How do you hold your iPad when playing games? Game design related question

dotsonj23

So I am designing a new game (landscape) and got almost all the way through my controls before I realized I may have a major problem. The player can control movement, shooting etc... by using her thumbs with the left and right joystick controls. But sometimes the player will need to select from a group of items along the bottom of the screen in the HUD and drag them onto the play area. It all works great how I hold my iPad (i.e., either with both hands and supported by my stomach when lying down (or) when sitting, with both hands supported by a table or my lap). But if a player just holds the iPad with both hands but no support (i.,e. Straight out in front of her) the player can,t really continue to use one joystick with a thumb and then take the other hand from holding the iPad and move it to drag the item into the play area because it's impossible to hold an iPad with one hand and still use the thumb of that hand to control a joystick. In any event, I am afraid that due to this issue users may get mad (at least users that don't hold their iPads like I do). iPhone is not really a problem because the user can just do the drag behavior with one thumb without removing grip because the width of the screen is so small, plus you can hold an iPhone with one hand and still use the thumb of that hand to control a joystick. But Anyone have any thoughts or advice on the ipad issue? It would be much appreciated.

ozboybrian

Maybe use the accelerometer for your movements instead?

dotsonj23

@ozboybrian-- Thanks for the suggestion, I really appreciate it. But I think I would have the same problem (i.e., if use accelerometer, you really need to be holding the IPAD with both hands on each side and thus can't really let go with one had to touch and drag something at the bottom of the screen). I might just have to deal with reviewers that like to hold their iPads out in front of them with no support except their two hands. Hopefully that isn't to many people as I think that would get tiring after a while anyways.

Any other suggestions or comments are welcome.

MotherHoose

… with both hands supported by a table or my lap …

think this is the most common method …
as you state: would physically stress, if iPad held unsupported and stationary for a long time …
fortunately, in Accelerometer game play — wrist/forearms are in constant motion (great exercise — manipulating a pound weight!)

oh! I do so love games that use Accelerometer … even if it is only implemented for a few scenes/levels!

MH

Clouds

With most accelerometer controlled games the iPad is usually rested on your knees as you tip the iPad one way or another - rather than held up by your hands - so letting go and controlling an on screen element shouldn't be a problem.