Transcript GDC 2005

Innovative Touch Screen Controls
SPIDER-MAN 3 DS Postmortem
Muhammad Ahmed and Leo Zuniga
Vicarious 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 Features
Primary 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


Convince project stakeholders


Kid testing yay!
Nintendo Demo



Wanted to bring something NEW to the next
big Spidey movie game!
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 Quote
Things should be made as
simple as possible---but no
simpler.
.
Made it
my self!
Nice suit...
...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


Minimal D-pad




Who here is lefty?
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 ---> WTF
Tap drag ---> WTF
Checkmark Gesture ---> WTF
Double-tap ---> 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






Natural Mapping / Contextual Controls
Feedback is important


Stroke (8 variations)
Semi-circles (4 variations)
Circles (2 variations)
Double Tap
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!