Original Post

Hello everyone, I’m currently figuring out ways on how to use the Virtual Boy unique features in intresting ways, but I’m stuck on what the second d-pad would be used for. Does anyone have any intresting concepts on what i could be used for or know of any games that use the second d-pad? I currently do not have a virtual boy so that’s why I have no clue on what games use it however I will hopefully be getting one soon, it’s just the damn price for one of these units and then the flash cartridge itself.

11 Replies

Red Alarm uses both D-Pads combined to let the player steer in any direction in a 3-D room.

In Teleroboxer each D-Pad + Trigger controls one hand.

VUE Snake has a “Double” mode where you control two snakes at once, one with each D-Pad.

BLOX 2 has a similar mode, where you control two players at once to solve the puzzles.

In a Virtual Boy Zelda version, I’d use the right D-Pad to place items on it.

Another thing I could imagine is to let the user switch between left- and right hand modes.

I hope that can give you some inspiration. πŸ™‚

You forgot 3D Tetris, both D-Pads are used differently to allow a Tetrimino to be moved and rotated in a 3D space.

If there was a VB Zelda game, it would have been cool to have Link obtain an item that could create a mirror image of himself, which would be controlled by the right D-Pad.

There needs to be a first person shooter, maybe Wolfenstein 3D. The two D-Pads would work great for moving and aiming. Somebody has to make one!

KR155E wrote:
Red Alarm uses both D-Pads combined to let the player steer in any direction in a 3-D room.

In Teleroboxer each D-Pad + Trigger controls one hand.

VUE Snake has a “Double” mode where you control two snakes at once, one with each D-Pad.

BLOX 2 has a similar mode, where you control two players at once to solve the puzzles.

In a Virtual Boy Zelda version, I’d use the right D-Pad to place items on it.

Another thing I could imagine is to let the user switch between left- and right hand modes.

I hope that can give you some inspiration. πŸ™‚

Hmm, Intresting. I like that BLOX2 idea. seems intresting.

SirGuntz wrote:
You forgot 3D Tetris, both D-Pads are used differently to allow a Tetrimino to be moved and rotated in a 3D space.

If there was a VB Zelda game, it would have been cool to have Link obtain an item that could create a mirror image of himself, which would be controlled by the right D-Pad.

There needs to be a first person shooter, maybe Wolfenstein 3D. The two D-Pads would work great for moving and aiming. Somebody has to make one!

Oh that zelda concept sounds extremely intresting. I might incorporate that to my prototype but anyway A first person shooter sounds intresting too. I wouldn’t know where to begin with 3D development on VB but maybe one day I could port my old FPS project to it.

My first person Shooter project on PC.
http://www.sandbox.yoyogames.com/extras/image/name/san2/782/326782/original/warforcess2.jpg

Isn’t the source code for Wolfenstein 3D available? It’d be possible to make an unofficial port at least. I think licensing is the same as Doom if you want it to be a commercial project.

Its open for non commercial use however the whole point of setting up my company was to make money and good games, so porting it wouldn’t be in my best intrest right now.

Mario Clash uses it as a set of directional “throw” buttons (so you can be facing left and throw right, etc).

BTW, there’s a complete set of game manuals on the site; feel free to browse them and check their button configurations.

Insmouse No Yakata uses the left D-pad to move and the right one to aim.

Advanced Pasta Cooking Simulator uses them in a similar way. πŸ™‚

Soviet Union 2011 uses the right D-pad to switch weapons.

SirGuntz wrote:
There needs to be a first person shooter, maybe Wolfenstein 3D. The two D-Pads would work great for moving and aiming. Somebody has to make one!

You might be interested in my alternative control scheme for Faceball:

http://www.planetvb.com/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?post_id=23552#forumpost23552

http://www.planetvb.com/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?post_id=24187#forumpost24187

RunnerPack wrote:
Mario Clash uses it as a set of directional “throw” buttons (so you can be facing left and throw right, etc).

BTW, there’s a complete set of game manuals on the site; feel free to browse them and check their button configurations.

Awesome! I’ll be sure to check out the game manuals.

Jack Bros. uses the left D-pad to move the characters around (in a top-down view). If you push/hold B while moving like that, the character will use his weapon in whatever direction you’re running. If you move with the left D pad and use the right D-pad for the weapon, they will attack in whichever direction the right side is pressed. That way you can run one way but shoot in the opposite direction without stopping.

You may also look at the N64 and see how the yellow C buttons were used, since the right D-pad would be the same approximate setup :). I liked in Mario 64 when those buttons would pan/zoom the camera angle.

HP Lovethrash wrote:
Jack Bros. uses the left D-pad to move the characters around (in a top-down view). If you push/hold B while moving like that, the character will use his weapon in whatever direction you’re running. If you move with the left D pad and use the right D-pad for the weapon, they will attack in whichever direction the right side is pressed. That way you can run one way but shoot in the opposite direction without stopping.

You may also look at the N64 and see how the yellow C buttons were used, since the right D-pad would be the same approximate setup :). I liked in Mario 64 when those buttons would pan/zoom the camera angle.

Oh, that is very cool way of handling the second d-pad, Thanks everyone for helping me with the ideas, I know what I’m going to do and how I’m going to do it. More info on it later though.

Yeah Mario 64 was and still is sweet, but I’ll look into some games that used the dpad and c buttons on n64 too.

 

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