ShockingAlberto
Member
Discussion of gimmickry, whether it be pro or con, seems needlessly premature being that no in-production retail games have actually been shown yet.
Wii U Speculation Thread 2: Can't take anymore of this!!!
- Thread starter ClovingWestbrook
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It says in your profile that you like "MMORPGs". Wouldn't a touch screen help with those?
Spieler Eins
Member
During the short times I've managed to get my hands on a 3DS, it really felt awkward using the circle pad.
After seeing them using those for the WiiU, I was desperately hoping this was just a matter of familiarization. Oh well... :/ Hopefully, they scratch them.
I don't use consoles to play MMORPGs. Although when I did, I used a USB keyboard, which was a lot faster than using the 360 Chat pad.
I see what you're saying, but I think if we're taking it down to the time commodity then everything is in competition with everything else.
I don't think that Apple is that close of a competitor to Nintendo yet because, even with the Wii U having a touch screen, both companies are going for two completely different experiences with completely different markets. The Wii U will be a gaming/entertainment console anchored to the living-room, and the iPad is a personal touch-based computing device. Nintendo, barring some crazy-epic backroom deals, will never be able to compete with the full suite of non-gaming based services Apple brings to the iPad; and Apple will never be able to compete with Nintendo's console games with a buttonless tablet. Apple TV, until they do something game-changing with it, is a non-factor at this point.
Sony and Microsoft will continue to be Nintendo's major competitors next gen, and likely the gen after that. Especially now that they've wised up to the casual market and Nintendo's blue ocean isn't so blue anymore. Worrying about Apple at this point would be like worrying about the alligator you spot 100 yards away while there are two hungry hippos staring you down from 20 feet away.
It's closer than you think...
http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=463428
And again, I'm not saying Nintendo is going to do the same thing as the App Store. However, many of the things the App Store has could be done on the Wii U just via the browser alone.
AceBandage
Banned
Wait, what's wrong with the Circle Pads?
They work just fine.
They work just fine.
Dr.Palutena
Member
To go along with this I'd think something similar to the "Live Areas" on the Vita displaying on the controller would be a nice fit. Like for instance when hovering over "My Games", the tablet controller would show things such as your most recently played games, a start button for the channel, etc. Or hovering over your mii would show the finer details of your profile, your friendslist, etc.
JohnTinker
Limbaugh Parrot
I absolutely loathe them. I cannot get used to them at all. I tried playing Pilotwings and SM3DL and did not have an enjoyable experience because of the circle pad. I really do hope they change to sticks in the final version.
AceBandage
Banned
-Pyromaniac-
Member
I hate the circle pad too. The Upad ones look different than the 3DS one so I can't say, but the 3DS one is pretty annoying. Ok for some games, terrible for some, doesn't matter for others. Hit or miss. I feel like the longer I use it the worse it is, but using it in games where it isn't so pad intensive it's a-ok.
Colecovision was my introduction to Donkey Kong
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0yDWuhkHHpw
Started gaming with my cousin's 2600. Got a Colecovision of my own during the early 80's. Left the home gaming scene alone after the crash and discovered arcades around the same time. Came back to home gaming around the american launch of the Sega Master System (and I do love my SMS). Bought a NES around a year later (1988 I think). Grabbed a Genesis at launch, and then a SNES when it launched in 1991. A few years later I had my first home computer - an Amiga 500. From there, I grabbed an N64 (launch again) and much later on, a GCN. Fast forward to the Wii launch and I was 29 years old.
(wait, we're not doing this anymore? lol such a fast moving thread)
Ugh, an Apple attempt at invading the console gaming space is shudder-inducing...
I smell you. I think it's a given that Nintendo is going to incorporate some app functionality to the uPad, but I think they'll be doing it because it's naturally a good idea when you're working with touch screens these days. I don't think it'll be a sign that they're "directly competing" with Apple, but we'll see.
Where do you will connect GCN controllers? =P
While I am afraid that I will destroy the circle pads when slamming it back and forth in something like SFIV, I have been really pleasantly surprised how much I like it in Pilotwings Resort, etc.
Not to say that it is better or worse, but it seems fine and if the slide pad profile is more comfortable on the uPad, then so be it.
I have definite trust in Nintendo to make comfortable controllers.
IceDoesntHelp
Banned
This, I don't get the hate. Sure when I play for long periods of time on the 3DS, my thumb gets sweaty and it makes it a little more difficult to use the circle pad..but other than that, it works perfectly fine for me, and I don't have any problems with it.
ColdBlooder
Banned
Imagine this...
You get stuck in a Zelda game... You press the "Ask friend for help" button in a menu on the subscreen. You can explain the problem to your friend via the mic while your friend sees YOUR tv image on his subscreen (and only there, so you only have to stream the sub hd image instead of 1080p) while his game is paused. Heck, he may could even take over controls and show you the way or something else.
That would be truly epic. And doable form a technical point of view!
Subscreen for the win
You get stuck in a Zelda game... You press the "Ask friend for help" button in a menu on the subscreen. You can explain the problem to your friend via the mic while your friend sees YOUR tv image on his subscreen (and only there, so you only have to stream the sub hd image instead of 1080p) while his game is paused. Heck, he may could even take over controls and show you the way or something else.
That would be truly epic. And doable form a technical point of view!
Subscreen for the win
AceBandage
Banned
Imagine this...
You get stuck in a Zelda game... You press the "Ask friend for help" button in a menu on the subscreen. You can explain the problem to your friend via the mic while your friend sees YOUR tv image on his subscreen (and only there, so you only have to stream the sub hd image instead of 1080p) while his game is paused. Heck, he may could even take over controls and show you the way or something else.
That would be truly epic. And doable form a technical point of view!
Subscreen for the win
It's been hinted at, actually.
I'll take things a step further. Care to guess where the name "Stream" comes from? You've likely seen the supposed leaked image of the system's ability to stream games to its controller screens, but my understanding is that Nintendo aims to take this concept further and stream video of games being played to other peoples' machines so that friends can see what each other are up to. When you look at Nintendo consoles and handhelds, there's often a clear progression of its intent -- what starts as an experimental feature in one generation fully takes form in another. Chris Kohler just pointed out on Wired, for instance, that Project Cafe's touch-screen controller makes perfect sense if you look at Nintendo's past with the GBA to GameCube link cable.
But Nintendo never hinted at that themselves. It could happen, but I'm not sold.
Also, the Wii U's circle pads are way ticker than the 3DS', so I think that will help.
AceBandage
Banned
No, but the way he talked about it in that article and in the podcasts, he's definitely heard things.
I mean, he already got this pretty much right on the 3DS.
I remember not paying too much attention to that article at first, but as soon as I saw video chat in Nintendo's presentation video I thought... Well, if they already have that in mind, what's stopping the console from streaming the AV output from the game instead? (Nothing, that's what.) It's been on my mind ever since. I would love to see that.
Even better if the controller could accept your console's stream over the internet from any hotspot, like your own personal OnLive, but THAT'S much more unlikely.
Even better if the controller could accept your console's stream over the internet from any hotspot, like your own personal OnLive, but THAT'S much more unlikely.
AceBandage
Banned
Pretty much impossible, actually. The controller won't have an actual WiFi receiver in it.
Rather, it'll have whatever proprietary wireless solution Nintendo is using for high quality video streaming.
Yeah, I just meant if Nintendo decided to design the controller to be able to function in such a way, but we can be 99% sure they didn't.
AceBandage
Banned
Well, there's really no reason to.
It would be an added cost and the controller isn't designed as a portable system.
It would be an added cost and the controller isn't designed as a portable system.
I'm not sure what's worse: the fact that developers seem to be over-complicating the Wii U controller, or the fact that Nintendo fans are over-complicating it.
The best feature of the controller is simply being able to play console games without needing a TV. This isn't the Wii Remote. It doesn't need to do anything revolutionary to prove itself. It's a giant GameBoy with extra triggers and analog pads that plays next-gen console games. Throwing gimmicky ideas onto it is missing the point. The most compelling feature of the controller requires no changes in game design to utilize.
The other most effective uses of the controller are equally unintrusive. As other people have mentioned, the option to remove a HUD from the screen is an easy addition that is worthwhile. The ability to replace menu scrolling with dynamic buttons on the touch screen is similarly uncomplicated. An only slightly more complicated use involves utilizing the controller's ability to avoid constant scrolling to bring popular PC genres to the console that have been difficult to translate without a mouse.
I guess it's because Nintendo debuted the controller with gimmicky examples like using it to throw ninja stars or placing it on the floor to play golf. But this idea that the tablet needs a specific gameplay gimmick to be worthwhile is a fallacy. And it's a shame to hear so many people echo the sentiment that such gimmicks are the direction that Wii U games should take. This goes for critics of the controller as well, who think that because the controller is only useful for gimmicks, it has nothing to add. It does, though. And just because they aren't ground breaking doesn't mean they aren't significant. The screen is an evolutionary step, not a revolutionary one.
The best feature of the controller is simply being able to play console games without needing a TV. This isn't the Wii Remote. It doesn't need to do anything revolutionary to prove itself. It's a giant GameBoy with extra triggers and analog pads that plays next-gen console games. Throwing gimmicky ideas onto it is missing the point. The most compelling feature of the controller requires no changes in game design to utilize.
The other most effective uses of the controller are equally unintrusive. As other people have mentioned, the option to remove a HUD from the screen is an easy addition that is worthwhile. The ability to replace menu scrolling with dynamic buttons on the touch screen is similarly uncomplicated. An only slightly more complicated use involves utilizing the controller's ability to avoid constant scrolling to bring popular PC genres to the console that have been difficult to translate without a mouse.
I guess it's because Nintendo debuted the controller with gimmicky examples like using it to throw ninja stars or placing it on the floor to play golf. But this idea that the tablet needs a specific gameplay gimmick to be worthwhile is a fallacy. And it's a shame to hear so many people echo the sentiment that such gimmicks are the direction that Wii U games should take. This goes for critics of the controller as well, who think that because the controller is only useful for gimmicks, it has nothing to add. It does, though. And just because they aren't ground breaking doesn't mean they aren't significant. The screen is an evolutionary step, not a revolutionary one.
And with the MobiClip purchase recently, a codec that uses low system resources and produces low bandwidth output would fit right in.
I'm putting it in the "too awesome for Nintendo to do" category though.
Yeah, I'm actually mostly looking forward to simple HUD/map/menu/inventory management on the screen. Sometimes it's the little things that make a big difference.
In an MMORPG, having your 12 billion action icons laid out on the screen to be easily tapped would be bliss. I might actually enjoy an MMORPG then.
In an MMORPG, having your 12 billion action icons laid out on the screen to be easily tapped would be bliss. I might actually enjoy an MMORPG then.
Indeeeeed.
It could be a worthwhile added cost to add a pretty significant bullet point to the system, but I could see most people complaining about having to hunt down hotspots to use the feature. Also video quality would suffer, input lag, etc.. Although as someone who has tried OnLive, the video quality was fine and the input lag didn't really bother me. It didn't take long for my brain to automatically compensate for it. I dunno, I think it would be a nice OPTION. But Nintendo doesn't cater to me of course. QQ, etc.
AceBandage
Banned
Well, it would be interesting, but it would also undermine Nintendo's purpose with the 3DS and it would more directly compete with the iPad and other tablets.
As is, it's just a console, and that's really all it needs to be.
This !!
MMO's and RTS could work pretty nicely on that set up.
I hope SE optimise DQX on Wii-U to use the pad effectively.
AceBandage
Banned
RTS would be perfect. Have a zoomed in version of the onscreen action (controllable via the gyroscope) and touch to plant buildings or circle units and direct them.
IceDoesntHelp
Banned
I won't get my hopes up, I won't get my hopes up, I won't get my hopes up.
themadcowtipper
Smells faintly of rancid stilton.
Thats what I loved about killer freaks. The person with the tablet contoller became like a game master sending freaks after the other player.
There's certainly a lot of things that could be done to make the RTS genre more functional on a console thanks to the WiiU screen. Keys for binding unit/building groups, using the stylus to create selection boxes, displaying excess data, etc etc.
MMOs seem like another genre that could benefit, or just complex action rpgs in general. The ability to have a skill bar, hotkeys, inventory, etc all on the small screen should alleviate some of issues with making these sorts of games for a console. Something like XenoBlade would be improved since you wouldn't have to cycle through skills during battle, a lot of the screen clutter could be alleviated in a game like that as well. I'd love to see that Guild Wars 2 port make it over to the WiiU for example, although I would still buy it for the PC. Particularly if Nintendo does indeed take a lax approach to what they allow developers and publishers do with their patches and DLC, the genre could work quite well on this console in theory. It'll be interesting to see how DQX does in this regard, although I'm not happy about the direction they are taking the series in. If that game finds success, maybe we will see some other WiiU MMOs.
This is all hopes and dreams though sadly.
MMOs seem like another genre that could benefit, or just complex action rpgs in general. The ability to have a skill bar, hotkeys, inventory, etc all on the small screen should alleviate some of issues with making these sorts of games for a console. Something like XenoBlade would be improved since you wouldn't have to cycle through skills during battle, a lot of the screen clutter could be alleviated in a game like that as well. I'd love to see that Guild Wars 2 port make it over to the WiiU for example, although I would still buy it for the PC. Particularly if Nintendo does indeed take a lax approach to what they allow developers and publishers do with their patches and DLC, the genre could work quite well on this console in theory. It'll be interesting to see how DQX does in this regard, although I'm not happy about the direction they are taking the series in. If that game finds success, maybe we will see some other WiiU MMOs.
This is all hopes and dreams though sadly.
-Pyromaniac-
Member
umm does the vita let you play ps3 games in the bathroom.
R
Rösti
Unconfirmed Member
Some people wanted to see more GUI designs, so I made one. This is for TV only.
Default screen, elements you can modify. Note: I borrowed the 3DS News banner from nintendo.co.jp.
Presentation of a game.
I didn't get the text I wanted it, the kerning is a bit off in some places and text doesn't align well with the boxes for "Current Game" etc.
Default screen, elements you can modify. Note: I borrowed the 3DS News banner from nintendo.co.jp.
Presentation of a game.
I didn't get the text I wanted it, the kerning is a bit off in some places and text doesn't align well with the boxes for "Current Game" etc.
User Name Here
Member
With a certain homebrew app... yeah it does!
-Pyromaniac-
Member
yeah but not as well
bgassassin
Member
I'd say it's in line with what we've been discussing. Although I don't think their was a running debate about GDDR3 vs 5 as much as it was me coming across that info and saying why I could see them going with GDDR3 if they're going to keep the clocks to a certain speed.
AppleBlade
Member
I would be fine with 1GB, those early rumors of 768 were making me worried though I really would have loved for Nintendo to swing for the fences and bring out a full generational leap (over the PS3/360) console.
I'm just hoping that it is dev-friendly enough that even with less sales then the other platforms, it still gets the majority of the 3rd party multi-plats next gen (i.e. Assassin's Creed, Bioshock, Batman, Bethesthda's WRPGs).
AceBandage
Banned
It's over 1GB and basically the same architecture as the 360, so it's pretty easy to develop for.
AppleBlade
Member
source?
Vermillion
Banned
http://wii.ign.com/articles/121/1218922p1.html
This is a neat little article, and something that hasn't been discussed much here - in what ways do you guys expect 3DS and Wii U to connect?
This is a neat little article, and something that hasn't been discussed much here - in what ways do you guys expect 3DS and Wii U to connect?
IceDoesntHelp
Banned
How the DS and Wii should have connected..
Lord Ghirahim
Member
Cross-platform online multiplayer for the SSB titles should be a given.
But they are going to be 2 separate games.
specialguy
Banned
so boring with no news all the time...
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