3 ms·

Apple had a solution to this problem years ago but made the very very very stupid decision of removing 3D Touch from recent iPhone models. On phones with the f

by bogwog 5y ago

Apple had a solution to this problem years ago but made the very very very stupid decision of removing 3D Touch from recent iPhone models. On phones with the feature, you can use your left thumb to walk, right thumb to aim, and 3D touch (press down hard on the screen to shoot). I know at least call of duty mobile supports it, and when I tried it out it felt revolutionary. But rather than add new input methods, they’re removing them at the same time they’re trying to push harder into mobile gaming (with Apple Arcade). It’s baffling as an outsider to see such obviously bad/stupid decisions like that from such a massive company.

usrusr 5y ago
I don't game on mobile, but wouldn't back-side tap be the obvious solution? I've never tried but I'd expect the accelerometer to be able to detect something like a middle finger tapping on the back of the phone with sufficient precision and latency (just the binary event, not the location)
- bogwog 5y ago
  I do remember a game that did something like that many years ago (posted on reddit I think?). It was an endless runner type game with a fox character IIRC, and you had to alternate taps on the back of the device to get it to move. I do remember that I couldn't get it to work reliably though. Tapping the back of my phone now, I can see it maybe working for some types of games/shooters where you don't have to hold down the fire button, if implemented well (which probably isn't easy to do for all hardware). The tactile feedback of smacking the phone could help provide a good experience if paired with appropriate audio/visuals. This isn't quite the same thing, but the Playstation Vita has a rear touchpad, and not a ton of games managed to use it well, even with the much higher precision (Tearaway[1] is the only good one I can remember). Tearaway gameplay: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jw5LD4B-3DI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jw5LD4B-3DI
  - usrusr 5y ago
    Rear touchpad is that one feature that amazes me every year by not being introduced by any of those very many manufacturers desperate to have a USP.
    - egypturnash 5y ago
      Rear touchpad means you can't put it in a protective case. Unless you can figure out a way to make one that protects it from most of the kinds of drops a phone would take in normal daily use and still exposes the rear pad.
baq 5y ago
3D Touch was the stupidest idea apple had in the last decade and I don’t say this lightly given there’s also the Touch Bar, the trash can Mac Pro and canceling of the apple display.
- bogwog 5y ago
  Why?

by bogwog 5y ago

usrusr 5y ago

I don't game on mobile, but wouldn't back-side tap be the obvious solution? I've never tried but I'd expect the accelerometer to be able to detect something like a middle finger tapping on the back of the phone with sufficient precision and latency (just the binary event, not the location)

bogwog 5y ago
I do remember a game that did something like that many years ago (posted on reddit I think?). It was an endless runner type game with a fox character IIRC, and you had to alternate taps on the back of the device to get it to move. I do remember that I couldn't get it to work reliably though. Tapping the back of my phone now, I can see it maybe working for some types of games/shooters where you don't have to hold down the fire button, if implemented well (which probably isn't easy to do for all hardware). The tactile feedback of smacking the phone could help provide a good experience if paired with appropriate audio/visuals. This isn't quite the same thing, but the Playstation Vita has a rear touchpad, and not a ton of games managed to use it well, even with the much higher precision (Tearaway[1] is the only good one I can remember). Tearaway gameplay: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jw5LD4B-3DI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jw5LD4B-3DI
- usrusr 5y ago
  Rear touchpad is that one feature that amazes me every year by not being introduced by any of those very many manufacturers desperate to have a USP.
  - egypturnash 5y ago
    Rear touchpad means you can't put it in a protective case. Unless you can figure out a way to make one that protects it from most of the kinds of drops a phone would take in normal daily use and still exposes the rear pad.

baq 5y ago

3D Touch was the stupidest idea apple had in the last decade and I don’t say this lightly given there’s also the Touch Bar, the trash can Mac Pro and canceling of the apple display.

bogwog 5y ago
Why?