to not have extra battery life draining.

Nintendo at the least always try something new with controllers. We don't know the gimmick for sure yet, except that for sure we see optical sensors on them if the leaks at even accurate.

I suppose it'll be neat to actually FEEL the drift this time around.

This of course is magnetic. No drift possible.


They get to have a new gimmick, a new HD rumble, and no joycon drift lawsuits looming for a 2nd gen. Feels like a no brainer (watch them not do any of that, I just jinxed it,.)

 

[diffusionx]

 

[Robb]

I’d be up for some new analog stick features. But at the end of the day all I’m hoping for is that the Hall Effect rumors are true.

 

[awwr999999]

I’d be up for some new analog stick features. But at the end of the day all I’m hoping for is that the Hall Effect rumors are true.

Hall effect necessarily adds input lag.
Anybody talking about hall effect being the future doesn't understand how important returning to the incredibly low input latency of the past is.
Modern consoles can't afford to add input lag, period.

 

[Buggy Loop]

The leaker NextHandheld ended up being right on all fronts with the leaks

This guy from months ago



On reddit he posted a bunch of rumours



Now his information is such that its likely the joycons have the hall effect analog sticks.

On top of this

"The leaker states that the top thumb (left side) of the Joy-Cons will have a new gimmick which hasn’t been seen before."

Which I believe is the force feedback as I detailed from the thread

 

[Robb]

Sounds good. Although I don’t really understand the “capable of 4K30 when docked” line, would there be a cap on resolution/framerate?

Surely something like Balatro would be able to run 4K60?

 

[Hudo]

Sounds good. Although I don’t really understand the “capable of 4K30 when docked” line, would there be a cap on resolution/framerate?

Surely something like Balatro would be able to run 4K60?

I also expect the new Mario Kart to run at 60fps. MK8 Deluxe did so as well.

 

[Tarin02543]

I remember the leaks from a year ago all mentioning the special sauce sticks. I really hope this to be true.

What if a stick can immediately transform in a dpad or octagon gated arcade stick? I think this will be revolutionary

 

[GymWolf]

More useless gimmicks that make stuff easier to break, yay.

 

[Tarin02543]

More useless gimmicks that make stuff easier to break, yay.

You can’t break a magnetic field man

 

[Miles708]

More useless gimmicks that make stuff easier to break, yay.

Third party games won't use any of this stuff anyway, and you're inflating prices and make all hardware less reliable for a gimmick used by 2 games over the span of the entire generation

 

[Robb]

You can’t break a magnetic field man

We’ll see about that

 

[Davevil]

every technology is invalidated by the use of that shit joycon

 

[Thebonehead]

Honestly couch gaming on the switch is great - lazy position - hands rested by sides and yet...

Those controllers are tiny. I get cramps using the things.

Adding resistance to those tiny sticks screams this to me

 

[Lokaum D+]

every technology is invalidated by the use of that shit joycon

I wish we had joycons for every console, never played games so confy.

 

[justiceiro]

The leaker NextHandheld ended up being right on all fronts with the leaks

This guy from months ago



On reddit he posted a bunch of rumours



Now his information is such that its likely the joycons have the hall effect analog sticks.

On top of this

"The leaker states that the top thumb (left side) of the Joy-Cons will have a new gimmick which hasn’t been seen before."

Which I believe is the force feedback as I detailed from the thread

Only now I realize what this photo was. Everyone kept saying this is the dock and I was like, what? It's the switch console from the side but laid down with resting thing up.

 

[Davevil]

I wish we had joycons for every console, never played games so confy with that shit.

 

[Shaki12345]

How about some fucking analogue triggers so we can play racing games, Nintendo?

Or maybe annihilating that audience is part of the strategy? Retards.

 

[Buggy Loop]

How about some fucking analogue triggers so we can play racing games, Nintendo?

Or maybe annihilating that audience is part of the strategy? Retards.

That boat already sailed as the triggers are shown already and they have little to no travel


Still wondering though why racing games don’t use the Project Gotham accelerator on the right analog stick? It was very good.

 

[Shaki12345]

That boat already sailed as the triggers are shown already and they have little to no travel


Still wondering though why racing games don’t use the Project Gotham accelerator on the right analog stick? It was very good.

If you really play racing games seriously (without a wheel) you need analogue triggers. The Gotham solution isn't better. If Nintendo chooses to omit the analogue triggers again from the Pro Controller I really need to know why. It just doesn't make sense. Also; they didn't make the option available to 3rd parties so they could implement it.

That shit infuriates me to no end. Removing options for the consumer for no reason.

 

[Buggy Loop]

If you really play racing games seriously (without a wheel) you need analogue triggers. The Gotham solution isn't better. If Nintendo chooses to omit the analogue triggers again from the Pro Controller I really need to know why. It just doesn't make sense. Also; they didn't make the option available to 3rd parties.

That shit infuriates me to no end. Removing options for the consumer for no reason.

But do you recall the Project Gotham solution?

I’m old so maybe only a few on the forum remember. It was a damn good solution.

 

[Shaki12345]

But do you recall the Project Gotham solution?

I’m old so maybe only a few on the forum remember. It was a damn good solution.

It's not as accurate and comfortable to use. Analogue triggers is where it's at. There's a reason ALL racing games use it.

But of course, Nintendo has to take away options from users. Fuck them, and I'm a big fan.

 

[Buggy Loop]

It's not as accurate and comfortable to use. Analogue triggers is where it's at. There's a reason ALL racing games use it.

But of course, Nintendo has to take away options from users. Fuck them, and I'm a big fan.

I’m not against analog triggers but that ship already sailed

 

[Shaki12345]

I’m not against analog triggers but that ship already sailed

We don't know if there isn't a new Pro Controller with that option.

The question is: why would Nintendo take away the option for 3rd parties to let them use analogue triggers???

 

[Tarin02543]

I just had cool idea, what if you can have the stick act as a gated manual shifter for racing games? The 4 way shifter in Daytona USA comes to mind

 

[Trilobit]

Honestly couch gaming on the switch is great - lazy position - hands rested by sides and yet...

Those controllers are tiny. I get cramps using the things.

Adding resistance to those tiny sticks screams this to me

I recently played on my Wii using the silicone protector and boy, is it one of the most comfortable controllers I've used! It does the "split controller" much better due to how much more ergonomic and bigger the parts are. I never wanted to do that on my Switch as I couldn't get a proper grip due to their small size and flatness. Playing Metroid Prime on my Wii was very relaxing as I could let both hands dangle separately whilst lying on my couch.

 

[Unknown?]

I recently played on my Wii using the silicone protector and boy, is it one of the most comfortable controllers I've used! It does the "split controller" much better due to how much more ergonomic and bigger the parts are. I never wanted to do that on my Switch as I couldn't get a proper grip due to their small size and flatness. Playing Metroid Prime on my Wii was very relaxing as I could let both hands dangle separately whilst lying on my couch.

Comfort, eh...?

 

[awwr999999]

Adding resistance to those tiny sticks screams this to me

Not happening until Nintendo gets innovative and makes a plug-in wired controller for the Switch dock.
That resistance will require too much power to work on a handheld.
On the plus side, a wired dock controller would be full size and have less input latency than the current wireless ones.
With PlayStation and Nintendo back in competition it's just a question of who brings back wired controllers first.