PixlBit

This seems like a mistake. Nintendo should be packing this shit in with something important. Not sure what that is just yet (maybe Kid Icarus), but sending it out to die in one retail outlet shows Nintendo's lack of foresight of what this product could be in the grand scheme of the 3DS lifetime. I'm guessing we have another MotionPlus on our hands.

I see two potential reasons for doing this...

1) They don't really plan on supporting the pad and are only releasing it to make a few developers/fans happy. They would want to limit their production and focus where it's available in that case.

2) There's a 3DS redesign right around the corner and they don't want to spend too much distributing a mass amount of peripherals - they'd rather get you to buy a new system.

That's how I see it. Or it could be a test to roll a limited amount of units out to see what the demand is before a wider release. So I guess it could be three things.

This has to be a mistake. Isn't this going to be required hardware for some games? How can they only allow one retailer to carry it?

Side note: I don't want one regardless of who stocks it. I like being able to keep my portable system... you know... portable.

*Edit* Crap Jesse, I never thought about that. And I just bought the Zelda bundle when my old DS Lite gave up the ghost last week.

Those games (probably only Monster Hunter) that require it most likely will have a bundle with it. There will be games that support this add-on, but you won't really need it.

Unless of course the publishers do it like Nintendo when they decided to ship Skyward Sword without a Wii Remote +, except for the Limited Edition which was limited in numbers... which totally defeats the purpose of selling a game.

I don't see why Nintendo didn't implement the dual joy in the first place. Oh wait, that's right - they wouldn't be able to suck another 20 bucks worth of hard-earned cashnotes from our wallets. This nickel-and-dime approach that the gaming industry has taken this current console gen (I'm looking at you, DLC) has caused me to stop purchasing as many games as I normally would. Prudence wins out usually, so I rent most of my titles. Too bad you can't really rent these peripherals...it's my guess that people will shell out money for it so they can play a certain title and most will never pick it up again....it'll slowly go the way of the Guitar Hero guitar peripheral.

Imagine it - a console package that comes fully-regaled with a controller that ALREADY has a chat pad attached to it. Built into the console would be a high-quality fan, and in the box would come a charging port for your controllers, with little slots somewhere to stack your games.

I must be dreaming.

There aren't any games that require this accessory (not even Monster Hunter) so I don't think Nintendo is worried much about it. We still haven't heard of a Nintendo-published title that will use it, so it would seem the device was created due to the whining of third-parties. Though I think that once more games come out that support it, it'll get a wider release.

A dual stick should've been implemented into the original hardware though, no? It seems pretty standard these days

And while no games require the peripheral, the ones that do support it reportedly play markedly better with it. Some have said that playing RE, MH or MGS without it is akin to masochism.

... All the more reason why this is balls.

Well, the DS didn't have any analogue devices, so Nintendo probably figured that adding one was enough. Anyone who wanted a second could just use the touchscreen, and Nintendo themselves had no plans that would benefit from a second slide pad. I'm not saying it was the best idea, just that this is why I think Nintendo didn't add one.

Myself, I personally don't care. I've never been a fan of dual analogue and can't think of a game I'd want it in.

We all know that there's another 3DS on the way. I bet by this time next year it's in our hot little hands, sporting 2 circle pads and better battery life. And we'll all complain about it and all the hardcore Nintendo fans will buy it and Iwata and Reggie will have a treasure bath.

This has all happened before, and it will all happen again.

I am kind of waiting it out to see if they announce a 3DS with two circle pads (which seems likely). It really bugs me Nintendo would even go this route. Either have the second stick/pad in there from the beginning or don't have it at all. Sure it seems no game will need it. But some seem like they will be much better with it.

When has the first model of a Nintendo portable been the definitive one? Usually, it's the second one, the Game Boy Pocket, the GBA SP, the DS lite.

I think they should release a new 3DS because the new one has too many issues, such as terrible battery life, limited space to see 3D, and no second analog stick. That peripheral is just an ugly tumor that's attaching to the 3DS ala Sega 32x, even if that was awesome.

I agree with Nick. This is a mistake. Please Nintendo, I want the 3DS to succeed!

Having just purchased a 3ds, I can confirm that the battery life does indeed suck very hard.

Angelo, make sure you turn on the Power Saving Mode from the settings app.

I saw that. What does that do exactly? I mean, I want to play my 3ds in, you know, 3D.

From what I noticed, it turned off the extra light that was lighting the screen. I've got my screen brightness on level 2 with power saving on. I don't know how much extra it lasts me, but I have noticed an improvement with 3d and sound (headphones) all the way up.

Cool I'll try that