On the Ball: Out Of Control

[Nick Holmgren]

I don't see anything wrong with putting Star Craft on the iPad so long as it doesn't completely chug down the platform.

cause the amount of pants kicking will increase 10 fold and it would mean they would have 2 sets of leagues to run. Plaus they'd have to do a ton of balancing work to make sure it was fair on both formats, a change of platform will change the balance as zerg building from only one structure would be a god send on a touch format while it is only nice if your new now.

Oh, sorry, I forgot the so-ridiculously-over-competitive-that-if-a-game-goes-multi-platform-you-damn-well-better-eliminate-any-possible-advantage-from-that demographic.

Seriously, how do you sleep at night knowing people might be using peripherals such as the Peregrine [http://www.1337life.com/?p=2528]?

No it would be because Blizzard themselves would have to release it and then re-do the balance work. They don't need to work with some glove that acts as a keyboard because they never released the game for that saying "it is great on glove too". If they went to the iPad it would mean they are knowingly entering into a new ui. If one race became more powerful then it would mean that blizzard would not meet their own quality squandered and it would be come a deformed version of the game it was trying to be.

Well, that does explain how you can sleep at night in a wide world of PC peripherals and yet entertain the idea that it's terrible if different people use different interfaces. It's not true, Blizzard developers really don't have any interest in designing the game with every little device in mind, they probably even put in multiple-monitor support, but it's nonetheless an excellent rationalization.

Firstly this is getting out of hand. Is there not better way to reply to someone?

If you can think of a better way to express the ideas I am, I'd like to hear it.

Second, upon further review it turns out your glove is just a bunch of short cut keys.

The glove wasn't the thing. It was just an example of thousands of such peripherals.

Given their existence, exactly what difference does the iPad Interface make the game balance?

Firstly I meant the whole having to quote all this crap, didn't notice it eventually just hides it in the posted version. Secondly, where will the hot-keys go? Also the of the "thousands of peripherals" how many aren't just hot keys? okay so people get more hot-keys, why they need them I don't know but if they want them the more power to them. From what I've seen now one ever ends up using all 10 hot keys they currently have access to. Its more trying to fit hotkeys on the Ipad and still make the, readable.

 

[geldonyetich]

Firstly I meant the whole having to quote all this crap, didn't notice it eventually just hides it in the posted version.

You can just remove it. Like this. Just make sure the quote tags match up.

Secondly, where will the hot-keys go? Also the of the "thousands of peripherals" how many aren't just hot keys? okay so people get more hot-keys, why they need them I don't know but if they want them the more power to them. From what I've seen now one ever ends up using all 10 hot keys they currently have access to. Its more trying to fit hotkeys on the Ipad and still make the, readable.

You're still missing the point.

For example, there's are such things as touch screen monitors. They're pretty much identical to an iPad interface - it just instantly moves the mouse pointer to where the player touches. Fully compatible with any PC game, StarCraft 2 included. Some can even detect something like the rotation of the finger which you can rig up to activate macros. They only run about $200 more than a normal monitor.

My point that this level playing field you seem to believe exists really isn't there, at least in terms of interface. Given the modularity of the PC interface, the iPad really makes no difference at all.

 

[Nick Holmgren]

Secondly, where will the hot-keys go? Also the of the "thousands of peripherals" how many aren't just hot keys? okay so people get more hot-keys, why they need them I don't know but if they want them the more power to them. From what I've seen now one ever ends up using all 10 hot keys they currently have access to. Its more trying to fit hotkeys on the Ipad and still make the, readable.

You're still missing the point.

For example, there's are such things as touch screen monitors. They're pretty much identical to an iPad interface - it just instantly moves the mouse pointer to where the player touches. Fully compatible with any PC game, StarCraft 2 included. Some can even detect something like the rotation of the finger which you can rig up to activate macros. They only run about $200 more than a normal monitor.

My point that this level playing field you seem to exist really isn't there, at least in terms of interface. Given the modularity of the PC interface, the iPad really makes no difference at all.

you do realize that moving your hand across a screen is slower then a mouse right? I can move my mouse about 2 in and get across my monitor about a foot and a half. So if people feel like intentionally disadvantaging themselves go a head. I doubt Bilz would go out and intentionally release a game on a new format just as a straight up port. It would be clunky as hell. They have plans to teach people hotkeys with single-player "teaching" levels that ready you for multiplayer. Making the game for Ipad would just delay the release further and I'll bet that is it is possible someone will find a way to turn the Ipad into a touch mac book at which point it will just be a question of shoving the game onto the thing. If you want to take the time to make the mod for the interface so it will work go ahead. I on the other hand have been waiting too long for this game to see it pushed back b/c bliz is now applying their uber polish to and Ipad port. Being bliz they would never settle for a straight port but rather would spend a whole year just making the ui perfect.

 

[geldonyetich]

you do realize that moving your hand across a screen is slower then a mouse right?

I'm going to stop you right there. Unless you have conducted laboratory-condition based tests on this, and have hard data right in front you, this is not an assertion you can make.

Making the game for Ipad would just delay the release further

Again, I'm going to have to stop you right there.

1. Nothing to do with what we were talking about.
2. Not true. Games get released on multiple platforms all the time without delaying them. They just release one platform first, then a few months down the line finis their second platform port.
3. It's yet to be determined if Starcraft 2 could even run on an iPad.

 

[Nick Holmgren]

you do realize that moving your hand across a screen is slower then a mouse right?

I'm going to stop you right there. Unless you have conducted laboratory-condition based tests on this, and have hard data right in front you, this is not an assertion you can make.
[/qoute]
I'm going to stop you there and say that moving your hand 2 inches is going to be faster then moving it a foot an a half every day of the week.

Making the game for Ipad would just delay the release further

Again, I'm going to have to stop you right there.

1. Nothing to do with what we were talking about.
2. Not true. Games get released on multiple platforms all the time without delaying them. They just release one platform first, then a few months down the line finis their second platform port.
3. It's yet to be determined if Starcraft 2 could even run on an iPad.

I'm relatively sure the low quality would work. Have you seen SC2 on low settings? It looks like a dream-cast game. Also while their making it for Ipad why don't they just make it for ever natal and move and wii at the same time? Sad truth being, porting for more formats is kind of time consuming and really a float dream. I mean why hasn't valve released Left 4 Dead on PS3 yet? this argument is actually going the wrong way. Why should it come out for Ipad? its a much more limited format then the other options I just came up with.

 

[Mr. Mike]

It's the main reason the wii works for so many people really, people who are new to games need completely intuitive controls or they'll be put off them. Not that they should completely supplant them or anything, as you said, complex controls are what allow competitive play to exist. Motion controls and touch screen are certainly a good introduction to games though.

Touch-based controls are like the extra wheels you put on a bike as a kid when you're still learning; they help you get going, but in the long run once you've gotten used to things, they only hamper you developing your skills.