Topic: Touchscreen controllers and you

[PowerHair]

This may be old but...

Touchscreen with force-feedback

Could be it. We all said not feeling the buttons was the problem with a touchscreen controller.

So what do we think?

[PaLaDiN]

I had that idea a while ago and I think it would be awesome.

[mantidor]

It seems the Rev controller might actually be something like this, Im basing that on the fact that Reggie said that one of the clues for the controller is how it can play games from NES to GC games. I personally love the idea if the controllers dont end up with a $100 price tag.

[KDR_11k]

It might be available within 6-9 months. Too late to put it into the Revolution unless they're planning on starting REALLY late with the controller development. Doesn't solve the issue of multiple touch points and might be too costy as well.  

[LuWoo75]

A touchscreen is the only thing that would make sense as to what the Nrev is.  I dunno how much more force-feedback would add to the cost though.

[Ian Sane]

This is a good idea but it's too new.  Odds are all the kinks aren't out of it yet and we don't know it would be suitable for fast-paced game control.  Plus because it's so new it would damned expensive.  It doesn't matter how good of an idea it is, if Nintendo used it their controllers would be insanely expensive and the Rev would bomb because of that.

[vudu]

Quote
Originally posted by: mantidor
It seems the Rev controller might actually be something like this, Im basing that on the fact that Reggie said that one of the clues for the controller is how it can play games from NES to GC games.

You're forgetting that Iwata flat out stated that the Revolution controller will not have a touch screen.

[couchmonkey]

If it could be done well, then YES YES YES!
I don't really think Nintendo will do this, especially since Iwata has said no, but it would be cool.

[LuWoo75]

Quote
Originally posted by: kingvudu

Quote
Originally posted by: mantidor
It seems the Rev controller might actually be something like this, Im basing that on the fact that Reggie said that one of the clues for the controller is how it can play games from NES to GC games.

You're forgetting that Iwata flat out stated that the Revolution controller will not have a touch screen.

I think he was bluffing, if someone did guess what the controller was I dont think he confirm it.  I dunno it's the only thing that makes since cause it's the only thing that customizable.  

[mantidor]

"You're forgetting that Iwata flat out stated that the Revolution controller will not have a touch screen."

I think Iwata's quote literally said " we dont intend to make a double screen device akin to the DS" which doesnt rule out the possibility of touch sensitive technology, but KDR points out something very important, the technology  doesn't solve the issue of multiple touch points, which would be mandatory for bakwards compatibility. If that can be solved, a touchscreen controller is a posibility, but I think the issue is not going to be solved at all in the near future.

[KnowsNothing]

If someone did guess what the controller will be, and questioned Iwata or any Nintendo representitive about it,  they would just say "I can't talk about this any more, but I think you'll be surprised."  

Also, if someone guesses wrong, and they asked Iwata or any Nintendo representitive about it, they would just say "I can't talk about this any more, but I think you'll be surprised."

[BlackNMild2k1]

http://www.immersion.com/industrial/touchscreen/

Quote
Immersion has developed TouchSense® technology that allows touchscreens to "touch back." The system is composed of actuators, controllers, and software. Touchscreen manufacturers, integrators, and product OEMs can now design these components into their touch monitors and touch-enabled systems to easily add tactile feedback to touchscreens.

A new, intuitive, and programmable feel
With Immersion TouchSense technology, instead of feeling just the hard surface of the screen, graphical buttons can seem to depress and release. This responsive action supplies a more intuitive, natural, multisensory experience.

Using Immersion proprietary technology, the touchscreen can vibrate to create the perception of pressing three-dimensional switches, emulating crisp qualities and particular force and push-away characteristics. Based on software or firmware programming, touching different areas of the screen at different stages of operation produces the desired, context-sensitive feel for the user.

Create and combine touch sensations
Rich touch sensations can be created by combining individual effects of varying frequency, magnitude, and duration. That means that touchscreens can be used for many more types of applications by providing a far greater range of response:

-Graphical buttons can provide the familiar up and down forces of physical buttons

-Menu items can supply a pulse sensation when lightly touched and a confirming push-back response when pressed

-A rocker switch can exhibit increasing or decreasing vibrations corresponding to motor or fan speed, magnitude, or other parameter

-Enter, Next, and other major and minor functions can supply a consistent feel throughout an application

-Scrolling displays can provide a stop sensation when the first or last items have been reached

-Switch controls can exhibit a pop effect

-Levers can offer a click response for each possible setting

Expert integration and support
Historically, our partners have been successful because we can assist with product configuration and prototyping and support them from integration through manufacturing. Our services include:

-Turn-key Engineering including technical and design assistance for incorporating our touch-enabling technology into products at a reasonable cost and in a shortened time frame

-Application Programming Interfaces to allow designers and programmers to focus on adding haptic effects to their applications instead of struggling with the mechanics of programming real-time algorithms and handling communications between computers and touchscreens

-Compatibility with Industry Standards including software plug-ins and API extensions for several platforms so that programmers can add Immersion’s touch technology into their applications

just a little more info

----------------------------------

"You're forgetting that Iwata flat out stated that the Revolution controller will not have a touch screen"

Quote
Iwata also said that dev kits had been given out around GDC, and then Miyamoto just said no dev kits have been released yet.

But then Miyamoto guarnteed at the end of last year that Mario 128 would be for GameCube and now he is saying it is strictly Revolution, and Reggie swore Mario would be shown at E3, and it wasn't even mentioned.

Can't take everything that Nintendo says as if it were written in stone


 

[Don'tHate742]

You have a point, but this is much bigger than a game or dev kit, this is a console.

Nintendo has been saying they have something Revolutionary for a year now. They must actually have something revolutionary or they wouldn't have said anything in the first place. The idea of them switching what they thought of long ago is ridiculous, unless of course it is something that is much better than their previous idea (Novint, feeling).

[BlackNMild2k1]

from quote above

Quote

-Scrolling displays can provide a stop sensation when the first or last items have been reached

-Switch controls can exhibit a pop effect

-Levers can offer a click response for each possible setting

Miyamoto interview - Jan. '04

Quote
Nintendo's designer said that he believes interactivity is "everything" in videogames. He noted that many of today's games tend to remove the interactive element from the player by automating tasks that gamers could do themselves and enjoy. "For instance, when Link from Legend of Zelda pulls on a level and the grand demo movie shows a door opening, "Miyamoto noted. "I would not make it so pressing a button pulls a lever. Link would instead hold the lever. Then the player can use the controller to pull open the door."

Haptic Controls for gaming - Immersion

Quote
We offer complete haptic systems to simulate the feel of many operations such as pulling a lever, shuffling cards and stacking chips.  Our complete force feedback system adds a whole new dimension of realism to your gaming machines, engaging players with each click of a knob, push of a button, or press of a selection screen.

Haptic Levers
Immersion's force feedback steering wheel and knob technologies can also be applied to the levers of slot machines, adding another sensation to the user experience. The lever can lock before coins are inserted, move on each button-based play or bonus play, give different sensations through the range of motion, or create a unique sensation when someone wins.

well isn't that intriguing?

p.s. Does anyone have Iwata's direct quote on there not being a touch screen on the Rev controller?  Some people are saying that his quote was mis-interpreted from him saying that they would use two screens or something along those lines.

[nemo_83]

I keep hope that haptics are involved in the REV via Novint Falcon.  


MS bought the rights to Immersion's R&D a few years ago, thus the lawsuit against Sony right now.  MS at any time could say to Immersion they want to build a haptic controller of one kind or another they could do it.  MS is waiting to see what Nintendo puts out.  MS may even relaunch the 360 with a new controller and Halo 3 to compete with the releases of REV and PS3.