Interesting concept for game controls

[dccorona]

i just thought of this. i doubt im the first to think of it, and i doubt its allowed under sdk agreement, but its interesting anyways

the volume rocker and ring/silent switch could be used a shoulder buttons for shooting games etc. or even for movement. this would allow so many more creative and innovative iPhone control schemes
especially since many games volume options seem to refuse to acknowledge the ring/silent switch, and sometimes even the volume rocker, I dont see why they can't be put to better use

maybe, if executed correctly, the sleep/wake button, or even the home button (although this could cause big problems) could have their functionalities replaced in an app/game
maybe a camera that uses one of these buttons as a trigger, instead of a screen button

let me know what you think of this

 

[Zincous]

I thought about this same thing. Although I don't think the SDK by apple allows this or even has this kind of options in the API's given??

But I wanted the volume up button to be a shooting button. It fits perfetly on your index finger when holding it sideways, an would allow for a more reliable shooting button, and leave more space on the screen/better vision.

Maybe even an accelerator for car games etc...

 

[Rayfire]

The ringer/silent switch might be a bad idea, that might be the case of it to loosen up. I'm satisfied so far with what those buttons can do, no need to add more functionality IMO

 

[dccorona]

I thought about this same thing. Although I don't think the SDK by apple allows this or even has this kind of options in the API's given??

But I wanted the volume up button to be a shooting button. It fits perfetly on your index finger when holding it sideways, an would allow for a more reliable shooting button, and leave more space on the screen/better vision.

Maybe even an accelerator for car games etc...

thats exactly what I was thinking of what it could be used for.
maybe all it would take is for someone to find out a way to make it work and then submit their app to apple, so they can see what a great idea it is
after all, theyre marketing it as a game device. and lack of real buttons is its one weakness. they can partially solve that problem without taking away from what the iPhone is, by allowing these features

 

[dukebound85]

The ringer/silent switch might be a bad idea, that might be the case of it to loosen up. I'm satisfied so far with what those buttons can do, no need to add more functionality IMO

i agree. the silent switches are prone to fall off so i wouldnt like to be using them constatnly

 

[sseelman]

So, speaking of control mechanisms..... What ever happened to the icontrolpad? I checked their website ( http://www.icontrolpad.com/ ) today and it has not been updated since October 8th. I like the idea of using this as it gets over the whole concept of creating virtual control pads on the screen. I know it is not always convenient to carry it around. But, I think it is a great add-on idea. Anyone know anything about this?

 

[notintheleast]

So, speaking of control mechanisms..... What ever happened to the icontrolpad? I checked their website ( http://www.icontrolpad.com/ ) today and it has not been updated since October 8th. I like the idea of using this as it gets over the whole concept of creating virtual control pads on the screen. I know it is not always convenient to carry it around. But, I think it is a great add-on idea. Anyone know anything about this?

Zod posted an update about them. Nothing specific....

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/620652/

 

[macfreek57]

That sounds like a bad idea

Apple stresses too much the use of as few buttons as possible (see: iPod Click wheel). While it would be nice to see a few more dedicated buttons on the iPhone, I'm glad for the ones that are already there. I think Apple's taking the right route by not turning the volume rocker into a "soft button". it is a phone after-all (the touch is not, of course) and being able to change the volume by simply pressing a button that you know will always have the same functionality is a pretty convenient feature for a phone.

 

[notintheleast]

I agree wwith macfreek. I definitely do not want to see the volume rocker or home button used.

Instead an option to add external controls would be great, like the icontrolpad. Especially if it could work in conjunction with the touch and accelerometer controls. For instance in a FPS you could have a D-Pad for strafing and back and forth motions and use the accelerometer to look around/aim and two dedicated shoot and jump buttons. Throw in some touch controls for things like switching weapons, etc., and you've got a pretty intuitive, familiar and yet unique control scheme.

I love the touch and accelerometer controls, so don't get me wrong, but it would be great to have some more options.

 

[mkrishnan]

Apple stresses too much the use of as few buttons as possible (see: iPod Click wheel).

I tend to agree... I think the way forward is for better and better onscreen controls logic. There are some good examples now of fairly sophisticated games that have excellent onscreen controls, thanks to the interpretive logic behind them. In Hero of Sparta, for instance, you scarcely ever wish the controls were physical and the onscreen controls feel very natural. If they achieved that only months into developing iPhone games, I think the possibility is significant that eventually, onscreen controls could become so well established that they become a non-issue.

Along those lines, though, it would probably help developers if some of this logic could be bundled up into libraries so that there was more standardization of onscreen control quality across games. Right now, even two games from the same developer can vary greatly in how well they work (HoS for instance is quite a bit better than Brothers in Arms).

 

[sseelman]

As much as I do believe that the on-screen controls need to continue to mature, I think that the option of an add-on like the icontrolpad would be great. I think one question will be is whether it will be supported on the iPhone/touch without having to jailbreak it. Will Apple allow this type of device and will it allow th API's? I have no idea. Any thoughts?

 

[andyhargreaves]

Volume controls --> Rudder control in X-Plane



That would be nice.