Innovative Touch Screen Controls SPIDER-MAN 3 DS Postmortem

Muhammad Ahmed and Leo ZunigaVicarious Visions

Game Developers Conference 2008

Introductions

Who are these guys? Leo Zuniga (Lead Designer) Muhammad Ahmed (Designer)

Vicarious Visions We also wanted an “all access”

pass!

Game Trailer

Session Overview

We’ll focus on design implementations, specifically handling, AI, combat and of course the touch screen

This session is not about… Technical details of behind DS Touch

Screen Adapting a movie license into a game Although you can ask after the session

Let's Take a Step Back

Redefining core mechanics is not easy

You will have skeptics, but you can use them to your advantage

Communicate your core vision and stick to it

Prototype was extremely helpful

Franchise History

Spider-Man 2 DS Ultimate Spider-Man DS Touch Screen Prototypes Spider-Man 3 DS

Innovation Risks

Why change what works? This is crazy? Please don’t mess with the formula? Believe in the idea, let it brew…

(give it time) How did we accomplish this?

Prototype

Quick and dirty White rooms Prove ideas Communicate vision

Docs only go so far

Game Stats

Development time Team size Number Levels/Missions Open World Feel Accolades

We love reviewers... Sometimes....

Reviews

Gamespot 8 out of 10 “Touch-screen controls are comfortable

and make stringing together attacks easy”

IGN 8.1 out of 10 (.1 woohoo) “Stylus control works and works really

well in this beat-em-up.”Gamespy 9.0

“But where Spider-Man 3 really shines is in its innovative use of the touch screen, which is right up there with most of Nintendo's first-party DS games.”

Nintendo DS

Hardware Overview

Project Goals

Key FeaturesPrimary Aesthetic Goals

Players feel that they are Spidey

No Frustration on Controls Player exploration of handling within

gameplay space

Adapting a Movie into a Game

Get movie script from the internet Add a boss or two Done Oh yeah and random side missions ... Just kidding

Get a real writer

We have in-house guys to help during the adaptation process

... but we were not going to talk about this

Touch Screen Full commitment

Wanted to bring something NEW to the next big Spidey movie game!

Convince project stakeholders Kid testing yay!

Nintendo Demo Got their blessings Fit Nintendo DS strategy ( Iwata CEO )

We knew we're on the right track

Touch Screen Top Screen Vs. Bottom Screen States

Tap Hold Release Stroke Etc…

Einstein QuoteThings should be made as simple as possible---but no simpler.

Nice suit...

.

Made it my self!

...Could have been simpler.

Inspiration

Iterations of Controls From USM

Close to 10 alternatives Everyone had their favorite Lot of feedback during this stage End result

D-pad Traversal Touch Screen Combat No shoulder buttons in core gameplay

Controls Overview

Shoulder buttons issues Mirrored controls

Who here is lefty? Minimal D-pad

General traversal (right/left) Jump Webswing

Optimal Touch Screen

The Webzip Dilemma

One of Spidey’s main moves What Gesture shall we use? Several options

Tap hold Tap drag Checkmark Gesture Double-tap

---> WTF---> WTF

---> WTF

---> FTW... FOR THE WIN!

Relative vs. Non-Relative Controls Touch screen’s center represents

Spidey

Handling (2 Spideys)

Red Suit Acrobatic Flamboyant web abilities Show off super-hero elements

Black Suit Using more strength over agility More brutal attacks A sense of rage rather than heroism

How to Convey differences? Players can see a visual difference

on screen but handling should equally match visuals

Most of the moves had similar inputs Both suits had subtle but unique

gameplay differences Different set of finisher moves

(combat)

Combat

punch kick sweep kick uppercut webzip throws air punch web retrieve web pull web throw dodge circle kicks web slams web rodeo charge attack reflex moves Lots of Moves… and only touch

screen??

Combat States

Ground State Ground Engaged Air State Air Engaged Ground Web State

Gesture System

4 Key Gestures Stroke (8 variations) Semi-circles (4 variations) Circles (2 variations) Double Tap

Natural Mapping / Contextual Controls Feedback is important

Player knows success No need to look at touch screen

The Stroke

Core Moves Punch-kick Uppercuts Throws Dodge Etc…

Gesture Demo

Video Here

Semi-circles and circles

Semi-circles Web slams

Circles The rodeo (everyone’s favorite sport) Reflex moves (aka finishers)

Gesture Demo

Video Here

Double tap

Webbing Additional traversal

Webzip

Gesture Demo

Video Here

Context controls

Pickup/Drop of peds Valves Switches Disarming bombs Using Warp Zones

Gesture Demo

Video Here

If You Can Web it You Can Throw it!

Consistency throughout the game Weak AI Crates Explosive Barrels (boom!)

AI and Touch Screen Controls The player’s toys Must compliment combat Otherwise there’s little to the game

AI Types

Provided player with a good variety of ‘web’ fodder

4 Core AI Types Melee Thug Armed Thug Projectile Thug Big Guy Thug

... and there were Lizards as well like this guy ---->

AI Types

o Each AI had a weakness/tactical vulnerabilities once exposed open the door for a ‘can of whoop ass’ with the touch screen inputs

Hero Points

Combo counter Rewards variety New moves unlocked

Kid Testing

Local kids from the area come and play our games

Great Feedback! Idea Generator Use the data to improve the game

and convince stakeholders

(the non-believers ooooohh!)

Final Takeaway

Quick prototypes are awesome (everyone knows that right?)

Iterative developments of the concept

Accept change Future?

Shrek 3, Tony Hawk and upcoming Dreamworks game Some great stuff please buy

them!

Best Project Quote

The team had some good ones but this beat them all...

“Will they ever get married?” – 8 year old girl kid tester.

No sorry out of scope Next…

Now it's Your Turn...

Seriously ask us something...anything

Weather? Favorite band? Spidey vs Pirates vs. Ninjas?

THANKS FOR COMING!