Nintendo Officially Confirms 3DS Peripheral

[Asriel]

I posted this in another thread, but I believe it applies to this thread too:


I still don't believe Nintendo are about to launch a redesigned system. The only solid proof of what the second circle pad peripheral is so far, is that it's an optional add-on for Monster Hunter Tri G, desgined to replicate the Classic Controller Pro layout from Tri on the Wii. We'll only know for sure what it is on the 13th, but I firmly believe the peripheral is a concession to Capcom to get Monster Hunter Tri up and running on 3DS as quickly as possible.

Nintendo won't drop the 3DS because it's under-performing--the signs say anything but that, however, because the 3DS's rocky launch was Nintendo's first major misstep since the launch of the original DS, the vast majority of gaming sites and journalists (and even some more mainstream sources) are insisting that the 3DS is going to be written off by Nintendo.

Take a good look at what Nintendo are doing: They have a renewed focus on 3DS, and are taking aggressive actions to ensure the device doesn't die on the market. They've cut the price massively to entice new buyers, completely retooled and relaunched the promotional campaign for the system, launched a scheme to placate early adopters by giving them 20 (free) classic Nintendo titles, and are bringing their biggest mascot to the system globally in two big blockbusters in the crucial end of year sales season. Most impressively, they've gained a big new title in Monster Hunter Tri, which will cement the 3DS's momentum even as Vita's imminent launch appeared ready to disrupt it. They've also solidified their partnership with Capcom, with two of Capcom's biggest properties (Resident Evil and Monster Hunter) acting as two of 3DS's hottest upcoming titles.

And if even half the rumours spilling out of Japan are true, in-house software development has been ramped up, and Nintendo are about to unveil anything from a new Yoshi platformer to a Mach Rider reboot, or anything from WarioWare to a new Baiten Kaitos. Again--even if only half the rumours are true, significant Japanese publishers will announce new titles for 3DS at the conference--anything from Ace Attorney to Etrian Oddysey are rumoured announcements.

Does all of this paint the picture of a company ready to throw in the towel on 3DS?? It doesn't to me. To me, Nintendo look like they're putting all the weight they can behind the 3DS, to turn it from an underwhelming console to a successful console. They aren't just relying on their in-house software and price cuts, either, they seem to be reaching out to their third party partners. We'll only know for sure what the rest of Nintendo's rescue plan looks like after the 13th, but I don't believe for one second it'll involve a revised 3DS, let alone a system that ditches the name and downgrades the 3D capabilities of the console.

Nintendo are going to push 3DS as far as they can--if all that fails, and third party support and Nintendo's IP's don't sell the system, then they'll go back to the drawing board, but that would be the absolute, last resort.