Control System

Most of the action in the game is controlled via the touch screen. On the top screen the environment is shown, making use of the stereoscopic effect. The bottom screen is contains a map and shows where the player is situated in the environment using an icon. The player moves around the environment by either using the circle pad or by dragging on the touch screen. The bottom screen is also used to access the inventory by touching the bag icon in the top right. The other corners of the touch screen are used for quick access to regularly used items. These items include the magnifying glass, used to examine any item more closely, and the camera, used to take pictures for evidence. There is a fourth quickslot which the player can assign to an item of their choice.

When using the magnifying glass or camera the player uses the actual 3DS to aim by moving it around. The gyroscope sensor in the 3DS allows for this. The player uses the shoulder buttons to take pictures.

The magnifying glass function is one of the most important features in the game. When I have played other detective or exploration type games I've often been disappointed with the way that you search for clues. Most  of the time the player just has to tap the touch screen in order to search around the room or press a button whilst standing near objects. This can end up feeling more like a process of elimination rather than you actually having to search you just try everywhere until something happens. I think this can become tedious and I would like my game to be different in that you would really feel like you are searching for the clues. Actually physically tilting and moving the 3DS to examine objects more closely would enable the player to feel more involved with the game and more immersed.

The player would be given clues on where to look but I would enable the player to get more hints on where to search if they ended up getting stuck on where to look.