If...

[Mike Cook]

In terms of big selling points, you can hardly get better than the DS' touchscreen. At first, no-one really 'got' it, and it drew a lot of criticism and mocking, but it didn't take long after release for people to realise that the power of touch was a pretty interesting hardware addition.

A little while on, and we've got even more innovative hardware with the Nintendo Wii, but neither the touchscreen nor the Wiimote seem to have been used to their fullest. We've had handwriting recognition (Dr. Kawashima's Brain Training), platform drawing (Kirby Power Paintbrush), and soon we'll have world-making (Drawn to Life).

What's missing from your touchscreen wishlist? And, uh, keep it clean.

[Fraser]

The touchscreen is a wonderful little gaming window, and it has been used quite well so far. I agree that there are plenty of things missing however.

I would say that there is a lack of decent RTS games and also, considering the DS's decent 3D capabilities the touch screen's usefulness for navigating a 3D world has not yet been realized especially seeing as it presents a much better solution than the D-pad.

Still there is so much could yet be done with the DS, its legs are going to be very long no doubt (just like its grandad).

Lucas Arts point and click anyone?

[J_o_e_y]

I was wishing during both of the Castlvania games to be able to make notes on the map (as the worlds were so big)

I'm very happy to hear that Zelda:Phantom Hourglass is letting us do it. Cannot wait for this!

[quantumsheep]

I would say that there is a lack of decent RTS games
...
Lucas Arts point and click anyone?

I have to agree with the RTS point. Personally, I'd love to see something like Defcon on there- I think it'd suit the machine perfectly (graphics wise as well as control wise - and you could play multiplayer wirelessly too with mates or strangers on the 'net).

The Lucas Arts adventures surely would find a whole new lease of life on the DS. Perhaps a series of compilations would do well to an audience that hasn't even heard of such games?

[AndyR]

I'd love to see some older mouse driven titles be re-imagined for the touch screen.

For example, Viurs/Zarch has wonderful analog mouse controls that would translate perfectly to the touch screen.

Andy

[Owain]

I've heard developers discussing the idea of doing point-and-click adventures on DS... The SCUMM stuff is obviously cool, but it's by all accounts hard to see the actual clues etc. Some adventures made/remade specifically for DS would be great, and would fit right in with the touch generations label.

Do I hear Myst? (*ducks*)

[AndyR]

The SCUMMVM (sorry to go on about it) lets you have one screen zoomed into the action to avoid the scaling problem.

[Jonti]

More abstract Electroplankton-style stuff would be a big draw (for a small audience)...

[splat]

It would never do it because it makes too much cash off the cartridges but a download service would open things out. Hopefully it's the sort of thing that will become available on PSP as it links up to the PlayStation network/store.

[danskmacabre]

What is missing is a decent RPG for the DS in the style of Baldur's gate.
I'm not really a fan of japanese RPGs at all.

I am looking forward to Bioware to complete their RPG, which is said to use lots of features of the DS such as the touchscreen etc.

[Dingle]

Point and click classic 'Broken Sword' is now available for Palm and Pocket PC PDA's.

It plays perfectly well, clues all clear.

And why is Mazera not developed for the DS? Not as vast as some games but decent enough.

(Yes, I know the answer lies with the developer)

[Rocky_Raccoon]

I'd like to see Populous: the Beginning on the DS

Would be amazing- though I preferred Populous II for sheer replayability. What about Guitar Hero, Commandos with its stealthy strategy, or Black and White (imagine nintendogs..with deities, killing of mortals, and a giant tattooed ape!)

Meanwhile, I'd settle for a multiplayer WarioWare

[splat]

there was posed to be a DS version of Black and White in development for US publisher Majesco, but they got into financials problems, so I assume it got canned.

[Owain]

I guess we need to draw a distinction between touch screen mini games (or gimmicks in the best sense of the word). I think it's the incidental use of the stylus that makes the DS so successful re: control (e.g. brain training or nintendogs).

When you're talking about complete games, yes, it's the RTSs and adventures htat haven't worked well before on handheld (not to mention the still under-exploited 3D navigation of Metroid).

Good topic Mike