Nintendo patents inflatable horse
Author: Joe Martin
Published: 11th August 2009 Comments (3)
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Nintendo's inflatable horse seat patent may let users simulate the feeling of riding all sorts of animals. Like toucans.
Nintendo, in a continuing effort to revolutionise how gamers interact with their consoles, has patented perhaps the strangest accessory we've ever seen - an inflatable horse.
Discovered in the European Patent Database by Siliconera, the Wii Horseback Riding Saddle is apparently an inflatable saddle with a pouch where players can insert the Wii Remote. Players can then hold the Nunchuck up as a set of reins or "a raised hand for balance as in Bronco riding, a lasso, a sword or other weapon", according to the patent.
The patent also claims that the construction of the inflatable saddle would be similar to conventional exercise balls and that "an advantage of an inflatable design is that it is compact to ship and store."
The intended use for the saddle would be to simulate virtual horse riding obviously, but Nintendo hasn't limited it's ambition to targeting a single animal. The patent also discusses how the saddle could simulate the experience of riding "bulls, camels, elephants, burros, dolphins, whales dragons, griffons, unicorns [and] giant eagles."
As well as animals, the saddle could also be used for games featuring "hang gliders or other aircraft, a magic carpet, a motorcycle, a jet-ski, land or sea exploration vehicles." We just pray a decent Road Rash remake will launch alongside the saddle, if it ever sees release - something that Nintendo has yet to comment on.
