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Nintendo wins appeal in Anascape suit
There's a reasonable chance that you don't remember Anascape. Perhaps you remember the company that took Microsoft and Nintendo to court over its video game controller patents a few years back -- ring a bell? Specifically, in 2008, Nintendo was ordered to pay Anascape $21 million and faced the possibility of WaveBird, GameCube and Wii Classic Controllers being banned from sale. At the time, the fine and possible retail bans were put on hold while Nintendo appealed the case to the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. Now, nearly two years later, the court has officially overturned the original verdict, nullifying the fine and potential bans. In a brief statement, Nintendo of America general council Rick Flamm said, "Today the Federal Circuit's ruling confirmed that none of Nintendo's controllers infringe. We appreciate that our position has been vindicated." For the record, this isn't Nintendo's first patent infringement lawsuit and, given the history of such cases in the game industry, we doubt it will be its last.
Nintendo's Wii Classic Controller Pro ready to turn tricks in Japan
Now that you've had your fill of mocking amateurs with their Wii Classic Controllers, it's time to prove your skills by going pro. Nintendo Japan just listed the Wii Classic Controller Pro that brings a bit of Dual Shock schlock to the dual-analog controller -- that means grips and a two-row shoulder button configuration. It's expected to hit Japan sometime this Summer which could mean a Christmas-time launch elsewhere should the stars align.[Via Joystiq]
Nintendo ordered to pay $21 million to patent troll
Remember Anascape Ltd, the little "gaming company" that sued Microsoft and Nintendo back in 2006 for controller patent infringement? Well, it's payday to the tune of $21 million after a jury found Nintendo's Wii Classic, WaveBird, and Gamecube controller designs all guilty of violating Anascape's patents. Nintendo will appeal naturally while Microsoft settled the case before the matter ever went to trial. Now go ahead and Google Anascape with the challenge of finding a single service or product offering. Oh, did we mention that they are based in the patent-lawsuit friendly state of Tejas? Patent Trolls? Oh, you betcha.Anascape... there is none.
Thrustmaster unveils the T-Wireless NW Wii classic controller
We're not certain how many people are clamoring for Virtual Console controller that apes the look-and-feel of the 360 controller, but Thrustmaster's got you covered with its new T-Wireless NW controller. Eschewing the need to plug into the Wiimote, the NW comes with a receiver dongle that plugs into the Wii's GameCube ports -- a design decision that doesn't seem quite right to us. On the other hand, it's just $19.99, the same price as a Classic Controller, so we'll see how gamers respond when these things ship in October.[Via IGN]
