News: Rumour: 3DS to GamePad Converter in the Works? Page 1

Rumour: 3DS to GamePad Converter in the Works?

03.01.2013

Rumour: 3DS to GamePad Converter in the Works? on Nintendo gaming news, videos and discussion

Rumour: When Nintendo first debuted the Wii U many moons ago, the internet was rife with speculation that those with 3DS consoles would be able to use them as Wii U GamePad controllers.

The ideas soon fizzled out once Nintendo released the new hardware, confirming that only a single Wii U GamePad can be used per console until a future update, which will allow two.

However a new rumour has surfaced suggesting that Nintendo is currently working on a plugin cartridge that would essentially allow a 3DS console to be used as if it were a GamePad, in tandem with a Circle Pad Pro, as a converter accessory. The rumour also states that Nintendo intend to release the cartridge/device later this year.

Given the 3DS, when bolted onto a Circle Pad Pro, has the same buttons, camera and speaker setup as a Wii U GamePad, it does sound a viable option for Nintendo and for those who may not want to shell out for a new controller.

What do you think of the idea? Would you use a 3DS + Circle Pad Pro as an alternative to a Wii U GamePad?

Comment on this article

Comments

«s previous1next »

RufDogRacing 03.01.2013#1

Although it seems practically this may be useful for some, I think ultimately it's only going to add to the market-confusion regarding how the Wii/Wii U/3DS sit with each other. If only the 3DS was always intended to be the controller for a new console..

Tom Barry [ Reviewer - Editor - Resident Sim-Racer @ Cubed3.com ]

Flynnie 03.01.2013#2

Does the 3DS have a gyro in it? What about those games that need movement, are we also not missing a few triggers?

It would be good if it could work though, it might get me to get a 3DS. I still think Nintendo will release a 3DS with a built in 2nd Circle Pad in it and that is what i am waiting for!

jb 03.01.2013#3

Flynnie said:
Does the 3DS have a gyro in it? What about those games that need movement, are we also not missing a few triggers?

Yep - 3DS does have gyros, plus with the Circle Pad Pro it adds extra shoulder buttons to the original 3DS - so you'd have your dual analogue, 4 shoulders, 4 face buttons, touchscreen too. I can see it working, though how much and how well it would work, who knows?

( Edited 03.01.2013 23:56 by jb )

Cubed3 Admin/Founder & Designer

darkflame (guest) 04.01.2013#4

If they then sold a cheaper WiiU with out a pad, then it becomes more tempting to me.

However, its not a exact match; The 3ds lacks a near field sensor and the IR dots for the wiimote. So not everything would work.

crackedthesky 04.01.2013#5

I don't doubt it will happen. The rumour was started by Nintendo itself, and the Circle Pad Pro not only adds the necessary buttons, but gives them the same names, and the GamePad also adopts the button names and layout the 3DS already has. Connectivity between the two systems is already starting to roll out, with Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate syncing gameplay between the Wii U and 3DS, some kind of connectivity between both versions of Super Smash etc. It makes sense to put the option on the table for those who have a Wii U and a 3DS.

NNID: crackedthesky
My blog, mostly about writing: http://www.davidjlovato.com

Azuardo 04.01.2013#6

Not sure if I'm missing something here, but what's the point of this? You have your GamePad anyway, so why use a 3DS, which may or may not work just as good? Unless there's something else I'm overlooking, which I'd appreciate someone filling me in on.

Ikana 04.01.2013#7

Would be good for multiplayer with multiple gamepads. I really want to see a way of playing DS/3DS on the TV through WiiU. GamePad is perfect to replicate a lower DS screen. Guess it could be done using a downloadable app to connect the DS to the WiiU before booting a game?

jb 04.01.2013#8

Azuardo said:
Not sure if I'm missing something here, but what's the point of this? You have your GamePad anyway, so why use a 3DS, which may or may not work just as good? Unless there's something else I'm overlooking, which I'd appreciate someone filling me in on.

The only benefit I can see from this is when Nintendo do decide to introduce more than 1 GamePad - instead of £100 for a second GamePad, this rumoured 3DS-converter may cost £30/£40 - or less hopefully - so more of a saving/cost-cutting instead of getting a second GP.

Cubed3 Admin/Founder & Designer

Azuardo 04.01.2013#9

Ikana - think that really depends on the DS game. Wouldn't work for many of them where you have to look at both screens continuously. The great thing about DS is that the screens are right next to each other. Splitting them to GP and TV would be a lot of neck movement and impossible to play some games. But sure, some games I guess it could work.

I guess the multiplayer thing for using 3DS could work. Doubt we'll be seeing many 2xGamePad multiplayer games, though, tbh, going on the price of the GP.

Phoenom 04.01.2013#10

Unlikely. Even with the CPP on, the 3DS won't have pushable analogs. That's two inputs gone straight away.

Would explain why they went with shoulder buttons instead of triggers on the Gamepad though...

Ikana 04.01.2013#11

Azuardo said:
Ikana - think that really depends on the DS game. Wouldn't work for many of them where you have to look at both screens continuously. The great thing about DS is that the screens are right next to each other. Splitting them to GP and TV would be a lot of neck movement and impossible to play some games. But sure, some games I guess it could work.

True - probably wouldn't work for games you're supposed to hold sideways either. Still - there are lots of games where you mostly focus on the top screen (Actually most of them, I'd guess). Meh I just miss the days of big screen Pokémon. Smilie

I definitely think using a 3DS as a GamePad would be nice as a cheap / convenient alternative to buying extra GamePads. I can't imagine it would work perfectly though - I'm not certain as I don't have a WiiU (yet - due to arrive in an hour!) but presumaby the 3DS screen is no where near as high quality? And could the 3DS handle the streaming that well?

JayUK 04.01.2013#12

jb said:
Azuardo said:
Not sure if I'm missing something here, but what's the point of this? You have your GamePad anyway, so why use a 3DS, which may or may not work just as good? Unless there's something else I'm overlooking, which I'd appreciate someone filling me in on.
The only benefit I can see from this is when Nintendo do decide to introduce more than 1 GamePad - instead of £100 for a second GamePad, this rumoured 3DS-converter may cost £30/£40 - or less hopefully - so more of a saving/cost-cutting instead of getting a second GP.

This seems silly, performance would take a hit if the Wii U was rendering for 4 screens.

Sonic_13 04.01.2013#13

JayUK said:
This seems silly, performance would take a hit if the Wii U was rendering for 4 screens.

Though unlike the Game Pads, the 3DS has its own processors that could render everything itself.

Sonic_13 04.01.2013#14

I don't understand why there would be a cartridge. That's the part that seems most unbelievable about the rumor. I understand that the Circle Pad Pro might be needed to provide equivalent buttons, but I don't see any reason why a physical cartridge would be needed instead of a software download.

JayUK 04.01.2013#15

True but that seems overly convoluted/complicated, and unless its easy who's gonna use it. Nintendo seems to be fixing a problem that doesn't exist, when there are more pressing things wrong with the Wii U.

«s previous1next »

or sign in with...

Rumour: 3DS to GamePad Converter in the Works?

Comment on this article

Comments

Subscribe to this topic