Author Topic: New 3DS Add-On in the Works? Redesign on the Way? (Read 17780 times)

NWR_pap64 · « **on:** August 23, 2011, 01:38:09 AM »

Is Nintendo drastically changing the 3DS?

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/rumor/27572

Nintendo is rumored to be working an attachment for the 3DS that will add a second Slide Pad, as well as a radical hardware revision for the 3DS, according to a report by 01net.

The report cites an anonymous source within Nintendo, and claims that Nintendo is not only working on an analog control attachment for the 3DS, but that they have third party developers working on titles that make use of it. Their source claims that prevailing thought in Nintendo has concluded that dual analog is far more important for gaming than originally perceived. According to their sources, 01net says the attachment would retail for about $10 and be required for some games. How it would attach to the right side of the 3DS hardware is currently unknown.

In addition, the report states that the disappointing performance of the 3DS may be forcing Nintendo to rethink its strategy. The report states that Nintendo may introduce a new 3DS redesign in 2012. The rumored model will address some of the concerns players had with the original 3DS and the marketing will put less emphasis the 3D element of the system. Nintendo may even give the unit a different name in order to differentiate it from the current 3DS. 01net speculates that 3DS price drop, as well as the Ambassador program, may be a strategy to liquidate the current 3DS inventory in order to make way for the new design.

In the past, 01net has been accurate with their reports. They were the first to let out details about the Wii U, and they claim to have trustworthy sources from within Nintendo. Until the evidence is clear, however, this is a rumor.

Caterkiller · « **Reply #1 on:** August 23, 2011, 01:42:10 AM »

I hope this is wrong. The DS didn't have a mind blowing start either. It wasnt until Nintendogs and Brain Age that the system started selling like nuts! Once the 3DS gets a new one of those it will pick up. Surprisingly no one cares about 3D though, who knew?

famicomplicated · « **Reply #2 on:** August 23, 2011, 01:47:15 AM »

I do find the 3DS a little uncomfortable when using circle-pad heavy games, maybe an attachment which increases the width a little could help things?
It could be a pack in with some future FPS games maybe?
Saying that though, I find this part of the rumour very bizarre!

As for the new edition of the 3DS, I just hope it has better battery life.
Taking out the 3D seems highly unlikely, unless it's a 4th pillar 'hardcore' product!? What would it be called - a HD-S? (ack)

Oblivion · « **Reply #3 on:** August 23, 2011, 01:54:24 AM »

Copied from my post in the Rumor Thread:

Nintendo can't be THAT stupid. Adding on a second analog stick as an accessory is impossible, considering there is no way for it to attach to the system or plug into the system on the right. Also, the add-on would be extremely ugly and would probably be awkward and unbalanced to hold. It just doesn't work.

The 3DS revision is a bit more believable, but I doubt they would do anything major to the hardware. It would only confuse the average consumer even more.

No...just no.

MegaByte · « **Reply #4 on:** August 23, 2011, 01:57:38 AM »

This makes perfect sense

...if they're trying to out-botch HP.

Retro Deckades · « **Reply #5 on:** August 23, 2011, 02:00:02 AM »

The way I perceive the 3DS, which I think differentiates it a bit from the DS in the early going, is that it seems like it should be freakin' awesome. The system itself does a lot of cool stuff, and I can't say I felt that way about the original DS.

BlackNMild2k1 · « **Reply #6 on:** August 23, 2011, 02:01:03 AM »

Just for arguments sake, the analog attachment could be like a slip on piece that operates through some wireless signal.

But it's not gonna happen. It's a bad idea and will hardly be supported beyond whatever game it's being designed for since hardly anyone would own it.

Name change wouldn't be a bad idea for a revision though.
I'm really tired of hearing it being referred to as the 3D DS.

Oblivion · « **Reply #7 on:** August 23, 2011, 02:02:34 AM »

Who calls it that?

BlackNMild2k1 · « **Reply #8 on:** August 23, 2011, 02:03:32 AM »

Kids, parents, people in the stores.

Oblivion · « **Reply #9 on:** August 23, 2011, 02:04:00 AM »

Weird, I've never heard that before.

UncleBob · « **Reply #10 on:** August 23, 2011, 02:04:54 AM »

Quote from: Oblivion on August 23, 2011, 02:02:34 AM

Who calls it that?

Same people who called the Wii the "Double-You-Double-You-Eye-Eye".

NWR_insanolord · « **Reply #11 on:** August 23, 2011, 02:05:20 AM »

Quote from: MegaByte on August 23, 2011, 01:57:38 AM

This makes perfect sense

...if they're trying to out-botch HP.

Hey, it's a matter of pride for them. Nobody screws over a good thing better than Nintendo!

Chozo Ghost · « **Reply #12 on:** August 23, 2011, 02:19:31 AM »

I don't see how its that far fetched. Nintendo did offer a rumble pak for the original DS and there was that guitar hero thing which is kinda similar to what's being proposed here. Of course, the 3DS lacks a GBA slot so that makes implementing it trickier. Isn't there a USB jack it could connect to?

If it cost $10-$20 it could be bundled in with the games that make use of it in addition to offered separately. Actually this was already done, quite successfully I might add, with Motion Plus on the Wii. Is there really any reason to doubt this could happen when Nintendo has already done it before with Motion Plus?

Oblivion · « **Reply #13 on:** August 23, 2011, 02:21:33 AM »

There is no connector. No USB, no general plug in like Wii Motion+. This is a completely different ballpark than that controller add-on.

NWR_insanolord · « **Reply #14 on:** August 23, 2011, 02:25:19 AM »

It'd have to be wireless, which adds more fuel to my argument that even if it were coming, there's no way they would only charge $10 for it.

Oblivion · « **Reply #15 on:** August 23, 2011, 02:27:17 AM »

How would it hook on to the system without being awkward or uneven?

NWR_insanolord · « **Reply #16 on:** August 23, 2011, 02:29:02 AM »

It wouldn't.

KDR_11k · « **Reply #17 on:** August 23, 2011, 02:29:15 AM »

What about one of those iDevice-style things you stick onto the touchscreen?

Quote from: Caterkiller on August 23, 2011, 01:42:10 AM

I hope this is wrong. The DS didn't have a mind blowing start either. It wasnt until Nintendogs and Brain Age that the system started selling like nuts! Once the 3DS gets a new one of those it will pick up. Surprisingly no one cares about 3D though, who knew?

Yeah but the 3Ds already has Nintendogs and I don't see any killer apps on the upcoming games schedule. MK7 isn't going to make DS owners believe that their copy of MKDS needs to be replaced and 3D Mario hasn't been that big of a seller, especially if 3D Land is as weak as previews suggest.

Adrock · « **Reply #18 on:** August 23, 2011, 02:31:18 AM »

Nintendo could VERY easily release a Right Slide Pad kit that includes the tools, minus the soldering iron, to replace the front plate on the 3DS and have users manually install the second pad slide onto the 3DS themselves. Sure, not everyone has the technical know-how to do this correctly without bricking the system but those are extremely minor concerns. Traditional gaming controls on 3DS are just a couple dozen easy steps and firmware update away.

NWR_insanolord · « **Reply #19 on:** August 23, 2011, 02:34:06 AM »

Does that really sound like something Nintendo would even remotely consider?

Chozo Ghost · « **Reply #20 on:** August 23, 2011, 02:36:00 AM »

It could snap onto the system somehow. I'm sure Nintendo could figure out a way to make it attach to it somehow. Maybe it would make use of that IR port the 3DS has?

There's also the port were the charging cable connects to. Couldn't that be used?

Adrock · « **Reply #21 on:** August 23, 2011, 02:36:59 AM »

/facetious

oohhboy · « **Reply #22 on:** August 23, 2011, 02:38:06 AM »

That is one hell of a rumour. I reckon more than likely this is some kind of intentional leak designed to test the acceptability of such a redesign. They probably know it will be poorly received, but have no idea how badly. So they have to decide to either stay the course or double down on the crazy.

It's technically possible via IR wireless port and power feed back from the AC port is not out of the question. Or it's something that slides over the touch screen which is far more likely.

Dual Analogue would have been nice from the start, but the countless hours on Goldeneye and Perfect Dark say it's not mandatory.

If I was a betting man, I call is rumour as full of ****.

ejamer · « **Reply #23 on:** August 23, 2011, 02:38:26 AM »

Well, dual-analogs on Nintendo's next handheld would be great. The circle pad is pretty sweet already - why not add a second one? And I still believe that 3D is nothing more than a gimmick, so dropping that emphasis makes sense too.

The downside: this would only further alienate me (and presumably many other 3DS owners) as a customer. It would take more than a few downloadable games to make up for the debacle of releasing a system without games and then getting rid of it so quickly. There is also no chance I'd be buying a replacement handheld from Nintendo that quickly.

But let's wait and see. So far the only "proof" is one anonymous source spreading around online. Hardly something to believe without validation from other sources.

"Since when did Ambassador start to mean Chump anyway?"

Kikori · « **Reply #24 on:** August 23, 2011, 02:41:23 AM »

Quote from: famicomplicated on August 23, 2011, 01:47:15 AM

I do find the 3DS a little uncomfortable when using circle-pad heavy games, maybe an attachment which increases the width a little could help things?

You can make it much more comfortable with an attachment grip. My favorite one is "Grip Stand 3DS" (Answer Co., Ltd.). You can buy one in Japan like I. It's effective when you use the D-pad too.

BTW, this rumor is pretty unbelievable. I heard Miyamoto thought carefully before he decided not to include a right circle pad.

News:

Author Topic: New 3DS Add-On in the Works? Redesign on the Way? (Read 17780 times)