AS a game designer what mechanics would you use the Wii U tablet for?

Because all I can honestly think of is Map/Inventory. The best uses of a secondary touch screen were the two zelda games on DS. (just my opinion) I don't think that would really work here because then whats the point of the TV. Well it wouldworkobviously but the TV space would be wasted. What would you guys use it for, and what mechanics do you hope game dev will use it for? Or is it really doomed to inventory/map?

Look at DS games.
Drawing symbols, indicating paths for A.I. to travel, typing, navigating menu's, notebook, lockpicking, magnifying glass, having two perspectives at once, selecting targets, voiceactivated commands, taking one part of the tv screen and placing it somewhere else, as a shield, flashlight, as a paperweight. I don't know, use your imagination.
For example in a racing game you could let it function as your hindview mirror. Or in a futuristic racer you could tune your car on the fly. Hmm you could fling items at enemies behind you/in front of you using the touch screen. Maybe flip the world with motion controls. I dunno.
Maybe a game in which you photograph stuff around you using the tablet?
What about a Zelda in which you use the tablet as your mirror shield and you can tilt it around to hit enemies in the face with sunlight.

As a paperweight.

KungfuKitten

Ever played Zack & Wiki on the Wii? The gamepad would be perfect for a sequel.

The celestrial brush in Okami also.

[QUOTE="KungfuKitten"]

As a paperweight.

inb4uall

Coaster


Edit: sorry, interactive coaster

The WiiU controller could act as a fully controllable second view point for stealth games. Being able to get a better view of your surroundings could add an extra layer of depth to such games.

Menus, inventory management, maps.

Most of while pausing the actual game;)

I'd say "but hey, I'm not a developer" but devs have'nt really shown us much worthwhile, either.

I'd use the flat surface as a chopping board

Gamefaqs if they ever made a Golden Sun for the Wii-U

Gamefaqs if they ever made a Golden Sun for the Wii-U

Joedgabe

I have many ideas for many genres.OreoMilkshake

[QUOTE="OreoMilkshake"]I have many ideas for many genres.Jonwh18

[QUOTE="Jonwh18"]

[QUOTE="OreoMilkshake"]I have many ideas for many genres.OreoMilkshake

Actually I like these three a lot

Call of Duty - Friends list and updates on the touch screen

This one would seem tacked on.

It NEEDS a heating/cooling element to either keep drinks cold or soup warm. Other than that I think it's worthless.

But Seriously folks:

It's just a modersn rip off of a dreamcast VMU so get your inspiration there.

[QUOTE="Jonwh18"]

[QUOTE="OreoMilkshake"]I have many ideas for many genres.OreoMilkshake

[QUOTE="OreoMilkshake"]

[QUOTE="Jonwh18"] lets hear them then :P

BrunoBRS

Lets see, only read the first page of repls, byt I think some of these may be additions.

Scanners/sensors in games, instead of having the entire screen change, you can just scan with the small screen (like in the Metroid games, would be cool to scan small things like that).

Passive Scanners, altho it allready have been mentioned for AvP

It could help make some RTS games work on consoles, have and create unit groups, that can be picked fast to be on the screen, so you would not need to waste time managing them on the main game screen.

Keep taps on partymembers and such in RPGs, (equipment health, and such, and induvidually swap things fast an efficiently, instead of spending a ton of time in the menus. And upgrades.

GPS, and or minimap in games with lots of traveling and driving.

Sifting through clues in games with riddles and puzzles.

In games with converstions like in th MGS games, the information can come in through that, instead of the main game screen.

working as spydrone view in games that has some akin to that.

Then there are the obvious: MP score list, Inventory management, and normal logs, rear window mirror, rifle scope.

[QUOTE="BrunoBRS"][QUOTE="OreoMilkshake"]:P Fatal Frame - Camera Obscura
Call of Duty - Friends list and updates on the touch screen
RPGs - Commands and stats on the bottom
Racing - Rear view mirror
Fighters - Button combos

Maybe I'm not that creative.

Jonwh18

I have a crap ton of cool ideas. One that jumps to mind isa scope for sniping and other down-sights applications in first person games. Including the ability to look in 360 degrees aroundyourselfwhile your onscreen perspective keeps its aim fixed where it needs to be.

I have a crap ton of cool ideas. One that jumps to mind isa scope for sniping and other down-sights applications in first person games. Including the ability to look in 360 degrees aroundyourselfwhile your onscreen perspective keeps its aim fixed where it needs to be.

Darth-Samus

I have a crap ton of cool ideas. One that jumps to mind isa scope for sniping and other down-sights applications in first person games. Including the ability to look in 360 degrees andyourselfwhile your onscreen perspective keeps its aim fixed where it needs to be.

Darth-Samus

It's not responsive enough for sniping.

Every single orientation feature, you mentioned sounds more bothersome, than just doing it on screen; considering you still have to focus on it.

[QUOTE="Darth-Samus"]

I have a crap ton of cool ideas. One that jumps to mind isa scope for sniping and other down-sights applications in first person games. Including the ability to look in 360 degrees aroundyourselfwhile your onscreen perspective keeps its aim fixed where it needs to be.

Bread_or_Decide

Instead you chould use the combo of the gyroscope and the 2nd screen to aim and make it so that snipers are OHK the way they were ment to be but the difficulty in using them would balence their power

A detective game ala L.A.Noire without all the repetition and hand-holding..

Placed in the yr 2050-ish or so with a heavy emphasis on exploration.

Or a high adrenaline Mech game with the Tablet acting as a FUNCTIONAL INTERACTIVE HUD ala Steel Battalion..

..just a few ideas that most likely won't come to fruition.. We'll get.. Super Mario 89: Princess Peach gives up the Peach, Zelda 37: Link's dissertation, and Metriod 45: Samus's re-diary. :(

A detective game ala L.A.Noire without all the repetition and hand-holding..

Placed in the yr 2050-ish or so with a heavy emphasis on exploration.

OhSnapitz

watch dogs...the screen could be used to control the city network. i dont know the full rules of the game but with a wiiu controller not only could the player control stuff in the immediate vicinity but could do so over a much wider area. a cleer use of the wiiu screen could mean you kill your target and no one has even the foggiest who did it. that may need to be balanced with some form of counter hack based on distance from the player though...other wise the game may be too easy.osan0

[QUOTE="osan0"]watch dogs...the screen could be used to control the city network. i dont know the full rules of the game but with a wiiu controller not only could the player control stuff in the immediate vicinity but could do so over a much wider area. a cleer use of the wiiu screen could mean you kill your target and no one has even the foggiest who did it. that may need to be balanced with some form of counter hack based on distance from the player though...other wise the game may be too easy.m_machine024

[QUOTE="m_machine024"]

[QUOTE="osan0"]watch dogs...the screen could be used to control the city network. i dont know the full rules of the game but with a wiiu controller not only could the player control stuff in the immediate vicinity but could do so over a much wider area. a cleer use of the wiiu screen could mean you kill your target and no one has even the foggiest who did it. that may need to be balanced with some form of counter hack based on distance from the player though...other wise the game may be too easy.BrunoBRS

[QUOTE="BrunoBRS"][QUOTE="m_machine024"]Yeah I saw the Watch Dogs demo and I was like it would be perfect for the WiiU. The guy is holding a touchscreen smartphone... come on now. :P And also you have direct control on which exact part of the city you can apply whatever gadget. The possibilities are big.

inb4uall

[QUOTE="inb4uall"]

[QUOTE="BrunoBRS"] there's also a multiplayer mode where one of the players uses an iPad to hack another player's city. it's just too obvious not to happen.BrunoBRS

[QUOTE="OhSnapitz"]

A detective game ala L.A.Noire without all the repetition and hand-holding..

Placed in the yr 2050-ish or so with a heavy emphasis on exploration.

m_machine024

*pats self on back* :P

..and add Hacking terminals/doors/Cars.. with a slight Combat diviation.. and you'd have yourself a winner.

Pretty much everything that was done to the Touch Screen for the DS and 3DS.

Also probably make it into some sort of Quick Tool of getting items out without pausing, or make it turn into your Command System for RTS games, and probably make it a Control Panel/Video Hub for Communication in Some FPSs or Flight Games.

Quick Select for units/buildings in a RTS.

it would be cool to use it as a rearview mirror in racing games.

Ignore it.campzor