Gaming Which screen for games like Spirit Tracks?

[CompC]

On the DS, games used both screens for the gameplay. In both Zelda games on the DS, the bottom screen was used to move around with the touch screen. I doubt Nintendo would want to make a game like that for the 3DS, because that would mean pretty much all of the main gameplay would be in 2D.

Do you think Nintendo would be willing to use the bottom screen for the main gameplay? I haven't actually seen much of current 3DS games, but from what I've seen, the bottom screen now seems to be just for menus, maps, extra buttons, and things like that. I'd be willing to sacrifice 3D for touch screen gameplay, but would Nintendo want to do this in a system where the 3D is such a big feature? 3D is in the system's name!

Just a thought I had. What do you think?

 

[Ikki]

Not yet. But I can assure you there will be some when the 3D gimmick hype lowers.

 

[Guild McCommunist]

First things first, the DS Zelda games were not in 2D, it moved on a 3D field.

Second off, 2D Zelda is bad? I didn't know Nintendo would think making a 2D Zelda game would be a bad decision.

Third, it depends. I'm not sure if they'll continue the DS style of Zelda on the 3DS because they want to go "OOOH LOOK 3D" and the bottom screen on the 3DS does not have 3D.

I'm assuming they'll stick with the top screen and primarily buttons like they are in OoT, although they may continue making those shitty DS Zelda games because they sell.

 

[CompC]

When I said most of the gameplay would be in 2D, I meant it wouldn't use the top screen's 3D effect.

And I never said 2D Zelda was bad or anything. I'm not talking about 2D Zelda games at all. I have no problem with them.

 

[Guild McCommunist]

I don't mean 2D as in 2D vs 3D Zelda, I mean it wouldn't be glassesless 3D, since only the top screen of the 3DS is in 3D.

Oh, my bad. I thought you meant 2D Zelda gameplay like A Link to the Past or something.

Still, probably 3D titles though. It wouldn't surprise me if they just port over Majora's Mask or something. Easier than making a new game and since people are all "OMG N64 ZELDA GAMES OMG", it'll probably sell well.

 

[CompC]

Animal Crossing Wild World used the same kind of moving around with the touch screen.

And then there's other things too. Trauma Center couldn't be in 3D. You pretty much need to use the bottom screen for that.

 

[Nollog]

Probably for menus, hopefully for speech bubbles, though ideally they'd use voice actors.

We know Ocarina uses it as the backpack, which I understand remains open the whole time.

 

[Zarxrax]

Well I always felt like the touch controls in the ds zeldas were gimmicky and didn't work very well.
Since the 3DS has a nice analog nub, they shouldn't have any problem controlling games like that with the actual buttons.

But yea, games which actually rely on touching stuff directly will need to have the main stuff on the touch screen. But honestly, even on the DS, the amount of good games that NEEDED the main gameplay on the touchscreen were quite low, I think.

 

[Midna]

Well see, the 3DS has analog now. Games in a 3D environment are much more viable on the top screen, and used with the circle pad.

That said, I'd love it if Ninty went megaman on us and made a retro inspired 2D Zelda again. Like Link to the Past but higher res. I'm probably just dreaming.

 

[RupeeClock]

Have you seen how Nintendogs works? The dogs are displayed on the top screen whilst an interactive silhouette is on the bottom screen.
More games may work like that in the future.

 

[CompC]

Yeah, I thought of that, but in Zelda, you had to all kinds of things like drawing lines for boomerangs, throwing things, and other things. It'd be kind of hard to do that without the actual things to touch on the bottom screen.

I just started Okamiden. I guess they could do something like that, where the screen slides down and then you draw on the bottom screen. But it has to pause everything…

Maybe a game mechanic where you can switch the screens?

 

[Arnold Schwarzen]

Well I'm glad OoT will rather make use of the top screen, buttons, and motion control (rather than all touch based or mostly)

. That and Link's Awakening DX FTW.