I have (unfortunatley) already purchased a 3DS but if I hadn't I definitely wouldn't be buying one after the announcment of the Expansion Slide Pad. It's obvious Nintendo will redesign the console within the next 12 months, so why would anyone buy the current model knowing this.

IMO Nintendo has already used their get out of jail free card with the sudden price drop. I don't see consumers accecpting a second insult and I think that future sales might reflect this. People largely ignored the Dreamcast because if the impeding PS2 and I think the same thing might happen with the 3DS against the Vita.

I personally can't believe Nintendo are doing this. It's the sort of panic tactics Sega used with the mega cd against the snes and 32x against the early 32Bit gen systems. Or Atari pretending the 5200 never existed then releasing the 7800.

might drop slightly for a short time..but only SLIGHTLY..doubt many outside of the internetz will even know about this. some might opt to a wait and see approach to see if a redesign is coming soon before buying. but thats about it and that won't last for long

It will reduce them before it comes out, and they'll be reduced after it comes out, because nobody wants a 3DS with a horrible second analogue stick morphed onto the side.

It is probably just for the Monster Hunter, so no.

How exactly does this amusing peripheral suggest that they'll be redesigning the 3DS? It rather suggests the opposite. That they're willing to do ridiculous stuff like this if it can save them a redesign, meaning they're against the idea of creating a new 3DS.
I don't think this will make even the tiniest of differences. I don't know what Nintendo is thinking making silly stuff like a second slide pad attached in such a ridiculous fashion. They don't need two of those things for pretty much any popular handheld game.
I expect this to be complete and utter non-factor.

Unless it turns out to be more than an optional add-on for Monster Hunter I don't think it will do more harm to the 3DS than the Mario Kart wheel did to the Wii...

This.

Dudes, it's a minor peripheral being released in one region alongside a port of a two year old game. Chill the fuck out.

probably because the original rumor had two points.  the first being that a periphrial would be coming to the 3DS that would add a second analog nub, the second being that a 3DS redesign would follow where a second analog nub would be added.  they were also the site that correctly outed the wii U specs and the vita specs.  so yeah, rumors are rumors but reputation is reputation.

Nintendo have always redesigned their handhelds, 3DS will be no different. Inevitably it'll be redesigned somewhere down the line and when they do it'll either:

1. Have a second slide pad
2. Have to be the same shape as the original model so people can use this peripheral
3. Not have a second slide pad and be a different shape meaning they'll have to redeign this peripheral also

Out of those 3 options surely the 1st is more likely? And if its does happen and Ubisoft decide to release an Assassins Creed and Activision a CoD to utilise the 2 slide pads what happens to those who own the original model without the add on?

Also there's already a few 3DS games that could benefit from dual analogue control. Ace Combat and Resident Evil spring to mind.

It could turn into a Wii situation where you can have multiple options to play ala smash bros. Either way I think this is quite a big deal.