Aonuma's opinion about the wii u gamepad.

[Bex]

If looking back and forth from the screen is such a problem, I wonder why he's also against using it in ways that don't require such action. Such as just using the touch function to do what the d-pad either already does or improving over the d-pad's capability. To me, games using the d-pad should've dedicated the upper right corner of the screen for such use.

Personally, I think one of biggest failings of design for games developed for this system was using the d-pad to perform actions other than movement, since it requires one to give up movement. Something they realized themselves due to pausing combat when it comes to switching items with the d-pad. Using the touch functionality of the screen would allow one to keep moving and keep focus either in combat or just general travel. Moving such functionally to the screen was something that I wished games such as Lost Reavers had done, since a fair number of hits came from the few seconds needed to stop my character in order to switch and use items with the d-pad.

If not using the the upper right corner to take the place of the d-pad, they could've used it for 25+ quick select slots. For twenty-five, a two motion system could be employed using just directional swipes and a tap. Perform one of five actions to access of one of five menus, then perform one of those actions again to select an item. If one wants to view what was slotted, just hold one's finger in the area to make the menu appear on screen. Moving one's finger up, down, left, right or to the center in order to view each directions items. Or just holding to display everything.

I wish such a system had been used by games such as Fantasy Life and Rune Factory, at least the ones I've played, since I feel designers look at the screen and want to use more space than they should.

Another option that area could've been used for is firing arrows. Holding and then lifting one finger, either from the center of one's press or after sliding one's finger in a direction. If there are more than four specialty arrows, add a tap or two before performing the previous sequence. When I think of this option however, I have gyro use which I am not sure this game supports.

Those are just few ways to use the gamepad without switching between screens. I am sure there are other such options they could implement, such as using the that area to command the wolf without needing to target it.