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Zelda Wii U gamepad features held back in service of gameplay?

It makes zero sense to me that they would actually hold back features such as a map and inventory management from the gamepad on Wii U in service of gameplay. The gamepad is actually perfect for a new Zelda game. As we have seen in the remasters it adds quality of life improvements.

The only reason I can see is they are intentionally doing so in order to make the Switch version more appealing. This is absolutely shitty of Nintendo, they are compromising functionality for the sake of greed. This move only tells me that Nintendo does not give a shit about their dedicated fans that supported Wii U and are willing to go out of their way to make it the less attractive option.

I don't trust this company to support Switch properly in its lifetime if it does not meet their expectations.

We realized that having something on the GamePad and looking back and forth between the TV screen and the GamePad actually disrupts the gameplay, and the concentration that the game player may be experiencing. You have your car's GPS system on your dash. If you had it down in your lap, you're going to get into an accident! Still, you can play the game entirely on the GamePad screen, if you like. Considering how vast the world is, it would keep you from monopolizing the TV.
-Aonuma
 
Wait, did they say they were doing this?

I am expecting a map and convenient touchscreen inventory management on the gamepad just like the other Wii U Zeldas.
 
This comes across as a slightly dramatic reaction.

Eiji Aonuma has said in the past he doesn't like the Wii U gamepad, and that the "Dual View disrupts gameplay."
 

shiyrley

Banned
Wait, did they say they were doing this?

I am expecting a map and convenient touchscreen inventory management on the gamepad just like the other Wii U Zeldas.
There is none of that, Aonuma said that "he doesn't like that you have to stop looking at the TV" or something like that.

The real reason is that they don't want the Wii U to have features that the Switch version does not. Be thankful it has Off-TV, and the only reason you have that is because the Switch has a better version of it so Nintendo doesn't care.
 

Formless

Member
To be fair I think you can switch weapons much easier than in the pre-Wii U/non-3DS games. Still sucks but they probably just didn't want to code up two different implementations.

Complaining about annoying UI, Nintendo does this all the time.
 
Have you seen how they talk about Wii U lately? That thing was a mistake. The Switch is a new hotness, so of course they're going to optimize their big gun like BoTW in favor of the Switch and leave the lesser version to a WiiU owner peasant like me to buy.
 
IThis move only tells me that Nintendo does not give a shit about their dedicated fans that supported Wii U

Cancelling support after 3 years and that dreadful final year of filler titles should have told you that.
It wouldn't surprise me at all if the Wii U version was either severely compromised or sold in limited supply. They did similar with Twilight Princess when they made Gamecube owners wait an extra 2 weeks.
 
I can't think of a single instance where having inventory management and/or a map on the gamepad as "disruptive" to gameplay. It's more efficient. Constantly going into a menu on the main screen is what breaks immersion.
 

Madao

Member
if they didn't care about people who supported them with the Wii U, they'd have outright cancelled the Wii U version. it's additional manpower and time needed to have 2 versions ready at launch.

also, i'm on the same mindset as Aonuma. looking away from the TV screen is annoying. i played both Wii U remasters with Wii U Pro Controller and TV only and used the old system to switch items.
 
It's truly bizarre that there isn't inventory management on the Pad. I don't think this is the end of the world or anything because the menu design looks excellent in terms of functionality and speed. But bizarre why they didn't feel the need to even implement the map screen on the bottom.

The entire concept of a second screen for gameplay has been a complete bust since the DS came out. It adds nothing.,

RPG menu design has been so improved by second screen gaming that it's insane. FE: Switch is pretty much automatically going to be a step back in terms of UI because of the lack of a second screen.
 
How is it a leap? Cutting back on features is incredibly uncharacteristic of Nintendo.

game will not have gamepad features

>

they are purposefully sabotaging wiiu version to get us to buy a switch

>

if switch doesn't take off they will do anything they can to fuck switch owners over!!!!!! :((((( 😔😔😔😔
 

Betty

Banned
The entire concept of a second screen for gameplay has been a complete bust since the DS came out. It adds nothing.,

Wronger than wrong this comment is.

Second screen on DS and 3DS is one of the best things to happen ever, makes for fast use of the inventory and shows a map or other features without cluttering the screen.

And the clamshell design will never be beat because it makes the device so small.

Amazing to hear them admit though that the entire design theory of the Wii U, namely the second screen, is actually a hinderance to gameplay since you have to look back and forth from it to the tv.
 

Caelus

Member
Dual screen gameplay works better on the DS and 3DS due to the proximity on the second screen, with the Wii U it felt more cumbersome, even with the small conveniences like a map screen.

Anyways, inventory management is a tad different in this game than the other Zeldas, combat looks to be harder too, so pausing doesn't seem so bad. Too bad about the lack of a map on the Gamepad screen though, poor Wii U owners.
 
Remember that Zelda isn't the only game to have a crippled interface due to the a single screen Switch version. Pokemon Sun/Moon have the same issue with all the online features going from being accessible instantly on the bottom screen (as they were in Gen VI) to being a menu option to go to a area called festival plaza where you then have to connect online. Any time you leave festival plaza you are disconnected and if you don't know connecting online takes ages in Pokemon.
 

The Boat

Member
Remember that Zelda isn't the only game to have a crippled interface due to the a single screen Switch version. Pokemon Sun/Moon have the same issue with all the online features going from being accessible instantly on the bottom screen (as they were in Gen VI) to being a menu option to go to a area called festival plaza where you then have to connect online. Any time you leave festival plaza you are disconnected and if you don't know connecting online takes ages in Pokemon.

Really? I connect really, really fast.
 

MutFox

Banned
So Switch is def the definitive version...
Hmm...

Might keep the Switch pre-order then...
Really wanted to play a Zelda with the strengths of the Wii U. :/

So what does the gamepad display, nothing? Stay black, or just mirrors whats on the tv?

If it mirrors the TV, I guess I'd just use the Pro Pad.
 

Regiruler

Member
game will not have gamepad features

>

they are purposefully sabotaging wiiu version to get us to buy a switch

>

if switch doesn't take off they will do anything they can to fuck switch owners over!!!!!! :(:(:( ��������

The last bit was a throwaway point anyway. The OP is clearly focusing on the first two.

-Aonuma's statement last E3 was in direct contrast to absolutely everything they've ever said the 4 years prior.
-Switch version is the only one with alternative editions. It is evident they are trying to push that version more.
-Having features that the Switch version doesn't have would make the Switch version look more questionable. With graphics being the only difference, the Switch version can come across as completely superior.
-The features were optional as they had been in the two Zelda remakes. There's no obligation to use them, so anything about them being cumbersome is outright bullshit.

Laughably, they failed anyway. I have no interest in buying a switch near launch.
 
To the people defending this decision:

Did the remasters suffer from having this as an option?
Was Ocarina of Time not improved because of the 2nd screen on 3DS?

Fine if you like to use one screen. In the remasters on Wii U you had both options. How can anyone defend this when it could have been optional just like the remasters?
Less clutter on the screen is a good thing to have as an option.
 

Dylan

Member
The only reason I can see is they are intentionally doing so in order to make the Switch version more appealing. This is absolutely shitty of Nintendo, they are compromising functionality for the sake of greed.

You can't think of any other reason?

How about development resources.

I can see the development team weighing the pros and cons of using the gamepad screen.

"Ok boys so with the Wii U, we can make it so the map and inventory screen are on the controller!! Seems like a no brainer. Does anyone have any opinions?"

*someone raises hand*

"OK, but if they are checking the inventory or map they aren't looking at the main screen anyway. So what's the point? Also, wouldn't most people want to pause the action while they check the inventory? So that they don't die just because they wanted to equip the hookshot? Also, if we don't spend our time making the functionality work, we can concentrate on other things, like making the actual game better."

*resounding applause*

"Okie doke, well, back to work then."
 

Massa

Member
The explanation in the OP makes perfect sense. The only shame is that it didn't prevail back when the Wii U was in development.
 

Alebrije

Member
Nintendo will be the first to abandon HD rumble , the same way they did with gamepad. They like to kill their own ideas, it's thier hobby.
 
Given that this game's suffering from enough performance issues on Wii U that it's forcing a 3 GB install, it doesn't surprise me that they're backing off from trying to render a bunch of things - including a detailed version of the game's huge map and a constantly revolving inventory - on a second screen at all times during live gameplay.

Doesn't help that swapping runes and weapons is pretty snappy already, and the scenarios where you'll most need to do it (combat!) are heavy on action and you won't want to divide your attention between screens.

It works really well for past 3D Zeldas because of how their inventories work and the scale of each of the individual areas (which can be just slapped pretty easily onto a small minimap). It doesn't work so well for Breath of the Wild.
 

atbigelow

Member
Nintendo has spent the last five years dragging shitty dual-screen gameplay to the masses, much to the hatred of NeoGAF.

And the absolute second they stop, this thread gets made.
 

Regiruler

Member
You can't think of any other reason?

How about development resources.

I can see the development team weighing the pros and cons of using the gamepad screen.

"Ok boys so with the Wii U, we can make it so the map and inventory screen are on the controller!! Seems like a no brainer. Does anyone have any opinions?"

*someone raises hand*

"OK, but if they are checking the inventory or map they aren't looking at the main screen anyway. So what's the point? Also, wouldn't most people want to pause the action while they check the inventory? So that they don't die just because they wanted to equip the hookshot? Also, if we don't spend our time making the functionality work, we can concentrate on other things, like making the actual game better."

*resounding applause*

"Okie doke, well, back to work then."

The features were already implemented.

They deliberately cut them back. The only development time wasted was when they decided to cut the features.
Nintendo has spent the last five years dragging shitty dual-screen gameplay to the masses, much to the hatred of NeoGAF.

And the absolute second they stop, this thread gets made.
Your projecting what is obviously your own opinions into a hilariously bad hivemind strawman.
 

Nickle

Cool Facts: Game of War has been a hit since July 2013
I agree with Aonuma. It's tiring to continuously look back and forth between the gamepad screen and the TV, its better for them to focus their efforts on making just one good menu.
 

Mathieran

Banned
You can't think of any other reason?

How about development resources.

I can see the development team weighing the pros and cons of using the gamepad screen.

"Ok boys so with the Wii U, we can make it so the map and inventory screen are on the controller!! Seems like a no brainer. Does anyone have any opinions?"

*someone raises hand*

"OK, but if they are checking the inventory or map they aren't looking at the main screen anyway. So what's the point? Also, wouldn't most people want to pause the action while they check the inventory? So that they don't die just because they wanted to equip the hookshot? Also, if we don't spend our time making the functionality work, we can concentrate on other things, like making the actual game better."

*resounding applause*

"Okie doke, well, back to work then."

If you played any of the other Zeldas or Darksiders you would know that having the map/inventory stuff on the game pad never caused you do die or anything like that to happen while being used.

And while I'm not a developer I can't imagine it would take too much work, not to mention we've seen them using at least the map in the past on the game pad so it's already there. They just scrapped it so the Wii U version would have no features the Switch doesn't.
 

Regiruler

Member
I agree with Aonuma. It's tiring to continuously look back and forth between the gamepad screen and the TV, its better for them to focus their efforts on making just one good menu.

The menus in the game are a soul sucking void so that didn't really pan out.
 

Massa

Member
The features were already implemented.

They deliberately cut them back. The only development time wasted was when they decided to cut the features.

Your projecting what is obviously your own opinions into a hilariously bad hivemind strawman.

That's not how game development works. Features get cut all the time because they don't work as expected, or because cutting them eliminates a ton of bugs.
 
I agree with Aonuma. It's tiring to continuously look back and forth between the gamepad screen and the TV, its better for them to focus their efforts on making just one good menu.

i agree

it works for survival horror like zombi which is supposed to be clunky

sucks for everything else
 
You can't think of any other reason?

How about development resources.

I can see the development team weighing the pros and cons of using the gamepad screen.

"Ok boys so with the Wii U, we can make it so the map and inventory screen are on the controller!! Seems like a no brainer. Does anyone have any opinions?"

*someone raises hand*

"OK, but if they are checking the inventory or map they aren't looking at the main screen anyway. So what's the point? Also, wouldn't most people want to pause the action while they check the inventory? So that they don't die just because they wanted to equip the hookshot? Also, if we don't spend our time making the functionality work, we can concentrate on other things, like making the actual game better."

*resounding applause*

"Okie doke, well, back to work then."

Now THIS is reaching. They have already done it in the remasters. They could have just as easily made it optional. How long has this game been in development again?
Sorry, but that is just bullshit.

That's not how game development works. Features get cut all the time because they don't work as expected, or because cutting them eliminates a ton of bugs.
Even though they had this feature in 3 remasters? With no issue? Again, this is a huge reach.
Also, read the quote from Aonuma. He doesn't mention bugs holding it back.
 

Dylan

Member
The features were already implemented.

They deliberately cut them back. The only development time wasted was when they decided to cut the features.

Your projecting what is obviously your own opinions into a hilariously bad hivemind strawman.

Oh I didn't know the features were already implemented in BOTW. When was this revealed? Did anyone play it with those features enabled?
 
This comes across as a slightly dramatic reaction.

Eiji Aonuma has said in the past he doesn't like the Wii U gamepad, and that the "Dual View disrupts gameplay."

Good lad that Aonuma! Couldn't agree more.

I got so fed up with the Gamepad I actually ended up trading all my WiiU games that forced me to use it. Worthless piece of shit that it was.

Much like motion controls, second screen gaming was an interesting experiment that ultimately ended up being more effort and less immersive than just using buttons like we always have done.

So here's to Breath of the Wild, and it's giving the Gamepad the finger it deserves!
 
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