Topic: 3DS Circle Pad Details Revealed

[NWR_pap64]

Some technical details as well as the games that support it were confirmed.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/27791

Details regarding the 3DS's Second Circle Pad attachment were revealed today.

While nothing was said during the actual Nintendo 3DS Press Conference, an update on Nintendo's site confirmed some new details regarding the peripheral. It requires one AAA battery to work.

The Circle Pad (Slide Pad in Japan) attachment will be released in Japan on December 10, 2011 and will retail for 1,500 Yen. It will only work with games that carry the Circle Pad icon on their boxes.

In addition, a list of the games that use the peripheral was also released. The games that use it are as follows:

Monster Hunter 3G - 12/10/11
Biohazard Revelations - Early 2012
Metal Gear Solid - Winter
Ace Combat - Winter
Samurai Warriors VS - 2012
Kingdom  Hearts 3D - TBA

[BlackNMild2k1]

No mention of Monster Hunter 4?

[UncleBob]

It requires one AAA battery to work.

Where's that facepalm jpg?

[Enner]

I really don't like how it needs a AAA battery. I would've rather have them include a rechargeable battery that augments the existing 3DS battery and price higher more if need be. As it is, if I want to use the second circle pad, I would have to manage two energy sources. Also, $20 is a bit much for such a big thing that requires another battery.


I think it has been said that the games listed don't require the add-on?

[Oblivion]

First handheld kingdom hearts game with dual analog. Can't wait.

[broodwars]

Well, that list of 3rd party games that will use the peripheral pretty much confirms that it's going to see some wide adoption.  That it requires its own AAA battery is insane, though.  I guess if you don't want to do that, there's always the inevitable 3DS redesign with it built in.

[Caliban]

It requires one AAA battery to work.

Where's that facepalm jpg?

We need one with an infinite number of facepalms.

[BlackNMild2k1]

Would it be better if the Circle Pad Add-on plugged into the 3DS and syphoned off the internal battery pack instead?

I don't think a since AAA battery is all that bad, but I just hope they make the thing thinner and more attractive. It needs to be streamlined a little.




but since you guys requested it

there you go

[Mop it up]

This whole attachment deserves many facepalms.

[TheYoungerPlumber]

Really? I really don't understand the motivation behind this. Did Monster Hunter's team demand it, with other third parties deciding they may as well tag along for the ride?

[Shorty McNostril]

Can I contribute?





That's better.

[Stogi]

This pretty much guarantees that there is a full redesign in the works.

[Enner]

Really? I really don't understand the motivation behind this. Did Monster Hunter's team demand it, with other third parties deciding they may as well tag along for the ride?

Maybe the third party developers and Nintendo thought it would be a good idea for those that want more optional controls for their games. They seemed okay with not minding that fact that Nintendo should have thought of this before they launched the system.


Maybe we'll know more if there's a future Iwata Asks on the subject

[joshnickerson]

Ehh... It still seems to be an optional accessory to me, not a required one.

It'd be hilarious if this never made it to the states... then everyone complaining about it existing would then be complaining that they don't get to have it. 

[Crimm]

Let me say MGS 3D NEEDED dual analog at E3.
Ace Combat looked like it would be helped.

[Ceric]

Weren't a lot of those games mysteriously delayed at about the same time?  I'm waiting on Cave Story to support it.

[ejamer]

People saying this accessory still looks optional, and that a redesign isn't imminent need to take their heads out of... the sand.


Monster Hunter, Metal Gear, Resident Evil and more all will need the accessory?  And that's known from the day of the official announcement. More major titles sure to follow suit. Sure we don't need the expansion, but that's assuming we don't care about playing some of the biggest franchises on the console.


Shame on me for getting suckered into buying due to the price drop. I don't have money to replace the system, and wouldn't dream of carrying that monstrous add-on with me (size alone prevents that from being practical). Maybe using it at home won't be that bad... but it feels like a big "F-you" to hear that the portable games I want to play aren't going to be portable due to poor design decisions and Nintendo rushing the initial model to market. But hey, who uses local multiplayer or StreetPass anyway?
 




I've never understood why people try to excuse Microsoft for releasing a poorly designed and half-baked console with the 360.  The hardware was a piece of crap, regardless of the quality of games for the system, and Microsoft knew it. Nintendo's SNAFU isn't quite as bad because at least the current 3DS systems don't have insane failure rates... but their situation isn't much better and they certainly aren't getting a free pass from me. Way to kick your fans in the junk, Nintendo!

[Adrock]

Do those games absolutely need the attachment? I thought they could be played without it. The demo of Revelations played fine without a right slide pad. I prefer the default RE5 controls but I'm okay without it.

[NWR_insanolord]

The lack of Kid Icarus on that list is worrisome given the complaints of people who've played it.

[leahsdad]

Do those games absolutely need the attachment? I thought they could be played without it. The demo of Revelations played fine without a right slide pad. I prefer the default RE5 controls but I'm okay without it.

I'm wondering the same thing.   I think that, for better or worse, the 3DS may now in its own small way follow in the footsteps of the Wii and have multiple (or at least, 2) control schemes for games. Remember how many Wii games, particularly 3rd parties, would have wiimote controls, wiimote and nunchuck, classic, etc...

The only way Revelations would NEED the attachment would be if they bundled it in with the game.  No way a 3rd party is going that route, because it would either raise the game's price point (if they raised the price to...say $49.99) or eat into their margin (if they kept the standard 3DS price of $39.99).  For Monster Hunter, they can do that because that game prints money.   Revelations?  Not so big.

[Ceric]

Notice that list has no 1st party titles.

It will only work with games that carry the Circle Pad icon on their boxes.

This screams "Not in a redesign coming anytime soon."

Yet again I can point to Monster Hunter Tri.  Most people prefer to play it with the CCPro but you are perfectly competitive and fine using the Wiimote and Nunchuk controls.  I really doubt any game will fully require this add-on.  Unlike say having to have a DSi to play DSi-Ware.

[Adrock]

I don't think the circle pad icon is hinting at no redesign any time soon. Nintendo still has to let people know which games are compatible. Even after a redesign launches, that icon will still be present even if the circle pad is built in.

[Ian Sane]

There's already six games announced that use this?  How many Motion+ games were announced when it was revealed?  Two?  It's clear that third parties want to support this and it was a big oversight on Nintendo's part to not have one in the first place (not that I'm surprised; Nintendo thinks "gimmick first" these days.)

The requirement of a AAA battery is really lame.  But it requires power and adding a rechargable battery was probably too expensive.  The whole thing is shoehorned in in the first place.  The position of it is dumb, the way it bulks up the system is dumb, so the battery requirement just fits the panicky amateur hour design.

The 3DS redesign is inevitable.  It was anyway but it's going to show up much sooner than we figured.

Gotta love how Nintendo talks big about being third party friendly with the Wii U.  Well, did you guys talk to third parties at all about the 3DS?  You figure this "you need a second analog stick" would have come up if you did.  Nintendo talks about winning back core gamers with the Wii U but 2011 has just been a massive "we-have-no-idea-what-we're-doing" clusterfuck.

[Crimm]

The lack of Kid Icarus on that list is worrisome given the complaints of people who've played it.

...That game needs more than an extra circle doohickey to fix it.


It is my understanding that this remains optional for all games. Video of someone playing Monster Hunter 3G was shown during the event yesterday - without Circle Pad Pad. I've played RE: Revelations without the second Circle Pad, and it played fine - although I can see where it would help. I played MGS:3D - and while it needed this - I'm sure it is optional. Ace Combat benefits less than MGS:3D, so I doubt it is required there either.


I would guess all of these games can be played without, if only to prevent fragmenting the base.


But the AAA battery part is monumentally dumb.

[Ceric]

This might be a little nitpicking but I can't find the Source link on the top of the article.  Should be there...