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3DS XL getting Circle Pad Pro as well

Oh man, now we're seriously in the running for biggest handheld ever. Nintendo has confirmed that the 3DS XL is going to get its own version of the Circle Pad Pro. I seriously cannot wait to see how big this beast is!

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50 total comments (View all)
User avatar
27 Jun 2012 23:51

Hmmmmmmmmmmm.....

Would I rather have had the current install base alienated or a CPP XL?

....

I think right about now I'd choose an alienated install base cause at least I'd finally have a built-in 2nd circle pad. :mrgreen:

Thebluepencil wrote:Instead of 'the boat' it will be 'the aircraft carrier'

Now I gotta buy an aircraft carrier that what I'm guessing will cost me $30. D'X
User avatar
27 Jun 2012 23:59

Of course it would... This is Nintendo we're talking here.
User avatar
28 Jun 2012 00:15

My day started out bad but couldn't end on a better note. I can't wait to see this thing that you can kill a man with. :D
User avatar
28 Jun 2012 00:19

This was one of my only concerns regarding the 3DS XL. I guess now I will be more likely to get one, since I really enjoy the option of having the second circle pad for certain games (like MGS 3D and Kingdom Hearts 3D). My only problem is the whole fact that I can't trade my original 3DS in towards the purchase of an XL right away since I need it for data transfer. Gotta see what I can do in the meantime (if I can get one soon, then I hope I can use my original 3DS to help pay off the Wii U).
User avatar
28 Jun 2012 00:22

HAHA yes!!!!!! This is amazing
No Avatar
28 Jun 2012 00:29

There's 2 reasons why this move was made.

1) Even if they wanted to include it built-in with the XL, they wouldn't be able to. Games that utilize the CPP check whatever is plugged on the IR port (the CPP goes there), seeing as how nothing is plugged there, games with CPP support wouldn't be playable using the built-in second stick.

2) To avoid alienating the fanbase. Those who bought an old 3DS would feel cheated. Even if Nintendo forces devs to make dual-pads an optional control scheme, people would still feel bothered seeing as how the patient people who waited are now playing ''superiorly''. CPP also has absolutely zero marketing other than being mentioned in demos and games' option menu, it's mostly to please devs. And even if CPP were marketed to hell and back, people would still have to spend extra money on the peripheral that's used optionally on like 6 games so it would be no different than buying an XL with dual circle pads.

Of course, this is all damage control based on the stupid, STUPID mistake that Nintendo made by not making 2 circlepads/analog sticks for the original 3DS.
User avatar
28 Jun 2012 00:54

I have a feeling that the Circle Pad Pro for the XL will look more like Nyko's version, as in it'll be a little less ergonomic in an effort to be more compact.
User avatar
28 Jun 2012 01:27

The reason devs don't use it is because it's not included with the system. Non-included accessories are notoriously unsupported across all platforms, old and new. Brief synopsis, Nintendo only:

Famicom Disk System: Japan only
SNES CD: Never released anywhere and eventually turned into the Playstation
N64 DD: Japan only, flopped
GCN Broadband Adapter: Only 4 online games (7 if you count the 3 LAN capable titles)
Wii Speak: A dozen or so games out of the hundreds of Wii titles

And those are just some examples. This smells like it's a nickel & dime scam to get more money out of people and just means they'll probably eventually do a re-design with 2 pads, or the 3DS2 will have them. Either way, it's still dumb that they went to the trouble of a re-design but didn't add a 2nd pad.
User avatar
28 Jun 2012 01:35

Wat. Wat wat wat.

Waaaat.

EDIT: Would it not have been possible to emulate the effect of putting on and taking off such a device by putting an "Enable Circle Pad 2" switch on the system as a way of making the software think it's using the IR port when it really isn't?
User avatar
28 Jun 2012 02:09

Where would you put another analogue slider in the 3DS XL? Do you think it would be comfortable? Handhelds are not FPS consoles, so I APPLAUD their choice of bringing buttons in the lime light and have the slider separately bought for those rare games that really use it and not raise the cost of the console in vain. (In fact, I'm very excited of seeing FPS's on a 3d screen that I hold in my hand, and gyro aiming intrigues me much more than last gen controllers, but I don't expect seeing too many of FPS games that I like, because of a bit more limited budgets of hand held games)
User avatar
28 Jun 2012 02:40

FatFace83 wrote:Its pretty obvious as to why they didn't add a second circle pad... That will be for the next redesigned 3DS. Nintendo are trying to claw back some of those many millions they have lost.


Apple does the same thing. Money is money
User avatar
28 Jun 2012 02:42

Heistt wrote:There's 2 reasons why this move was made.

1) Even if they wanted to include it built-in with the XL, they wouldn't be able to. Games that utilize the CPP check whatever is plugged on the IR port (the CPP goes there), seeing as how nothing is plugged there, games with CPP support wouldn't be playable using the built-in second stick.

2) To avoid alienating the fanbase. Those who bought an old 3DS would feel cheated. Even if Nintendo forces devs to make dual-pads an optional control scheme, people would still feel bothered seeing as how the patient people who waited are now playing ''superiorly''. CPP also has absolutely zero marketing other than being mentioned in demos and games' option menu, it's mostly to please devs. And even if CPP were marketed to hell and back, people would still have to spend extra money on the peripheral that's used optionally on like 6 games so it would be no different than buying an XL with dual circle pads.

Of course, this is all damage control based on the stupid, STUPID mistake that Nintendo made by not making 2 circlepads/analog sticks for the original 3DS.


This guy knows what's up.
No Avatar
28 Jun 2012 03:10

donsanedrin wrote:There, truly, is no excuse for this.

Developers would have trouble doing blah blah blah.............I don't care. Nintendo had already changed the hardware significantly during the DSi launch.

Adding MORE functions is never a bad thing. They even had a competitive reason for adding it, as it would take away another feature from the Vita and put another nail in the coffin.

We now have to cover up the IR port in order to get a second stick, we now have to fork over another $20 if we choose to pay for this new hardware iteration that is already $30 more expensive than the original 3DS.

Please don't make excuses for this. It just looks bad.

Nintendo had a legitimate opportunity to stop the vast majority of criticisms for their newest handheld, and they are just tripping themselves up.


Sigh, what you fail to realize is that Nintendo released the DSi four years after the original DS came out, and the DS lite which was just a smaller DS with and improved battery and brightness adjuster came out just two years after the original DS. Nintendo is doing exactly the same thing they did for their DS product and until a number of games come out that really require the second circle pad your never going to convince me that it is a necessary feature no matter what argument you make.
User avatar
28 Jun 2012 03:19

Frankenstick is having a XL Bride?

The 3DS not having two circle pads was the first mistake (if not for dual analog then for lefties). Mixing in the Circle Pad Pro which not only added a second circle pad, but also ZL and ZR buttons doesn't help the original 3DS when a revision comes along......XL Revision comes along and no second circle pad nor ZL/ZR buttons to keep things non-fragmented.

I was initially mad about the XL's lack of a second circle pad/XL Circle Pad Pro, but if they added in a second circle pad, I think it would be for moot since they would have had to add in the ZL/ZR buttons. It would have been nice to just add a second circle pad just for lefties' sake (me!) and just trick the system into thinking the second circle pad was the main one so no developers can do dual circle pad controls sans ZL/ZR, but that's just a pipe dream.

I'm glad Nintendo's not fragmenting the 3DS market (ish), but I can't believe they've made their own headache with this whole 2nd Circle Pad/Circle Pad Pro/XL/ZL+ZR buttons/Circle Pad Pro XL fiasco. Might as well add in a third circle pad, 5 more buttons, one capacitive touch screen/one resistive, a rear touch panel, pressure pads, and one extra 1.5 inch third screen that can neither be touched nor looked at for their next handheld just in case.
User avatar
28 Jun 2012 03:40

Well look at that...

The CPP has been the only reason holding me back from getting the XL... Now it'll come down to how big/ugly/expensive/unportable the whole thing will be.
User avatar
28 Jun 2012 07:33

mfw people still whining it should've been on the XL in the first place.

How many games even use it? Do they use it well?

I don't own a 3DS yet, but I honestly have no desire to get the Circle Pad Pro. $20-ish just so I can have a more console-like experience on my handheld? Sorry. Not worth it.

Would it benefit? Sure, but it's also not missing anything by not having it. Having it built in would've been a huge **** YOU to everyone who had a 3DS and CPP already.

Nintendo loves making peripherals and letting them die off. Nothing new. I'm sure if they want it to be standard it will be in another revision down the line.

OH, and everyone going "LOL THE MAIN REASON THEY AREN'T IS BECAUSE EXISTING GAMES HAVE TO SEARCH FOR THE CPP", pretty sure that can be patched/fixed in an update.

And I highly doubt they actually care about alienating previous owners. It's another option. A 3DS XL+CPP built in would cost more than a Price Dropped 3DS + CPP separate. Not sure how that's alienating anyway other than "LOL 3DS IS LONGER ON ONE SIDE" God forbid.
No Avatar
28 Jun 2012 09:20

Frizzy wrote:
2 circle pads isnt possible. Games are programmed to look for the second circle pad thought the ir port.


Patches. 3DS has them.

I was fine with no second circle pad built in. I believe it solidified their stance and did not alienate consumers on the 3DS who had no access to a CPP.

But this is utter nonsense, put it in, or leave it out completely. Adding another horrendously designed underused piece of plastic is going to alienate more people than it is going to attract. Only the hardcore know about Circle Pad Pro, only the hardcore care about circle pad pro, only the hardcore are going to be completely enraged at the notion that you simply would not include this in your redesign rather than try to break people into handing your more money for something you should have done yourself. This benefits no one, not even Nintendo.

Sweet Jesus I wish someone would boot Iwata out. Love the guy, but he has no idea what he is doing anymore.

MoldyClay wrote:
Would it benefit? Sure, but it's also not missing anything by not having it. Having it built in would've been a huge **** YOU to everyone who had a 3DS and CPP already.


Half-agree. The second slider isn't needed per say, but playing something like Resident Evil Revelations without it would have enraged me. Also having two slide pads would have opened up a flood gate of third party support in such a shooter heavy cookie-cutter market.

Despite being of mind with their former reasoning for not including a second stick... they may as well have and made it mandatory that each developer who wishes to use it also publish their games with an alternative control scheme for those without it.

Really, if they are just going to keep cranking out peripherals... just put it on the dang machine. The difference between Nintendo's previous peripherals and this one is that in the past Nintendo had released their add-ons afterward in an attempt to polish up a previous oversight. (Well, save for things like the Wii wheel and such.) That is exactly what the CPP was. Now, they've had the opportunity to correct this but have instead purposely left off a much needed feature in order to siphon more money out of consumers. There is no justifying that. There's no justifying have no AC adapter in several regions either. The company has lost its mind.

I previously wanted a 3DS XL prior to reading this, the thing looked gorgeous and fixed a lot of issues. But now I see that Nintendo will no longer simply overlook certain inadequacies but will also willingly flaunt their unending greed in front of us. As a consumer, I really cannot support that. It's not that I am saying 3DS XL shouldn't exist, but Nintendo has publicly asked its fanbase to upgrade several times, it's beginning to resemble a deadbeat cousin begging you for money every time he blows it all in Vegas.
No Avatar
28 Jun 2012 09:59

I don't really get the whole "alienating the fanbase" excuse for why Nintendo couldn't build in a second slide pad. If people want two pads, this will be another reason to buy the XL, but if they don't care, it wouldn't hurt them. In either case, they're not harming previous adopters. There's already a peripheral available that will give you the same functionality on the original system. Lowering the price of their systems hasn't alienated the fanbase, and neither has improving the battery life, introducing sleeker designs, or including bigger/better screens. Those are all very noticeable improvements that you can't have at all without upgrading, whereas you can buy an accessory to give your 3DS a second pad. As long as Nintendo were to keep the use of a second pad optional, and mandate control schemes that worked without it, there shouldn't be a problem.

GBA SP fixed a huge problem (lack of illumination) in the original GBA, and it didn't alienate the fanbase.

DS lite made the original DS look huge, ugly, and dim by comparison, and it didn't alienate the fanbase.

DSi added numerous new hardware features to the DS line, and it didn't alienate the fanbase.
User avatar
28 Jun 2012 10:01

Useless redesign gets a crappy peripheral? Lol.
User avatar
28 Jun 2012 11:01

Do many people actually believe, that uncomfortably placed second analogue stick built into the device would bring, like, many FPS's and 3rd person games worth of buying into the system? There IS a second stick if you need one, it only doesn't raise the cost for those who don't need it and this way it is in comfortable place. In my view its win-win scenario, and at least I cannot understand whats the such a big problem here, that makes it lose-lose whiney-whiney situation in some peoples minds. Some people seem to want to move the buttons lower and put the second slider into the comfortable place. I think that would be disaster, as most games, as well as most fitting games are made for buttons.

Relax your buttocks. The console is now that little bit more affordable as they didn't need to redesign it, and it will sell more which does much more in helping to bring more games, that are suited to the system, as well as for the budgets that are common to hand held games.

And I found the Resident Evil Revelations gyro aiming more accurate and fun to use than RE5 in consoles.
User avatar
28 Jun 2012 13:52

For people who miss the 90s, this is great new! :lol:
User avatar
28 Jun 2012 18:17

This thing is gonna be huge...
User avatar
28 Jun 2012 19:41

Seriously, this may be the moment I completely give up on Nintendo. This is beyond foolish.
User avatar
28 Jun 2012 22:28

Cool I got the other one but I be geting this one for my Red 3DS XL
User avatar
29 Jun 2012 01:55

Sure Nintendo will have a second stick for their next handheld. Still want to say they'll have one more revision up their sleeves, and adding another stick is a possibility like how it was with DS and DSi.

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