3DS circle pad price, date, games

By Robert Purchese Published 13 September, 2011

Resi! MGS! Ace Combat! Kingdom Hearts!

The eyebrow-raising 3DS second circle pad attachment will cost 1500 Yen (£12.30) and be released on 10th December in Japan.

Monster Hunter Tri G won't be the only game that supports it.

Nintendo has revealed five other compatible games: Resident Evil: Revelations (early 2012), Metal Gear Solid Snake Eater 3D (winter), Ace Combat 3D Cross Rumble (winter), Dynasty Warriors Vs (2012) and Kingdom Hearts 3D (TBC).

The 3DS second circle pad requires one AAA battery to run.

Games that support the second circle pad will display an icon showing the attachment.

circlepad

Resident Evil: Revelations.

Picture of Robert.

About Robert Purchese

Bertie is Eurogamer's Senior Staff Writer. When he's not hunting down news stories he's often found playing with his kids or gabbling about fantasy games and strange online worlds. @Clert on Twitter.

Read more articles from Robert by visiting the Robert Purchese archive page.

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Comments (112) Latest comment 8 months ago

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  • Timotei #1 8 months ago

    It can't even draw what little power it needs from the console?

    What a piece of shit.

  • MatMan562 #2 8 months ago

    Though I actually don't mind it, hopefully it wont be necessary in those games for those that don't like it.

  • kentmonkey #3 8 months ago

    What a stupid design.

    When you hold the 3DS now either:
    a) the screen won't be in the centre of your view or
    b) you'll have to hold it slightly further to the right to compensate for the bolt-on bullshit.

    It now resembles a handheld that's been covered in superglue and dragged through Halfords.

  • gm914 #4 8 months ago


    I guess Nintendo is trying to bring cargo pants back into fashion. Sleek.

  • MaoZedong #5 8 months ago

    Post deleted at 09:40:08 17-12-2011

  • ianegg #6 8 months ago

    Why couldn't it just clip over the side, in the space below the buttons? A slightly raised stick would be preferable to that... abomination.

    And it needs a battery?! I concur: what a piece of shit.

  • Darkmessiah24 #7 8 months ago

    They still could't put the pad below the face buttons...

  • martmart #8 8 months ago

    I think I'm gonna vom at that horrid design.

  • HyperTails #9 8 months ago

    lol It requires batteries?

    It looks like a piece of crap as well. Nintendo's own fault for fucking up with the design. If they'd of heard all the criticism from PSP owners and thought 'hey, let's avoid that scenario and have a second circle pad', they wouldn't be needing this battery operated piece of shit now.
    Edited by HyperTails at 13/09/11 @ 08:49

  • Der_tolle_Emil #10 8 months ago

    I'll wait for the redesigned console. There is absolutely no way I'll be getting this.

  • wizlon #11 8 months ago

    A bit bonkers, but I'm sure it wont be required, the kind of peripheral you use at home and detach when you hit the road.

    It still shows a short sighted Nintendo not thinking things through mind, I'm sure the 3DSi will fix it /sigh.

  • ToonMonkey #12 8 months ago

    That looks very cheap. Obvious redesign coming - why bother buying this?

  • addugg #13 8 months ago

    My crystal ball says:

    HEADLINE: Nintendo unveil new 3DS in time for Christmas.

  • KDR_11k #14 8 months ago

    It requires a battery because the only way to connect it to the DS is via bluetooth, just like iPhone add-ons.

  • DisgustedOfEngland #15 8 months ago

    To people complaining about the battery: there have already been complaints surrounding the 3DS in regards to its short battery life, and so releasing a near mandatory addon which exacerbated those problems wouldn't be the best idea.

    I'll end up getting it, I'm enjoying the usage of my 3DS already and am all for its capabilities getting increased, and its not hard to find a couple of rechargable AAAs.

  • Cappy #16 8 months ago

    Well, that puts an end to the 'it will only be used for one or two games' defence that certain people were using.

  • RoOhDaMite #17 8 months ago

    on Resident Evil:
    Can she actually see through that mess of a hairstyle? She looks like she got lost at the wrong movie set.

  • Munners #18 8 months ago

    Install base split confirmed then...

  • martmart #19 8 months ago

    And Ambassadors better get it for free (battery included). Biggest regret in my 15 years of gaming purchases.

  • GamesProgrammer Verified Games Team Programmer, Eutechnyx Ltd. #20 8 months ago

    Game should expect trade ins on mass when this news comes out, get rid now while it still worth something and pick it up when the hardware is out of beta.

  • HyperTails #21 8 months ago

    @Cappy

    We all knew that at the time, it was just the Nintendo fanboys who defend every decision made by Nintendo that said it was Monster Hunter only.

  • gm914 #22 8 months ago

    "HEADLINE: Nintendo unveil new 3DS in time for Christmas."
    Add-on Christmas tree peripheral only £12.49

  • roz123 #23 8 months ago

    Nintendo just had the big conference last night where many people were predicting the announcement of a redesign. It didnt happen.

    At first I looked at the add on and thought it was pretty horific but because its shaped more like a playstation controller it will probably make holding the 3ds for long periods more comfortable. Apparently it is entirely optional so each game can be played without it and it needs a battery because it uses infrared to communicate with the 3ds so like a TV remote it won't drain that one battery very quickly.

  • FladgeMangle #24 8 months ago

    Is this the big hardware announcement? An admission of design failure that we have to pay extra for?

    Or are we going to get this to play MH4 and then be told there's a newer, better 3DS is on the way?

    Clusterfuck city.

  • playgen #25 8 months ago

    To those that say, 'but its only optional, you don't have to use it', well if its so unimportant to how a game plays, why has it even been made? Obviously it is pretty important, and developers must have given Nintendo a hard time over it, because they wouldn't have come up with such a crap and clearly unplanned add-on otherwise.
    Edited by playgen at 13/09/11 @ 09:17

  • HyperTails #26 8 months ago

    @GamesProgrammer

    Agreed. I sent mine back to Amazon for a full refund as I had 3 games: Zelda, Pilotwings, and Ridge Racer. Ridge Racer got boring, Pilotwings was crap and the 3D effect wasn't very good, and Zelda I finished really quickly. It became a dust collector, and I looked at the upcoming release list and nothing really appealed to me, whereas the Vita does. Its like the PSP vs DS once again, whereby I got a DS, was underwhelmed, so ditched it and got a PSP, which I still own. The 3DS was a piece of shit that I was glad to be rid of, and I look forward to Sony kicking the shit out of Nintendo, as God knows they need a major reality check.

    Funny as well, once that 3D gimmick wore off (rather quickly) I saw it for what it was. A DS with a 3D gimmick tacked on.
    Edited by HyperTails at 13/09/11 @ 09:21

  • Eraysor #27 8 months ago

    The 32X finally gets its revenge! What a terrible, terrible addon. Might actually sell my 3DS now and just wait for the hardware revision.

  • L0cky #28 8 months ago

    Here, have an aborted baby; that'll be £12.30 please.

  • SG #29 8 months ago

    @Timotei: Well said! Nintendo really have fucked this up.

  • rojjer #30 8 months ago

    I'm going to wait until the 3DSi or whatever they call the revision that includes the 2nd thumb stick with it that *won't* require a battery and will return the screen to its central position..

  • MaxiSleep #31 8 months ago

    Nintendo really are just going for laughs at this stage i presume

  • mkreku #32 8 months ago

    Wow, that picture.. I would have thought it was a badly done photoshop joke..

  • koopa #33 8 months ago

    It's certainly a mess, but some people still don't seem to get that it's optional, games that support it will just have an additional control scheme...

  • slippysloppy #34 8 months ago

    Wow it's so sleek and small I can barely notice the attachment.

    IT LOOKS LIKE A FRICKING GAME GEAR!!!

    Holy shit, I'm not buying that, Nintendo will only bring out another one in a few months that's sleeker, cheaper and makes it look like an Atari Lynx.

  • NeonStorm #35 8 months ago

    Hopefully this goes the way of MotionPlus, in that a few games release alongside it before most developers pretend the thing doesn't exist.

  • Mr.Spo #36 8 months ago

    Optional add-on for third parties, to allow them to have dual-stick controls. Not a bad price, but I'm not interested at all, thanks.

  • TonsofFun #37 8 months ago

    It's like the handheld revolution never happened....

  • HornsDino #38 8 months ago

    @addug : In time for Christmas would be good, my crystal ball unfortunately says Nintendo reveal new hardware revision just AFTER Christmas.

  • abigsmurf #39 8 months ago

    No Kid Icarus listed... It's not like left handed people want to play that game anyway!

    *sighs*

  • joelstinton #40 8 months ago

    Er... on a more positive note.. GAMES ! : Resident Evil: Revelations, Metal Gear Solid Snake Eater 3D, Ace Combat 3D Cross Rumble , Dynasty Warriors Vs and Kingdom Hearts 3D, Mario Kart, Monster hunter 3,4, Mario 3D land, Tekken, Fire Emblem, Animal Crossing, Tales of the Abyss... Various others.. Pretty good line up!

  • DisneyJon #41 8 months ago

    Since when was "2012" a date of any meaning ?

  • kingcrowbar #42 8 months ago

    The battery is because it is using IR.

  • kentmonkey #43 8 months ago

    The battery is because it is an afterthought

  • marmaduke #44 8 months ago

    Christ. I reckon it needs a battery because it's going to connect via Bluetooth

  • PaletteSwap #45 8 months ago

    Looking back, if they had done that without cutting the price first, they'd have been trounced.
    The necessary AAA battery just adds insult to injury.
    I wonder if they'll manage to spin it as an additional feature in the inevitable hardware revision.

    Honestly, all that feels very sloppy, particularly for Nintendo. It's like they launched half a console for twice the price and makes you wonder if they understand what made the DS so great in the first place.

  • drxym #46 8 months ago

    Dear god that thing looks terrible. I wonder if Nintendo originally planned a second nub but some marketing genius thought to sell it at 10x markup as this atrocity. Nintendo really seem to be in fail mode at the moment.

  • Vanmunt #47 8 months ago

    I like my 3ds, the only real problem with the console is the price of the games (after they reduced the price of console) ... starfox is superb, but £35... bugger me, that is a bit ripe!

  • Ryze #48 8 months ago

    "The 3DS second circle pad requires one AAA battery to run."

    FAIL-TASTIC!!!!

    The damn thing should be a battery extender, it's so fucking big!!! Why's there not a big battery in it??!?!

  • Pwnsweet #49 8 months ago

    Hopefully this goes the way of MotionPlus, in that a few games release alongside it before most developers pretend the thing doesn't exist.

    Spoken like a true early adopter.

  • GamesProgrammer Verified Games Team Programmer, Eutechnyx Ltd. #50 8 months ago

    @Ryze

    Because its an afterthought, and Nintendo never planned for the 3DS to have accessories, theyve had to go around the houses to get this thing to work because they don't have a power and data port on it. They should of had one even if it had of been a proprietary version of USB. It was a big an oversight as not having the second slider in the first place.

    I think we can safely say Nintendo dont look at there competition when making there own consoles. Its like they want to make all there own mistakes instead of learning from others.
    Edited by GamesProgrammer at 13/09/11 @ 10:21

  • kingcrowbar #51 8 months ago

    Maybe it will have a battery extender in the 2nd generation, followed by rumble in the 3rd.

  • CallousB #52 8 months ago

    It's fugly..but at least it's just optional.

    I wonder if it doubles as a charging cradle? if so I might get it just to have a secondary charge stand in another room.

    Oh and I'm not sure if I expect a redesign to include the options from this. Fact is it has an additional two triggers which would be tricky to replicate well on a redesign.It wouldn't surprise me to see a redesign which comes with a redisigned version of this add-on. :-P

  • duckmouth #53 8 months ago

    I think they should made the attachment symmetrical, adding a third circle pad on the left hand side. Would probably be better both practically and aesthetically.

  • apoc_reg #54 8 months ago

    Worst add on ever! Seriously thats the sleekest design they could come up with?!?!

  • H_D_Swagger #55 8 months ago

    I should never have bought a 3ds. Of course I bought it on the basis of the reviews of the launch games from Eurogamer. I won't be making the mistake of trusting the reviews here again.

  • apoc_reg #56 8 months ago

    If zelda wasnt so awesome i would be SOOOO full of regret by now... still a tinge!

  • TonyHarrison #57 8 months ago

    So they didn't unveil a redesign then. Just as I thought. I wouldn't hold out much hope of them announcing one this year, as they'd only announce something like that at an event like this or at a big conference, and the next of either of those will likely be GDC next year. Still, I don't expect that to stop the rampant speculation.

  • GamesConnoisseur #58 8 months ago

    A huge mistake on part of Nintendo, if they made a mistake at the design stage, STICK to it and then you wont put off potential 3DS owners.

    As this SCREAMS a quick fix for a flawed platform, what about those who wont get the accessory and how will this affect the games? Spilt the 3DS owners and all developers would still have to program in for the bog standard 1 stick as the benchmark unless they think they can afford to exclude a big portion.. .Monster Hunter for example or just say that second controller is on touch screen if you have to NOT get the accessory.

    Ergh, I m happy 3DS owner, in a sense that I m only having the handheld for the few AAA games anyway.

  • des #59 8 months ago

    but but but only one game...
    Nintendo lol

  • Quak #60 8 months ago

    Man, talk about a botched product launch. Nintendo was clearly shitting their pants over the Vita when they decided to rush the 3DS out the door like they did. To launch such a stupid-looking hardware add-on so early in its life-cycle demonstrates they couldn't even wait an extra few months to get the hardware properly designed in the first place.

    Add to that the complete lack of quality games and you have the worst console launch in history.

  • Cobalt_Jackal #61 8 months ago

    @HyperTails.

    I agree, i approve your message. The 3DS is an underpowered, outdated, and overpriced peice of utter shit. Its just typical Nintendo being cheapskates.
    I mean Why esle would they not have built a 2nd stick into the actual 3DS from the beginning?.

    Why else would they go for a crappy low-res screen(s)?.

    Why else would they have gone for a shitty inadecquate battery?.

    Why else would they have gone for a 2 gen old, outdated CPU & GPU?.

    I'll tell you why, cost. Because Nintendo are fucking cheapo's, cheapskates wanting to make profit on the hardware from day one at the expense of actual good powerful hardware thats worth the money. I said all that from the beginning i tried my hardest too get people to notice, to wake up and realise this. But sadly i failed in my mission.

    I stood on that platform and watched many, many other people, people who were either swept up/belived the marketing, people who didn't know what they were getting into or were blinded fanboys. I stood and watched them all board the 3DS hype train. I'm just glad i stood back and didn't board.

    IMO the 3DS has been an epic failure, a complete fuck up on Nintendo's part. Its a damn joke. Both on the hardware side and the software aspect as well. Oh well i see this as deserved punishment for their arrogance. And I say long may it continue.
    Edited by Cobalt_Jackal at 13/09/11 @ 10:52

  • dextress #62 8 months ago

    Nintendo has officially lost the plot… The 3DS was always a flawed design, and Nintendo was arrogant thinking a second generation of low-balling hardware and functionality would fly. But this is extraordinary. It’s like the 32X all over again.

    Given the original mistakes can’t be unmade, surely it would have been MUCH wiser to announce this peripheral at the same time as the inevitable redesign that bakes the second circle pad in? That way, marketing could shift gears and promote aspirational hardware while Nintendo placates early adopters.

    Announcing the peripheral as a stand-alone accessory now means NOBODY in their right mind will buy a 3DS until the redesign is released. Stunting sales after they’ve finally picked up post price drop is surely the last thing Nintendo’s shareholders want…

  • Schmoke-n-a-pancake #63 8 months ago

    This has been the most bemusing year that Nintendo has ever delivered in my 25 years of being a fan.

    I still don't fully understand the Wii U.

    I still don't really understand the benefits of 3D gaming on a handheld.

    And I sure as hell don't understand the decision to make this type of add on for such a young device.

    This industry needs Nintendo, but not "this" Nintendo.

  • tinyspark #64 8 months ago

    Anyone who bought a 3ds should be entitled to a full refund if they want it, the thing clearly isn't finished and if the add-on circle pad is essential for some games then the original design is arguably unfit for purpose.

  • JohnnyWashnGo #65 8 months ago

    This thing is an embarrassment to good design - Nintendo should be hanging their heads in shame.

  • kosigan #66 8 months ago

    "The eyebrow-raising 3DS second circle pad attachment will cost 1500 Yen (£12.30) and be released on 10th December in Japan."

    And when it's eventually released over here sometime next year, it'll be £19.99.

  • Ryze #67 8 months ago

    2011: Nintendo manages to do a 1995 SEGA!

  • Schmoke-n-a-pancake #68 8 months ago

    Sega's downfall ultimately came about because their Japanese and US arms were working against each other rather than with each other. Does anyone know if Nintendo is having the same issue? Because there seems a clear lack of proper strategy. There's also been quite a contrast between what Iwata has said this year, and what Fils-Aime has said.

  • Nazo #69 8 months ago

    So Bluetooth communication means main battery drain as well?
    Double whammy!

  • joelstinton #70 8 months ago

    @schmoke n pancake. I sort of agree with you. I think they been reading too much into what gamers want. When in reality , us fickle bunch ( i love to hear what a non gamer who randomly clicks on to a eurogamer comment thread is thinking when they read the comments), are only a small part in the bigger picture.

    Gaming is not ours anymore, its now a massive entertainment venture. Yet sites, like Eurogamer, IGN, are still represensative of a niche market.

    Then you get constant chatising of nintendo from the Mid 90's of 'Nintendo is DOOMED'. Yet they are still here. I think as nintendo as the unfortunate scape goat of the teenager gaming years. Grow up with them, Love them, Become a teenager, go shooty shooty bang bang for a while, hate them, with a passion, NINTENDO ARE DOOMED, then pick up something by them in your mid twenties.. and still realise they have the magic.

    Looking at some of the trailers released today for some of the game, it just bring a smile to my face. Sure they're not making games with massives of Polygons. Sure they have a unique.. antiquated approach to OS, and Online.. Yet developers know the tech they use inside out and are able to create games that have more ideas, better art design, better gameplay than a lot of games on higher powered machines.

    The 3DS.. as yes been a bit of a mess in PR, and Nintendo have over reacted in repsponse from a fickle bunch. They just need to go with there gut instict, it served them well with the WII, It served them well with the DS. They just need to stop reading too much into Fanboys trolling, and the repeated shouts of.. NINTENDO IS DOOMED.. But .. its nintendo. I like Nintendo. Always will do.

  • kingcrowbar #71 8 months ago

    @Nazo
    It uses IR not BT, but yes it does mean powering up yet another LED on the Christmas tree like console. All be it one you can't see.
    Then again I doubt it needs two way IR apart from maybe syncing up at first.
    Edited by kingcrowbar at 13/09/11 @ 11:41

  • jonbwfc #72 8 months ago

    "They just need to go with there gut instinct, it served them well with the WII, It served them well with the DS."
    Right now those two are looking much more like the exception than the rule.

    Jon

  • HyperTails #73 8 months ago

    @Cobalt_Jacket

    Agreed. And another thing... this serves Nintendo right for showing the hardcore the middle finger and then jumping into bed with the casuals. It brought them short term (massive) success, but not long term. Reason being, casuals like a fad, then bugger off to something else. They don't follow along, buying games like hardcore gamers. They flip between what looks good, their casuals, its what they do.

    So now, the casuals have buggered off to Apple, or their phones. They have their DS, which is still being made, why upgrade when they don't need to? Why upgrade to an indimidating Wii U when they have a Wii with its simple controller? They've lost the core (no, Miyamoto, the core did not ignore Wii because of a lack of HD, we ignored it because it was shit), and the casuals have gone.

    I'm personally looking forward to the Vita. Sony build 21st century systems, whereas Nintendo build them like its the 90's, hence the reason they think that the internet is some kind of fad.

  • CloisterBlack #74 8 months ago

    My post is irrelevant to the add on, but I'm sorry, I couldn't help but laugh at the irony of the line "One woman will see untold horrors" of the Revelations video. Not with that hair, she won't.

  • Steroyd #75 8 months ago

    W-w-wait it needs it's own battery!?

    HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

    What a clusterf***

  • RawNinjaKid #76 8 months ago

    oh god, a second circle pad would have been useful in the original specs; but NOT essential.
    What's more important is NEW games take advantage of the current 3DS features.

    Anyway, now that it out there and games that support it; a updated 3DS model is the only way to go.

    Nintendo are in a slump at the moment. But thanks to their "core" franchises and "core" fans they can get back into it. They just need to develop content, more CONTENT! Prestigious new IP content!
    Imagine if Ico and SOTC were Nintendo games. They look like the perfect inspiration for the modern day NEW Nintendo IP.
    Edited by RawNinjaKid at 13/09/11 @ 12:53

  • gandhimaster #77 8 months ago

    nintendo could have saved themselves so much heartache (and the fans' ball ache) by combining the 3DS with the Wii U. The Wii U tablet should have been 3D and portable, but be playable on the telly if you want to.

    anyhow, enough of my problem solving genius, this is total shite. why oh why oh why wasn't the machine made with two fuckin' analogue circles in the first place? idiots. i seriously cannot believe the amount of shark jumping ninty have done over the last year. fail. :-(

  • Ryze #78 8 months ago

    @joelstinton

    NINTENDO IS DOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMED!!!!?!?!!one!!11

    No, but seriously, how does the 3DSs charge cradle work? Is it REALLY the case that the circlepad add on couldn't have doubled up as a battery extender for 1st gen 3DSs?

    Surely the thing could have held a decent regargeable battery, and connected to the 3DS 'charge cradle contacts' in the same way that the charge cradle does? If not, then surely it could have physically plugged into the same socket that the charger plug connects to??!?!

    No? FAIL!

    I still wish I had one as a toy, but there's no chance I'm spending money on this bollocks, plus lack of a save reset on several games, plus the whole region lock issue. No thanks.

    Fair enough though - we're 'just' the hardcore/hardcasual. The only problem, is that we're often the people who ENDORSE the casual purchases. When we say 'don't bother'. it may take a year to spread through the casual market, but that negative sentiment travels, and DOES have an effect.

    Edited by Ryze at 13/09/11 @ 13:10

  • Rack #79 8 months ago

    Sega CD, to be this crappy took Nintendo Ages.

  • BonzoBanana #80 8 months ago

    Nintendo seem to be rattled and they seem to believe the 3DS has failed to sell in the numbers they expected is because of a lack of extra analogue pad? The 3DS isn't powerful enough to be some sort of portable fps console and Monster Hunter works well enough on PSP with only one analogue pad so I don't understand this.

    3DS could do with extra battery life and perhaps be a bit smaller which is what I thought the next revision would be about. This just seems like a solution to a problem that doesn't really exist.

    Its almost like Nintendo are going through a mid life crisis. Their decisions seem poor in recent times and if they don't watch out will go the way of Sega.

  • mode7 #81 8 months ago

    I wouldn't actually mind a handheld console being a little more bulky. My hands get kinda sore after trying to hold my 3DS/PSP for more than 30 minutes due to their size.

    I don't like the look of it, but should it really matter what it looks like....? As long as it feel good to hold, I couldn't give a shit.

  • BobbyDeNiro #82 8 months ago

    I think Nintendo are sending out completely the wrong message with this add on. It seems like a massive knee jerk reaction to bad sales. It tells the public that they got the design wrong and need a quick and badly thought out fix to change the hardware.It doesn't do much for consumer confidence. The add on looks bulky and cumbersome. Nintendo should have stuck with the 3DS as it was and instead of trying to change it with a poor add on they should be focusing exclusively on it's qualities and the upcoming games and getting people to upgrade from, their DS. I don't think the 3DS is a bad design as it is and could survive without the second stick-after all the DS didn't even have a stick and that was fine for a whole range of games. Thie add on to me smacks of a seemingly naive company in turmoil and just deosn't do anything to beef up wavering confidence in the handheld.

  • jablonski #83 8 months ago

    What a huge pile of shit!

    hahahahaha

  • SpaceMonkey77 #84 8 months ago

    @Cobalt

    Well, it looks like I'm in your squad on this one. Even I could see that from the moment 3DS was announced E3, that the lack of a second stick was a major flaw, and as a result, few developers would support it. Didn't see all of the gaming press saying how bad such a mistake could be either. This, and that awful decade old GC tech, is why it has few games on it. While this peripheral is being sold next to Monster Hunter, I feel that this was Nintendo's idea than Capcom's, because there are no real 3D graphical games with decent camera controls on 3DS. Who else would Nintendo have turned to, with 3DS already having such poor game support? Just makes me glad I don't own a 3DS.

    The real problem with Nintendo, is that they are caught in this mindset, that everything they do must be a new and their own idea. Such thinking has its place in any industry, but to place such thoughts as your corner stone, and totally dismiss the competition, is a major oversight on their part, that continues to trip them up. I'm no business mind, but even I know how the concept of competition works. A little market research or googling would have informed them of Sony's PSP flaws that 3DS could have improved or built upon, but as usual, they continued to work in a vacuum, discarding such valuable info.

    I said it from even before the price dropped, and I still think that 3DS is a flop, one that Nintendo need to have, in order for them to wake up to their own bs. PSVita is no doubt in my mind, going to bury 3DS. Its possible Nintendo might try a 3DS dual stick revision by E3 2012, but even that won't save it. PSVita is just too good tech wise, and thus will have a plethora of game support. Thing is, Nintendo never learned from the core reasons of their Virtual Boy (nice idea, but far too soon) and GC failures (not online, when they said it would be, while taking money for a broadband GC modem), and even with the upcoming Wii U, the same false promises will be made and not met.

    @Joel Stinton

    I admire your optomistic view on Nintendo, but no, Nintendo have had enough chances to get things right, and while many of us think their games are cool, they still fail on so many other levels, that fans make excuses for, instead of opening their eyes to the truth. The truth is Nintendo do not want to spend money, to make money. Like it or not, they are in a tech based industry, and when you constantly push such a cheapskate tech angle of business, they deserve to get bitten but such poor decisions, resulting in poor sales. And before you go on about high sales of 3DS when the price dropped, that's naturally what happens with huge price drops, ( the same also happened with HP's Touchpad tablet recently) but in the case of Nintendo, it does little to paper over the huge, fatal chasms in the console business model.

    While you go through that list of upcoming 3DS games, to keep you safe at night, in your 3DS purchase decision, deep down in the darkness of your mind, you know that Nintendo are not what they once were, but yet still feel the need to defend their awful choices. That's cool, but if gamers can't wake up to their crap, they'll just feel the hurt down the line, when Nintendo screws them over somehow. But of course, if you like that lube action, keep bending over.

  • Schmoke-n-a-pancake #85 8 months ago

    @spacemonkey77

    "PSVita is no doubt in my mind, going to bury 3DS. Its possible Nintendo might try a 3DS dual stick revision by E3 2012, but even that won't save it. PSVita is just too good tech wise, and thus will have a plethora of game support."

    Although I agree that the Vita is a nice bit of a kit, you are kidding yourself if you think it's going to dominate the market. I'd bet the house on it having slower take up than PSP did. Vita is a niche product, that will tailor to its niche very well, assuming it's supported better than its predecessor was. But it is niche, clear as day.

  • FenderMaster #86 8 months ago

    Nintendo to 3DS Fans:

    So we've got this great new game out, we think you're gonna love it, it's another Mario!
    The thing is... We kind of fucked up when we launched the 3DS, we only included one analog. Those of you who supported us at the start and bought the 3DS at 250 will have to buy this add on before our latest game will work on your system, it's super sleek though

    Third parties

    Fuck! what do we do? Do we make games for the original 3DS or 3DS Lite? We can't count on original 3DS owners (all 5 million of them) owning the second analog, who do we make our games for?

    Nintendo Fans

    1. Early adopters - Rage
    2. Late adopters - abivalence/smugness
    Edited by FenderMaster at 13/09/11 @ 14:41

  • RawNinjaKid #87 8 months ago

    You could argue"core" gaming is niche.

    Having seen some casual platforms and software; I am starting to think that it's better off being niche! I don't care how many billions Angry Birds has sold on the iphone; since that's not the kind of titles I am interested in!

    But make no mistake, Nintendo at heart is a very "core" gaming company. It may be confused at the moment. But there's no way for it to go completely "casual". Not anymore anyway.

    Anyway, the best strategy N could take right now is to split the 3DS into two models; the current "casual" one with now newly added "Girls mode" and a new upcoming hardcore model!
    Edited by RawNinjaKid at 13/09/11 @ 14:48

  • RevanNL #88 8 months ago

    Wow, how was Nintendo able to go from the company that could sell millions of copies of Wii Fit and have Mario Kart Wii dominate sale-charts for more then a year to a company that is fucking everything up?

  • Schmoke-n-a-pancake #89 8 months ago

    @RawNinjaKid

    Yeah, niche is by no means a dirty word if you're a consumer. If you're a business, it's a little different, you've to be confident your niche is strong enough to turn a profit. I think Sony know and are comfortable with that situation. I don't think they'll have any expectations of Vita being a market leader, a money maker will be enough for them.

  • hegartyhead #90 8 months ago

    Guarantee it will not cost £12.30 in the uk, here's betting it's £19.99, or £24.99 in GAME, cos it'll be bundled with a battery :-)

  • KanePaws #91 8 months ago

    ROFL - and it seriously needs a battery? A f*cking battery, in this age of portable consoles!?

    Oh, this just gets better and better; Nintendo, you're too much. XD

  • Zozzilla #92 8 months ago

    The N64 controller has 2 sticks. The Gamecube controller has 2 sticks. The Wii classic controller has 2 sticks. Surely Nintendo must have noticed this when they made a handheld that was basically going to have ports/sequels of games previously released on these consoles? They could have put it in that massive space under the ABXY buttons for chrissakes!

  • RawNinjaKid #93 8 months ago

    I think Nintendo saw the the PSP "surviving" on one stick and decided the second stick was not worth it on a handheld.

    But then they saw that the 3DS users were generally Male and Older - and a fair chunk of these users were probably going to buy the PS Vita as well, hence cutting in on their 3rd party development and user attach revenue streams. This is opposed to the current DS line of users which apparently include lots of females.

    What we have here is potentially FAR, FAR better reading of the handheld console market from Sony.
    Edited by RawNinjaKid at 13/09/11 @ 15:49

  • FenderMaster #94 8 months ago

    The N64 controller has 2 sticks. The Gamecube controller has 2 sticks. The Wii classic controller has 2 sticks. Surely Nintendo must have noticed this when they made a handheld that was basically going to have ports/sequels of games previously released on these consoles? They could have put it in that massive space under the ABXY buttons for chrissakes

    umm... what?

    Theres a theory that 3DS is getting N64 ports precisely because it too only had 1 stick, so no control issues...

  • Ryze #95 8 months ago

    @Schmoke-n-a-pancake

    The Vita (in comparison to gaming phones and other handhelds) will be as 'niche' as a 360 is compared to the Wii, PS3 and other forms of home entertainment devices.

    By the end of this year, we're probably going to see that the 360 has sold on average, 10 million units per year since launch. That is NOT niche, and the DS/PSP have sold even MORE.

    If that's NICHE, then I'd be happy to sell to such a niche market. Now - yes they DO need successful marketing, and the right titles to make the platform a hit over the next 5 years. The same goes for the 3DS. However, either or both devices could sell massively over the next 3 years, if the games library and marketing are up to the right standard.

    There's simply no reason for parents to choose an iPod Touch over the 3DS, while Mario and Nintendogs are on the 3DS. iPod touches are FRAGILE and EXPENSIVE. I've seen how children treat their DSs, and by that standard, an iPod touch will last about 3 weeks. My sister has already been through 2 iPhones due to my nephew dropping / throwing them.

    Now - on the other hand we have Nintendo placing huge WARNINGS after their 3DS trailers, scaring parents into thinking that it'll make their kids go blind. THAT'S A BAD MOVE to make.

    They're their own worst enemies. Apple don't really have a clue about gaming. Nintendo should be ruling this industry - except they have no idea about online and seemingly HARDWARE!

    :o
    Edited by Ryze at 13/09/11 @ 16:19

  • ZouZouRas #96 8 months ago

    Worst console purchase ever!!! Since 1986 when i took my first C128D i've never felt so outraged by a company (and i even had an atari lynx and a saturn). They are idiots. First they gave us 10 old NES games (microsoft gave two xbox 360 games when they had cut the prize of xbox) and now this abomination! I assume that a 3DS lite is already on the way. Nintendo you screwed every early adopter of the 3DS.

    From now on i will buy Nintendo consoles only at the end of their life cycle second hand dirt cheap. I did that with the WII and i am totaly satisfied. And i believe that i am not the only customer that feels like that.
    Edited by ZouZouRas at 13/09/11 @ 16:45

  • Ryze #97 8 months ago

    ZouZouRas

    (microsoft gave two xbox 360 boxed games when they had cut the prize of xbox)

    That'd be a neat trick, even for Bill Gates!

    :p

  • ZouZouRas #98 8 months ago

    @Ryze

    Sorry mate English is not my native language :)

  • Ryze #99 8 months ago

    ^ no problem lad.

  • H_D_Swagger #100 8 months ago

    @ZouZouRas

    Couldn't agree more. The way things are going the Wii-u could well end up being a disaster. Either way I'm definantely not getting it at launch. Nintendo shouldn't have stopped supporting the Wii after only a few years.

  • cardboardMonster #101 8 months ago

    I really am an optimist and a Nintendo fan, but that is one of the worst things I've ever seen. It needs its own battery, it looks horrid, it won't fit in any case, not everyone's going to have it so it's like the 32X all over again - the list is endless. It's truly dreadful.

  • FenderMaster #102 8 months ago

    If anything has become apparent recently, it's that Nintendo make awful hardware at launch. From the underpowered Wii not being capable of current gen ports, to original GBA, the original DS, and now the original 3DS that split the market. Their revisions, on the portable side at least are somewhat more appealing.

    Btw my Wii is no longer reading discs, I guess all these years "collecting dust" have taken its toll, so no Skyward Sword for me :(
    So thats all three current gen cosnsoles that failed on me...

  • dllord #103 8 months ago

    Lol i thought this extra pad thingy was a wind up! Looks shite!

  • Zozzilla #104 8 months ago

    @FenderMaster - OK, it had the analogue stick and the C-pad which was basically used for camera functions on most games.

  • 32768Colours #105 8 months ago

    The 3DS second circle pad requires one AAA battery to run.

    ...because if its one thing the 3DS needs, its more time spent charging batteries. :/

    I know Nintendo like to rely on existing tech, but seriously, dual analogues have been around since the days of PS1. They're hardly a new fangled thing that people might not really need yet (as was their initially reasonable argument with HD on Wii).

    I'd have actually preferred it if they'd just done the typical Nintendo thing and doggedly denied any wrong-doing in only supplying one analogue stick. At least then the design might have been deemed intentional. But adding this to the mix straight after a massive price drop, when public, media, and even developer interest is extremely wary, serves as yet one more admission that they got the whole concept of what this console actually is very, very wrong. Very, very wrong indeed.

    So this is it for me. I've decided the 3DS is an utter abortion, an opinion absolutely polar opposite to what I'd hoped for before its release. It gives me no pleasure to turn my back on the 3DS, but I really can't see myself investing my money in something that's so lacking in direction. :(

    Roll on Vita then, I guess...

  • Mind_Open #106 8 months ago

    Ok, no 3DS for me then. At least until the inevitable revision.

  • electrolite #107 8 months ago

    So, when did Nintendo decide that emulating Sega in 94/95 was the way to go? I did wonder where Hayao Nakayama and Tom Kalinske had gone, turns out they've done some Bodysnatchers thing on Satoru Iwata and Reggie Fils-Aime

  • Sid-Nice #108 8 months ago

    Nobody has mentioned that this fantastic piece of technology also comes with a wrist strap.

  • BonzoBanana #109 8 months ago

    I don't plan to buy that eyesore of an accessory ever so do I become a second class 3DS owner who will be limited in what games I can buy?

    I think its worth pointing out the 3DS already has the massive advantage over the psp that it has the bottom touch screen where other options can be quickly selected. Maybe the touchscreen could have been used to simulate an extra control pad of a sort anyway.

  • Schmoke-n-a-pancake #110 8 months ago

    @Ryze

    The term "niche" doesn't particularly relate to how many units sell, it relates to how narrow the target demographic is. And the PSVita clearly isn't for everyone. It's for a very specific type of gamer.

  • Turfschipper #111 8 months ago

    The only way to save nintendo for hte handlheld business is now to focus on make games for the 3ds, as much as possible. 2 mario's in 1 year, just milk the figure.

    Plus they should announce next spring they are making the Gameboy 2!!!!!!!!

    With specs better then the vita, and with all sorts of extra's. It must be a superpowerfull handheld. And i am pretty sure the brand Gameboy can make a differance.

    But. i dont care, cause i will nuy a vita anyway.

  • cawley1 #112 8 months ago

    Why all the negs for anyone that is not bothered about two circle pads?

    I hate twin stick set-ups, why I dont' bother with all the crappy FPS this gen, Resi4 on Game Cube was perfectally controllable with one stick, however I do think Nintendo was dumb not to include two on the original design, despite how I feel about such control set-ups.

    I was over the moon that Resi: Revelations could only be single stick on this hardware, then they release this, just as well that they will have to offer a Resi4 style scheme, as not everyone will buy or own one.

    I won't be getting one for my 3DS, but I will look to trade it in for a new model when the inevitable revision is announced at E3 next year (first time I would ever have done this!).