Remember Nintendo Software Technology? This North American studio created the Mario vs. Donkey Kong series and the canceled Wii game Project H.A.M.M.E.R.
According to a patent filed by Nintendo in the USPTO, NST was at one time working on a motorcycle game with Wii Balance Board support. In one control system, players stood on the balance board and used the nunchuck plus remote as virtual handlebars. The unnamed motorcycle game was played from the perspective of the rider.
Illustrations show two proposed games, a motorcycle game (Fig. 1A) and a jet skiing game (Fig. 1B). While those ideas utilized the nunchuck, NST also came up with a remote-only setup where players would tilt the remote in different directions to control the bike.
These diagrams detail the controls. Tilting the remote left or right make the bike turn. Pulling the remote backwards accelerates and forward throws the bike in reverse. While optional, players could lean left or right on the Balance Board accessory to make sharp turns.
No illustrations were shown, but Nintendo’s patent mentions the proposed game could have ramps and jumps. Once airborne, you would fly through the air and gently land on the ground, maintaining the motorcycle’s velocity before it left the ground. Players could lengthen (or shorten) their air time by moving the motorcycle’s nose up or down by pointing the remote.
Aside from Excitebike: World Rally for WiiWare, Nintendo has not announced any motorcycle games… yet, but it’s unclear if this project is still in development or was canned many moons ago.
Published: Mar 28, 2011 02:31 am