Back in 2009 Nintendo patented a device called "Wii Light" - a device that emits coloured lights while playing games.

An old patent, filed by Nintendo in 2009, has been discovered for a device known as "Wii Light". The peripheral plugs into the Wii, sits on top of your television and emits lights of various colours.

Siliconera discovered the patent listing and report that it is made up of red, blue and green LEDs that can be adjusted and merged to create 256 different colours.

Additionally the Wii Light device can output different intensities so the lights can blink, strobe or stay on for example. According to the patent developers could use the device to change colours when an event happens, when you are shot or a boss appears for example, or to synchronise button presses with light flashes or changing colours.

It would appear that Nintendo also had music games in mind when developing Wii Light. It can change colours to match the game's background music and synchronise to players instruments so that they can see and hear how well they are doing.

As the patent is two years old it may have been shelved. Alternatively Nintendo could simply be waiting until they have a game ready for it, Wii Music 2 perhaps, before announcing it. Would you be interested in Wii Light? Let us know in the comments section below.