As some of you may know, Sony released a patch and DLC for LittleBigPlanet 2 (PS3) allowing you to use your Vita as a controller, and adding the touchscreen as another piece of the puzzle for more display information and interactive features. This is similar to what the Wii U brings to the table, if not identical to it. This has been in the works since before E3 2012 (as it was announced then), and there are six new levels with this awesomeness plus the ability for users to create more levels.
I've uploaded a gameplay video to show what it looks like (Vita screen in lower right corner):
<iframe width="640" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/g-A7abYwLfQ" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
If we remember the Dreamcast days, they used a feature in NFL 2K by allowing you to call plays on the VMU that was plugged into the controller. That being said, Madden could easily apply the same principle if they so chose to.
So what could we do for baseball? What could go onto the Vita screen that would be considered pertinent information? Or better yet, what could come off of the PS3 screen that we might not need?
I will demo this later with a screenshot example when I'm home and have the time to do it, but here's what I'm thinking:
The PS3 screen would be devoid of everything except for the score bug (with the baserunners). That means we would remove things such as the pitch type selection/buttons, baserunner windows, power/contact/normal swing icons, guess pitch feature, hot/cold zones, etc.
The Vita screen would then have a **** load of information, such as what you can see on the Pause and Select screens. At the top would be the score (per inning and such) with R/H/E columns, there would be a strike zone (w/ hot and cold zones) showing the pitch history to the batter as well as the pitch types, information on the current pitcher (including fatigue and confidence level) and batter, the pitch types where you can guess the pitches, baserunner windows, wind speed, pitch breakdown (pitch type percentages, ball-strike ratio, etc.), the on-deck and in-the-hole batters, and maybe even a constantly running sports ticker... though that could be on the main screen as well. Even when pitching, if you were doing two-player, you could "hide the cursor" by having it on your Vita instead of on the main screen.
This could also be great for the pause and quick-pause menus. If you press pause, on the TV your PS3 will display aerial stadium shots and random cutaways like the game already does, maybe with random chatter among the boys (like historical facts or what have you). That way you can access everything in the pause menu on the Vita screen, including lineup and bullpen changes.
I think that's a bit of a mouthful, but hopefully the makeshift promo shot I produced helps explain what I mean. I bring this up now because I feel it can still be implemented, even if it's just in a patch. This might also push the boys at SCEA to give us the option(s) to hide certain HUD items like we've been hoping for.
Here's an example of the screens when a ball is put in play (if you're a fielder):
Another example with Home Run Derby:
And of course... Manage Only Mode:
Anyone feel free to pitch in your ideas. This is merely my thought on the matter, but I feel it can be done especially being a Sony product. This thing is really cool on Vita, and makes me happy to see how well the PS3 has done through simple firmware upgrades to match new items such as 3D Blu-ray players and the Wii U, at least in some limited regards.
I've uploaded a gameplay video to show what it looks like (Vita screen in lower right corner):
<iframe width="640" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/g-A7abYwLfQ" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
If we remember the Dreamcast days, they used a feature in NFL 2K by allowing you to call plays on the VMU that was plugged into the controller. That being said, Madden could easily apply the same principle if they so chose to.
So what could we do for baseball? What could go onto the Vita screen that would be considered pertinent information? Or better yet, what could come off of the PS3 screen that we might not need?
I will demo this later with a screenshot example when I'm home and have the time to do it, but here's what I'm thinking:
The PS3 screen would be devoid of everything except for the score bug (with the baserunners). That means we would remove things such as the pitch type selection/buttons, baserunner windows, power/contact/normal swing icons, guess pitch feature, hot/cold zones, etc.
The Vita screen would then have a **** load of information, such as what you can see on the Pause and Select screens. At the top would be the score (per inning and such) with R/H/E columns, there would be a strike zone (w/ hot and cold zones) showing the pitch history to the batter as well as the pitch types, information on the current pitcher (including fatigue and confidence level) and batter, the pitch types where you can guess the pitches, baserunner windows, wind speed, pitch breakdown (pitch type percentages, ball-strike ratio, etc.), the on-deck and in-the-hole batters, and maybe even a constantly running sports ticker... though that could be on the main screen as well. Even when pitching, if you were doing two-player, you could "hide the cursor" by having it on your Vita instead of on the main screen.
This could also be great for the pause and quick-pause menus. If you press pause, on the TV your PS3 will display aerial stadium shots and random cutaways like the game already does, maybe with random chatter among the boys (like historical facts or what have you). That way you can access everything in the pause menu on the Vita screen, including lineup and bullpen changes.
I think that's a bit of a mouthful, but hopefully the makeshift promo shot I produced helps explain what I mean. I bring this up now because I feel it can still be implemented, even if it's just in a patch. This might also push the boys at SCEA to give us the option(s) to hide certain HUD items like we've been hoping for.
Here's an example of the screens when a ball is put in play (if you're a fielder):
Another example with Home Run Derby:
And of course... Manage Only Mode:
Anyone feel free to pitch in your ideas. This is merely my thought on the matter, but I feel it can be done especially being a Sony product. This thing is really cool on Vita, and makes me happy to see how well the PS3 has done through simple firmware upgrades to match new items such as 3D Blu-ray players and the Wii U, at least in some limited regards.
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