Some information regarding the control mechanics of the upcoming Nintendo DS title Mario Basket 3on3 have dribbled out to the Internet via IGN.  Apparently the characters are moved with the control pad and the rest of their maneuvers - dribbling, shooting, passing, etc. - are controlled with the touch screen by swiping the stylus in various directions.  It sounds confusing on paper, but we've seen both Nintendo and Square-Enix work control miracles before.

The control scheme Square Enix has come up with is one of the more interesting aspects of the game. The D-pad is used to move your player around, with the stylus used for dribbling, passing and shooting. To pass, you swipe the screen left or right with the touch pen. To shoot, you swipe the touch pen up. Dribbling requires that you tap the screen. Based on the speed of your tapping, your character's speed will increase or decrease. Also, you can make your character rotate by dribbling in different parts of the screen.

I still can't quite wrap my brain around the fact that Square-Enix is developing this game.  Even more surprising is that the game was originally the company's own idea and it was only after development began that it approached Nintendo for a Mario-based collaboration.  It just doesn't seem right for the famed RPG creator to be dabbling in sports again (remember Rad Racer?).  I'd have expected Final Fantasy Basketball from Square-Enix before a sports game featuring the Mushroom Kingdom all-stars.  I'm not against this collaboration, mind you, just a little puzzled.  What's next?  Dragon Quest Pinball?  Chrono Trigger Rally Racer?