Top Spin Wii announced with suspect controls
Wednesday, August 22nd, 2007 at 6:55pm by Blake
I was thrilled to hear that an all new (read: not a port) Top Spin is coming to Wii in Spring 2008. I was disappointed, however, upon hearing how the controls would work.
The intuitive pick-up-and-play action in Top Spin Tennis allows gamers to use the Wii Remote and Nunchuk controllers in a way that matches the movements players would make on a real court. The Nunchuk controls the player and aim, while the vibration-enabled Wii Remote hits the ball like a tennis racquet and determines the style of shot ranging from a top spin move to a slice.
Boo! The following control scheme (brilliantly engineered by yours truly) using a single Wii remote is how it really should be done.
Am I right, or what?
August 22nd, 2007 at 7:27 pm
Blake I love your site, the podc
August 22nd, 2007 at 7:30 pm
asts everything, even getting cut off mid post by a strange browser problem, but seriously that control method is next to unworkable, my fingers just couldnt do it.
Not to mention the digital movement for a tennis game would be less than optimal, but honestly I am more worried about the hand cramps and finger distortion, it just wouldn’t be comfortable.
But saying that the site really is ace, my one stop shop for nintendo gubbins.
August 22nd, 2007 at 7:35 pm
Yeah, I’ll agree with the segmented poster above. The announced controls are, in principle, exACTly what I would have hoped for. Great news!
August 22nd, 2007 at 7:36 pm
Now, if the nunchuck was wireless, it would be perfect!
August 22nd, 2007 at 8:19 pm
I have to agree with the above commenters. I have a hard time rapidly switching between button mashing and D-pad with the same hand.
August 22nd, 2007 at 8:38 pm
The Top Spin controls are exactly what I pictured a more advance version of Wii Sports tennis would be.
August 22nd, 2007 at 8:47 pm
Okay, ditch use of the A button and problem solved,no?
August 22nd, 2007 at 9:07 pm
No. You still need another button to perform various other tasks, assuming B allows you to hit a lob shot or something similar. Not to mention the suboptimal use of the D-Pad for movement. I’m sorry to say this, but the single remote idea for this game is kind of stupid.
August 22nd, 2007 at 9:26 pm
Definitely not. It would be a total pain to move players with a d-pad. The analog stick on the nunchuck would allow for a wider and easier range of movement.
August 22nd, 2007 at 9:45 pm
I like the idea of using only the remote, but I think the dpad is just too high up on the controller. I wish the remote had 4 directional buttons on the fours sides of the A button. Not that they would replace the d-pad, but it would add more options for remote-only games.
I think using the analog stick on the nunchuck is the best option for the tennis game.
August 22nd, 2007 at 10:03 pm
It seems as if your behind with the times Blake.
August 22nd, 2007 at 10:19 pm
No, i think the nunchuk/wiimote combo is what everyone is waiting for.
August 22nd, 2007 at 10:52 pm
Now if only they would release Mario Tennis on the Wii with these controls.
August 22nd, 2007 at 11:30 pm
Yeah, having your hand way up on the d-pad would be very uncomfortable for a game where you swing the remote around. Not to mention it would be difficult trying to move/swing at once.
The announced control scheme sounds very good. Sorry Blake : /
I find the D-pad to be in a really awkward position when holding the Wiimote with one hand. Almost unusable.
August 22nd, 2007 at 11:50 pm
I think the d-pad is too high up.
thought having the nunchuck might inhibit natural wild swings unless you move both hands in tandum.
that cord gets SO in the way.
August 23rd, 2007 at 1:10 am
i think i would at least like to have the option to play a game like this without the nunchuck. i know the nunchuck is probably the best way to play, but maybe they could throw in some family controls like madden has where you don’t need the nunchuck.
August 23rd, 2007 at 5:14 am
I think a nunchuk/wiimote combo is virtually unplayable actually. People have bitched and moaned about not having direct control over the player in Wii Sports Tennis, but a simple elaboration on this could easily solve problems.
In real tennis everything is a flowing movement. You head to where the ball in going to be. Your racket leads your run. A simple combination of well programmed, Wii Sports-like, automatic running, with a bit of motion sensing to tell how well you are preparing for the shot (have you moved your arm into the correct position to go for the forehand or backhand) and a little bit of d-pad action to either change the direction of your run, or move to the net or baseline and you’re absolutely sorted.
An analogue stick will have you running all over the place and will feel very unlike real tennis.
August 23rd, 2007 at 9:51 am
Since I’m a nerd, I wanted to see what the nunchuk/wiimote control would be like in a tennis game a few months back. So, with the help of GlovePIE, and Mario Tennis 64 (emulated), I set the controls up exactly as the Top Spin controls have been announced. It works perfectly. The only problem (which eventually made it unplayable) was that a swing of the wii remote translated to a press of a button on the N64 controller. And, if you know anything about Mario Tennis, to initiate a power shot you hold down the button. The game kept thinking that an emphatic swing was me holding down the button… so it didnt work well for timing. BUT… the important part: The cord on the nunchuk didn’t get in the way, you still have plenty of room to swing, and the range of motion was far easier than using the D-Pad (which I tried as well).
In summary… Top Spin should nail the controls pretty well.
August 23rd, 2007 at 12:24 pm
why would you need buttons to control lobs and spin in a tennis game, when the wiimote has motion control? you could just play this game on the 360 then. the controls for top spin would be ok, if the nunchuk was wireless. or else maybe to control player movement, just wait for the balance board and use that. shifting your weight would move the player.
August 23rd, 2007 at 12:36 pm
Hitting a D-Pad to move while swinging a certain way and speed to me would be the equivalent to patting your head and making a circle motion on my belly.
August 23rd, 2007 at 12:38 pm
I knew it, and I wanted a game like this, always I had the interest of the how to play a tennis game, specially for Mario Tennis, I hope after this game Nintendo works in a Mario Tennis
August 23rd, 2007 at 3:13 pm
I also think the D-pad motion control would be unworkable: in your mind, the analogy between the direction you move the controller and the direction your character moves should be the same: to move your character forward, the D-pad or joystick “up” direction should be forward too. Otherwise you end up with a big headache in a couple of minutes!
That, and the D-pad in the Wii controller is, indeed, WAY up high to use that way…
January 14th, 2008 at 2:17 pm
Blake, i see where you are comming from, a tennis player myself, and i agree with you, i wish it could be controlled with one hand, but the wiimote layout isnt right for it. if the A button and the d-pad were lower, than it would be good. i wish it were like that.
anywho…. WHEN WAS TOPSPIN ANNOUNCED FOR WII?!?
i must have missed that. i hope its online. i loved the first one, never got a chance to play the second.