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DS Ideas To Maximize Dual-Screen Gameplay?
Thanks to IGN Pocket for its feature suggesting a range of game ideas to make the most of Nintendo DS' dual-screen touchpad features, since, as the introduction argues, the forthcoming DS "offers the most vast number of opportunities for unique game design types than any handheld or console in quite some time." The theoretical, not in-production suggestions include a Total Control Boxing title where "the touchpad of the Nintendo DS gives developers a lot more room to explore and move the controller in an analog space", a touch-screen based version of previously mentioned Ragdoll Kung Fu ("Like shiny shirts are the new black, physics is the new jumping"), and double-character platform gaming ("The large touchpad and double-screen system means that doubled playing fields could easily be the norm rather than an abnormality.") What gameplay ideas would you like to see the DS innovate with?
I would like to see the GBDS innovate itself back to a single screen...
There are a number of image projecting technologies out there currently for PDAs and other hand-held devices. I really thing this thing would have stood a better chance if they had embraced one of those for both larger viewing space and multiple images. Developers having to make a special effort to support the unique hardware, and the serious lack of usefulness as far as actual games are concerned, will turn this into a great Nintendo-only product. I am sure we will see some really interesting things from Nintendo come out on this device, but it will most likely turn into another issue similar to the GBA/GC connectivity, where it's "pretty cool, but most implementation is kinda blah".
A platform game featuring a moustachioed plumber, or a pokemon franchised game?
I fear for Nintendo's future in the console market. They already have the handheld market in their pocket, they should be following the more powerful next-gen handheld business plan à la Sony, but instead they are trying to, well, I am not sure what they are trying to do. How about a handheld I can take on holiday with me and play something like GT4 on, then port the save over to the big console when I get home?
"Feel the force, mother fucker." (Shaft Windu)
gamers. I have a touchscreen on my Zaurus pda, and it's accurate enough for what I do with it, but I would not want to play an intense action game and have the touchpad mess me up. People already blame functional controllers for losing in video games...
What gameplay ideas would you like to see the DS innovate with?
How about an alarm that goes off when you end a sentence with a preposition?
Seriously, though; if you're going to end a sentence with a preposition, I can't think of a better one to end it with.
The fact that people feel the need to try and come up with ways to use the dual screens, suggests strongly to me that it's a gimmick--a solution in search of a problem.
GCHQ Quantum Insert installed. If only our tongues were made of glass, how much more careful we would be when we speak
Well it has 802.11, a touch screen, and can do 3D graphics. I'd settle for this:
- Make a cool multiplayer game. Mario Kart or Quake or something.
- Make it easy for servers to be set up like Quake is today. Don't make me pay $$$ per month just to play on line.
- Use the touch screen as an on-screen keyboard so I can choose servers, chat, and/or touch an icon depicting the weapon I wanna use.
Neat new interfaces is cool and all, but if they can get this going I'll be playing on-line from my recliner. I think that'd be awesome!
"Derp de derp."
I was just wondering what Nintendo is doing for left handed gamers. Using the stylus and d-pad at the same time would be virtually impossible. I have heard that the right action buttons would be switched to d-pad functions for left handers, but that would take some major getting used to as every console i have ever played has had the d-pad on the left.
I don't know if many of you have seen it or not, but somewhere there is a Windows app that places a small cat on your desktop. If you click and drag on it, you pick up the cat by the scruff. When you let go, the cat drops until it lands on a window.
Imagine a Lemmings style game like that? You can pick up a Lemming, let it drop, and it does its own thing. Sounds simple enough, but when you have 30 of them on the screen, you have to move quick to pick them up and get them out of danger.
That little idea could be evolved a bit into an interesting game.
"Derp de derp."
My idea(nsfw) didn't turn out well.
Mouse powered Chips, Open source Processors and Lego
If they do it right they can put some good games on the DS Age of Empires, SimCity, Bejeweled...
The touch screen can add alot if used right.
I really see a second screen becoming a gimmic for most of the good games that will come out. I don't dought that there will be a few games that will make you say "HOLY CRAP THATS COOL" "WOOT" and all that good stuff. But I see a double screen just becoming a way for dev. to place a map or a information panel.
Then come along whole new generes of games that simply require the mouse. What I'm saying is that sometimes a new thing like a second touch screen is just push designers need to explore things that are truly revolutionary.
"Functional controllers"... Don't make me laugh!
I am a videogame super-mega-ultraskilled-expert yet I have never gotten past world 1-1 of Super Mario Bros. because the stupid jump button never works right...
You're standing in a room trying to fight off attackers while the lower screen is showing a machine with a puzzle of buttons and knobs that you need to use to initaite a self destruct...
Who would I have to kill to see an update of System Shock on the DS? it has the Muscle, I think of that game as an ideal use for a touch screen dual display.
On Wall Street they say "buy low, sell high" On the pad we say, "buy high, sell high" Isn't that somehow better?
The touch-screen alone will allow you much more intuitive control of games that depend on selecting objects in a 2-dimensional playing field (think Maniac Mansion, Lemmings, any RTS game). Basically, the days of manipulating that clunky joypad-controlled cursor all over the screen are gone. And this is a GREAT thing with tosn of possibilities.
I'm still a little skeptical of how it'll turn out in practice, though. My experience with touch screens in the past has been that they're still kind of clunky themselves because they're not precise enough to use with your thumbs and I wouldn't even think of trying to tap a screen with a stylus while simultaneously holding the controller in both hands and having access to the d-pad and action buttons.
As far as the second screen, as a three-year dual-monitor user I know how much easier it is to multitask with a set of applications open on separate screens and simply switch your gaze (and mouse) between them as opposed to constantly shuffling windows around. At the same time, I don't see streamlined console games having the same multitasking requirements, and I think the second screen will just be used as a place to put those mini-maps and status windows that used to be squeezed into the corner of the screen. It might make the main gameplay windows less cluttered, but I'd rather just have a larger single screen.
I give Nintendo credit for trying something new, but I'm still haunted by Virtual Boy flashbacks. They'll have to do a lot more than produce a gimmicky hardware platform if they truly intend to reintroduce innovation to the dying video game industry. Like, for example, I hope they design new games for the platform as opposed to port existing franchies and retro remakes with cursory touch-screen and dual-screen support. But this is definitely a start.
Keep in mind that the two screens aren't the only deal here.
Stylus/touchscreen input doesn't just mean analog input, but also mouse-like input. Just look at the games on the Palm or PocketPC that could never be done with a GBA's inputs, (like, Warfare Incorporated. It's not necessarily innovative, but it is at least different.
Another thing I'd like to see is some serious AI improvements, and not just a 'ok the player is doing insanely well, time to make the game impossible' a la Max Payne 2. I wanna be able to team up with an AI as good as Metal Gear Solid's (I like game the game a lot, did you notice?) BUT instead of having both screens to myself, the second screen would be for my buddy. So while I played on my screen I could use the touch pad to point out directions and orders to by buddy like we were real soldiers "go here", "attack this", "cover this area", etc. This would eliminate silly things like ammo symbols appear over people's heads when they shout 'I need ammo!' since I could just double tap the ammo symbol on mine/his screen to communicate with him. Kinda like Brute Force, only not Microsoft par quality.
My last idea would be a RTS on the handheld. It'd be insanely difficult to do, let alone play, but think about it. With two screens you could FINALLY watch your army while watching your base, no more losing a match because you were too busy killing an enemy outpost while the enemies were destroying your BASE. Two screens would TOTALLY innovate RTS games, since you could no longer risk playing 'turtle' style since even a newbie would be able to launch hit-and-run attacks while mining resources as well as you. Recon would take a new level since doing so before usually ment seeing a couple red dots on the minimap and having them disappear before you could click and see what it was. Flanking (long overlooked in games) would because vital in large army combat with fog of war in RTSes. You could send one part of your army to keep the enemy busy in a chokepoint while a second part snuck around and pincer attacked them in the rear from view of the second screen.
Basically, take any shooter with a multiplayer mode, or a team theme (like Rainbow Six). What I'm thinking is that the regular screen would be your eyes, and your eyes only, maybe your standard HUD things like health and ammo, but that's it.
The touch screen would be your information center. It could contain two or four screen with other players eyes, or their veiws on it so you can always keep tabs on what they're up to and how they're doing. It could also be the command center. Tear-down menus (al la Unreal Tournament), or whatever you feel works best. I know the resolution might make other views difficult, and the fact that the processor isn't as powerful as we'd like to be, but I'm sure someone could make it work.
I see some beautifuly executed games comeing out for this thing, given time, but unfortunately, as with every system, the DS will have more than it's share of crap.
This sig isn't original enough, it's time to come up with something witty...
Why the hell are people actually wasting time to making suggestions??
Do people not know nintendo is one of the most stubborn video game company that refuses to change with times. They always innovate great console hardware, rumble controllers, light zappers, DS. But in the end, they always fall short cause every other game is about mario or zelda.
Solitare.
Seriously, I owned a Tiger Game.com years back, it had a touch screen as well. It had solitare built into the unit and I spent alot of time on that game. Not to mention that it would go missing and I would find my mother playing it.
Although I suppose it helped that Solitare was easily in the top 5 best game.com games ever produced...
I think a cool idea would be if in a game like Final Fantasy if they kept the inventory on once screen and the battle and health on the other screen. Sometimes there are so many items it would be nice to be able to see what you have as you're walking around.
The touch screen seems like a gimmick to me. I suppose it could serve as a more interesting way to aim for shooter games, but beyond that, it just seems like anything it would do could be accomplished with alternate and cheaper control methods. It's convenient, however.
frankly i think alot of those examples they are poor ones at best. i think the originals sound best, they are more precise and dont say things more than once. Except for the "put up with" ones. Oh and uh, so as not to be off-topic 1) Create dual screen hald held game platform 2)???? 3) Profit! Did i pass?
Speaking of "fucntional controllers". Maybe Nintindo should consider making thier next portable playable by someone with hands larger than a 5 year odl girl's. The GBA is fucking horrible it's so damn small. Smudges on the screen etc.
Now the screen in between my fingers is touch sensetive so instead of smudges I get to die all the time.
no, it really didn't.
You should invest in a NES Advantage. The only good controller EVER.
I don't think I disagree with the decision to separate the two screens, it sort of forces (strongly encourages perhaps) developers to innovate.
Obviously minimaps and inventories will find the addition usefull
Also puzzle games taking advantage of an extra dimension could become more complex.
The additional screen could be used in a linkup platform game to display the other players location. Tetrinet / puzzle bobble / puzzle fighter style games also would use the extra space to display the other player
The stylus allows for a new control method which could prove interesting, it's better in terms of precision/speed than the d-pad and it could be used in conjunction with the dpad simply to give the player lots more buttons
The stylus could be used for lock picking (ala thief 3) and other puzzle types within an action game, essentially making all dialog style interactions available without hiding the playing screen. This would allow designers to keep the game going making the player keep a sharp eye out for someone trying to get them while their guard is down.
I think someone mentioned above, the ability to use the two screens to play two characters would be cool.
perhaps the stylus could be used for gesture style spell systems (ala black and white) for some games.
Ok that'll do for now
Personally, I think that RTS games could be the killer app for the DS. The reason being is that you could exploit the main two features of the device (dual screens & touch sensitive input) in a way that wouldn't seem contrived.
Think about this. On your top screen, you have the "action" window, where you have all your characters running around. You select your orc/peasant/etc with your stylus, and then draw a line where you want him to go, or you draw a circle around where you want him to start building. On the lower screen, you have your "spells" window, where you you have all of the menu's and status information. this way it doesn't clutter the primary screen like what you have in a PC RTS. Someone mentioned in another reply that you can only have 3d rendering in one window at a time, but for the above scenario this wouldn't be an issue as your menu screen would be 2d anyhow.
Imagine this: you want to build a barracks, so you first click on your orc in the action window, then you click on the "build barracks" icon in the lower window, then you tap on the section of the upper screen where you want it to be built. That would be awesome!
One slight hitch, though.. are *both* screens touch sensitive, or just one of them? If not, the idea gets more complicated, but I think it could still work w/ some tweaking.
I guess it wouldn't work though. After all, you need two hands to play the DS.
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It is a game that is just made up of tons of minigames, most of them very interesting.
Something like this could add a whole new element of control to it.
The first thing that popped into my head was an Operation type mini game where you have to pick bones out of a body.
Buy Steampunk Clothing Online!
Finally a use for my dual-monitor Windows machine. I'll just have to wait for a week or two prior to the release of the DS (you know, when the emulator will hit the net).
Why dont these fanboys just, I dont know, use Sony's existing products?
Maybe I'm old, or maybe it's just me, but when I first got a Gravis Gamepad for my PC I would play with the D-Pad on the right side, not the left. All of the early joysticks I had (Atari 2600 era) had the buttons on the left side, as did many arcade games at the time (some would have buttons on both sides of the stick.)
It actually took me a while to adapt to the NES gamepads, which to me felt left-handed...
"There are people who do not love their fellow human being, and I _hate_ people like that!" - Tom Lehrer
I want to see a four-player fighting game that shows a close up horizontal view on one screen, and an overhead view of the entire arena on the other screen.
The Advantage is only the best controller until you accidentally bump the P1-P2 switch. It's all downhill from there.
The stylus screams for a new version of Mario Paint....even the fly minigame would rock....and with wireless connectivity to the internet you could make some sort of mo-bloggin posts from your mario paint images.
Another idea I had was to use one the screens for a 3D view of the action and the other for a topdown 2D view.
Specifically, I was imagining a Zelda game. You could play in both the 3D view (like on N64) and the classic top-down 2D view (like on NES/SNES). It seems like an interesting way to combine the two play styles of Zelda that have worked so well in past games. I'd buy it.
So will this mean the end of GB's nifty backwards compatibility streak? The DS will work with older games but what about DS games with future GBs? I don't imagine Nintendo using two screens for all future handhelds.
Chika Chik-ah... do-e ow ow.
That's all, really. I recall it being a fun game, if a little straighforward. I think it would make a nice game for on the go.
Not sure what you're talking about here. Touchscreens have advanced significantly over the past decade and are definitely ready for use in mass consumer electronics devices. I've been very impressed by the touchscreen's spot-on response in games for my Sony P800, and based on the initial impressions from E3, it appears as if the DS implementation will be even better,
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which I haven't heard mentioned yet, would be multiplayer gaming, where you can see the other players screen on your system. There are a lot of possibilities here for both cooperative and competitive games. Think about a racing game where you can see your opponent's exact position behind you to better line up an oil slick or smokescreen. Or an adventure a la four swords - Online! See your friend's progress while you play in the same world.
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What Nintendo has created is the perfect portable RPG system.
The touch-screen interface makes an all-time inventory, map & status screen easy, and selecting an item to use is as simple as pointing to it.
Imagine, for a moment, if someone were to port a Roguelike to the system. No need to call up an inventory, press once to selecting an item, press-hold to get a list of possible alternative uses or item management functions, drag to trash to dump it.
Or, in a pen & paper-style video RPG in which you create your characters, you could draw your own character portraits.
Football games can use the map to bring up playbooks, new plays can be designed easily on the touchscreen, and the second screen can provide a alternative X's & O's view of the field as the play proceeds.
SimCity-type games would be a natural for the system.
And I think we'd all have reasons to cower in fear if Konami made a Metal Gear Solid for the system. Think: how badly did Psycho Mantis mess with gamer's heads on the PS2, simply by checking memory cards, forcing the player to swap controller ports and the rumble feature? Imagine the mind that came up with that stuff, given access to the facilities of the ludicrously feature-rich DS. Potentially cool beans, guys!
I would like to see a acrade style punch out reincarnation using two screens the way it was set up originally. Second I would like to see some pinball games with the bottom being the playing field and the top being an interactive scoreboard that displays interactive messages when certain triggers occur. A last idea would be a battle ship type game.
Its cool, its gimmicky, its never been done before and it will force developers to get their thinking caps on again. Its just a new way to experiment the interface between us and our beloved games, and good on nintendo. People say its an attempt to get some extra notice over it all but its not, it shows how Nintendo are still grit determined to innovate the games industry. Some may say Nintendo have got child like but I think they are showing true balls to actually throw something different into the market. I mean how linear has the games market become, playstation 1..... playstation 2 ...... playstation 3 ...... GET SOME BRASS PEOPLE !! Games are the creative forum of the 21st century and people are putting out the same thing time and again, look at Tomb Raider back in the day and now millions of the spawn of possible permutations that have come out. Quake came out and now look at what we have. If two screens means I can have a bit of cheese on my biscuit then so be it
End of metophoric rant !
Remember "Typing Of The Dead"? That bizarre Dreamcast game in which players used the keyboard to type a series of characters fatal to the oncoming zombies? On the DS, the top screen would be the normal first person view of the oncoming baddies (zombies, aliens, fluffy bunnies, whatever). The lower screen would feature 2 or 3 rows of icons. The player would have to tap out the correct sequence of icons to defeat his enemies. Perhaps the icons would represent magical items or symbopls to cast a spell? (Nostalgia attack - visions of the use of heiroglyphics in Desert Falcon on the Atari 7800.) The icons disappear after they are used - even if the player tries the wrong sequence. New icons slide in from queues on the left and right edges to replace those used. To further enhance gameplay, perhaps the user could also navigate through the dungeon/base/whatever with the D-pad, evading baddies when possible? There are also some cool multiplayer possibilites of such a title. Such as a co-op mode that has the players standing side-by-side (or back-to-back?) fighting of the onslaught until they are overwhelmed. Or maybe a competetive mode in which all players enter the enemy stronhold from different points and attempt to be the first to reach a particular goal. Or how about a deathmatch mode in which the players not only fight off the ususal oncoming bad guys, but by tapping out certain icon combos they can send beasties to attack the other players, or perhaps even interfere with the other players the inserting dummy icons into their queues.
Must... think up... something... clever!