News: 3DS Slide Pad Announced, Dated, Support from Third Parties Page 1

3DS Slide Pad Announced, Dated, Support from Third Parties

13.09.2011

3DS Slide Pad Announced, Dated, Support from Third Parties on Nintendo gaming news, videos and discussion

During the 3DS conference today Nintendo touched on the new accessory bound for its 3D portable: A bolt on secondary circle pad.

It was originally rumoured and since confirmed as essentially an attachment that houses a secondary stick for dual-analogue control.

Nintendo's dubbed its new peripheral the 3DS Slide Pad. Out in Japan on December 10th, it'll cost 1500 Yen ($19, £12, €14) and, oddly enough, in a rather old-school way requires a single AA battery to play.

You maybe having a right chuckle, but the extra control has gathered support from developers and the growing list includes Monster Hunter 3G, Resident Evil: Revelations, Metal Gear Solid: Snake Eater 3D, Ace Combat 3D Cross Rumble, Dynasty Warriors VS and Kingdom Hearts: Dream Drop Distance.

That said, the Slide Pad is apparently an optional feature for many of these games for the moment.

Monster Hunter 3G is the main man to pimp out the Slide Pad, and will come as an optional bundle for just over 1000 Yen extra.

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Sonic_13 13.09.2011#1

I don't believe they ever actually mentioned it in the press conference. I believe all details about it are coming from a separate press release.

Phoenom 13.09.2011#2

It looked a lot bulkier before, that isn't actually too bad.

Glad its optional though, I probably won't use it.

Mush 13.09.2011#3

Glad to hear that this is optional, but I don't think it looks all that bad now that I see it in this new picture. It certainly looks comfortable, thanks to the curved edges. Just keep this as an OPTIONAL peripheral/controller and everything will be fine. Smilie

Stulaw 13.09.2011#4

Mush123 said:
Glad to hear that this is optional, but I don't think it looks all that bad now that I see it in this new picture. It certainly looks comfortable, thanks to the curved edges. Just keep this as an OPTIONAL peripheral/controller and everything will be fine.

I thought it looked comfortable originally, just more people were worried about a new 3DS or that the think looked big even though it obviously wasn't, and it's going to be optional because there are too many franchises that rely on the touchscreen like Layton or Ace Attorney.

Mush 13.09.2011#5

Stulaw said:
Mush123 said:
Glad to hear that this is optional, but I don't think it looks all that bad now that I see it in this new picture. It certainly looks comfortable, thanks to the curved edges. Just keep this as an OPTIONAL peripheral/controller and everything will be fine.
I thought it looked comfortable originally, just more people were worried about a new 3DS or that the think looked big even though it obviously wasn't, and it's going to be optional because there are too many franchises that rely on the touchscreen like Layton or Ace Attorney.

Yeah, I thought it looked comfortable originally. I just think it doesn't look as ugly as it did in the previous pictures/scans.

( Edited 13.09.2011 08:14 by Mush123 )

Stulaw 13.09.2011#6

I think it might just be the magazine scans with the page slightly bent that made it look ugly.

Squidboy (guest) 13.09.2011#7

I was disheartened to see this crap featuring on Nintendo's site after the conference, I was hoping they would see sense and take it back to the drawing board.

RudyC3 13.09.2011#8

Well at least it seems to make the edges of the console more round, which is something that I really appreciate, since my hands hurt after some time spent playing Zelda II on it.

But really... I expected the thing to incorporate its own battery and extend the system's battery life, but now it "requires" an additional battery ?

Also something I just noticed : How do you turn wireless On and Off with this thing attached ?

( Edited 13.09.2011 10:30 by Kafei2006 )

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SirLink 13.09.2011#9

Kafei2006 said:
Well at least it seems to make the edges of the console more round, which is something that I really appreciate, since my hands hurt after some time spent playing Zelda II on it.
But really... I expected the thing to incorporate its own battery and extend the system's battery life, but now it "requires" an additional battery ?
Also something I just noticed : How do you turn wireless On and Off with this thing attached ?

Your hands are supposed to hurt after playing Zelda II. Smilie

Seriously though, I had the same problem a couple times but I can't recall if it was while playing SSFIV3D or OoT 3D.

I think they didn't add a battery to cut costs but wasn't that just a rumour to begin with? It all reminds me of Wiimotes that also need two batteries. Thank god I have a couple of rechargeable ones or I would be broke by now as I can easily use up one pair of fully charged batteries a day. Smilie

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meeto_0 13.09.2011#10

Nope. Still just as ugly. And the number of games using it is on the rise. Release a new 3DS.
This attachment reduces how portable it is. it reduces the aesthetics. Makes it more bulky and becomes an extra something you should remember to bring

Lynk 13.09.2011#11

They're obviously going to release a new 3DS eventually, but I'd rather have this now and play the aforementioned games the way they should be played. Portables shouldn't have to compromise and the 3DS needed this to take on Vita.

Add me on anything. I'm always looking for new friends/opponents/town visitors/chances to appear more popular than I actually am.

Birdo Is A Tranny 13.09.2011#12

I'm definitely not buying a 3DS now until a remake is on the shelves. What a curve ball by Nintendo, this must be a serious slap in the face for all early adapters.

This goes to show how bad Nintendo has actually fucked up on the 3DS, real bad.

Do not want.

Darkflame 13.09.2011#13

urg. Just a extra sick, ugly, and not just for a specific game. Me no like.
I only hope its unpopular enough not to be well supported.
Games should be designed primarly for the systems normal controls.

I guess it needs a battary maybe because it communicates via the IR port? Cant see it needing one unless it doesnt have a physical connection.
Even the earphone socket would put out enough power!

"Portables shouldn't have to compromise and the 3DS needed this to take on Vita."

The DS didnt need one to fight off the PSP.
Does the Vita need a 3D clip on screen to fight off the 3DS?

Once again, it has to be pointed out the best saling Monster Hunter games thus far were on the PSP....which only had one analogue.
You really dont need two, it just helps a few games (FPS) or when developers cant do the camera right.

I also really fail to see anywhere comfortable to put a second stick even if the 3DS was redesigned. Personaly I dont want it any bigger. Its the perfect form factor for me at the moment.

( Edited 13.09.2011 13:29 by Darkflame )

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Duggler657 13.09.2011#14

Nintendo has said before they can't see anyway to make the current 3DS any smaller... and now since this is official and garnering such strong support from developers I can see something like a 3DS XL coming out in the future with this built in. I actually like that idea.

In the meantime though, I will only be referring to this brick of an attachment as the "Nintendo Gamegear." Smilie

Barry Dunne (guest) 13.09.2011#15

is it not one AAA battery?

crackedthesky 13.09.2011#16

Optional and only $20? Looks like my anger was for nothing. That's not bad at all. Still wish it wasnt so freaking ugly though, haha.

Who is the manufacturer? Is it Nintendo? If it is, I wouldn't worry about the ergonomics. I've always found Nintendo's controllers and devices to be the most comofortable (NES excluded, and the N64 was comfy ut mostly pointless), especially when they look so strange, like the Wii remote and what I've heard of the WiiU controller.

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Stulaw 13.09.2011#17

See that's the thing, people see something and think it'll be uncomfortable, or somehow think their hands are too small to hold something, the Wii Remote being one example, and the Wii U controller isn't anywhere near as big as people make out, and even then the buttons aren't placed with massive uncomfortable spaces, they're nicely put close enough to each other.

It'll probably come packaged with MGS3D in the west first, I hope it's compatible with Kid Icarus.

Jman (guest) 13.09.2011#18

Nintendo needs to eventually make this thing mandatory. Dual sticks are a must, and you can already see the growing developer support.
Don't be shocked/angry when the revision in 2012 has two nubs built in.

TAG 14.09.2011#19

It looks comfortable to hold, but it really hurts its portability. You won't be able to carry it around in your pocket. You'll have to throw it in a backpack or purse or something. Plus, now you're worrying about two batteries; your 3DS's battery and the AA battery that's powering the control stick (for reasons I don't understand).

Did I hear correctly that there is also a AAA battery involved, too? I heard it comes it with the AAA (but not the AA). I assume I've misunderstood something, because that seems absurd.

If this gets any sort of use, a 3DS redesign with two sticks seems inevitable.

Darkflame said:
Once again, it has to be pointed out the best saling Monster Hunter games thus far were on the PSP....which only had one analogue.
You really dont need two, it just helps a few games (FPS) or when developers cant do the camera right

But don't you get that weird claw thing going on?

I think there's another control option, but it baffles my mind that this claw thing is considered a reasonable control method. Granted, I've never played anything with this control set up.

( Edited 14.09.2011 00:25 by TAG )

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Phoenom 15.09.2011#20

Its pretty much a guarantee that the 3DS revision whenever it does emerge will have two analog sticks. There is no way that Nintendo would go to the effort of making this cradle, allowing 3rd parties to make use of it, and then changing the 3DS size/shape for a new model and thus have to bring out another cradle to support those games on the new system.

Luckily this has grown on me. Nintendo would be wise to pack this in with Monster Hunter 3G or one of the other games that will use it.

Sad But True (guest) 15.09.2011#21

What with the clip on battery powered upgrade and the huge price cut I think I've been royaly screwed over by Nintendo. Perhaps Nintendo should actually finish a new console/handheld first and then release it rather than screw over early adopters.