Lefties rejoice! The new Circle Pad Pro is coming this year.
http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/30883
To accompany Nintendo's newly designed handheld, a new version of the Circle Pad Pro will be released later this year.
The original device added, on top of some extra weight and mass to the 3DS, a second circle pad for games that required a little extra aiming precision. It also granted left-handed gamers the ability to play Kid Icarus Uprising without conforming to the awkward right-handed control scheme.
As for the new model of the peripheral, no news besides a "2012 release" has been announced, and as of the time of reporting, there's no confirmation that it will be sold outside of Japan. Hopefully we'll have some pictures of the new device soon.
In a move that surprises no one...
Man, I can't wait for the XL!
they have no intention of using it.
You really should wait for the XLi.Ha, yeah. I could see Nintendo releasing a 3DSi/XL. If it's anything like the DSi, that wouldn't be for a while. And like DSi with its cameras and bumped up specs, including a right circle pad at that point probably wouldn't change the way people view the collective platform.
CPP will be built in. ;)
I'm sure the reason that the CPP still needed to be supported with this revision (and I would imagine all subsequent revisions) is because of Monster Hunter, but again I would ask why not just include a second Circle Pad on the system? This doesn't affect me at all because I have no intention of upgrading to the XL, but I'm still incredulous as to Nintendo's listless approach to...well...everything of late.There were pros and cons to including the right circle pad with the XL. Nintendo chose the path of least resistance, to side-launch the XL as an option rather than relaunch the entire platform, if that makes sense. The Internet is nerd-raging, but they'll get over it and it costs them nothing to get over it. Nintendo wanted to offer an XL model, but adding functionality to the XL would put Nintendo in the same position. People would just complain that there's no standard 3DS with built-in circle pad. If they then offered that, they would effectively be relaunching the 3DS for something that would always remain optional and not every game even needs. It probably costs more to make a Circle Pad Pro XL than have it built-in, but it probably costs even more than that to launch 2 entirely new models with added functionality.
I'm a little confused why you, who admittedly has no intention of upgrading to the XL, are still so upset about this. Seriously...
Okay, replace "upset" with "bewildered." I don't understand why you're bewildered by this.
DSi came out nearly 4 years after DS launched in Japan. That's a completely different situation. DS already established itself whereas 3DS is still kind of new. The XL isn't a revision per se. It's not replacing the standard 3DS like Lite replaced the original DS. Nothing is getting phased out. It's not even the DSi to the DS. It's literally the DSi XL to the DSi. It's not a new recipe; it's a larger box. Nintendo is releasing the Circle Pad Pro XL for parity so XL owners can play the exact same games as the standard 3DS without sending mixed messages to consumers.
Nintendo could have included the right circle pad very easily. They chose not to and for a very simple reason: it's just a large model.
The frankenstick/CPP XL will be just another footnote in the list of Nintendo peripherals that didn't get a lot of support after release.
I disagree, because there is a need for it and that need is not going to fade away. Other peripherals are not necessary or are based on a gimmick, but dual analog is not a gimmick, it is an industry standard. It will never fade away. Its not as though we're talking about R.O.B. or the Super Scope or the Wii Balance Board here.
Nintendo made more games for R.O.B. then they have made/announced for the CPP - 2!
The balance board had more 3rd party support.
I disagree that dual analog sticks will never fade away. Everything changes.
Also, as another comment has mentioned, my favourite thing about playing Revelations with the CPP was the triggers and not the second circle stick. I don't think anybody seriously expects a portable device with extra triggers, which is a shame. I'm playing Resistance Burning Skies at the moment and it's a big let down, partly because the grenade throwing etc is a mess without out the extra triggers. I would love a COD title for CPP but I'm not holding my breath.
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3. TTBOMK there are 2 3DS games that support 2 sticks in the west and only 1 on the horizon. The frankenstick/CPP XL will be just another footnote in the list of Nintendo peripherals that didn't get a lot of support after release. Do you struggle with pattern recognition in daily life? Help is available.
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* Kid Icarus Uprising uses it, but I don't even know how.It's for the left handed option. I've heard from most places that lefties, like myself, almost need the CPP to play the game. Other places have said that lefties can make do with the regular control scheme.
