After much research, I have come to a conclusion.
The show makes Tri-Beam a beam.
The Budokais make tri-beam a blast, a.k.a. Blast cannon.
While watching different times when Tien used Tri-Beam, there was only ONE TIME out of many where the attack cast 3 spinning shadows. That was on Semi-Perfect Cell.
However, I remember now that in the Cell Games Saga, the Cell Jrs. used tri-Beam on Gohan. The attack was clearly a normal beam type attack. Nothing fancy. It didn't look like a triangle beam, nor was it 3 sources of light like we originally thought.
Tri-Beam keeps changing appearence, but the Cell Jrs. using the attack actually gives us an actual view of the attack, which, apparently, is a fast-moving beam.
However, in Budokai, the attack is called "Blast Cannon." The attack isn shown as a blast/ball attack. Blast Cannon is the real official name of the attack. Not Tri-Beam. However, Tri-Beam is more popular than Blast Cannon.
So here's my proposal.
We'll make Tri-Beam in 2 forms. Main form is a beam and it'll be called Tri-Beam. 2nd form is a blast and it'll be called Blast Cannon. Same attack, 2 different forms.
That way, it's easier to sprite, makes all the fans happy, and we can stop trying to do intense research on the attack, because the attack has been seen as both a beam and a blast in the series, so why not give it both forms?
So that gives Tien both a beam and a blast right at the start. So what about Dodon Ray?
Well, seeing as how Dodon Ray is more like a laser than a beam, I was thinking of making it a chargable hit-scan attack with a blast radius. In other words, take Frieza's Rapid-fire laser (it has a blast radius), recolor it to look like dodon ray, let it be chargable, and then fire away. Since it's so fast and it's not rapid-fire, it cant really be spammed, but it can still be used like Frieza's and Piccolo's lasers, but be in it's own unique class. Neither frieza's nor Piccolo's lasers can be charged. Thats what will make Tien's dodon ray a bit more unique.
Now then. Since Tri-Beam SHOULDN'T be controllable (like how they plan on fixing SBC so it's attached, but cant be controlled), this would give tien a bit of a disadvantage since he has no controllable beams other than gen beam. Frieza is the same way, but he makes up for it by gaining Death Ball. So, why not give Tien the same treatment?
Rather than making him have Third-Eye, why not stick to a basic, well rounded addition with Kamehameha after he transforms?
Now, before you think this'll make tien overpowered, let me run a few things by you again.
Tien's Attacks and how they should be executed
1) Tri-Beam = Tri-Beam's main function. Powerful attack with a fast speed. Cannot be controlled, but can be used in a power struggle. Very Long Charge though.
2) Blast Cannon = Tri-Beam's secondary function. Not nearly as powerful, but has a faster charge. Blast attack. Faster speed than tri-Beam.
3) Dodon Ray = Hit-Scan attack (instant attack) that's chargable. Not too powerful, but has its uses since it's instant. Blast radius added since it's a bit more beam-like than other lasers, but still a laser of its own class.
4) Kamehameha = Gained after transforming. You all know how this works.
5) Solar Flare = Duh.
So, this would give Tien 2 beams, Solar Flare, 1 laser, and 1 blast. 1 beam is controllable and the other is not. This would make Tien extremely versatile in many situations and would not be overpowered as long as the attacks balance with each other. And seeing as tien would only have 1 transformation, he'd take a while before learning Kamehameha so Tri-Beam would be used quite often.
So, how does this sound to everyone? It would reduce the amount of animations needed (since third-eye would require an animation for every blockable attack), it would make spriting easier, and coding only 5 attacks in rather than *lists a long list* for Tien would make it easier on the team. He'd be balanced, Versatile, and easier to work with while still being a fan favorite in the game.
Questions? Comments? Smart-ass remarks?