Hey Developers, Enough With the Gimmicky Controls

Yesterday Ubisoft revealed that Assassin’s Creed III: Liberation will have an option called “Touch to Kill” that allows players to use the Vita’s touchscreen interface to attack instead of the standard gamepad controls. The function essentially freezes time for a moment and allows players to select a string of enemies to attack.

But why does this even need to exist? It doesn’t augment the gameplay in any discernible way. Actually, it forces players out of the gameplay for a moment and then treats them to a short quick time event. Mashing buttons would be preferable in my book. At least then I’m actually playing the game.

[ghettosmurf]

I don't know that they get much of a choice when it comes to some of these platforms. Something along the lines of:

"Oh, you'd like to develop on the Vita? Great, just make sure you include game mechanics that utilize every single asinine control method we've put on there, or nun4u."

All-too-plausible conjecture, in my opinion. I suspect many developers would forgo such lameness if they truly had the choice.

[darthv72]

options...
nothing wrong with having options. And if it means that a creative idea comes to mind in adding to the interactivity of a game then these devs have every right to explore them.

I would say something is a gimmick if it isnt supported in more ways than one. We have been playing the same way for 30+ years. Many times has there been attempts to break into a new way of playing only to be shot down by the parent company.

I mean if even the parent company doesnt support it then why would others? Now if the parent company takes the lead and starts showing off new ways of doing things. It tends to give even more ideas to others in expanding on what they see.

The Vita version of killzone showed off some rather interesting touch screen kill options. Having that extra level of input should be viewed as a good thing not a bad thing.

[Blankman85]

Is it an option of it is the only way? Killzone melee kills, can they be done with a button or are they touch-only?

[PoSTedUP]

yeah if its an option i dont mind, i hate in uncharted and resistance where you have to touch the screen to throw a grenade or use your secondary weapon (respectfully). that mostly meant that i wasn't using my grenades or my secondary weapons ever...

touching the screen is cool, just not having to stop moving while your getting shot at and about to die to have to use it.

[gaffyh]

What's the point of developing on the Vita, if you don't use it's features?

Stupid article.

[-Alpha]

@gaffy

You can develop on the VITA and make sensible uses of the features without forcing some gimmicky situations. Do you really want to yell into your VITA to progress in Tearaway? These sorts of features are usually there at the beginning of the cycle to show off, and are sometimes unfortunately forced onto the software, but they usually die out. The important thing is options, and I think when it comes to touch control, core games shouldn't be forced to implement them as they usually get neglected by the core audiences when they are made into a nuisance/gimmick.

[Ducky]

Gimmicky controls usually happens at the start of a hardware's life but eventually fade back and take a smaller role later on.

Uncharted used motion controls for throwing nades or breaking free from the grasp of 'monsters' (which were a pain to figure out)... but they eventually brought back proper controls in the future installments.

I wouldn't be surprised if the WiiU sees a similar trend.

... however, I did like how MediaMolecule incorporated the controls, except for the shouting, which wasn't that great when Nintendo tried it either.

[Rush]

As far as am aware the Wii U only has one touch panel, I was also under the impression the screen doesn't support multi touch. An while if that's true its not great by any means at least some good will come from it.

1) With the screen being so big and hard to navigate naturally due to the large bezel I doubt there will be much room to integrate tons of gesture based controls.

2) The lack of a multi touch panel removes an extremely high number of gesture based controlling option.

Don't get me wrong, I understand how Nintendo works an how gimmicky they tend to appear. I just doubt developers will have nearly as much room to implement there shitty touch controls on a device that only supports one touch input.

You have to remember the vita is capable of capturing at least 4 touch inputs to the Wii U's one at any given time.

All in all, its clear Nintendo are trying to find tons of crappy ways to use the gimmick on the controller, the golf video in there trailer has to be the biggest mess of the bunch.

But I think most developers will simply use the screen as an navigation menu to display additional information. Which is where I honestly think the controller will do great.

[avengers1978]

Uncharted on vita also has touch control options, but you don't have to use them. Sony is all about options, really that's why alot of games come out and are regular games that you can also use the move with.
Options=Good

[darkride66]

I'd rather developers had the option to add different control mechanics and not use them then need them and not have the choice.

[DigitalAnalog]

"Actually, it forces players out of the gameplay for a moment and then treats them to a short quick time event."

A QTE is still a gameplay mechanic. Regardless of what you think. Secondly, QTE's are "quick", they have a time limit for you to initiate the action as "quickly" as possible. AC VITA's interface is merely a multiple-option touch feature. NOT QTE.

[GribbleGrunger]

Amazing isn't it. It's the best interface possible on other platforms but a gimmick on the Vita. PATHETIC

[Blankman85]

I don't think SONY pays you enough. You're doing a bang up good job at finding out all these conspiracies against SONY. I mean it aint like the same things were said about the DS and the 3DS or anything. I mean heck, not like the ipad gets lamented about its touch controls or anything like that.
No. It's all SONY. All SONY all the time! The world is against SONY. They need good men and women like you son to expose them and protect SONY with your lives.
I salute you. Remember, they are watching. They are always watching!

[GribbleGrunger]

LOL, you called me, son!!! bless

[morganfell]

Preach it Gribble. Do not be deterred by people that come into an article with a post history full of hate and criticism of Sony and expect some sort of validation. No, just no.

[Ben_Grimm]

My goodness Gribble, the world vs. Sony. The holiest of wars are being fought right now!

Nope, no negative articles about the 3DS and its 3D gimmick, or the term waggle for the Wii, or how about the new gamepad the WiiU is sporting. Nope not one bad article about them or how those are considered gimmicks.

It has all been a crusade to bring down the holy company of justice Sony. And you have a follower in Morganfell and me. Praise Sony and down with the evil media hsssssssss.

[GribbleGrunger]

lol. That was kinda well put. I was talking about phones really. perhaps I should have also mentioned Nintendo. Bubble to you for a nice comeback

[Ben_Grimm]

HA! Good to see that someone on here has a sense of humor!

Bubble to you!

[kesvalk]

the moment sony, MS, and Nintendo stop creating new ways to play games, these same guys will whine that everything is the same...

[JoshEngen]

I see someone didn't read the article.

[Arius Dion]

While I do
Think the touch screen feature they showed in the ACL trailer looked rather pointless, the rest of the trailer looked very good.

It looks like Ubi is actually treating the handheld game at least with some diginity. Not like Activision and their Vita CoD.

Considering how abysmal Vita's sales are atm, this game could only help..How much remains to be seen.

[nevin1]

Just make it optional.

[NegativeCreep427]

The fanboy b*tching and moaning will still commence.
It doesn't matter either way.

[smashcrashbash]

I think any of these things can be gimmicky only if they are used that way. When you see people practically forcing the use of the controls with less then desirable results or having it and barely using it for anything that in my opinion is gimmicky. But Tearaway is a perfect example on how the VITA's controls can be used when in the hands of someone with real imagination and thinking instead of the people that just throw something in to justify the use of the controls. For example, I know I will get disagrees for this but that thing with someone using the tablet in Rayman legends Wii U to help them navigate the level is a perfect example of forced use.who wants to sit there poking the screen while everyone else is using characters to jump and kick and punch? Like the Mario game where your job was to point the remote and get the stuff? Who would volunteer to do that while everyone else is having fun with characters?

[kingliam3]

The Vita is was developed with unique features to give players new ways to play games. So all Ubisoft is doing is taking the opportunity to give players different ways to get immersed in there favourite games.

[JoshEngen]

Non intuitive controls do the opposite of immersing the player.

I'm all for new control schemes. I'm just not cool with developers trying to awkwardly force them into games.

[PersonMan]

I agree. I sold my Vita because I was sick of putting up with all the different control schemes. Just because it's there, doesn't mean I want to use it. I got the Vita thinking it was going to be like a PS3 that I can take anywhere. A classic controller, with dual analogs, regular buttons and shoulder buttons. Instead, I got a glorified smartphone with extra buttons thrown on there that are hardly used.

[topekomsi]

By not having r2 l2 r2 r3 they almost have to use touch controls to have console like control. Especially if they plan on either having ps3 vita remote play or releasing full ports on vita.

[CWVita03]

i like touchscreen controls, have any of you played the Madden demo yet? imo touchscreen controls sell that game. Options are not a bad thing.

[Romudeth]

Agreed. Controls were perfected last gen. There's no need for these gimmicks. Good article.

[ALLWRONG]

I say just let the developers keep doing what they want to do, they drive this industry forward.

[bigcupofSTFU]

but they thing is on the vita touch works. its intergrated into the experience and does not mess the gameplay up,

[Drainage]

its not like they dont get it. They Know. They are just making a game with the little creativity that they have (none) in order to make money. They are boring computer software developer guys. The guys in charge have less creativity . "Do this, do that. copy COD, add every wii u feature, motion, swipe the screen, etc."

[boybato]

i think point and click adventures would work best on the vita's touch controls, somewhere along the lines of policenauts, snatcher, broken sword...