Topic: Nintendo 3DS XL Circle Pad Pro Design Revealed

[Traveller]

The 3DS XL just got bigger.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/31809

Nintendo has updated their Japanese website with a new image of what the Nintendo 3DS XL's Circle Pad Pro will look like on the new system.

The device, just like the original Circle Pad Pro for the launch version of the 3DS, will add a second Circle Pad to the handheld to allow for additional control schemes in games that require extra precision.

There currently are no details regarding price or release date of the new accessory, but a Japanese release was initially slated for 2012.

[Mataata]

Neat how it's curved and the Circle Pad kind of sits down in it like that. Looks comfy.

[TruenoGT]

Absolutely ridiculous and awesome... and I'll definitely get one for Monster Hunter and going back to MGS3 and Resident Evil.

[Hey Einstein!]

I actually like how it looks better than the original. Not sure how comfortable it will be with that tapered edge. Do hope it comes westward.

[Chozo Ghost]

Why can't they just integrate it into it by default? I'm still holding out for the next revision in the hopes they will do just that.

[Adrock]

Why can't they just integrate it into it by default? I'm still holding out for the next revision in the hopes they will do just that.

Indiana, let it go.

[TJ Spyke]

Why can't they just integrate it into it by default? I'm still holding out for the next revision in the hopes they will do just that.

Since no game requires the Circle Pad Pro, it's not gonna happen. I don't want them to raise the cost just to include something that no game requires (and few even support) just to make a small niche group of fans happy.

[Adrock]

I saw more pictures of this. Looks just hideous, but really, really comfortable all the same. I liked how the regular Circle Pad Pro felt and Nintendo went the extra step and made the XL design more ergonomic with the slight slope on the right side and the grips on the back. I can't wait to upgrade.

[Chozo Ghost]

I don't want them to raise the cost

I don't think it would raise cost all that much, and even if it did why does it matter to you? You could still buy the older revisions without it. I assume you probably already own it anyway.

[nhaines]

Because if they did integrate it, two things would happen.

1) Because the accessory utilizes the IR port on the 3DS, it would permanently disable the IR port functionality because Nintendo would place the IR transmitter and transceiver internally to allow the second circle pad to function.

2) Nintendo would integrate the second circle pad functionality internally so that it uses internal hardware similarly to the original circle pad (i.e., no IR sensor) but is no longer compatible with any game that supported the original Circle Pad Pro.

You can't have both.  Either you implement the hardware absolutely identically (so old games keep working) or you change it (and no game continues working--future support only).

[Adrock]

I'm sure there's a workaround if Nintendo hypothetically wanted to do this. They don't or they would have already. Nintendo could probably live with the 1st scenario. I did a very quick Google search and there do not seem to be any games that currently use the IR port outside of the Circle Pad Pro. That could change. Then again, the Gameboy Color had an IR port, but very few games used it. I think the Wii U GamePad has an IR port so there could be some interaction there.

The 2nd scenario could work with software patches for older games. I'm not a hardware designer/engineer/magician, but there could be other solutions.

[Chozo Ghost]

You can't have both.

What about a firmware upgrade which redirects the old games to work through the new non-IR setup?

[Sarail]

2) Nintendo would integrate the second circle pad functionality internally so that it uses internal hardware similarly to the original circle pad (i.e., no IR sensor) but is no longer compatible with any game that supported the original Circle Pad Pro.

The system is capable of game patches.

[Pixelated Pixies]

I'm not going to go into it again, but I still find the existence of this thing absolutely hilarious.

[Adrock]

I'm not going to go into it again, but I still find the existence of this thing absolutely hilarious.

How the **** is that hilarious? Do you know what hilarious means? Hilarious means so funny that you almost went insane when you heard that ****. It’s just so funny that it almost ruined your life. You’re homeless now because you can’t cope or reason anymore because that hilarious thing just shattered your mind and three months later, you’ve got **** and leaves in your hair and you’re drenched in pee in the gutter. That’s how funny hilarious is.

[Pixelated Pixies]

I'm not going to go into it again, but I still find the existence of this thing absolutely hilarious.

How the **** is that hilarious? Do you know what hilarious means? Hilarious means so funny that you almost went insane when you heard that ****. It’s just so funny that it almost ruined your life. You’re homeless now because you can’t cope or reason anymore because that hilarious thing just shattered your mind and three months later, you’ve got **** and leaves in your hair and you’re drenched in pee in the gutter. That’s how funny hilarious is.

That's hilarious.

[MegaByte]

Because if they did integrate it, two things would happen.

Neither of those things need happen. It wouldn't be very hard to design hardware to switch between an internal and external "IR" port. However, there are other issues like the existence of ZL and ZR on the CPP.