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Eurogamer: Level-5 trying to make a Layton game work on Switch

T

takoyaki

Member
But with the launch of the Nintendo Switch, some fans are wondering if now is finally the time for Layton to make its debut on home console. Well, it turns out the developers at Level-5 are working on a Layton game on Nintendo Switch - but they're running into a design problem they have yet to solve.
Click to expand...
At E3 today, I interviewed Level-5 CEO and Layton producer Akihiro Hino about the possibility of Layton coming to Nintendo Switch. Here's what he had to say: ”I played Zelda. I love the Switch. I think it's amazing hardware. The problem is, the Layton series does a lot with the touchscreen and pointing. So, the problem with the Switch is, if you play on handheld you can do it, but if you put it on the dock... we're trying to figure out how that would play into it."
That's the stumbling block: when the Switch is docked, it works like a traditional home console, and you play it on your TV with a traditional controller setup. The Switch itself is unavailable to use as a touchscreen, as it is when played in handheld mode.
Click to expand...
The good news is that this is an issue Level-5 is currently working on resolving - and if it manages to come up with a design solution, it sounds like we'll see a Layton game on the Nintendo Switch.
"If we can get around that and figure out a way of doing it, definitely we're looking into putting the next Layton onto the Switch," Hino said.
Click to expand...
=> Read more on Eurogamer

So good news for Layton fans hoping to one day see the series transition to Switch, but it doesn't sound like a version of Layton's Mystery Journey (aka. Lady Layton) will be ready in the near future.

edit:
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source
 
Robin64

Robin64

Member
I mean, nice they want to get it working in docked mode, but there is already a game out there that is handheld mode only (VOEZ), so it's not like it couldn't be done that way.
 
Garou

Garou

Member
In docked-mode you use the JoyCons like a Wiimote/mouse-pointer to mimic a touchpen on the screen.

There Level5, this one's free.
 
L

L~A

Member
Would love Layton trilogies on Switch. I'd probably be more interested in that that Layton Mystery Adventures tbh.
 
N

NippleViking

Banned
Foremost I want a Layton game on Switch, but I hope they don't eschew docked mode as some are suggesting. Layton's obviously better suited to portability + touchscreen, but man do I want to see that charming art blimped up on the big-screen.
 
P

PsionBolt

Member
Sounds like a bad excuse. It's not like Layton's touch controls are especially meaningful; you mostly click a choice, click things in a certain order, drag a thing around, and other simple stuff like that. It's not hard to see how they could be replaced with proper controls -- most puzzles would work with a menu cursor, and the remaining few could use a free cursor or normal manual control (like the Frogger puzzles).
 
J

jariw

Member
The "World of Goo" port on the Switch already shows that using the gyro as a Wiimote-like pointer works ok. Not ideal, but certainly ok.
 
SinCityAssassin

SinCityAssassin

Member
Pointer controls. Come on Level-5. Last ditch resort just let people move a cursor with an analog stick, HD rumble when you hover over a Hint Coin.

BAM.
 
B

Bazry

Member
Pointer controls would suck for some puzzles, thinking those where you need to draw straight lines. Might work if they have an MS Paint style option of clicking down and then dragging a line to another location though
 
O

oti

Banned
You could either use pointers or just port the Android version and label it handheld only. You could even hold the Switch vertically. It's a tablet.
 
S

Shiggy

Member
They said the same thing about the Wii.

Edit: Just checked. Hino said the stylus controls made the DS the optimal platform, but the Wii would allow for a more cinematic presentation.
 
S

Shahadan

Member
-Use the joycon
-stop being lazy and create new sorts of puzzles if you somehow can't make it work
-don't do another layton game ever

I'm fine with either of those
 
T

Thoraxes

Member
Given the lack of a need of finesse for Layton games, joycon pointers seem the way to go, though I can see writing numbers becoming awkward.

Alternatively, just make it handheld only, and so you have to play sideways, or split the screen side-by-side or something.
 
M

matrix-cat

Member
It's series like Professor Layton and Picross that make me hope the 3DS sticks around a while longer, because they're not going to work that well on the Switch. Well, Picross is going to be miserable without a stylus, but I'm sure they could work out some new kinds of puzzles more suited to the Switch.
 
J

JonnyDBrit

Member
Pointer controls for sure, have the classic gloved hand around to indicate where it's aimed. Thus you can get around the issue of how one touches around for hint coins.

Or otherwise, if shit somehow really, REALLY doesn't work otherwise due to precision issues, just have certain puzzles say 'please switch to handheld mode'. They tend not to take long, so make sure they're not back to back and any annoyance from now playing on the bigscreen should be minimised.
 
T

ThoseDeafMutes

Member
Do puzzles that require both docked and handheld modes to solve. That way you are constantly pissed off by having to switch for purely gameplay reasons. It'd be great!
 
G

GamerJM

Banned
I think I'll always have to play games like this in handheld mode. It wouldn't feel right without it. Doubly so for Ace Attorney because reading all that text would strain my eyes on my setup (I sit far away from a monitor, like if it were a TV).
 
R

Rolf NB

Member
Oregano said:
Just another third party making excuses not to support Switch. :mad:
Click to expand...
Not sure if serious.
Challenges and churn for franchises heavily reliant on the 3DS paradigm were completely expected. Layton is one of the prime examples. Others are Puzzle & Dragons, Etrian Odyssey, Phoenix Wright.

If your games transition to mobile easier than to the followup platform, it's not always the developers' fault. Nintendo wanted a clean cut and they got it.
 
Z

Zalman

Member
It's a legitimate problem that I've been thinking about for a while, but it's a good thing they're at least trying. Hopefully they can make it work. Joy-Con for pointing might not be as intuitive, but it should at least suffice on paper.
 
A

Aleh

Member
I would damn love Layton games on the Switch. I don't think TV mode is too necessary for them however, but it would be neat to have nonetheless.
 
R

Rncewind

Member
i think they should make a game focused arround puzzle solving (yeah i know right) but with heavy focus of solving the puzzles with the joycon features


its kinda sad how much tech the joycons have in them but no game use it to the full potential
 
O

OryoN

Member
Well damn, if only those Joy-con were packed to the brim with tech, like IR or motion pointer features and stuff...
 
J

Jo Shishido's Cheeks

Member
But with the launch of the Nintendo Switch, some fans are wondering if now is finally the time for Layton to make its debut on home console.
Click to expand...

They are?
Nine titles in ten years wasn't enough!?
Level-5 can never let anything go.

Instead of shoehorning a game onto a platform they admit doesn't work, why not just create something original?

Other platforms can get stuff like Ni No Kuni but Nintendo fans only like Layton all of a sudden?
 
G

Galang

Banned
Jo Shishido's Cheeks said:
They are?
Nine titles in ten years wasn't enough!?
Level-5 can never let anything go.

Instead of shoehorning a game onto a platform they admit doesn't work, why not just create something original?

Other platforms can get stuff like Ni No Kuni but Nintendo fans only like Layton all of a sudden?
Click to expand...

Wasn't there a Ni No Kuni game on DS? :p

I bet if they could, they would have made the newer title work on Nintendo hardware. Doesn't seem like they were very prepared at all for Switch though
 
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