So what are your guys thoughts on gimmicks?

Dictionary.com definition of Gimmick:
an ingenious or novel device, scheme, or stratagem, especially one designed to attract attention or increase appeal.

Things like touch-screens, motion control, gun peripheral, etc.

What is good about gimmicks?
What's bad about them?
Are they necessary?

Is it bad if something is gimmicky? Or can it, potentially, make something an overall more enjoyable experience?

Thoughts?

I hate the Wii controller. I hate it so much. I just want to push some buttons and think that the fact I'm leaning to the side will help turn a tight corner and avoid my death; not wave a controller around when I'm tired from working. At least with the old Wii attacking is very frustrating in Okami due to how precise you have to be. My Wii is basically a paper weight.

As for the DS, once I got a screen protector I really like the touch screen mechanic. I have yet to play a game where the touch controls are off so it's tons of fun to play a game like Ouendan or Okami where the touch screen plays a huge role. As for 3D, I think I need to get used to it. So far I've been switching it to 2D since you really have to keep you eyes in the right area or you'll end up having skewed vision and miss your target.

This is just from my experiences. I can see how some people could have fun with motion controls and such. It's just if I want to move around while playing I'll set up DDR; it's actually how I get exercise during the harsh Minnesota winters.

(08-17-2012 03:57 AM)Hexadecimal Wrote:  I hate the Wii controller. I hate it so much. I just want to push some buttons and think that the fact I'm leaning to the side will help turn a tight corner and avoid my death; not wave a controller around when I'm tired from working. At least with the old Wii attacking is very frustrating in Okami due to how precise you have to be. My Wii is basically a paper weight.

Same here. The only Wii games I really enjoyed were the ones that either didn't use, or used very little the motion control function. My favorite Wii game, in particular, being Super Paper Mario (which you held the controller sideways, like a classic controller). But alas, my Wii is now collecting dust above my living room TV.

Quote:As for the DS, once I got a screen protector I really like the touch screen mechanic. I have yet to play a game where the touch controls are off so it's tons of fun to play a game like Ouendan or Okami where the touch screen plays a huge role. As for 3D, I think I need to get used to it. So far I've been switching it to 2D since you really have to keep you eyes in the right area or you'll end up having skewed vision and miss your target.

I think the general consensus is that most people just turn the 3D off. And I don't blame them. I don't like it on there. Although I don't own a 3DS (will be buying one in November for Paper Mario: Sticker Star).

Quote:This is just from my experiences. I can see how some people could have fun with motion controls and such. It's just if I want to move around while playing I'll set up DDR; it's actually how I get exercise during the harsh Minnesota winters.

Yeah, I feel ya. I don't mind motion control if it's done well, but I don't want to play a game with motion controls, that's perfectly fine using a regular controller, just for the sake of motion controls.

If gimmicks are a fun aside to something then I say fair play and ho hum. However, if gimmicks are the focal point of a new console or game, then hells no

I think that the original Nintendo DS was probably the most well done gimmick I've seen by major companies. The touch screen didn't detract from the quality of games, and we still had our good ol Gameboy buttons to use, the screen worked really well in games like Phantom Hourglass where you could control bombchus and stuff, they used the technology right and avoided the Wii Symptom of having way too many minigame collections, the DS made it all flow perfectly.

And then we got the DS lite and DSi and DSiXL and 3DS and 3DSXL and all of that crap.

Gimmicks are alright in my opinion, but sometimes they're annoying.

The Wii is 50/50, I liked it though.

The Wii U is perfect in my opinion, it may be a gimmick, but if Nintendo pull it off, it could be great. (playing gamecube games on the touchscreen at night under bed covers.)

Even though, with gimmicks, comes many devs not wanting to make games for the console, The Wii U has this problem many devs would not like to spend more time on their game so the Wii U will have an touchscreen implemented, they'd rather make the game, then put it on the console, with the Wii U they will have to do more work, which could mean the game not going on there, or the game just not using the touchscreen at all.

As long as the game concept or peripheral is an integral part of the game and doesn't take away from the experience then I don't see it as a game.

Gimmick:
Steel Battalion. So much potential from Capcom but that crappy hunk of Kinect ruined it with pathetic hand gestures which failed to work on any level and is nothing like operating an actual mech from the previous games
Doing it right:
The original Steel Battalion is known for having an extravagant control setup which featured a controller with 40+ buttons. Operated fine and worked well.

Gimmick:
Zelda: Skyward Sword Using the infuriating motion plus to control your Loftwing when there is a perfectly functioning control stick on the nunchuck. In OoT/MM/TP etc you could kill a Deku Baba by slashing at the stem. In SS you have to accurately slash horizontal or vertical on it's mouth. A simple enemy became a tedious chore
Doing it right:
Zelda: TP slashing while running/combat. Minimal motions and worked fine.

Gimmick:
Positioning your PSP so you can see what's coming behind you in Gran Turismo 5. No!
Doing it right:
Using the rear view mirror like we have been doing in those games for years.

Peripheral gimmicks:
Anything you can attach on to the Wii. Because flailing your around wildly needed to be more dangerous with a pointless Tennis raquet attachment that adds nothing to the game.

Lets also be honest, did anyone seriously enjoy playing Zelda PH/ST with the touch screen and not wonder why we weren't using the D-pad? Writing on the charts = awesome. Playing the entire game like Diablo 2 = No thanks.

Just a few I've come across in gaming.

(08-17-2012 10:34 AM)BumblebeeCody Wrote:  Lets also be honest, did anyone seriously enjoy playing Zelda PH/ST with the touch screen and not wonder why we weren't using the D-pad? Writing on the charts = awesome. Playing the entire game like Diablo 2 = No thanks.

When I first realised that I couldn't use the D-Pad, I was raging, but then I got used to it and really enjoyed the controls.

That's one thing. Where they force you to use the gimmick. It sucks. That's kind of why I like Sony's approach to PSMove. Where, with some games, they allow you to use Move, but don't require it (like Killzone 3).

It's a good thing Nintendo didn't do this with Super Smash Bros. Brawl.

I think gimmicks in video games should be optional.

Nintendo has been doing things like these when the n64 came out and they became successful. Hell thats what so intriguing about Nintendo.That somehow they can pull a gimmick off(Wii,The DS,the 3DS,The N64) and make it so gaddamn cheap.Thats how you make it to the market( though it is optional), using gimmicks and utilizing it(ex.Legend of the Zelda DS games,WiiSports,Super Mario 64,etc.). And all i know that somehow i will get a WiiU and a OUYA because of these gimmicks and at one point look at the PS4 and Xbox 720 and say MEH.

Oh, and I really hope we don't get a ton of stupid plastic junky addons for it, although it could be sort of cool if we could get custom skins for the controller.