Bulky 3DS Expansion Adds Second Thumbstick

[Logan Westbrook]

Bulky 3DS Expansion Adds Second Thumbstick

It seems that adding proper 3D controls on the 3DS also involves making the device look like a Game Gear.

There's a sweet spot when it comes to analog sticks. One isn't quite enough and three is one too many, but two is just right. This hasn't escaped Nintendo's notice, and has seemingly inspired the creation of the "Expansion Slide Pad," an add-on for the 3DS, which gives the device a second thumbstick.

The Expansion Slide Pad is essentially a cradle that fits around the 3DS. As well as the extra thumbstick, the add-on adds another shoulder button, although it could be a replacement for the existing right shoulder button, rather than an extra button in its own right. The cradle also gives the 3DS a more ergonomic shape, although this increased comfort comes at a cost of adding a significant amount of bulk to the device, making it wider, thicker, and probably quite a bit heavier.

So far, the only game is definitely compatible with the Expansion Slide Pad is the upcoming Monster Hunter 3G, whether other games will make use of it remains to be seen. Some believe this is a sign that Nintendo is planning a radical revamp of the 3DS with the second stick integrated, while others think it will be a specialist item akin to the Guitar Grip peripheral released with the Guitar Hero games on the DS.

Nintendo has rolled out dome pretty bold redesigns in the past - the DSi added a number of new features to the DS, as well as taking some away - but changing the entire control scheme is a few steps beyond bold, and into ballsy territory. It's going to take a whole lot of GBA games to placate the early adopters if that happens.

Source: Andriasang [http://www.andriasang.com/e/blog/2011/09/07/3ds_slide_pad/]




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[TimeLord]

I really don't think they could have made it more bulky and point defeating of a portable game console if they tried!
My 3DS fits snugly in my back pocket, and I don't see the need for a second stick with the games I play on it. So no sale from me.

 

[Plinglebob]

I really don't think they could have made it more bulky and point defeating of a portable game console if they tried!
My 3DS fits snugly in my back pocket, and I don't see the need for a second stick with the games I play on it. So no sale from me.

Go find a Gamegear or an Atari Lynx and then you'll change your mind. Personaly I dont like the look of it as it will make it harder to reach the face buttons. A bulky fix to an issue that hasn't really occured yet.

 

[Dastardly]

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Good lord. I really think this practice of "patching via hardware" is starting to signal the death throes of Nintendo as we know it.

To customers, it's just saying, "Here, now you have to buy this thing because all of the stuff from now on is going to require it." Or it might be saying, "Here, you have to buy this for the three or four big releases that require it, but it's otherwise useless."

To developers, it's saying, "Now you have to decide whether or not to support this new peripheral, because it could make a huge impact in your sales. Oh, and those that already released a game that really could have used this? Our bad."

 

[Scrythe]

Nintendo releasing awkward peripherals for their systems? Unheard of!

Seriously though, I wonder how much battery power this thing sucks up.

 

[Davih]

They obviously never planned for this additional hardware, nor thought it through.

 

[Ranooth]

NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO

If this is an addon for just one (or a handful) or games then OK, thats fine. But if this a new addon the Nintendo is planning for new games then just No! It defeats the point of it being portable and are just screwing us early adopters over more so.

Nintendo stop this foolery at once! Just make awesome 3DS only games and the console will sell itself!!

 

[Dogstreet]

... well apart from it sucking, being unnecessary, bulky, ugly, ruining the 3DS as a portable unit and probably not fixing one of the key problems about the 3DS in that Nintendo should start investing decent money in new IP's not just releasing ports...

... do I have to buy a new charging cradle too?....

 

[Eternal_Lament]

While this was to be expected, it still seems somewhat wierd. The inclusion of a second stick would seem to imply that this will almost be another new system, and by new I don't just mean "DS to DSi" but more like "GBA/GBA SP to DS", which begs the question why does Nintendo think releasing a new system so early after releasing the 3DS is such a good idea, especially if the 3DS has been a source of trouble for them? Was this something they always planned to do or is this a response to the Vita's designs and wish to capitalize on that?

It also begs to question if games designed after the inclusion of the add-on now must use the thumb-stick peripharel. If so, then what happens when these peripharels sell out or are returned to Nintendo after not selling? Would a later adopter of the 3DS be shit-out-of-luck? If not all games are even going to be designed with the peripharel, or in fact games designed with it can work wthout it, it then brings to ask why it was implemented in the first place if it isnt that necessary.

I've said it before that I'm probably never going to get a 3DS, but the announcement of this peripharel made me think: short battery life, unable to properly see 3D when moving, and now heavy and bulky? Is it just me, or is Nintendo selling a handheld that actually works better as a home console?

 

[FPSMadPaul]

... do I have to buy a new charging cradle too?....

I would assume the idea would be to simply click the 3DS out of its second stick "cradle" to dock it. It does seem to be an accessory after all, not a permanent fixture.

 

[Dogstreet]

... do I have to buy a new charging cradle too?....

I would assume the idea would be to simply click the 3DS out of its second stick "cradle" to dock it. It does seem to be an accessory after all, not a permanent fixture.

That is making the assumption that it is a peripheral and not a retro-fit to bring it into line with an upcoming dual analogue 3DS version 2...

 

[Jandau]

Am I the only one who finds this silly? Not only should the second thumbstick have been standard, but adding it AFTER the launch in this way can't do anything good. Games will either be built around it, meaning that you'll have to buy the addon if you want to play anything, or they'll be built around maybe supporting it, in which case its function will be minor at best since all major functionality will be built around the 1 Thumbstick configuration.

 

[Spudgun Man]

What the hell is that thing?

Well apart from a way for Nintendo to charge for the money they removed with the price reduction.

 

[Uber Waddles]

If they're going to make an addon like this essential to games, they should just rework the 3DS to add a second thumb stick, at a higher price, and sell this add-on so regular 3DS users can access it.

But seriously? Nintendo, your not even trying anymore

 

[ANImaniac89]

Cool, I like it.

One of the major problems I have with handheld systems are when I play for a long time I get hand cramps. Its why I always buy some sort of bulky case to help it fit in my hands better.

This looks like it will do the job nicely.