Topic: So much great news; Why do I feel let down?

[ejamer]

More great games! Lots of franchises I'd love to play coming to the 3DS! Systems updates with cool features, and free downloadable games too! So why do I feel like Nintendo has kicked me in the junk this morning?

Guess what I'm currently playing on my 3DS? Nothing. Not just because there is a lack of games currently, but because my system stopped working and is currently on the way to be repaired.

That's ok though, because the games that I was REALLY excited to hear about have been announced and have additional details coming out. You know, Metal Gear and Monster Hunter and Resident Evil. System sellers that convinced me to look past the current game drought and be glad that 3DS is going to be worth owning in the future...

...Except all of those games now require that hideous Frankenstein Analog Accessory (Franken-log-ory, for short). But making the system big and ugly, far less portable, and requiring me to use AAA batteries won't make gaming on my 3DS any less enjoyable. Right?
 

Somehow, knowing that I can still play some games on the go isn't comforting when I am limited to enjoying many of the biggest, most desirable (to me) 3DS franchises at home - where my TV and console reside. Makes the whole "portable gaming" thing seem kind of redundant.



I wonder how this will affect holiday sales. Anyone asking me would get a strong "do not buy" recommendation for the 3DS this year, but I guess most of Nintendo's consumers probably won't know or care.

[Pajamas]

I've read that those games will support the attachment, not necessarily require it.

[Adrock]

I was under the same impression. I haven't heard the attachment was required.

[ejamer]

Oddly, claims [edit: not just claims, it's been clearly shown for MH3G at least] that games will probably be playable without the accessory aren't comforting when it's clear that those games are being designed with the extra stick in mind. Any sense of optimism I had towards Nintendo products has worn thin after being hung out to dry for all of 2011. It's great that you can still be optimistic though.



Maybe the peripheral really won't be that big a deal. Forgive me for not holding my breath when all signs point to the contrary though, especially if you want to play the biggest third-party franchises on the system.

[Chozo Ghost]

3DS sales might slow down because people in the know who are aware of the analog slider addon might hold off buying a 3DS in anticipation of the inevitable revision which fuses it into the system. I'm not saying this constitutes a majority of consumers, but its enough that it might hurt the 3DS from reaching its sales goals for the year.

[Mop it up]

I know how you feel. I just want Nintendo to be upfront about the circle pad attachment. They should explain why it's been made, why it wasn't included in the system in the first place, if any games will require it, and if there is a redesign with it in the works. So far, it doesn't look like anything will require it, so it could end up being like the PlayStation analogue controllers where only one or two games required it and it was optional in everything else. The uncertainty of it is what bothers me, so I just want to know so I can stop wondering.

[Chozo Ghost]

I think the reason Nintendo isn't making a lot of noise about the slider addon is because they don't want to draw too much attention to it because its embarrassing to them. It is very possible that the announcement of it had a lot to do with Nintendo's stocks tumbling 5%. So it makes sense Nintendo doesn't want to talk about it more than they have to. It gives investors, consumers, and developers the impression Nintendo doesn't know what they are doing and that they are making simple mistakes that only bulky addons can address.

[Urkel]

They should explain why it's been made

For Monster Hunter.
 

why it wasn't included in the system in the first place

Would've made the system too big.
 

if any games will require it

No.
 

and if there is a redesign with it in the works

Only if they're making a 3DSXL.

[GoldenPhoenix]

I think the reason Nintendo isn't making a lot of noise about the slider addon is because they don't want to draw too much attention to it because its embarrassing to them. It is very possible that the announcement of it had a lot to do with Nintendo's stocks tumbling 5%. So it makes sense Nintendo doesn't want to talk about it more than they have to. It gives investors, consumers, and developers the impression Nintendo doesn't know what they are doing and that they are making simple mistakes that only bulky addons can address.

I just find it odd that it would be rectify a mistake, no one was really complaining about the lack of a second analog pad until, well, now. The 3DS had many complaints aimed against it, many of which were legitimate, but no one really complained about it lacking a second analog stick, even after PS Vita's reveal. I just think it has to do with Capcom who wanted it as an option. Who knows though, all I know is that the reveal seemed to cause an issue that didn't really exist before when it came to consumer opinion.

[Adrock]

Whether or not you want to call it complaining, a lot of people brought it up prior to launch. There's absolutely a spot for it on the current 3DS. I believe Mop it up said before that home and power could have been combined into one. Not as is but one could be rendered obsolete. There's really no reason the right circle pad shouldn't have been there.

However, I think people were readily able to accept that it wasn't there. After all, Nintendo made some of their best games without one. There aren't a lot of games that are impossible to play without the right circle pad. Rather, some games are just better with it.

[GoldenPhoenix]

Whether or not you want to call it complaining, a lot of people brought it up prior to launch. There's absolutely a spot for it on the current 3DS. I believe Mop it up said before that home and power could have been combined into one. Not as is but one could be rendered obsolete. There's really no reason the right circle pad shouldn't have been there.

However, I think people were readily able to accept that it wasn't there. After all, Nintendo made some of their best games without one. There aren't a lot of games that are impossible to play without the right circle pad. Rather, some games are just better with it.

Well people brought it up with Nintendo DS not having an analog stick as well, but it survived fine without it, it wasn't a big deal. With 3DS it wasn't a huge deal before now either, never, from what I seen in regards to people's opinions on the system's biggest issues. I do agree with others though, we need more of a clarification on why it is out and what will utilize it. At least it is a cheap add on, so if many games play better with it (I doubt any will require it unless they are bundled with it, at least any time in the near future), it is an option.

[Adrock]

Oh, I agree. I raised an eyebrow when Nintendo showed different sized screens and no right circle pad. I accepted it because that's what we got. Developers can absolutely make great games without it, just like they made great games without the left circle pad/prior to the analog stick in general. I don't think the attachment was absolutely necessary but we have it now. I won't go out of my way to buy one but if it happens to come with a game I want and that's the only retail release, so be it.

[Chozo Ghost]

Well people brought it up with Nintendo DS not having an analog stick as well, but it survived fine without it, it wasn't a big deal.

It certainly was a big deal if you ever played Super Mario 64 DS.

[Mataata]

Well people brought it up with Nintendo DS not having an analog stick as well, but it survived fine without it, it wasn't a big deal.

It certainly was a big deal if you ever played Super Mario 64 DS.

... Which, by the way, is a blast to play on the 3DS.

[TJ Spyke]

It was OK to play with, but was less than ideal because it was harder to control with a d-pad.

Chozo, I don't see a revision with this peripheral happening. I see it being an optional add-on that might get supported by a tiny number of games, no way will it become standard.

[Chozo Ghost]

Chozo, I don't see a revision with this peripheral happening. I see it being an optional add-on that might get supported by a tiny number of games, no way will it become standard.

I remember you saying only one game was going to support it. Now that its clearly not the case you are moving the goal post.

Well, I believe it will be the standard. Let's not forget I believed the rumor way back when no one else did and it turned out I was right so I have a good track record with these kinds of predictions.

[TJ Spyke]

As of right now, only one game will require it (and I am not even sure if that will require it), and only about 4 or 5 games will support it. And if Nintendo themselves don't support it, it will never become a standard. I think Nintendo knows it would be foolish to do so.

[Chozo Ghost]

But Nintendo absolutely must support it for the 3DS to have 1:1 features as the uTablet controller. You can't tell me there won't be a good number of Wii U games which require dual analog controls, so the only way the 3DS can work as a controller for these games is with the slider addon. That's why I'm confident they will not only support it, but integrate it into the 3DS by default with the next hardware revision.

You should also keep in mind this isn't a 3rd party peripheral like the uDraw or Guitar Hero controller or whatever. Nintendo themselves are the ones who designed and manufactured this.

And you smited me? I don't know why, but okay I smited you back. Are you happy?

[TJ Spyke]

Nice to know you assumed I smited you. -_-

As for Wii U using 3DS, I know Nintendo suggested it could happen. For all we know though, that may be limited to games that don't use both analog sticks. And that's if many games even do it, I recall Nintendo saying the same thing with Wii-DS and we all know how that turned out.

[Chozo Ghost]

I don't know. I guess we will have to wait and see, but the fact that 1) this is an official Nintendo product and 2) 6 or so games already support it even though it was only recently announced makes it seem its going to be more than a one hit wonder. Over time the number of games supporting it will only go up.

[Mop it up]

I think the second circle pad will be similar to the analogue controller on the PlayStation. It isn't going to be required for any games, except maybe one or two down the line, so it will just be an option for those who want it. Since there will be an icon on the box for compatible games just like what the PlayStation had, it will become a standard in that many games support it and future models have it, but not a standard in that it is needed. Due to the price cut fiasco I don't think Nintendo will announce a redesign with it just yet, but there will definitely be one. My guess is holiday 2012 at the earliest.

Let's not forget I believed the rumor way back when no one else did and it turned out I was right so I have a good track record with these kinds of predictions.

I didn't see most people not believing it, I saw people thinking it was an incredibly stupid idea. There's a difference.