Topic: Switch Controller Discussion

@Vee_Flames: never say never

@GrailUK: Well, it was already confirmed fake, according to this:
http://www.technobuffalo.com/2016/03/18/nintendo-nx-controlle...
And I swear, those sticks are photoshopped, because they might as well be the smallest, flattest, most two-dimensional sticks ever.
Yeah, no. If it was real, very sure Nintendo would scrap it immediately. I do think there'll be a screen on the the NX home console controller, though. Seems like a natural progression from the Wii U.

Sure, but I don't think it's a good idea to make a natural progression on a failed console.

The Dreamcast turned the opposite direction from the Saturn. The PS4 turned the opposite direction from the PS3.

@iKhan: I don't know, I don't see how a hit like Splatoon could work on a controller without a screen. Not to mention DS VC games will be made obsolete with the new hardware, assuming the NX has a cross-platform environment.

Splatoon has Pro-Controller support. And they could easily sell the Gamepad separately like they did the Wii remote this generation.

I see no reason why a home console must be able to run handheld games. Let the 3DS's successor handle that.

A redditor posted a really helpful analysis of this rumor:

Basically, we do know for sure that Nintendo will be using the Sharp freeform display for something in this system, so chances are there will be a piece of glass cut in a unique form. However, the rumor in question is most certainly fake - likely a sticker of some sort, given the lack of photoshopping evidence.

Hang on, am I missing something? Why is everyone talking about "no buttons" when there are, quite clearly, buttons on the thing in the picture?

(And yes - I know this image is photoshopped and very likely fake.)

Oh, you mean Battle Dojo? Haha no. Just no. Pro Controller =/= GamePad in Splatoon. They could sell a GamePad seperately, I'll give you that.

I see no reason why a home console must be able to run handheld games. Let the 3DS's successor handle that.

Doesn't mean the next TV console shouldn't be able to run it. If we are talking about a cross-platform environment we should play our games on any system we want. And that includes DS games on the next system.
EDIT: Why aren't the quotes working?

They're touch screen buttons. They don't look raised, so the "it's a clear button" doesn't make sense. It's flat.

Cross platform is limited to compatibility. You can't play games made for iPad on an iPhone, or games made for an iPhone on a Mac.

Nintendo should tank the potential of their next console just for compatibility with a touch screen handheld.

People believed this was real? Ok...

@Operative: Huh. I mean... they kinda look raised to me. But if the internet says otherwise, I guess I'll just go with that lol

Well they don't look raised to me and I can't see how they would be from a technical point of view. If they wanted actual buttons there it would be far cheaper to just cut a hole for the button. Maybe have a single LED behind it. Putting a display on the button would be quite a task. Especially for something your thumbs cover....

I'm not sure if I agree with that. How exactly did they go in the opposite directions? The Saturn was pretty bleeding edge hardware and so was the Dreamcast. The PS3 pushed media playback and a small graphical advantage and so did the PS4. How did they change direction?

Now Nintendo has changed directions quite a few times. They pretty much do it with every new home console especially the more recent ones. But they don't change everything. They emphasised first party content on all of their systems, even the ones that did well were mostly first party boxes. From Wii on they've pushed motion controls in one form or another. So I think it's wrong to assume that the screen on the controller is dead just because the Wii U didn't do Wii numbers.

You're right, they weren't completely opposite, but they went opposite in the area that led to failure. The Saturn failed in large part due to a lack of developer support. Sega worked their butts off to fix that in one way or another with the Dreamcast. The PS3 failed due to difficulty to program for and high cost with high loss at MSRP. Sony made the PS4 easy to develop for, a more standard price, and only sold it at a small loss.

Even Nintendo has turned away from a failed console element. Once with the N64, then with the Wii. The GC fixed the N64's media problem, while the Wii attempted to fix the GC's image/market problem.

The Wii U didn't just fail to do Wii numbers. It failed to sell Gamecube numbers and needed Amiibo to prop up profits. So yes, I think Nintendo will go back on what caused the system to struggle. And ultimately, aside from advertising and the 1st party launch lineup, the Wii U's problems boil down to the existence of the screen on the controller.

@iKhan: Nice post, man. All very true.

@skywake: Well, skylake, if they don't look raised to you, then they must not be raised
In all seriousness, we're debating over whether or not the buttons on a faked, photoshopped image look raised. I think most of us can agree (and have been saying), if there are no physical buttons on the thing, Nintendo is out of their minds, and it is most likely time to abandon ship.

In terms of covering up the gameplay, IF (HUGE IF) Nintendo is choosing to go with another screen controller thing with this new canvas-style image, that's something that is going to have to happen. Whether you are covering up part of the screen with your thumbs for the sticks or with your input buttons. I'm sure that has occurred to them lol but knowing Nintendo, I'm pretty sure that won't rule anything out. I still think it would be a cool experience.

@rallydefault:
I think we can both agree that it's a fake so whether it's raised or not is a moot point. I think we can also agree that a controller/portable without buttons is a bad idea. I was just making the point that from a technical standpoint putting part of the screen on the button would be a waste of time.

Now cutting buttons into the screen? That's an interesting idea. One that I'm not sure what the point is but still an interesting idea. One that would also definitely be possible and for not that huge a cost. If Nintendo were to go with this idea that'd be the way I'd assume they'd do it. IF they did it.

@skywake: Yea, I agree. It would be tough to create experiences on a screen like that where the player's own hands wouldn't be blocking out important bits of the action. And it would effectively take away the panorama effect that seems so neat on paper. I mean, just imagine RPGs and stuff where you have typically have menus on the sides of the screen and such. It would be a nightmare.

Even for platformers that move to either side. Your dang hands would be blocking what was coming up. Not good. Some of the genres I can see working, though, are FPS games (you want the action mostly in the center of your vision) and slower puzzle or strategy games (could probably just use touch 100% of the time).

So, yea, it's interesting, but for games with lots of action and movement, the player would be guilty of blocking most of the screen.

Actually, I can think of a cool few things off the bat they can do with this sort of thing as a handheld.

Just because the whole screen is a display doesn't mean the gameplay must occur on the entire screen. The edges could be used simply to create a more immersive image. Imagine a 2D Mario game where Mario enters from the left edge, the gameplay happens in the center, and then Mario enters the castle on the far edge. Or imagine a flight sim like Ace Combat, where you can see more of the environment on the edges.

As far as gameplay goes, what if the center of the screen and the flanking edges had separate touch responses? That way the edges can both be separate control interfaces. They can put custom designed soft buttons or add unique swipes and gestures.

I'm really excited for this if it's a handheld.

@iKhan: What could this do that the 3DS or Wii U GamePad couldn't? The 3DS and Wii U GamePad offer real buttons that allows your hands not to cover up most of the screen. This just seems to bring all the problems of a Smart Phone for gaming purposes without any of the added benefits. I would really have to see how games can benefit from this type of device before being excited.

@DefHalan: The main reason why I think this is fake is the fact the image presented on the screen is a weird ratio. If this is to work, then imagine the entire UE4 image from a monitor screen where you would expect it (in the middle of the analogues) with extra, superfluous image surrounding it. So technically, your thumbs would be covering up 'bonus screen' (lol, really have no idea how to describe what I am trying to say >.<!) and not the main visual focus.

@GrailUK: I agree, this is fake.