1. #1

    Future Tracking Suggestion

    I have a suggestion for how Just Dance might track moves in the future. Presently, players can use Switch Joy-Cons, PS Move controllers, Xbox Kinect, PS4 Camera, or a smartphone with any platform/console. One current issue is that scoring can be drastically different with each mode of game play, even smartphone vs. Kinect on the same console in addition to discrepancies with cross-platform play. Another issue is that even similar modes of game play can have significant scoring or tracking differences, such as Kinect vs. PS4 Camera or remote vs. smart phone. With remote or phone game play, the equipment and grip also seem non-ideal.

    I suggest an optional piece of equipment. If Ubisoft doesn't want to introduce the equipment, maybe there is a company which would be willing to work with Ubisoft for this.

    Currently, a smartphone can be used with the Just Dance app to dance across all (or nearly all?) of the platforms/consoles. It's pretty cool that this is a universal mode of game play, available to anyone with a compatible phone, and can be used in place of a Joy-Con or Move, for example, and can even be used on platforms/consoles that don't offer a danceable remote. But the scoring and tracking seem non-ideal, the grip doesn't seem comfortable, and it can be a rather expensive piece of equipment to hold in your hand and dance with (which you wouldn't want to drop).

    I was wondering, why does it have to be a phone? It seems like one could develop a small remote that connects with wi-fi like a phone does and which would be universal, that is it would connect with the Just Dance app with virtually any platform/console. Maybe it would be a more convenient or ergonomic remote. It wouldn't need the standard layout of buttons for playing other games besides Just Dance, so it could be developed specifically with Just Dance in mind. Maybe it would be a glove (though would sweating and wear be an issue?) or maybe it could be so small and inexpensive it could consist of rings for the thumb and forefinger (though maybe size and not slipping off would be an issue) or it could be small remotes for both hands (two-handed scoring) or maybe it would include something that clips onto the leg (like an ankle band) or shoe (provided it wouldn't fall off or get damaged during a vigorous dance). There are so many possibilities...

    Then why does it have to work like a remote? Or maybe it could have two options, one sort of like a remote, and the other like Xbox Kinect or PS4 Camera game play. When you dance with a smartphone, the game isn't tracking a remote that was designed for its console; it's using the Just Dance app to track the phone. So why can't there be a device that tracks a player's dance like Kinect or the PS4 Camera (but hopefully with better results than the PS4 Camera seems to yield), where the device doesn't connect directly to the console with wires. Rather, the device would connect to any console/platform with wi-fi just like a smart phone does, and this communication would allow the game to effectively track hands-free dancing on any platform, not just Xbox and PS4.

    As an optional piece of equipment, nobody would be required to invest in it, but it would allow a player using any console/plaform to invest in an accessory specifically designed for dancing. It could bring hands-free game play to platforms/consoles that don't have it. Maybe it would be good for Google, PC, or even Just Dance Now.

    What I really hope is that the Just Dance team has some other incredible idea for the future tracking of scores already in the works. Thank you for considering my suggestion.
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  2. #2
    UbiBlack_Widow9's Avatar Community Representative
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    While I don't have any answers to your questions, thanks for sharing your suggestions, greekphysics.

    How would you feel about using a type of phone strap as opposed to the grip alone?
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  3. #3
    A phone strap is intriguing, but would probably have to be better (and the scoring for it probably needs to be different) than what I've seen. When I first saw a phone strap, I almost bought it to try it. But the one I saw was designed to strap the phone to the wrist. In many of the dances, the hand moves relative to the wrist, and the orientation of the palm and relative motion of the hand appear to get detected and impact the scoring. With the current scoring and tracking, it seems that this would cost a great deal of potential points. Indeed, someone on the forum months ago (or maybe it was even in a previous year) was asking about the phone strap and remarked that the scores seemed to be lower.

    Another issue I can see with a phone strap is little vibrations. Even if it is secured pretty tight, there will be slight wobbling and vibrations, so it would be hard to make motions as smooth as when holding in a hand.

    As more people think of other ways this could work (handheld or full-body scoring), and be as fair as possible across all the platforms (if cross-network scoring is to persist), and as technology improves, hopefully some future version of the game will offer a simply mind-blowing dancing and scoring experience.

    Kindly.
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