Samsung files patent for joystick phone

Making a grab for our adult wallets by aiming for our childlike love of video games, Samsung has recently filed a patent for a clamshell cellphone which can transform into a 2600-style controller. Last time we checked, killing at "Snake" on our phone wasn't so difficult that we needed to collapse or otherwise totally re-jigger the device to play it, but as mobile games become increasingly complex, using the keypad is starting to feel just a little limiting -- and that's where Samsung's engineers step in. The basic premise is that the bottom half of your flip-phone would pivot not only open and closed (or backward and forward), but also left and right, thus allowing you to escape from Blinky more quickly, jump over barrels more deftly, and generally get a serious game on.

[Via Unwired View]

[Mile @ Jul 16th 2007 4:20PM]

They should remove the keyboard and force you to dial via the Joystick. That would be cool.

[Chris Macdonald @ Jul 16th 2007 4:22PM]

I wonder when its going to come out and how much it will be...

Pretty neat idea but it will probably be sort of a novelty.. I think it will get old after you realize that you could be playing real video games on a bigger screen.

[ug @ Jul 16th 2007 4:40PM]

It doesn't look very ergonomic to me.

[snapa @ Jul 16th 2007 4:50PM]

That's what she said.

[spil @ Jul 16th 2007 4:40PM]

Sure, a joystick phone is cool...But can it play DOOM?

[jbulava @ Jul 16th 2007 4:59PM]

* 90 day warranty does not cover breaking your phone in half.

[eh @ Jul 16th 2007 5:06PM]

Why doesnt Samsung put hot korean girls in their patent pictures?

[thudson @ Aug 23rd 2007 3:11PM]

If we could, we would.

--Travis Hudson, MWW Group on behalf of Samsung

[Ryhan @ Jul 16th 2007 5:18PM]

Interesting idea; what's wrong with a little joystick right where the navigation arrows normally are? Or putting it right by the screen while bending the keypad behind the screen?

[Matt @ Jul 16th 2007 5:29PM]

I can see it now. The Samsung Joystiq.



:]

[Constable Odo @ Jul 16th 2007 5:57PM]

Yeh, but I never notice the product they're advertising when they have those tasty-looking Korean models.

If it was some U.S. company, they'd probably use Ellen Degeneres or Rosie O'Donnell as models. Bummer.

Just to make up for Samsungs omission with the patent drawing:
http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/cellphones/top-10-samsung-product-models-190685.php

[Blake Kachman @ Jul 16th 2007 6:05PM]

or Rosanne Barr...

[warrenjoseph76 @ Jul 16th 2007 6:30PM]

The Patent system sucks ass.... there goes any chance of springing a surprise product on the market....and cue 3,000 different..and horrible..and horribly cheap...chinese knockoffs with either "Samsong" or "Semsung" badges. They'll probably even figure out a way to poison your ass when you use voice-dial.

[JB @ Jul 17th 2007 3:19AM]

So you're mad with the patent office because now the world will not be surprised, or informed, if and when a new product goes to market.

My friend, this blog is not for you.

[drtekger @ Jul 16th 2007 11:06PM]

What a super useless product this is. Remember how you PSX joypad wore down hyper fast after getting the million-scores in Tony Hawks over and over again? I am sure some serious gaming on this device might render it useless or defunct in no time. Then I will see ones face if stuck on a 2 year subscription ^^

[firebat45 @ Jul 17th 2007 1:24AM]

Either that's an infants hand in the picture or thats a frickin' giant cellphone. Come to think of it, even with an infants hand, that's enormous.

I guess you have to hold the screen with your other hand to use this? Sounds comfortable. And let's hope you don't block your own view when you tilt the joystick towards the screen.

[Tony @ Jul 17th 2007 10:11AM]

Here's a better idea:
http://kotaku.com/gaming/russia/russias-popup-cell-phone-joystick-236391.php
and here's another better idea:
http://www.mad4mobilephones.com/images/nokia-joystick.jpg
I don't fancy snapping my phone in half while playing games...