Topic: DS Controls Layout??

[Draygaia]

Quote
Originally posted by: nemo_83
If it does turn out to be the next GB then I have a feeling it may be two touch screens that display custom button configurations for each game as programed by the developers.

It can't.  There is already a successor to the GBA.  It was said in the recent interview between Perrin Kaplan and IGN.

I also understand that the screens are whats mainly focused on here but that doesn't mean we can't expect some totally new control design that we have seen on the Nintendo consoles.

[Don'tHate742]

 Personally I think the DS is just a handheld that well tide us over until the GBA 2. I'm serious, the reason the GBA 2 hasn't been hinted to be ready to compete with the PSP is becuase its not ready. The GBA 2 needs time to develope. It will most likely be either a mini-Gamecube portable or a Spectro-3D screen handheld. They are backing the DS as a new console so people will forget about the GBA momentarily, then in 3-4 years from now they'll release the GBA 2(or whatever it will be called). And not only will it play gamecube media, but it will be cheap, small and ultimately intuitive. Right now they don't have the technology to make 3-D gaming a reality as a portable.  

[KDR_11k]

People think it's 3D because it has the same processor as the NGage, or at least a similar one. The GP32 has the same one but doesn't deliver 3d. Well, in he end it's just people hoping it'll be 3D.
If there was an analog stick the top screen could have a cover that extends far enough to protect the stick when the device is in closed position.

[capncrunk]

What about a touch-sensitive pad, a-la the iPod's touch-wheel. The center could be slightly concaved, so you know when you're centered.

It'd save a lot on space, and it'd still have that analog feel without using a joystick that prevents you from folding the unit up.

[WhereMyArm]

I like that idea of an analog O pad instead of a digital D pad, that could be neat.  Although I have to agree, the touch sensitive screen idea is pretty retarded.

[Syl]

Quote
Originally posted by: Ian Sane
Where do people get this touch screen stuff from?  Nintendo has NEVER suggested anything even remotely similar to this idea and what they have told us clashes with a possible touch screen design.  If touch screen was used Nintendo would probably have told us.

Touch screen controls for the DS is nothing but a "wouldn't it be cool if" idea created by a few people and it has always been inconsistant with anything Nintendo has told us.  It's as realistic of an idea as the stupid VR stuff people bring up.

Imagine the DS controls will be quite generic.  The Dual-Screen is the innovation here, not the controls.  Expect a face button layout similar to the either the SNES or Cube controllers and L+R buttons.  Start and select buttons will be wherever they fit and as usual won't be designed for action related functions.

The control pad is the only variable but I imagine to save space there will be only one control pad.  It may be analog or digital but whatever it is I expect it to be one or the other.  An analog stick like the Cube just wouldn't be practical so it will either be some sort of flat analog stick or a d-pad.

Of course a d-pad will be all we'll need if the DS is 2D.  How do we know the system will be 3D?

The fact that nintendo is working with SHARP on the DS, and sharp is known for 2 things.
1. holygrams
2. Touchpads.

Not to mention IGN "confirmed" that one of the DS' screens was a touchpad.  whatever the hell thats worth.

The touchpad idea makes the most sense to me anyway.
2 screens, one being the touchpad, the other one not.  people complaining about not having enough buttons? now they'll never ever have that issue again.

[Don'tHate742]

touch pad is a retarded idea.

how do you press two buttons at the same time? how do you physically feel which button to hit? Or will you have to look down all the time? How do you press a certain button really fast with out damaging the screen?

touch pad is a retarded idea.

[KDR_11k]

Sharp manufactures plain ol' TFT displays, as well. I think they made the one for the GBA  and N likes to keep partners.

[Draygaia]

Quote
Originally posted by: Ian SaneNot to mention IGN "confirmed" that one of the DS' screens was a touchpad.  whatever the hell thats worth.

I'm sorry but that was just a rumor.  

I don't have a problem with a touchpad or a pen that can write on screens.  If they do have that I'm guessing its just an extra and probably won't be used for a majority of the time in games.  Lets take the Eye Toy.  When that came out its not like they were putting most of their focus on body movements for controlling most of the future games.  It was just a fun extra.

 

[ThePerm]

hmm, well we already heard that the system will be quite different then gba and gamecube and will be a third type of system....i think people get the idea of the touch screen from the thought that it may be marketed differently then other nintendo peripherals....and may be aiming towards the psp..which is competing with palm which has a touch screen. Anyways I'm not quite sure if i heard if DS was handheld or protable. Some sources i beleive said that it will have a horizonal screen layout(ie one on top and one on bottom). also the rumors say that ds will be wireless lan and networked as well. Which would be awesome. I came up with a vision for ds..though it needs to be edited for horizonal rather then a vertical setup. The way i designed it is that it is portable..nice and small, but not hand held. It would also come with a wireless controller...again i doubt it would be like this..but it would be cool if it was..just saying.

http://www.tetrametrics.com/theperm/Images/dsa.jpg

[Draygaia]

Perm thats awesome!  I had something similar in mind but two screens that would stand on their own like having two monitors but smaller.

[WesDawg]

I'm a big fan of the touch-screen controller idea now. It just seems so... unique. And yeah, they have had problems in the past with such things, but its not absurd to think Nintendo figured away around 'em. I mean, surely finding a way to let you clean off a screen after/during play time isn't that difficult. Games that can have completely custom control schemes, or games where the controls are moving/changing as you play sound pretty interesting to me. I think I remember stuff like that being tried before, but never in something like a GameBoy. Definately makes this thing sound like more of a 3rd pillar than just a GBA 1.5. And if its pressure sensitive it even sorta solves the problem of analogue control in handhelds.

In any case, it makes thing more exciting. It's got a lot more people excited about the DS it seems too.

[KDR_11k]

Pressure sensitive touch screens? In a low-cost handheld? Are you insane?

I don't think a touchscreen can be used for control elements, only for things like the mouse in RTS games (or team commands in sports games...)

[Stimutacs Addict]

hold a regular GBA in your hands, and imagine a flip screen that lies abouve the normal screen.

the screen on the body of the GBa is your touchpad screen. It's really easy to reach... but what the hell could you use it for?  I'm stumped...


which is why i dont think that it wil have a touchscreen

[KDR_11k]

Map navigation, team commands, aiming... Pretty much everything you can use the mouse of a PC for.

[Solid Snake]

hopefully we wont have to pay extra for a backlight version!!

By the way, maybe we should have a stick like Zodiac's.   www.tapwave.com

[jasonditz]

With all the "Acceleration Sensors" in that USPTO document I wonder how big of a deal the joypad/joystick is even going to be. I'm sure it'll have one for familiarity, if nothing else.  

[KDR_11k]

If I may draw a comparison to Microsoft's Freestyle Pro gaepad, I'd say the dpad is the most important means of control since such sensors aren't too accurate (and turning the device is an inaccurate way of control, anyway)