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As you have probably heard by now, Nintendo have, in both a stroke of genius, and considerable insanity, announced the release of an updated Nintendo 3DS system, the 3DS XL.
If you haven’t read up on the details and want to see a summary, have a gander at Nintendo Life who are currently my favourite source for all 3DS and Wii/Wii U news.
The main advantages are obviously the size, a larger capacity SD card (though higher capacity cards are cheap enough at Amazon) and a slightly longer battery life. This is what the fans wanted – a bigger 3D screen, similar in size to the DSiXL which makes 3D and non-3D gaming a lot more accessible.
Well done to Nintendo. They took a bit of a gamble by not announcing this at E3 earlier this month, but to be fair, it would be hard for anyone to beat gaming’s current third party giants, Ubisoft, at E3, which to be fair, despite some great Wii U announcements, the Nintendo presentation was a little lack-lustre. And so by doing a more personal announcement to all Nintendo gamers worldwide via their 3DSs and the net, they have done so whilst everyone has got over the hype of E3. No distractions to take away from Nintendo what is a great announcement. Well, apart from the recent announcement that Final Fantasy VII is getting an update for Steam, even if it was announced accidentally-on-purpose by Square-Enix. So, you can’t fault Nintendo for listening to their fans, right?
Well, this is where things get a little interesting. There are a few games on the Nintendo 3DS that require a ‘Circle Pad Pro’ accessory. It’s something that seems to be hard to find in stores, and adds a second circle pad at the cost of handheld symmetry. I have been told that this is essential for playing Resident Evil Revelations, but I have also been able to manage full enjoyment of Capcom’s masterpiece without ever owning such accessory. So was it right for Nintendo to leave off this extra method of control as standard?
The arguments for Nintendo including the second circle-pad:
It is generally accepted that first and third person adventures in the close-proximity view play better with two analogue sticks. Whilst I have already commented on my enjoyment of Resident Evil Revelations without the Circle Pad Pro, I can’t deny that I may have found the game easier to play with a second Circle Pad. If Nintendo want third parties to release other similar games, or first person shooters, then they need to make sure we, the gamers, are able to control the games with ease. After all, there is nothing worse than trying to play a game having to think about what buttons do what actions, and that took me a while to get over in Revelations. A second circle pad would make accessibility a lot bigger for 3DS, which would encourage more gamers who may, as an alternative, be looking towards the Vita as a handheld gaming alternative. That was, after all, what made the DS so successful. And, to be fair, I haven’t heard a single person who has used the circle Pad Pro complain about the extra-controls yet!
The arguments against Nintendo including the second circle-pad:
The Circle Pad Pro is an accessory designed to add something to the original system. It isn’t a necessity for any Nintendo 3DS game, each playable without the second stick. Including it as standard could run the risk of alienating the gamers who decide that portability over screen-size is their preference. If developers are allowed to develop for a system that has two analogue controls as standard, developers may forget the previous version of the system, where only one stick resides for the majority of owners, and what we don’t want is a divide whilst we have two systems that are meant to do the same thing side-by-side. Atleast, by releasing with one-stick there is no consumer-confusion as to what the 3DSXL actually is. There is also the possibility that we would, as gamers, have to consider increased costs at re-developing the system further to include this as standard. What I don’t understand though, is that something doesn’t seem to have been considered as a possibility: What is stopping Nintendo releasing a similar add-on for the 3DSXL?
What seems a further move towards insanity though is Nintendo’s decision not to include an AC adaptor! If the general consumer isn’t warned about this lack of chargeability, this could cause complaints as the system is surely being sold as an expensive carcass if you cannot charge it out of the box. Sure, they’re using the same port as that used on the DSi, DSiXL and 3DS systems, but if these systems are being sold or part exchanged, then it seems merely a move for Nintendo to try and make more money out of charging separately for the charger as a separate SKU. Whilst I am sure Game and Gamestation will be ready with their own version of the charger to sell with the units, I imagine non-specialist retailers are likely to fail the customer in both stocking the chargers as well as informing the customer. I really can’t support their argument for not including the charger in with the system. With this move I am surprised we’re getting a 3DSXL Stylus in the box!
Do I want one?
In short, yes. I do feel that the screen on the original is a little small, but I am slightly concerned that I may end up losing software if I decide to part with it. I was one of the original purchasers so I had Ambassador titles at the cost of paying a higher price for the system. I have 10 NES and 10 Game Boy Advance games, many of which cannot be purchased in the Virtual Console store, and to be fair to Nintendo they’re a great selection. I’m fairly sure that I would be able to do a transfer similar to that of the DSi to 3DS, but I have not seen any confirmation of this. Last thing I want to do is find that all my virtual console and eshop purchases have become nil and void. Back on point thought, I am sure that Nintendo are making the right move with the 3DSXL, but not so sure they have carefully thought through all the details.
If you haven’t read up on the details and want to see a summary, have a gander at Nintendo Life who are currently my favourite source for all 3DS and Wii/Wii U news.
The main advantages are obviously the size, a larger capacity SD card (though higher capacity cards are cheap enough at Amazon) and a slightly longer battery life. This is what the fans wanted – a bigger 3D screen, similar in size to the DSiXL which makes 3D and non-3D gaming a lot more accessible.
Well done to Nintendo. They took a bit of a gamble by not announcing this at E3 earlier this month, but to be fair, it would be hard for anyone to beat gaming’s current third party giants, Ubisoft, at E3, which to be fair, despite some great Wii U announcements, the Nintendo presentation was a little lack-lustre. And so by doing a more personal announcement to all Nintendo gamers worldwide via their 3DSs and the net, they have done so whilst everyone has got over the hype of E3. No distractions to take away from Nintendo what is a great announcement. Well, apart from the recent announcement that Final Fantasy VII is getting an update for Steam, even if it was announced accidentally-on-purpose by Square-Enix. So, you can’t fault Nintendo for listening to their fans, right?
Well, this is where things get a little interesting. There are a few games on the Nintendo 3DS that require a ‘Circle Pad Pro’ accessory. It’s something that seems to be hard to find in stores, and adds a second circle pad at the cost of handheld symmetry. I have been told that this is essential for playing Resident Evil Revelations, but I have also been able to manage full enjoyment of Capcom’s masterpiece without ever owning such accessory. So was it right for Nintendo to leave off this extra method of control as standard?
The arguments for Nintendo including the second circle-pad:
It is generally accepted that first and third person adventures in the close-proximity view play better with two analogue sticks. Whilst I have already commented on my enjoyment of Resident Evil Revelations without the Circle Pad Pro, I can’t deny that I may have found the game easier to play with a second Circle Pad. If Nintendo want third parties to release other similar games, or first person shooters, then they need to make sure we, the gamers, are able to control the games with ease. After all, there is nothing worse than trying to play a game having to think about what buttons do what actions, and that took me a while to get over in Revelations. A second circle pad would make accessibility a lot bigger for 3DS, which would encourage more gamers who may, as an alternative, be looking towards the Vita as a handheld gaming alternative. That was, after all, what made the DS so successful. And, to be fair, I haven’t heard a single person who has used the circle Pad Pro complain about the extra-controls yet!
The arguments against Nintendo including the second circle-pad:
The Circle Pad Pro is an accessory designed to add something to the original system. It isn’t a necessity for any Nintendo 3DS game, each playable without the second stick. Including it as standard could run the risk of alienating the gamers who decide that portability over screen-size is their preference. If developers are allowed to develop for a system that has two analogue controls as standard, developers may forget the previous version of the system, where only one stick resides for the majority of owners, and what we don’t want is a divide whilst we have two systems that are meant to do the same thing side-by-side. Atleast, by releasing with one-stick there is no consumer-confusion as to what the 3DSXL actually is. There is also the possibility that we would, as gamers, have to consider increased costs at re-developing the system further to include this as standard. What I don’t understand though, is that something doesn’t seem to have been considered as a possibility: What is stopping Nintendo releasing a similar add-on for the 3DSXL?
What seems a further move towards insanity though is Nintendo’s decision not to include an AC adaptor! If the general consumer isn’t warned about this lack of chargeability, this could cause complaints as the system is surely being sold as an expensive carcass if you cannot charge it out of the box. Sure, they’re using the same port as that used on the DSi, DSiXL and 3DS systems, but if these systems are being sold or part exchanged, then it seems merely a move for Nintendo to try and make more money out of charging separately for the charger as a separate SKU. Whilst I am sure Game and Gamestation will be ready with their own version of the charger to sell with the units, I imagine non-specialist retailers are likely to fail the customer in both stocking the chargers as well as informing the customer. I really can’t support their argument for not including the charger in with the system. With this move I am surprised we’re getting a 3DSXL Stylus in the box!
Do I want one?
In short, yes. I do feel that the screen on the original is a little small, but I am slightly concerned that I may end up losing software if I decide to part with it. I was one of the original purchasers so I had Ambassador titles at the cost of paying a higher price for the system. I have 10 NES and 10 Game Boy Advance games, many of which cannot be purchased in the Virtual Console store, and to be fair to Nintendo they’re a great selection. I’m fairly sure that I would be able to do a transfer similar to that of the DSi to 3DS, but I have not seen any confirmation of this. Last thing I want to do is find that all my virtual console and eshop purchases have become nil and void. Back on point thought, I am sure that Nintendo are making the right move with the 3DSXL, but not so sure they have carefully thought through all the details.
Thanks, Glad you enjoyed it :)
Unfortunately, I don't think there will be an AC adaptor u-turn - in the European Nintendo Direct they announced no adaptor, but in the same day the US Nintendo Direct they confirmed it would have it.
I just hope the seperate AC adaptor sells at a reasonable token price.
Unfortunately, I don't think there will be an AC adaptor u-turn - in the European Nintendo Direct they announced no adaptor, but in the same day the US Nintendo Direct they confirmed it would have it.
I just hope the seperate AC adaptor sells at a reasonable token price.
A great read, Edgy.
Sounds like North America will be getting power leads in their box now, so it may well end up being the same here if Nintendo do a U-turn on the idea. I can't see it being a popular decision among those casual gamers who pick one up as their first handheld.
The Thumb-stick issue I'm happy with. While 2 sticks should really have been used to begin with, I feel that the reliance on touch screen has served the DS well enough and continues to do so. It's not aiming at the same market as the Vita and to me it only encourages interesting designs.
Sounds like North America will be getting power leads in their box now, so it may well end up being the same here if Nintendo do a U-turn on the idea. I can't see it being a popular decision among those casual gamers who pick one up as their first handheld.
The Thumb-stick issue I'm happy with. While 2 sticks should really have been used to begin with, I feel that the reliance on touch screen has served the DS well enough and continues to do so. It's not aiming at the same market as the Vita and to me it only encourages interesting designs.
As you have probably heard by now, Nintendo have, in both a stroke of genius, and considerable insanity, announced the release of an updated Nintendo 3DS system, the 3DS XL.
If you haven’t read up on the details and want to see a summary, have a gander at Nintendo Life who are currently my favourite source for all 3DS and Wii/Wii U news.
The main advantages are obviously the size, a larger capacity SD card (though higher capacity cards are cheap enough at Amazon) and a slightly longer battery life. This is what the fans wanted – a bigger 3D screen, similar in size to the DSiXL which makes 3D and non-3D gaming a lot more accessible.
Well done to Nintendo. They took a bit of a gamble by not announcing this at E3 earlier this month, but to be fair, it would be hard for anyone to beat gaming’s current third party giants, Ubisoft, at E3, which to be fair, despite some great Wii U announcements, the Nintendo presentation was a little lack-lustre. And so by doing a more personal announcement to all Nintendo gamers worldwide via their 3DSs and the net, they have done so whilst everyone has got over the hype of E3. No distractions to take away from Nintendo what is a great announcement. Well, apart from the recent announcement that Final Fantasy VII is getting an update for Steam, even if it was announced accidentally-on-purpose by Square-Enix. So, you can’t fault Nintendo for listening to their fans, right?
Well, this is where things get a little interesting. There are a few games on the Nintendo 3DS that require a ‘Circle Pad Pro’ accessory. It’s something that seems to be hard to find in stores, and adds a second circle pad at the cost of handheld symmetry. I have been told that this is essential for playing Resident Evil Revelations, but I have also been able to manage full enjoyment of Capcom’s masterpiece without ever owning such accessory. So was it right for Nintendo to leave off this extra method of control as standard?
The arguments for Nintendo including the second circle-pad:
It is generally accepted that first and third person adventures in the close-proximity view play better with two analogue sticks. Whilst I have already commented on my enjoyment of Resident Evil Revelations without the Circle Pad Pro, I can’t deny that I may have found the game easier to play with a second Circle Pad. If Nintendo want third parties to release other similar games, or first person shooters, then they need to make sure we, the gamers, are able to control the games with ease. After all, there is nothing worse than trying to play a game having to think about what buttons do what actions, and that took me a while to get over in Revelations. A second circle pad would make accessibility a lot bigger for 3DS, which would encourage more gamers who may, as an alternative, be looking towards the Vita as a handheld gaming alternative. That was, after all, what made the DS so successful. And, to be fair, I haven’t heard a single person who has used the circle Pad Pro complain about the extra-controls yet!
The arguments against Nintendo including the second circle-pad:
The Circle Pad Pro is an accessory designed to add something to the original system. It isn’t a necessity for any Nintendo 3DS game, each playable without the second stick. Including it as standard could run the risk of alienating the gamers who decide that portability over screen-size is their preference. If developers are allowed to develop for a system that has two analogue controls as standard, developers may forget the previous version of the system, where only one stick resides for the majority of owners, and what we don’t want is a divide whilst we have two systems that are meant to do the same thing side-by-side. Atleast, by releasing with one-stick there is no consumer-confusion as to what the 3DSXL actually is. There is also the possibility that we would, as gamers, have to consider increased costs at re-developing the system further to include this as standard. What I don’t understand though, is that something doesn’t seem to have been considered as a possibility: What is stopping Nintendo releasing a similar add-on for the 3DSXL?
What seems a further move towards insanity though is Nintendo’s decision not to include an AC adaptor! If the general consumer isn’t warned about this lack of chargeability, this could cause complaints as the system is surely being sold as an expensive carcass if you cannot charge it out of the box. Sure, they’re using the same port as that used on the DSi, DSiXL and 3DS systems, but if these systems are being sold or part exchanged, then it seems merely a move for Nintendo to try and make more money out of charging separately for the charger as a separate SKU. Whilst I am sure Game and Gamestation will be ready with their own version of the charger to sell with the units, I imagine non-specialist retailers are likely to fail the customer in both stocking the chargers as well as informing the customer. I really can’t support their argument for not including the charger in with the system. With this move I am surprised we’re getting a 3DSXL Stylus in the box!
Do I want one?
In short, yes. I do feel that the screen on the original is a little small, but I am slightly concerned that I may end up losing software if I decide to part with it. I was one of the original purchasers so I had Ambassador titles at the cost of paying a higher price for the system. I have 10 NES and 10 Game Boy Advance games, many of which cannot be purchased in the Virtual Console store, and to be fair to Nintendo they’re a great selection. I’m fairly sure that I would be able to do a transfer similar to that of the DSi to 3DS, but I have not seen any confirmation of this. Last thing I want to do is find that all my virtual console and eshop purchases have become nil and void. Back on point thought, I am sure that Nintendo are making the right move with the 3DSXL, but not so sure they have carefully thought through all the details.
If you haven’t read up on the details and want to see a summary, have a gander at Nintendo Life who are currently my favourite source for all 3DS and Wii/Wii U news.
The main advantages are obviously the size, a larger capacity SD card (though higher capacity cards are cheap enough at Amazon) and a slightly longer battery life. This is what the fans wanted – a bigger 3D screen, similar in size to the DSiXL which makes 3D and non-3D gaming a lot more accessible.
Well done to Nintendo. They took a bit of a gamble by not announcing this at E3 earlier this month, but to be fair, it would be hard for anyone to beat gaming’s current third party giants, Ubisoft, at E3, which to be fair, despite some great Wii U announcements, the Nintendo presentation was a little lack-lustre. And so by doing a more personal announcement to all Nintendo gamers worldwide via their 3DSs and the net, they have done so whilst everyone has got over the hype of E3. No distractions to take away from Nintendo what is a great announcement. Well, apart from the recent announcement that Final Fantasy VII is getting an update for Steam, even if it was announced accidentally-on-purpose by Square-Enix. So, you can’t fault Nintendo for listening to their fans, right?
Well, this is where things get a little interesting. There are a few games on the Nintendo 3DS that require a ‘Circle Pad Pro’ accessory. It’s something that seems to be hard to find in stores, and adds a second circle pad at the cost of handheld symmetry. I have been told that this is essential for playing Resident Evil Revelations, but I have also been able to manage full enjoyment of Capcom’s masterpiece without ever owning such accessory. So was it right for Nintendo to leave off this extra method of control as standard?
The arguments for Nintendo including the second circle-pad:
It is generally accepted that first and third person adventures in the close-proximity view play better with two analogue sticks. Whilst I have already commented on my enjoyment of Resident Evil Revelations without the Circle Pad Pro, I can’t deny that I may have found the game easier to play with a second Circle Pad. If Nintendo want third parties to release other similar games, or first person shooters, then they need to make sure we, the gamers, are able to control the games with ease. After all, there is nothing worse than trying to play a game having to think about what buttons do what actions, and that took me a while to get over in Revelations. A second circle pad would make accessibility a lot bigger for 3DS, which would encourage more gamers who may, as an alternative, be looking towards the Vita as a handheld gaming alternative. That was, after all, what made the DS so successful. And, to be fair, I haven’t heard a single person who has used the circle Pad Pro complain about the extra-controls yet!
The arguments against Nintendo including the second circle-pad:
The Circle Pad Pro is an accessory designed to add something to the original system. It isn’t a necessity for any Nintendo 3DS game, each playable without the second stick. Including it as standard could run the risk of alienating the gamers who decide that portability over screen-size is their preference. If developers are allowed to develop for a system that has two analogue controls as standard, developers may forget the previous version of the system, where only one stick resides for the majority of owners, and what we don’t want is a divide whilst we have two systems that are meant to do the same thing side-by-side. Atleast, by releasing with one-stick there is no consumer-confusion as to what the 3DSXL actually is. There is also the possibility that we would, as gamers, have to consider increased costs at re-developing the system further to include this as standard. What I don’t understand though, is that something doesn’t seem to have been considered as a possibility: What is stopping Nintendo releasing a similar add-on for the 3DSXL?
What seems a further move towards insanity though is Nintendo’s decision not to include an AC adaptor! If the general consumer isn’t warned about this lack of chargeability, this could cause complaints as the system is surely being sold as an expensive carcass if you cannot charge it out of the box. Sure, they’re using the same port as that used on the DSi, DSiXL and 3DS systems, but if these systems are being sold or part exchanged, then it seems merely a move for Nintendo to try and make more money out of charging separately for the charger as a separate SKU. Whilst I am sure Game and Gamestation will be ready with their own version of the charger to sell with the units, I imagine non-specialist retailers are likely to fail the customer in both stocking the chargers as well as informing the customer. I really can’t support their argument for not including the charger in with the system. With this move I am surprised we’re getting a 3DSXL Stylus in the box!
Do I want one?
In short, yes. I do feel that the screen on the original is a little small, but I am slightly concerned that I may end up losing software if I decide to part with it. I was one of the original purchasers so I had Ambassador titles at the cost of paying a higher price for the system. I have 10 NES and 10 Game Boy Advance games, many of which cannot be purchased in the Virtual Console store, and to be fair to Nintendo they’re a great selection. I’m fairly sure that I would be able to do a transfer similar to that of the DSi to 3DS, but I have not seen any confirmation of this. Last thing I want to do is find that all my virtual console and eshop purchases have become nil and void. Back on point thought, I am sure that Nintendo are making the right move with the 3DSXL, but not so sure they have carefully thought through all the details.