SON OF A BITCH. 3DS XL announce for the US.

[j_factor]

Why is everyone harping on the lack a second analog stick? How many games support/need the second stick add-on that currently exists in the US? One?

If they started including a second analog stick as standard, even if only in the XL for now, you can bet your ass that more games would start supporting it.

[JSoup]

Ha, I new if I waited long enough there would be an XL version. Guess I'll be getting a 3DS this year.

[Leo_A]

Like I previously posted, and what every other news site has gathered, is that a week ago Miyamoto said outright that they're not working on another version of the 3DS...

This is what was stated:

“I really feel like I’m satisfied with the 3DS hardware as it is. I feel like it’s the best for this generation. What we’re thinking about right now is probably going to be for a future generation of handheld.”

You could still intepret this as not being in direct violation of that. You could argue that he's stating that they don't intend to add additional functionality in the future to the 3DS and that they're happy with its current feature set. No integrated second analog slider, no widescreen and 3D in the future for the touch screen, no significant enhancements like the DS recieved when it saw onboard storage, increased internet capabilities, and digital distribution added, etc.

I don't see anything there that says there won't be a new 3DS model. Just that every 3DS will have the same functionality as all the others. That seems to hold true with the 3DSXL.

Still, I'll grant you that it's somewhat misleading.

[Orion Pimpdaddy]

Yeah, it's probably a bad idea to organize your system-buying around statements made by a company. Besides, if you just got a 3DS, why not just enjoy it and not bother getting the bigger one for a while? At least you didn't pay $250 for yours like I did on launch day.

[Ninga64]

"Deleted"

[dairugger]

i bought mine on launch day also for full price and will be getting this also, i love my 3ds but the small screen sucks, especially after playing my vita. i wonder how the games will look.. ds games will propably look awful tho..

i agree with the decision not to include a 2nd stick tho, even though id love one it would fracture the market and would be a disaster... unless they made the games detect if it had one and use it otherwise u could use the touch screen for that... hard to say.

[PapaStu]

Because practically every game I've been really interested in on the 3DS uses it to avoid the same problems faced with the PSP only having one analog stick. That and using a gyroscope as a aiming/camera function on a console with a small 3D window makes no sense as it forces you to either chose one or the other..or you can just have a second analog stick and another pair of shoulder buttons. Primarily 3D graphics bases consoles have done the single stick thing before, it doesn't mean that its a good idea.

Games that Currently or Soon will use it:
Ace Combat: Assault Horizon Legacy
Kid Icarus: Uprising
Kingdom Hearts 3D
Metal Gear Solid : Snake Eater 3D
Monster Hunter 3 tri G
Resident Evil Revelations

I count 4 US released games in that list, as of right now 4 of ~120 3DS games out there really isn't a justifiable reason to make the stick mandatory. I don't disagree that 3D games benefit from dual stick controls, but other than a handful of DS games that could have REALLY used any stick let alone two (Mario 64 DS for one desperately needed something better than it got) I've not really run into all that many issues w/ the single stick so far with any of my 3DS games and I own over 50 as of right now.

If they started including a second analog stick as standard, even if only in the XL for now, you can bet your ass that more games would start supporting it.

Nintendo isn't going to include the stick if THEY don't have a swath of shit already ready for it, that it needs to 'play' properly. They aren't just going to add the stick and hope that developers start to use it in some fashion that really expands gaming on the 3DS, that is not how Nintendo rolls.

[Leo_A]

i agree with the decision not to include a 2nd stick tho, even though id love one it would fracture the market and would be a disaster... unless they made the games detect if it had one and use it otherwise u could use the touch screen for that... hard to say.

There is zero risk that it would split the market. It's not complicated for a developer to support the standard 3DS and a dual analog 3DS at the same time.

We're talking about control mapping here, not rocket science.

[RCM]

I'm surprised they didn't add a second stick/circle pad, bummer. I was assuming the 3ds xl was going to be an alternative to a second wii u pad, and guess it still could be, but they'd need to release a circle pad add on for that too.

And this thing is going to be $200 plus an ac adapter (possibly)? Fuck you, Nintendo. Vita has a shit library, but at least Sony got the design right the first time. It's totally unacceptable for Nintendo to continue releasing flawed portables. Get it right the first time with the next handheld, if there is one.

[substantial_snake]

I count 4 US released games in that list, as of right now 4 of ~120 3DS games out there really isn't a justifiable reason to make the stick mandatory. I don't disagree that 3D games benefit from dual stick controls, but other than a handful of DS games that could have REALLY used any stick let alone two (Mario 64 DS for one desperately needed something better than it got) I've not really run into all that many issues w/ the single stick so far with any of my 3DS games and I own over 50 as of right now.

With its emphasis on polygonal graphics the 3DS is going to run into more issues down the line in the same way the PSP and its single stick. The fact that the Circle Pad Pro exists and is used by capcom, konami, and namco on their big franchise entries on the 3DS is testament enough to that. I don't think its necessary to have twin sticks but having the option for games that regularly do use twin stick controls helps those games that use it and won't hinders those that don't. Nintendo screwed up releasing its handheld without them and now after making a perferal to add twin sticks, making a new model without that functionality just seems foolish and decreases the LLs its value to me.

[Leo_A]

What I think I'd like even more than a second analog slider would be an actual analog stick. While the slider is lightyears ahead of what Sony used on its various PSP models (Which was so bad that I largely stuck with games that relied on the d-pad), I still was hoping the first revision would incorporate a true analog stick.

At least the Wii U gamepad changed.

[c0ldb33r]

Regarding the lack of a second analog stick:



If the battery life is improved I'll definately pick one up once there's a new bundle or something.

[Damaramu]

Kotaku is saying that the AC adapter will not be included with the Japanese release of the 3DS XL but will be in North America

http://kotaku.com/5920420/nintendo-a...new-bigger-3ds

[duffmanth]

I've officially lost count of how many Gameboys Nintendo has released over the last decade or so. Meanwhile Sony releases 3 handhelds over the last 7 years.

[BetaWolf47]

If it's anything like DS redesigns, count me out. The DS Lite was the worst quality handheld Nintendo has ever released. I got my DS Lite in 2008, long after the cracked hinges and bad shoulder button issues were supposed to be resolved, and I still have those issues. It's a special edition DS Lite as well. Still angry that Nintendo would greenlight something that crappy.

It's also annoying that this is just mainly a larger version of it, and not an actual redesign. They could've put the dpad in a better position, and gave it a mini analog stick like the Vita's sticks, and kept it around the same size, and it would have been better than this.

I've officially lost count of how many Gameboys Nintendo has released over the last decade or so. Meanwhile Sony releases 3 handhelds over the last 7 years.

Speaking of losing count, Sony has release five handhelds over the past 7 years. It's the same for both companies currently: 4 versions of last-gen hardware, one version of current-gen hardware. You know a PSVita 2000 is coming, though.

[Gamereviewgod]

They can't fracture the install base with a second stick. It's the same reason none of the PSP revisions had a second stick.

The Circle Pad Pro is an optional add-on, no different than, say, a light gun now. Developers still have to consider those w/o the CCP. Add it directly to the hardware and suddenly they can release games only for the XL.

You could also compare this to the Xbox 360 and the hard drive. Some have it, some don't. Start requiring the majority of owners to have one, and you've lost a substantial base of consumers who are already in place.

[kupomogli]

They can't fracture the install base with a second stick. It's the same reason none of the PSP revisions had a second stick.

The Circle Pad Pro is an optional add-on, no different than, say, a light gun now. Developers still have to consider those w/o the CCP. Add it directly to the hardware and suddenly they can release games only for the XL.

You could also compare this to the Xbox 360 and the hard drive. Some have it, some don't. Start requiring the majority of owners to have one, and you've lost a substantial base of consumers who are already in place.

The games don't need to utilize the second stick, but for those developers who configure an option control scheme for a 3DS with a second analog stick could, just like how there are already games that do so with the second stick add on.

[Trebuken]

I liked the bigger screen on the original XL and I bet I will like this as well. Extra battery life is a nice perk as well. I'm sold.

I suspect there will be even another iteration of the 3DS before all is said and done.

There does not seem to be anything to complain about here. This was completely predictable.

All console/handheld makers have adopted policies of denying and/or hiding launch dates for their systems as a means of protecting the sale of systems that are currently in stores. Historically when systems are announced early people sit back and wait for them instead of buying the current system. This is why the next Xbox and Playstation systems were not mentioned at E3 and likely will not be announced until next E3.

[swlovinist]

SO I am one of those who sat on the fence about both the Vita and 3DS. I also have been thinking about getting a DSIXL for my DS library. Now I will not bother and get this system this next year. For me, it is simple. I am looking for a system that I can play while my wife is watching something I do not care about. I passed on the 3DS due to price and lack of great launch games. I will just wait for this and be merry. I agree with others and dont see what the big fuss is about. Nintendo will offer the orginal as well for those that want a smaller portable version. I am not in that camp. One thing about this is for sure...it puts Nintendo in a good position with their portable offering two different options. This is great news.

[Leo_A]

Kupomogli was actually correct. Instead of just looking at selected quotes, I went to the original source for that quote (IGN). Miyamoto was specifically asked about the possibility of a 3DSXL and all but denied it with that answer.

Not the greatest way to handle things. Can't help but wonder if the intepreter slightly stumbled.

Speaking of losing count, Sony has release five handhelds over the past 7 years. It's the same for both companies currently: 4 versions of last-gen hardware, one version of current-gen hardware. You know a PSVita 2000 is coming, though.

Actually the count is 5 for last generation hardware and two versions of their current generation hardware.. There is the PSP1000, 2000, 3000, Go, and the E1000 budget model. Don't think the newest one has made it to our shores yet or if it ever will though.

And Sony started out on day 1 with two different models of their newest handheld.

They can't fracture the install base with a second stick. It's the same reason none of the PSP revisions had a second stick.

The Circle Pad Pro is an optional add-on, no different than, say, a light gun now. Developers still have to consider those w/o the CCP. Add it directly to the hardware and suddenly they can release games only for the XL.

A second analog stick isn't going to fracture the install base. Developers can easily support both options. And I doubt if Nintendo even would have to mandate support for non Circle Pad Pro equiped single stick 3DS's.

There are millions of these things out there, no publisher in their right mind is going to want to give up a huge percentage of the platform's install base by mandating their game only be played on a revision of the original hardware.

I wish people would stop claiming such. We're just talking about a second analog slider here, I don't know why people want to make this possibility seem far more convoluted than it actually would be. The situation if it did happen would be far more like the introduction of 6 button pads for the Genesis than anything else.

Incorporating a second analog slider in a 3DS revision would have zero negative effect on existing 3DS owners and would benefit those that buy one.

[klausien]

My question is, can I transfer all of my downloaded content to this new 3DS? If not, I may just get rid of the system altogether.

Like many others, my eyes have gotten worse as I've gotten older. The screen size has been an issue for me. I would play my 3DS more if it wasn't so hard on my eyes. I ultimately chose the 3DS over the DSiXL because of the new content factor, so this 3DSXL is a slap in the face.

I don't have a problem with a company like Nintendo making money, and I am a devotee of their iconic characters, but this revision releasing so soon after the original totally sucks. Despite the Ambassador program apology, this early adopter feels that he has been burned twice in less than a year. My 3DS also has that lovely defect where the border of the bottom screen impresses lines in the top screen, so make that thrice.

I thoroughly enjoyed Super Mario 3D Land and have spent hours playing Ridge Racer and StarFox (which are remakes), but I wish I had waited.

[JSoup]

My question is, can I transfer all of my downloaded content to this new 3DS? If not, I may just get rid of the system altogether.

As I understand, all your DLC stuffs are attached to your account/friend code, so it shouldn't be much more trouble than moving DLC from one Wii to another is.

[PapaStu]

As I understand, all your DLC stuffs are attached to your account/friend code, so it shouldn't be much more trouble than moving DLC from one Wii to another is.

Moving Wii content from one Wii to another is a HUGE hassle. Nintendo doesn't like/want you to do that at all. It involves calls the the Nintendo help line and sacrifices to the digital gods.

Having a 3DS however, I believe that you can save the games to the memory stick and just swap them across to the new system. I'll have to experiment with mine, as it's something i've not looked into or worried about.

[Rickstilwell1]

Not having a second stick doesn't bother me with 3DS games because the gyroscope solves that. Where a 2nd stick or gyroscope functionality could have come in handy are some of the original DS games like Goldeneye 007 where you had to use the touch screen to aim. Now that was terrible. "Wait, shoot at me slower, I need to aim with the touch screen first before I can fire"

[Tupin]

Not having a second stick doesn't bother me with 3DS games because the gyroscope solves that. Where a 2nd stick or gyroscope functionality could have come in handy are some of the original DS games like Goldeneye 007 where you had to use the touch screen to aim. Now that was terrible. "Wait, shoot at me slower, I need to aim with the touch screen first before I can fire"

There was a Goldeneye on the DS? Oh, you mean that horrible one by Activision that everyone thought was going to be amazing because it was called Goldeneye, but it was crap.

Dementium and Moon did first person on the DS right, but having a gyroscope does make it a lot better.

Speaking of which, the Kingdom Hearts 3D demo is great, but has no support for the CPP, unlike the full game. Why?