Trackmania DS is not Touchscreenmania
by JC Fletcher 
{ Jul 28th 2008 at 12:00PM }
It seems like a pretty bold move to make a DS racing game that doesn't use the stylus to control an onscreen steering wheel, but then it's a pretty bold move to make a DS version of a PC racing game. According to Trackmania DS producer Dan Fletcher, the team felt that touch controls "do not fit" for driving.That's not to say that the stylus has no place in Trackmania. The one aspect of the game that is perfect for touch control -- the editor -- uses it awesomely. In addition to the basic stylus control used to place tracks, Trackmania DS also features a "free draw" mode that lets players draw tracks directly!
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
MagNet @ Jul 28th 2008 12:43PM
How is not including touch steering a bold move? Most racing game on the DS don't use it, it's just not too convenient. Actually pretty much the only game I can think of now that has it is Ridge Racer DS.
Anyway can't wait for the game, shame it doesn't include online track sharing.
SyKot @ Jul 28th 2008 3:49PM
All games don't need to use the stylus just because.
SyKot @ Jul 28th 2008 4:01PM
Wasn't supposed to be a reply to MagNet :P
Niz @ Jul 28th 2008 4:50PM
agreed lol, its like shock horror, a game on the DS that doesn't use the touch screen!
Kefka @ Jul 28th 2008 9:09PM
I can see why people might expect Trackmania DS to use the stylus - it's the closest to an analogue controller possible on the system, and Trackmania is a game which requires some very precise and subtle steering to master.
That said, the entirety of the time I've played Trackmania has been using a PC keyboard, and it definitely works well enough.
Pie Pants @ Jul 28th 2008 11:08PM
I'm actually glad it doesn't use the stylus. Just because the DS has a touchscreem, doesn't mean it needs to be flogged to death by every game.
However I am dissapointed that they missed out on a massive opportunity with the multiplayer. No online play and only 4 players locally? Come on, from memory even Mario Kart DS supported 8, both online and local!
LocalToast @ Jul 28th 2008 11:39PM
MKDS had up to 4 players over WFC. I know local wireless supported more, though.
Pie Pants @ Jul 28th 2008 11:55PM
Ahh ok. I definitely remember 8-player games local, just wasn't sure about WFC - the snakers and cheats kinda turned me off online play for MK.
LocalToast @ Jul 28th 2008 11:38PM
Touch-screen "free draw" track making? Like the awful "Wish Mode" in Diddy Kong Racing? It's a good thing you can actually go deeper with designing.
Race Driver: Create and Race also had a very nice track-making mode, and even had online play. I can't wait for GRID to come out next month; I'm hoping it will be much better than the first Race Driver.
TheTrackmania Maniac @ Aug 2nd 2008 11:54PM
Well, I have to say that Trackmania has to be one of my favourite racers, along with Mariokart and the Need for Speed games (apart from ProStreet, that's rubbish)
So whats all this about touch screen controls? Sounds idiotic to me. You can't perform death-defying stunts and outrageous drifts with a pen. You need some old-fashioned buttons, and some quick fingers.
In my opinion, the less realistic racers are, the more fun they are. I mean, what would you rather do: Spend hours perfecting your braking round corners on Project Gotham? Or tear the packaging off Trackmania and start to drive off some rooftops on to suspension bridges?
Or dig out Need for Speed 3 and have a laugh at the awful physics while smashing your way through a roadblock?
The real world is not a very nice place, and the more real games get, the less fun they are.
Anyway, the touch screen is better suited to the editor, where you can pick and place blocks simply by dragging them onto the field (I bet you anything that the D-pad will be for moving the blocks up/down/rotation)
I wonder what classes of car you can choose? Apparently the Nations class is back from the PC version. Will they include any of the types from Sunrise? That's my favourite version at the moment, but with the release of TM DS, I think that might shift a little.
So yea: Detached from reality, ridiculously fast and insanely awesome. That's Trackmania alright.
I heard it's coming out December 31st 2008. Dam.
Another problem is multiplayer. Come on guys, 4 players locally? And no Wi-Fi to speak of yet. They have to fix that.
However, it doesn't matter to me. Multiplayer or not, this is one game I am NOT missing out on.