Namco Bandai on Guncon 3 vs. Wiimote, rise of more Guncon 3 games

Guncon 3 gun controller compatible with Namco Bandai's Time Crisis 4 - Image 1One of the best things Namco Bandai is known for is its many popular titles ported from the arcade platform. The latest of these games was the release of Time Crisis 4 for the PS3 last November 20. In a Gamasutra interview with game producer Teruaki Minami, the game and the return of the gun-based gaming genre was discussed.

Read more about the Guncon 3 and Time Crisis 4 after the jump!

Box art of Namco Bandai's Time Crisis 4 for the PS3 - Image 1One of the best things Namco Bandai is known for is its many popular titles ported from the arcade platform. The latest of these games was the release of Time Crisis 4 for the PS3 last November 20. In a Gamasutra interview with game producer Teruaki Minami, the game and the return of the gun-based gaming genre was discussed.

Despite Time Crisis 4 being a close port of the arcade version, Namco Bandai has always tried to insert new features for the console version of this popular shooter. The most notable addition is the new FPS mode that appeals to a lot of gamers in the United States and Europe.

He also explains the new design of the Guncon 3 that will come with the game:

For the Guncon 1 and 2, those controllers are capturing the flashes from the standard definition TV, however, that method is not compatible with the latest high definition plasma and LCD monitors. So that is one of the reasons that we had to create a new Guncon. And, do work with all different kinds of monitors, we decided to introduce new LED markers – basically for Guncon 3 there is a little camera here which is catching the position of the LED markers.

He also mentions that the new model’s somewhat complicated design was created to make room for more titles to be released despite the fact that Time Crisis 4 didn’t need a lot of buttons to simulate the arcade version’s gameplay.

Minami also explained why they preferred porting the game onto the Sony PS3. Aside from the previous Time Crisis games having counterparts on the PS2, the LED markers on Guncon 3 were much more accurate compared to the Wiimote‘s. There was also the fact that the gun also had SIXAXIS capabilities similar to the standard PS3 controller.

Seeing that there’s been a lot of new FPS games being released lately, Minami also asked other publishers such as Sega, Capcom and Konami to try and develop the Guncon 3 for their future games. This will give the PS3 the chance to try their hand in developing a new gaming control system similar to what Nintendo did with the Wiimote.

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