Possible Fencing Video Game

[Cry_Me_A_River]

If it doesn't suck I'll buy it.

[EdGardner]

THe biggest problem with video games made from things you love is that realism != fun. And video games should be fun. So if its too realistic, too much a simulation, normal people won't play it, and rarely do real simulations actually appease the die hards. So you end up with half baked games that nobody buys. Then a publisher exec says "well, that fencing game sold poorly, lets go back to making Madden clones."

Its a tough biz, making everyone happy

[dragonblade47]

I know a fencing video-game has been covered before... but this I don't know, so pardon me if this has been touched on before.

Anyone following video games know of Nintendo's next-gen the "Revolution", now titled the "Wii".

For those who don't... it's main feature will be a motion sensing controller. A good one actually, I've seen some examples of it's use. You set a device at the bottom, or top of the television you are playing on, and calibrate the controller. It senses every direction, including depth and twisting (even flicking action should be detected rather well).

Here's the opportunity to do an actual GOOD fencing game, that can actually capture the spirit of the sport a bit better than just button mashing. Now, I'm sure there are developers out there that would actually do it this time around, as a fencing game with a motion sensing controller may actually sell pretty well. Just wondering on any thoughts fencers, gamers, or both, have on the subject...

I've been working on various amateur fencing games, but the Wii........ haven't really tried. developing for the Wii is slightly harder, and there already was a fencing thing in Mario vs Sonic at the Olympics.......... an actual game. I'm trying to make an amateur Three Musketeers game right now, but I'm not sure if any console would want it XD

[Phaeton]

Raising threads from the dead hurts. A lot.

[tdwg83]

Raising threads from the dead hurts. A lot.

AGREED.

BTW. If you have looked at "Mario and Sonic at the Olympics" for Nintendo Wii, Fencing is one of the sports in the game. So yes there is now a mainstream fencing video game. I haven't played it yet so I don't know if it is any good.

[I_luv_saber]

THe biggest problem with video games made from things you love is that realism != fun. And video games should be fun. So if its too realistic, too much a simulation, normal people won't play it, and rarely do real simulations actually appease the die hards. So you end up with half baked games that nobody buys. Then a publisher exec says "well, that fencing game sold poorly, lets go back to making Madden clones."

Nah, even things I'm into, I generally take games for what they are... just fun. Good point, though.

I heard about the Mario and Sonic one (which was not out at the time I originally started the thread, btw)... haven't played it either, so can't vouch for it's realism or fun factor...

[EdGardner]

Its fun, but not realistic. There is a post about it here somewhere, I posted more complete thoughts on it. Worth a rental at the least, I enjoyed the package enoguh to buy it (more 4 player Wii games are a good thing IMHO).

[I_luv_saber]

Kinda off-subject... I've never dealt with many other systems before (I used to own Sega systems), so I don't know what to expect out of customer service, but Nintendo's has been amazingly good. Due to clumsiness, one of the little hinged covers broke off of the system, and from lending it the plastic sensor bar stand was lost (last time I lend it!). Nintendo sent both parts for free.

Has anyone had any experience with Microsoft's Xbox 360 support or Sony's? I had heard Sony had great customer service, too...

[EdGardner]

MS learned good customer support from teh red ring adventure, its been pretty decent when I have dealt with it.

[Welted 24/7]

It's not so much that I oppose the idea of a fencing video game as don't quite understand it. The only people it would interest are fencers, and we already do the real thing.

[EdGardner]

That's a very relevant observation

So it all depends on what the purpose of the game is meant to be. Is it a fencing simulator? That means it won't sell millions.

Is it an action game aimed at a broad audience that borrows elements from the sport to make money? or, similarly, is it a vehicle to generate interest in the sport? That means it will still have to have broad appeal, but alot of sacrifices will have to be made to keep it interesting to people who aren't familiar. Again, the Mario title could be viewed as, they certainly made it Olympic themed with permission, and the Olympics folks wanted to generate interest in the event, etc. Borrow some elements from some sports, make it fun, put the players in with beloved characters, and maybe teach them something in the process...

The last two will never, ever satisify the athletes and enthusiasts here, but are the most likely to get made. You have to make alot of concessions during development, drop alot of things that don't work for technical or aesthetic reasons. Stopping the action between points is one of those things that the Mario title (I think rightly) did, it kept the action going, kept the player engaged. The controls were simple, so the audience was broad, yet, I found myself playing alot of it, there was some depth, and certain versus onther person it had/has replay value. You can't just wildly swing the remote or mash buttons. You have to have good timing with the small number of moves it gives you. It was NOT like going to the club, but it was entertaining. Sometimes thats all a game needs to be

[Cry_Me_A_River]

Maybe they should make the game in a Role-Playing Game, or Adventure format; Not so much a direct simulation.

[erik_blank]

Maybe they should make the game in a Role-Playing Game, or Adventure format; Not so much a direct simulation.

This reminds me of the old PIRATES! computer game. featured ship to ship combat and then "fencing" when you actually went into town to pillage...

[brokenblade]

How would you deal with sword contact? You can't just have the blade go where you point it, but I doubt the Wii controller has built in feedback.

[Beloit Fencer of Old]

How would you deal with sword contact? You can't just have the blade go where you point it, but I doubt the Wii controller has built in feedback.

Oh, HI! I haven't been following this thread, but since I bought one of the first ever Wii consoles to be sold in the US, I can answer this question. The Wii controller not only has feedback, but it has sound, too. So you have sound coming from your surround sound system, then you can also have ancillary sounds coming from your individual controller. It would be a good place to have a blade-meeting-blade "clash" sound!

[Little Bit]

Hmm.....if someone knew someone who might actually be able to put this idea into motion (not on Wii...yet), what advice would you give them? Like, should it be an action game, a fencing-promoting game, or an exact simulator???

[Pescados666]

This would be great for those trips to Wal-Mart where they have games to play. Go there and own some 5 year old. I don't think it would be realistic since you rely on blade contact as well as sight.