The Hybrid Nature Of Switch Is Causing Level-5 Headaches With Its Next Layton Adventure

The Wii U was perfect for new Layton, but it never happened.

I haven't played it yet, but people said World of Goo works great simulating the touchscreen with the joycon pointer system?

Please, figure it out asap, Level-5. I need some Layton on my Switch.

Why not use the control stick on any compatible switch controller to move a cursor on screen like the little blue outline I have seen so many times on the wii u and 3ds when you don't use the touch screen? Just flick the stick to move the cursor outline to highlight a selection button on screen and hit a to make it so, b to cancel.

I fail to see the problem here...

Personally I dislike touch screens, I ahte smudging the screen constantly so i dont use them anyway, i default to the stick and buttons.

Even if they can't get certain puzzles to work in a satisfactory way on Switch, skipping it would be missing a chance: Replace them with Switch-exclusive puzzles that are not in the 3DS version and take the extra moolah from the die-hard fans that need both versions just to have all the puzzles from that edition... I think that could be marketed quite well.

If they can't get it working in TV mode then devs shouldn't be afraid of limiting a game to handheld mode only. Just because it has all these features it doesn't mean you have to use them all and shoehorn them in if they aren't needed.

Just make it undocked only

Let the people moan like about it and ignore them. Some of the moaning over voez being unavailable to play docked was funny

See: World Of Goo

Nintendo really should have made the Switch be able to stream to the dock, the same way the Wii U streamed to the gamepad. Then this wouldn't be a problem, plus all the Wii U games that used the gamepad's touchscreen could be ported over or have direct sequels on Switch.

Layton games are great. If they start releasing Layton exclusively for the Switch, then I'm going to be more tempted to pick up a Switch.

World of Goo,a game that relies on precise and quick movements can recreate pointer controls perfectly using the Joy-con gyro.Why would it be a problem for a slower paced Layton game?

The best solution would be bringing all Layton games to the Switch! ^^

They make ingenious puzzles! Shouldn't it be relatively easy for them to find a way around that headache to make Layton work on Switch?

Dual Joycon Controls: Gyro gesturing/Traditional analog
Handheld Mode: Touchscreen
Grip and Pro controls: Gyro Gesturing/Traditional analog

There.

Like many have said before, do it like World of Goo. And do it fast! I'm dying to get my hands on another Layton game!

@Fuz Professor Layton as a character is apparantly no longer in them but the puzzle series in the name of Layton is continuing

It's a bit of an odd comment really. Surely you just allow touchscreen and control stick and gyro-pointer options.

I imagine at present they just think they'll sell more to 3DS's 70m install base than Switch's ~4m

Easy. Just make Nintendo add in Wii U Gamepad support for the Switch so that you can have a second screen for touch screen puzzles when docked.

@RainbowGazelle Yep, that's what I've been saying for years. The Wii U was perfect for a lot of games but they never happened and now sadly never will.

@bolt05 If the mechanic requires quick reflexes then a cursor would't really fit the bill even if you up the sensitivity

...seriously? There are so many possible workarounds for this that it makes it sound much more like an excuse than an actual "problem" they're facing.

Personally even though I own both consoles, I'd be far more inclined to buy and play it on the Switch than on the 3DS. I know it's been said plenty of times already but seriously, just use gyro pointer controls like World of Goo and Human Resource Machine had. There are plenty of possibilities so it really..puzzles me..that they haven't found a solution for this problem.

A puzzle worthy of Layton himself. 🤔

Don't put in any dock-support...as easy as that. Remember Kirby and the rainbow paintbrush? That game was playable only on the gamepad.

Portable only and I'll be more than happy. Please more Lawton, Level 5!

@SKTTR The Puzzle Master died around a year ago, he was the brain behind Layton's puzzles

Pointer controls. Problem solved. =

I really don't see what the issue is. In fact, the gyro controls and HD rumble open the possibility for even more types of puzzles.

Let's not forget that World of Goo worked perfectly fine on the Wii, so 2D boy already had experience in making it work with motion controls.
I just hope it's not another lame excuse to bring out Professor Layton on the Switch though.

@sillygostly Then people will realize "oh no, we've been duped! these AREN'T some revolution new controller, they're just wiimotes!"

I say just make it portable and let everyone Know it's portable only. For the people who love the game I'm sure they would love it. If they can figure out a comfortable way to play docked that's cool too. I've actually never played a Layton game but would assume the touchscreen is very important . It probably should have been made for Wii-U.

I don't get the impression he's saying they can't do it, just that it adds a level of complexity to the design. Which it does. If anything, the hybrid nature of the Switch opens up more possibilities for new kinds of puzzles, but that means there are more things L5 need to figure out before the game can go ahead.

I also think they have a big problem with their Puzzle Master dying. And while there are definitely other people on the planet who can design puzzles, a Professor Layton game features hundreds of puzzles and needs a really good puzzle master to maintain a certain standard. I would honestly rather wait years for a new Layton game that was up to the standard than have them rush ahead and release a game with sub-par puzzles.

This is so dumb! Nintendo specifically designed the console with the same buttons in handheld or console mode, and pointer controls in console mode to cover touch screen inputs from handheld mode. It's a complete non issue if they put 5 mins thought into it.

I think everyone commenting about pointers or joysticks needs to calm down. What you speak of is impossible heresy against the glory of the omnissiah! Layton games can only be played with touchscreens. Its people like you that think Link can work in 3D, that Mario could ever expand past the platforming genre, or that Samus could ever leave the 2D plane. Imagine the children openly weeping in the streets in such a world of "innovation". Now, let's all go back to playing Fighting Street which I know for a fact will never receive a successful sequel.

When docked switch to thumb stick cursor mode. 🤷🏻‍♂️

I played Zelda. I love the Switch. I think it's amazing hardware. The problem is, the Layton series does a lot with the touchscreen and pointing. So, the problem with the Switch is, if you play on handheld you can do it, but if you put it on the dock... we're trying to figure out how that would play into it.

Touch screen and pointing... ummm Level 5, the Wii U is still here btw. You don't have to go completely exclusive with the Switch just yet.

I think using the Joy-con as a pointer is an amble enough solution.

Just do it portable only.

isn't it already coming to mobile? what's the difference?

And that right there is one of the problems with not letting people use the portable Switch in the hand while simultaneously outputting the game on TV display too. If you could use it like that, basically like a Wii U gamepad, there would be no issue whatsoever with putting a traditional Layton game on the system that would make sense and feel good however you used it. But, I guess we'll just have to wait until Level-5 figures this one out before we see Layton on the ol' Switch. . . .

I've not thought about it long enough to come up with any particularly great solution myself, but I'm sure it could/can be made to work well enough on Switch.

Yeah, it could become a single joycon game when docked. Either Skyward Sword style Motion pointing or using the IR pointer on the right joycon. Sure, it's not ideal but, it shouldn't be too hard for Level-5 to implement.

Pointer controls? Or they could just restrict it to handheld mode. I'd play it either way.

Are motion controls that hard to emulate a touch screen?

The Layton series would be amazing for the console and would be enough alone to convince me to pick up a Switch.

Get it together, Level-5. Because you're no ordinary developer, you are Level-5.

The could just go the Voz or whatever that game was called route and make it tablet /undocked mode only.

Switch is the Wii U Gamepad all over again.

@emperor_ing i agree.

@gcunit It'd be a neat idea, the question is how much 'guts' or tech would the dock then need to be able to support that? People were (initially) already complaining about the $300 and saying it should be $250, so in some ways I can see why they didn't go that route.

It is unfortunate, as the WiiU dual screen was a pretty cool feature

As long as there's a release date for English version Lady Layton, I'm happy

You guys seem to forget that "World of Goo" was originally designed around pointer controls, since it was originally a WiiWare game. However, a series that focuses on very exact touchscreen puzzles like Prof. Layton would not work very well with pointer or joystick controls. I certainly can't move an onscreen reticle with the same kind of finesse or accuracy as I can with a touchscreen stylus.

I wonder how it'll work on the switch though since we need touch screen? Hope they tell us more on the official Layton Series Social Media Accounts! UGH! I'll be on the lookout!

Facebook.com/LaytonSeries
Twitter.com/LaytonSeries

@GoldenGamer88 Yeah c'mon Level 5. Give us Layton and Yokai already on the Switch.

@SLIGEACH_EIRE Pokémon Snap 2 would have been PERFECT for the Wii U.

@bolt05 Someone has prpbably replied alrwady, but the layton games require you to draw, trace, and write letters/numbers, and I can see that being a huge issue unless you're pointing at the screen wii-style.

Or....or.....just make it only on the portable.

Whats the big deal?

The VAST majority of folks buying Switch are buying it for it being a portable.

@Robotron2084 exactly.

Switch is a portable, keep the game focused on what the fans want.

I don't get this idea of people trying to pretend this is a console when its very much a portable.

@JJ286 Agreed.

I would love to see the layton games on nintendo switch i have one its a great console i would buy them even if could only play as hand held