Possible Fencing Video Game

[I_luv_saber]

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...

[gtmac]

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.

There are developers that would definitely develop a sword fighting video game, but I don't think a fencing game has a market sizable enough to warrant spending the development dollars.

[I_luv_saber]

There are developers that would definitely develop a sword fighting video game, but I don't think a fencing game has a market sizable enough to warrant spending the development dollars.

I don't know. I mean, no one thinks of fencing at first when you mention sports... but almost always when I mention it, people say "oh, how cool, I've always thought that looked fun" or something to that affect. I think, if marketed properly, it could sell fairly well. I'm not talking the next Grand-Theft Auto or anything, but decent. Especially now that people would have a motion-sensing controller. Or, maybe if more sword-fighting games come out, more would be interested in fencing. Hmmm... just a few thoughts...

[Black Jeebus]

I wonder how you would handle foot work though? I understand you could just retreat or advance at the little receiver, but how many people would actually want to do that?

[TrainingDummy]

I wonder how you would handle foot work though? I understand you could just retreat or advance at the little receiver, but how many people would actually want to do that?

Meh, DDR is, for some reason that is totally beyond me, wildly popular. Just get a foot pad like the old school NES. Of course, it would have to be pretty long. Maybe some things you clip to your shoes or something?

[Black Jeebus]

Well, you wouldn't really need the footpad cause the little receiver thing for the controller can supposedly detect how far you are from it. The problem as I see it is clearing out that much space to do footwork, so I don't think Nintendo would make a game that required you to do that...

[I_luv_saber]

Footwork would probably be controlled by a standard analog stick, as most of the Wii games will. For a shooter, for example, you would run around using the analog stick in your left hand, while shooting in the right. So, no, it won't be EXACTLY like fencing... but certainly better than anything before. The sensing how far you are from it wouldn't work for footwork anyways... that's for the depth of your weapon. For example you may extend your arm, and your arm extends in the game. Or press a button on the off-hand as you extend your arm, for a lunge. Damned interesting thought anyways, whether they do it or not...

[fido]

I have 2 points as to why a fencing video game would be a bad idea.

1. it would be so boring it would get sooooo repetitive. (parry, lunge, parry, lunge)

2. what system would it be on? The wii? i mean id play it on a xbox 360 and thats about it

[The Fish]

It would be tricky to make it both fun and realistic and the marketing would have to be very good to avoid el floppage, so I think it'd hard for Nintendo to pull off. Harder for other people with no motion sensing death controlloer!

[I_luv_saber]

Two things...
1) Nintendo would not develop it. A smaller developing company, maybe an up-and-coming company would do it.
2) My whole point is designing a game based around this new system... regular fencing games have been touched on before.

When you think of it, just about any other sport is just as boring in a game as fencing would be. Snap... run the ball. Snap... throw the ball. Snap... score a touchdown, etc. etc. And I think actually controlling that sword by moving your hand is a huge gimmick going for it. *shrugs* I'm just saying with the new motion senser, fencing is no less boring than any other sport game. Anyways just some thoughts... just keep in mind though, my entire point is making a fencing game for the Wii... not overall.

[KD5MDK]

Someone wrote a lightsaber game for Mac laptops, which have a motion sensor which detects roughly the same things. You tilt the laptop to move it.

[BovineMadness]

Could work for a three-musketeer-esque kind of game.

But if it was just about sport fencing, then all I have to say is remember the disaster that was Get Bass!- the game with the fishing rod controller....

[latenight]

Yeah, but if it was on the wii, it would end up being "Mario Fencing All Stars"

and you would have to play as Princess Peach and fence mushrooms and sunflowers.

[D'Art]

Yeah, but if it was on the wii, it would end up being "Mario Fencing All Stars"

and you would have to play as Princess Peach and fence mushrooms and sunflowers.

Which would be brilliant for drunken evenings

[UnorthodoxEpeeist]

I actually thought about this before, I just never bothered to post.
And exactly the same thing too, on the Wii.

It wouldn't be boring, because if the game is boring, fencing as a whole would be boring too.

I have 2 points as to why a fencing video game would be a bad idea.

1. it would be so boring it would get sooooo repetitive. (parry, lunge, parry, lunge)

2. what system would it be on? The wii? i mean id play it on a xbox 360 and thats about it

Parry, lunge, parry, lunge? There are greater aspects to fencing besides just parrying and lunging.

Indeed footwork would be a tricky part... eh, who knows. Maybe a genius from some video game company would step up one day to propose the perfect plan.

[Rabid Monk]

Footwork would be better left to the other controller, using the directional pad.
I say this for a simple reason: You probably don't want to be backing away from your t.v., or towards it much. Especially if you (like me) don't have a big-screen.

Another drawback I mentioned before would be the lack fo tactile feedback.

But Nintendo concentrates on the fun side of things, and could probably make a swordfighting game that is fun for the masses, even if they have to leave some traditional fencing styles behind.

[Westley]

Yeah, but if it was on the wii, it would end up being "Mario Fencing All Stars"

and you would have to play as Princess Peach and fence mushrooms and sunflowers.

I would totally play that.

Every day.

For years.

And I would get so high while playing it, that later all I'd have to do would be to play the game and I'd become instantly stoned.

That happened to me with a war game and slim jims. but that's another story.

[fences_like_a_lemur]

But what fun would that be compaired to actually fencing? I mean there would be no yelling and screaming...there would be no insulting the director, no pretty colored cards, and even more sad; there would be no bruises...

I don't think they could make a way for you to get carded, and how could they tell if you covered target? How would they do the distancing so that you could actually hit?

In general, I just don't really think that a fencing video game would work out, maybe for people who don't actually fence but I think that real fencers would just find it boring and pointless...

[Coldfire]

I got my wii today and haven;t really played it much. Ill make a better judgement after a few days. I have to agree that it would be difficult to implement though. If not a fencing game certainly a game that is sword fighting heavy. And they should include lightsabers.

[indigo2]

Well, I just joined. I'll add my 1 cent to this topic. Concerning a fencing video game.
As far as receiving technical feed back, it's right here.
All some software company has to do is read these post.
You guys have done just what they do when developing a concept.
It's enough info to start. Now granted, coming from a 29 year IT background I do understand the challenges of programming. Every game out there now had milestones to conquer, problems to over come and guess what, it was just fuel for the challenge. You think Doom got big cause it was easy? That's what gaming is all about. Programmers love to spend hours figuring out how to make a game interesting. You know how Simm City got started? The programmer had more fun figuring out how to build the city than the he was programming for the game. That's how Simm City got started. Game consoles are coming with 120 gig HDs and bigger. Graphics are just getting better and better.
Remember "Mike Tyson Punch Out." how boring was that? How different is that? OK, so everybody doesn't fence. So what. Everyone thinks it's interesting. Everyone!
I could say a lot more on this topic. The bottom line is, if you can imagine it, You can do it. The best thing is........... No ones done it yet.


Indigo2
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"You think it will work? "It'll take a miracle"