Let me bring something up.

When they made the DS Lite did they add a Circle Pad? Nope. All they did was add a little improvement. Those improvements were Display and Aesthetics. That's it. If a 3DS XL were to have two Circle Pads it would automatically make the Original 3DS worthless.

Built-in CPP controls wont' do that though, maintaining basic control options is the smartest thing for developers to do and Nintendo, while most likely won't have to, will encourage developers to never make a game without original control options. Developers would be crazy to alienate part of the install base. (reason why the move has trouble getting quality titles that aren't dualshock compatible)

Whether you have CPP or not, you will be able to play every game made for 3DS.

We don't know that. He could be right... I don't think any of us here understands how firmware and hardware emulation works, TBH. In neogaf at least there's more capacitaded users for that, I think.

Even if his explanation is wrong, which is perfectly possible, it doesn't mean yours is right too.

Not nickel and diming, they are just loosing too much money already on the device, they don't want to be loosing more.

Don't these two statements contradict each other lol?

I think I know what you mean. The 3ds XL isn't meant to replace the 3ds but rather coexist.

That's a bad example. The DS didn't already have an add on that provided a circle pad, and it didn't have games that used one. While the DS did have gaming capabilities that could have used it, like Mario 64, there wasn't a push from developers to provide additional controls. This is different with 3DS. Those circumstances do exist and the 3DS is even more capable of generating games that work best with 2 analogs, very exciting times for handhelds.

The original 3DS would be far from worthless. All 3DS games would be compatible with original controls but if owners wanted to, like they can now, they can buy the CPP. The issue people see with the 3DS XL is a missed opportunity to usher forth an all complete control 3DS that would encourage developers to make games for their console. Down the road hopefully Nintendo does include controls on system, but they might have to release a new XL version of the new design. Nintendos going to have a crazy number of 3DS models by the time its all said and done.

Thank god the Vita doesnt require us to buy something useless.  Oh wait memory cards....    nevermind.


The reason why Nintendo didn't add the 2nd pad was because Nintendo doesnt want to change the rules how people are forced to play newer games.
Plus why would they increase the costs for every single 3dsXL when developers will never switch to  SECOND PAD REQUIRED TO PLAY because they would prevent 99.99% of the 3ds users that obviously have the 3ds and not the 3ds XL (because its not out yet) to play their games so the potential audience is non existent. 

The circle pad pro is optional  as the Move is with the PS3. So there is no reason to make it standard becaue it will always be optional.
So if anyone feels the need to play with a second pad they can buy it. 

and not to forget the IR  CirclePadPro   non IR XL issue.

Thats basic logic.

but Nintendo is not wrong. Handhelds are different from home consoles and should offer a different xxperience. The real problem is developers making console games for a handheld system. Nintendo limits the controls to push that mindset. When RE is on 3DS it needs to be designed with 3DS in mind not consoles. If a they have to design a peripheral device so MH can be played properly should MH had been on the system to begin with?

Yes! That is what I was going for. The 3DS XL is just supposed to be another option.

I think the answer is that Nintendo is just plain weird sometimes, or maybe they are "too proud" to add a second stick, just who knows what's going on in Iwata's head