Wii U Gamepad Thought Experiment

[Agro]

I was bored. I decided I wanted to try something fun. This will be that attempt.



So basically, everyone should know by now that there aren't many games that take advantage of the Wii U gamepad and show gamers why it's even there in the first place. So I thought I'd ask you guys if you had any ideas:

• In what different and new ways could the gamepad be used to control a video game?
• What of Nintendo's franchises could make use of the gamepad and in what ways?
• What 3rd party franchises do you think could make use of the gamepad and in what ways?
• What genres, especially those that may not see Nintendo consoles that much, do you think would fit well with the gamepad?
• What other functions would you like to see the gamepad have outside of controlling a game?

I'd hope this spurs some discussion... so I'll start off:
 
 
 
I'd be pretty stoked if Ubisoft brought in a sequel to Driver: San Francisco to the Wii U. In the original, you were a ghost who could possess different drivers. That meant a lot of jumping out of one car, looking around the map and jumping into another. The gamepad would be perfect for that selection process, letting you jump out and in seamlessly with the extra screen.
 
I think it'd be a little tough working the great local multiplayer from D:SF in with that, though, since only one player would have a gamepad, but they could definitely make it work– especially with an online mode. Playing the game's tag mode online on the Wii U would be super fun. They could even add in the ability to affect traffic obstacles like lights and drawbridges to try to track down or escape opposing players. It'd be super awesome.
 
Thoughts on this idea? Got your own? Let the ideas flow through you~

[LordCowCowCowCowCowCowCowCow]

First I must say I am not a very smart guy with this stuff, so forgive me for any stupid thoughts.

 

For your idea, would it be an overhead thing? As in, would you see a large partion of the screen top-down, or would it be perpective (Like you can't see anything beyond what you'd be able to see from wherever you are.)

 

This isn't a very well thought out idea at all, and not sure how good it is. But maybe using the gamepad as a sort of management thing.

Like menus in RPGs, instead of happening to open things to get items and save and such, you can just use the gamepad.

 

Keep in mind I do not know what has/hasn't/will be done for the most part.

[Agro]

First I must say I am not a very smart guy with this stuff, so forgive me for any stupid thoughts.
 
For your idea, would it be an overhead thing? As in, would you see a large partion of the screen top-down, or would it be perpective (Like you can't see anything beyond what you'd be able to see from wherever you are.)
 
This isn't a very well thought out idea at all, and not sure how good it is. But maybe using the gamepad as a sort of management thing.
Like menus in RPGs, instead of happening to open things to get items and save and such, you can just use the gamepad.
 
Keep in mind I do not know what has/hasn't/will be done for the most part.

Here, let me show you what the original was like:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HtEAQrSsAcg

So basically, you have the map on the gamepad at all times while the action's going on onscreen which allows you quick jump in and out.

[LordCowCowCowCowCowCowCowCow]

Sorry for responding so late.

Anyway, yeah, I see what you mean then. I think that could work out nicely. And in a similar idea to what I meant with the menu thing. The gamepad works well as an additional tool, instead of using it for one or two extra things.

[Agro]

Yeah, inventory & map is really the two first things people thought of when they first saw the pad. Windwaker HD used it to great effect.

[Lonk]

It would be a perfect breeding ground for games like maybe a new Okami game (where you can use the stylus and gamepad as a brush and canvas of course), games that feature custom level building, a game in the style of Kid Icarus Uprising, quick-swap items for the new Zelda title that will eventually come out, sorting out your units and creating paths for them to go in RTS and Strategy RPGs like Fire Emblem, sorting out the boxes of skills for JRPGs, ect. ect. ect.

 

The problem is that no one is being creative with how they use the gamepad (Except for Platinum Games.  They are really making good work with it in their games on the Wii U).  People are just set in their own ways that they are afraid of experimenting with new, unique design.

[Agro]

It would be a perfect breeding ground for games like maybe a new Okami game (where you can use the stylus and gamepad as a brush and canvas of course), games that feature custom level building, a game in the style of Kid Icarus Uprising, quick-swap items for the new Zelda title that will eventually come out, sorting out your units and creating paths for them to go in RTS and Strategy RPGs like Fire Emblem, sorting out the boxes of skills for JRPGs, ect. ect. ect.
 
The problem is that no one is being creative with how they use the gamepad (Except for Platinum Games.  They are really making good work with it in their games on the Wii U).  People are just set in their own ways that they are afraid of experimenting with new, unique design.

You know you're probably spot on with the custom level building thing. How much do you want to bet that the Super Smash Bros level creator is going to make use of the touchscreen?

Also, I just realized how much more comfortable a Wii U Kid Icarus would be. You could just set the pad on your lap instead of holding it all weird-like. Although many would argue you could just use the second analog stick for similar results.

[Lonk]

You know you're probably spot on with the custom level building thing. How much do you want to bet that the Super Smash Bros level creator is going to make use of the touchscreen?

Also, I just realized how much more comfortable a Wii U Kid Icarus would be. You could just set the pad on your lap instead of holding it all weird-like. Although many would argue you could just use the second analog stick for similar results.

 

Different styles for different ways to play.  Some people would prefer the accuracy of the stylus and some people would prefer the speed of the analog stick.  Options are always important.

 

I'd also like to see that feature implemented in the new Smash Bros.

[Agro]

Yeah. I'm hoping we start to see more asynchronous multiplayer. Something like the minigames in Nintendoland, where one player on the gamepad goes up against up to 4 on the screen. It's a really cool idea that not enough games have taken advantage of.

Something like Evolve (or this other game with giant mechs that small teams must try to take down) would work great on the Wii U and I'm not sure if they're even planning on it, which is SO dumb.

Also along those lines, it'd be cool if there were a form of that type of multiplayer in the new Smash Bros, where the 4 players on screen use normal characters to fight the one on the gamepad who controls one of the bosses from SSE like Rayquaza or Master Hand.

[LordCowCowCowCowCowCowCowCow]

I think I really like the idea of the gamepad player being the "enemy". Be it boss, or someone who makes stage hazards happen. There are so many ideas that could come from that. Puts a whole new spin on teamwork and versus matches.

I always liked games that let me play as the enemy, Left 4 Dead is one that really got me into it.

Oh! Maybe a zombie game where you direct the hordes somehow. Like having a cat knock over a trash can and alerting them, or something...hmm.... You could zoom out to view the map, and zoom in to interact with it.

Just a spur of the moment idea.

[Agro]

Haha. What about a Cabin in the Woods game where the gamepad player is the dudes underground and the rest of the players play the folks who come to the cabin?

[LordCowCowCowCowCowCowCowCow]

I like that plan. basically you get to play a horror movie. I know there's plenty of people who would enjoy that.

 

In other news I take a long time to repsond to things and am bad at forums.....