Don't get me wrong. A second analog isn't a bad thing. Neither is gyroscopic controls, a second touch screen, microphone inputs, or anything. The more inputs and options, the better. I just don't think that games tailored for a handheld device need it. They can function well enough with what the 3DS already have.

Remember when the Wii came out with its ultra simplified approach? The smartphone/tablet market is doing well with an even simpler approach (even when the result is much simpler games--but you have to admit that there's a ton of innovation there, too). To combat the success of simpler controls, our portable consoles are become more complicated? I just don't see it. Give the device the power to run the type of games that you want gamers to play but don't overdo it.

Am I contradicting myself with every sentence, here? Just because I have a hotel in my foot doesn't mean I'm a boogaley moogaley moogaley!

But is it  worth all this drama?? Its not even like its a new game they are getting its a port of a game, that while it did well, still paled in comparison to the PSP versions sales. I want them to get 3rd party support, but this seems like they are really bending over backwards

Try RE Mercenaries on the 3DS and use the FPS configuration (my configuration of choice).  Tell me that the touch screen and d-pad in conjunction with each other don't deliver almost everyting you mentioned including taunting.  You have that game, don't you?

As someone who has owned GTA for PSP i dont think it lends itself well to short burst at all, but to each his own and i do respect your opinions.  But your simply wrong about GOW on PSP it has done well critcally AND commercially (at least the first one did). COD would have done better if Acti wasnt stupid and kept it on just DS, especially since the lone PSP game did more than any of the DS entries, Uncharted remains to be seen

Some games, if they are designed to, really benefit from it. All of Nintendo's consoles have used one analog since 64, so it seems like they gave in; Not that they need two (Nintendo) imo.

because having more input options is better than being limited in terms of input options... thats not to give the impression that i think the 3ds should have a second analog though

I think a second analog stick has been default for consoles ever since PSOnes dual stick controller launched. Every major gaming console has used two sticks. I think Nintendo was behind the times DS should have had the single analog stick instead of the D-Pad and 3DS should have always had two.

For shooters a second analog stick is necessary. Other games require it for camera and fact of the matter is while the touch screen is great for camera it isn't perfect. Though I must agree MetroidPrime:Hunters proved you could make a decent shooter without a second analog stick. But other games like StarWars:BattleFront proved you need two sticks.

I think with Vita having two sticks Nintendo needs two sticks. Developers can create content using the second stick that they could not without it. I honestly look forward to having  a second analog nub.

they don't need to have it because the ds did just fine...

But shooters, and games that require the 2nd nub for camera, will feel a lot less akward. If you don't think these games should be on handheld, then not wanting it makes sense.

Even peace walker's camera sucked (and I loved it). And if you say it didn't, your not comparing it to any of the other metal gears... including the metal gear solid: Ghost Babel on gameboy, or metal gear 2, which were only done with a few buttons. It was bearable. But always felt not quite good enough.

But maybe that's why it's getting released on PS3, where it should have gotten released in the first place >_>

I think my 3DS defense instincts kicked in (I love my 3DS) a little too strongly, this time. The rush is starting to wear off. Anyway, I already know that, for better or worse, if games I want support a second analog stick, I'll buy the peripheral. If Nintendo makes another 3DS with an improved browser, multi-touch touchscreen, a second analog nub, and a pizza cutter built in, I'll buy that, too. Of course the 3DS can function just as well without it because the touch screen is already quite versatile but I can accept the fact that an added analog will be good for games (if not quite good for gamers or Nintendo's good standing with the community).

I think Nintendo has made a few missteps with the 3DS.

They should have included the second analog slider in the initial design of the 3DS; especially after hearing 7 years of PSP owners/developers/etc. complain about only having one slider.

Though, the true blunder is that Nintendo explicitly stated at E3 2010 that they opted to make the top screen 3D (and larger than the bottom screen) INSTEAD of a touchscreen.

At a hardware design level, they literally chose altered visuals over enhancing gameplay inputs (which also runs the batter dry faster); this was the most common, yet intuitive mistake DS owners made (they think both screens are touch input capable since the bottom one is) because it naturally makes sense that it should be; the screens looks the same so they should function the same.

This also would have allowed Nintendo to better differentiate their product from the tons of other hardware (now present in the market) that has single touchscreen gaming.