Namco’s Ms. Pac-Man iPhone Game Controls

Good analysis from Touch Arcade on the dilemma facing developers writing traditional video games (like in this case, Pac-Man) for the iPhone: how do you take input on a button-less system for a game conceived around a very twitchy joystick? Namco offers three choices for the iPhone Pac-Man and Ms. Pac-Man ports: (a) an ersatz D-pad, (b) the accelerometer, and (c) “swipe”, where you just swipe your finger anywhere on screen in the direction you want to move.

I’m a Pac-Man junkie, so I bought Ms. Pac-Man, and I agree with Touch Arcade that swiping works the best, by far. But, alas, it still stinks overall — you can’t make turns quickly or precisely enough.

★ Monday, 14 July 2008