Touchscreens. So What?

[Andronicus]

With the release of the Zune HD, which will have gaming functionality built in, possibly to the point where it will become a primary feature with connection to XBox Live, it occurred to me. We've already got the Nintendo DS and the iPhone/iPod touch, both of which have become extremely successful and tout their touchscreens as their defining feature, and to this I say: so what?

Is the touchscreen just a fad, something to grow out of once market oversaturation reaches a critical level? Or is it to become a new standard for handhald gaming? Obviously the interactivity of being able to "touch" what is on the screen adds a new level of immersion, at least in some games; other genres are less accessible with a touch screen.

Frankly, I don't see what the problem with buttons is. At least the DS offered the best of both control schemes. So is the touchscreen just a fad, a novelty? Or is it the new standard for handheld game control.

 

[dodo1331]

It will be a "standard" until people get bored of it and it stops making companies the big bucks.

 

[Flying-Emu]

It's fucking amazing is what it is.

Maybe if I could somehow play The World Ends with You on a PC I'd change my mind, but I can't. So yeah.

 

[TaborMallory]

http://8bithero.files.wordpress.com/2006/11/elite-beat-agents-20060801043106154.jpg

 

[Vim-Hogar]

Touchscreens aren't perfect for everything, but they work pretty well for small devices. Video games are much more dependent on control methods than most applications are, so it gets pretty hit or miss when you've only got a touchscreen, but there are some games that work with it.

 

[Flying-Emu]

http://8bithero.files.wordpress.com/2006/11/elite-beat-agents-20060801043106154.jpg

I fucking love you.

Although EBA (originally known as Osu! Tatakae! Ounedan!) has a variation called Osu! available for PC that allows you to make your own beatmaps.

 

[Suda51]

I think the touchscreen works rather well.

 

[goatzilla8463]

I must say, nowadays, most things do have a touch screen; from phones to Ipods.

But still, they are alright and rarely mess up too badly.

 

[JRCB]

I don't really care much for touchscreens, I like buttons...(Stares at shiny red button that says DO NOT PUSH)

You rang?

Anywho, I don't really mind. I prefer a joypad more than anything, but I can't really say anything about gaming on touch devices because I don't use my iPod touch for gaming.

 

[mannaroth]

God, I hate touch screens they are so inconveinent to so many people. (Large Hands)

 

[mannaroth]

God, I hate touch screens they are so inconveinent to so many people. (Large Hands)

How about the DS's stylus touchscreen? I guess that's just an exception, though.

I never said I liked the DS. I don't like touchscreens also if the screen is damagaed then you are screwed.

 

[n00beffect]

Touchscreens suck.. i just can't the nang of the little bastards i mean it's not the same pressy kinda feeling u know.. it's just... nothing.It's depressing.I mean it's not satisfying (i don't know if that's how the word is written but whatever) you know you don't get the usual satisfactory feeling of actually pressing something you know its like getting an erection without wanking off.. not the same.. i don't know call me old-fashioned if u please,but that's what i think.Hope it's just a fad

 

[karp250]

i think for smaller "platforms like the ipod touch/iphone it is a good system because of the large screen and no need to have buttons. I do think the games is moving towards no button systems (motion control and touch screens) if that is the right direction only time will tell.

 

[Irridium]

As long as it doesn't completely replace normal buttons, I'm fine

 

[orangebandguy]

I'm not a huge fan of touchscreens. Gimmicks are gimmicks I guess.

 

[Deacon Cole]

To understand the touchscreen's potential in gaming, we should look at it just in general computer using. The example I'll use is the Microsoft Surface. [http://www.microsoft.com/surface/Pages/Product/WhatIs.aspx]


Surface is still out of the price range of the average home user. It has several features but the main one we should concern ourselves with here is the touchscreen interface. They have designed it you accept several inputs at once. So instead of being limited to just a single mouse point, you can have several points of interaction on the screen, to rotate objects and such. Not unlike the UI in the film Minority Report.


But this multiple point system can allow allow multiple simultaneous users, such as the commercial above where the people are passing around digital pictures.

now, don't think I'm just a shill for Microsoft or Tom Cruise. What I am trying to do here is point out how the touch screen can allow for different interaction for any computer user and these possibilities can lead to interesting games. Chances are good that most of the games on the DS could have easily forgone the touchscreen with no noticeable difference because they don't, or depending on the DS hardware specs, can't make full use of the touchscreen. But that game developers and hardware manufacturers have yet to make full use of the touchscreen's advantages does not mean the touchscreen is just a fad or a gimmick. Like all things, it is a tool. A tool that is used properly can make tasks easier, including playing games.

 

[UltimatheChosen]

A touch screen is fine in theory, but most games have no clue how to use it. I can't even count how many shitty DS games I've played that make you use the touch screen for the sake of using the touch screen. One game in particular, Magical Star Sign, had two functions assigned to the six buttons. For EVERYTHING else, you had to use the touch screen. You want to open the menu? Sorry, "start" and "select" do nothing, you have to touch the lower right corner of the screen, then select which sub-menu you want to open. You want to move with any degree of precision? Gotta use the touch screen.

In fact, the best DS games I've played either don't use the touch screen at all, or don't force you to use it.