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Nintendo 3DS XL getting its own Circle Pad Pro
Nintendo 3DS XL getting its own Circle Pad Pro
 

June 28, 2012   |   By Mike Rose

Comments 13 comments

More: Console/PC, Business/Marketing





Newsbrief: Nintendo has confirmed that a larger version of its Circle Pad Pro accessory for Nintendo 3DS, which attaches to the base of the handheld and adds a second analog stick, is on the way for the 3DS XL.

The 3DS XL was unveiled earlier this month with significantly larger screens than its predecessor, and is due for release in August alongside the launch of New Super Mario Bros. 2. However, the original Circle Pad Pro dock is not compatible with the 3DS XL.

Nintendo has now revealed to Famitsu (as translated by Kotaku) that the 3DS XL will receive its own version of the Circle Pad Pro. This larger version is due for release in Japan later this year, although no word has yet been given regarding a version for the U.S.
 
 
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Comments

Luke Quinn
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That's just retarded.
Come on Nintendo, stop derping around; The second analogue stick should have been standard on 3DS release, but now they are missing the perfect opportunity to fix the mistake.

I'll be staying away from the big N for the foreseeable future as they've been spiralling into mediocrity for a long time now.

Eric Geer
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@Anthony-It's kind of a questions like "What came first? The chicken or the egg?"

There are only 2 or 3 that use it because it is not part of the standard hardware

If it was part of the standard hardware, how many would use it?

Christian Keichel
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The 2nd analog nub is needed for Monster Hunter, it was designed for Monster Hunter and the new circle pad pro XL makes sure, Monster Hunter 4 can sell in big quantaties to owners of the 3DS XL.
Even if Nintendo incorporates it into the 3DS, it wouldn't be used by many games, because Nintendo already sold 17 million 3DS with one analog nub.

Patrick Davis
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I'm sure they weighed the benefits against the negatives quite a few times. I'm indifferent on this one. There are games out there that could benefit from it, but most really don't have a need for it.

Benjamin Quintero
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LMAO, this is too funny. Nintendo trolling its fans, again.

"Here's a larger model, oh and a bigger roll of duct tape." - Iwata (maybe)

Marius Holstad
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If you took the time to think, you would discover that the reason for Nintendo not releasing a new 3DS with a second analogue stick is because it would result in more developers making games using the dual sticks. That again, would give a bad user experience, almost forcing faithful customers to to buy an extra pad to complete their 3DS and making customers annoyed.

But the most important reason that they didn't put a second analogue stick there in the first place, is because that would ruin the main feature representing the whole console, the touch screen. They didn't want to make another PSP, they wanted to make a DS. Which was exactly what they did.

PS. I'm not a Nintendo-fan boy, I hardly own any nintendo products, but I can at least understand the decisions they've made

Ujn Hunter
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The touch screen as is, if used how you describe, is only good for Right Handed people. The 3DS and 3DS XL are made for Right Handed people. Just like the Wiimote/Nunchuck was made for Right Handed people.

Christian Keichel
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I am left handed and I am pretty happy with the DS, Wii and 3DS, so it's definitely not a right handed vs. left handed problem for everybody.

Ujn Hunter
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@Christian They're still alienating Left Handed people for whom it is a problem for and they know this, which is sad.

Mike Griffin
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Bundle the XL's Circle Pad Pro with a killer game to move it.
Sort of a Wii MotionPlus scenario, where Nintendo bundled Skyward Sword, Tiger Woods, etc. with the Plus.

Jeferson Soler
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@ Mike Griffin - Actually, that's not a bad idea!

Samuel Batista
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Nintendo cannot simply fragment their user base. This circle pad pro is only available because developers were pretty upset with big N for not listening to them and giving them what they want. Nintendo has its sights set on what's next, the WiiU and the next version of their handheld (which will come as soon as 3DS starts losing its sales momentum). It could be 4 - 5 years before we see a new system from Nintendo, but I'm betting the 3DS won't be able to compete in terms of value with the cheap and powerful Android tablets that will begin to flood the market in the next couple of years.

Patrick Davis
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Cheap and powerful tablets with terrible touch controls. Until tablets give me the same level of control that a d-pad and buttons can give me, you can keep your tablet.


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