Gaming companies regularly patent new ideas and software systems and Nintendo is no different as they just recently filed one for a box, leading many to assume its intended to be related to Nintendo Labo in some way. A new patent granted to Nintendo seems to fine tune the virtual camera for games on the Nintendo Switch, which opens up new possibilities.
Every game will have a virtual camera through which players can see what is happening on their screens. Sometimes, the camera can be changed or adapted based on what the player's actions, like zooming in or out on a scene. For example, the popular new survival game Valheim lets players explore the world with a third-person view by default, but a mod lets players enjoy Valheim in first person. This is essentially done by altering where the game's virtual camera is placed.
In the patent in question, Nintendo is developing a way for games to perform based on what orientation the game playing device is set in. Game systems can recognize whether it can play a game in one of two modes, with a top-down view or with a front-facing view, and how the game system will receive input based on that mode. This is all possible because of the various sensors in the Nintendo Switch and its Joy-Cons, between accelerometers, gyro sensors, and even the IR camera on the right side.
So, if a player lays a Nintendo Switch flat on a table to play a chess mini game, the Switch can receive input from the Joy-Cons accurately, knowing it is flat on the table. On the flip side, if you were to play a minigame with the Switch standing up, the Switch would receive inputs from the players Joy Cons accurately. In both cases, the display on the Switch will change so players can be more invested in the game through the virtual camera's perspective.
While the patent does reference some scenarios that brings to mind some of the mini-games in 1-2-Switch, the patent was originally filed in 2018, after that game was released. It is probable that this patent is for some project Nintendo has for the future. Between a possible Nintendo Switch Party, or even the next evolution in Joy-Con technology, there are several ways Nintendo could use more refined sensors for virtual camera placements.
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Source: US Patent 10918944