Da Slippery Minx
New member
Ok, so, there's only a few buttons on the controller and you've got grand ideas, right? Yeap, me too. So, when developing my own game for the past week I've developed a way (sort of) for getting around this physical limitation; or at least superficially:
Use SELECT as a modifier button where you have to either : 1) hold it down, or, 2) Toggle. From there, all the other 3 buttons have different functions. Plus the function of either HOLDING or TOGGLING means that different command functions can be interpreted/acted out. So, a four button controller can now make up for it's limitations by the aforementioned. You can even assign a time requirement for the action to be trigger. Double tapping is another idea, but depending on what the game is shouldn't be considered (ie button masher games or button mashing people.)
example:
Button A: tap/toggle
Button A: Hold (indefinitely)
Button A: Hold for 1.5 seconds
(toggle-enabled) SELECT MODIFIER-Button A: tap/toggle
(toggle-enabled) SELECT MODIFIER-Button A:Hold (indefinitely)
(toggle-enabled) SELECT MODIFIER-Button A: Hold for 1.5 seconds
(toggle-[double tap] enabled) SELECT MODIFIER-Button A: tap/toggle
(toggle-[double tap]enabled) SELECT MODIFIER-Button A:Hold (indefinitely)
(toggle-[double tap]enabled) SELECT MODIFIER-Button A: Hold for 1.5 seconds
(hold-enabled) SELECT MODIFIER-Button A: tap/toggle
(hold-enabled) SELECT MODIFIER-Button A:Hold (indefinitely)
(hold-enabled) SELECT MODIFIER-Button A: Hold for 1.5 seconds
(hold-timed [1 second]-enabled) SELECT MODIFIER-Button A: tap/toggle
(hold-timed [1 second]-enabled) SELECT MODIFIER-Button A:Hold (indefinitely)
(hold-timed [1 second]-enabled) SELECT MODIFIER-Button A: Hold for 1.5 seconds
OR, maybe there's a way for the NES to interpret Turbo button actions as an entirely different function (as another button,) ie: have it interpret the speed of the turbo function and make it a totally different function that ISN'T turbo.
Granted, this is complicated, buts an idea, (there's no code that I can offer to make this happen,) but it think the concept is within the realm of possibility. but it's food for thought. This will be great for quick swapping to items in a small drop down menu that covers only the HUD and won't obstruct game play, or disrupt it, or swapping between weapon presets on the fly without having to pause the game and see a whole new screen that interrupts the gameplay.
Use SELECT as a modifier button where you have to either : 1) hold it down, or, 2) Toggle. From there, all the other 3 buttons have different functions. Plus the function of either HOLDING or TOGGLING means that different command functions can be interpreted/acted out. So, a four button controller can now make up for it's limitations by the aforementioned. You can even assign a time requirement for the action to be trigger. Double tapping is another idea, but depending on what the game is shouldn't be considered (ie button masher games or button mashing people.)
example:
Button A: tap/toggle
Button A: Hold (indefinitely)
Button A: Hold for 1.5 seconds
(toggle-enabled) SELECT MODIFIER-Button A: tap/toggle
(toggle-enabled) SELECT MODIFIER-Button A:Hold (indefinitely)
(toggle-enabled) SELECT MODIFIER-Button A: Hold for 1.5 seconds
(toggle-[double tap] enabled) SELECT MODIFIER-Button A: tap/toggle
(toggle-[double tap]enabled) SELECT MODIFIER-Button A:Hold (indefinitely)
(toggle-[double tap]enabled) SELECT MODIFIER-Button A: Hold for 1.5 seconds
(hold-enabled) SELECT MODIFIER-Button A: tap/toggle
(hold-enabled) SELECT MODIFIER-Button A:Hold (indefinitely)
(hold-enabled) SELECT MODIFIER-Button A: Hold for 1.5 seconds
(hold-timed [1 second]-enabled) SELECT MODIFIER-Button A: tap/toggle
(hold-timed [1 second]-enabled) SELECT MODIFIER-Button A:Hold (indefinitely)
(hold-timed [1 second]-enabled) SELECT MODIFIER-Button A: Hold for 1.5 seconds
OR, maybe there's a way for the NES to interpret Turbo button actions as an entirely different function (as another button,) ie: have it interpret the speed of the turbo function and make it a totally different function that ISN'T turbo.
Granted, this is complicated, buts an idea, (there's no code that I can offer to make this happen,) but it think the concept is within the realm of possibility. but it's food for thought. This will be great for quick swapping to items in a small drop down menu that covers only the HUD and won't obstruct game play, or disrupt it, or swapping between weapon presets on the fly without having to pause the game and see a whole new screen that interrupts the gameplay.