Nintendo 3DS

[kronoridley]

Just for lolz?

Yeah, pretty much. That and the moneyz.

Well.. after having a closer look at it, I admit I'd buy it if it

• Were relatively cheap (about $15);
• Worked as a charging cradle;
• Expanded battery life;
• Were useful for any game at all.

I can answer two of those:
-The same sources that brought up the original rumor said it would be about 10$, so expect it to be cheap.
-Playing Monster Hunter without a second analog is hell.

[HYRUL3]

I have a question, Can't the 3DS hook-up to the internet? Cause I would totally hi-jack someone's wireless connection.

Only via WiFi.

KB, what's your source for all those people wanting Hunters remade on Wii? It just wasn't very Metroid, regardless of what console it would be on.

[Apothem]

Okeydoke, here's a query fer ye: How the hell is this thing supposed to work? From what I can glean from the image, it's just a caddy. The 3DS doesn't have an expansion port, so how's this thing supposed to communicate with the 3DS? Wirelessly? That'd mean it'd either need it's own power supply or it's going to leech off of the 3DS' already strapped energy reserves, though arguably not by much. It clearly isn't intended to enhance the 3DS beyond the additional analog nub, so, what the hell Nintendo?

[Naner]

I have a question, Can't the 3DS hook-up to the internet? Cause I would totally hi-jack someone's wireless connection.

Of course it can, dude. Everything can connect to the Internet nowadays, be it wired, Wi-fi or 3G.

Okeydoke, here's a query fer ye: How the hell is this thing supposed to work? From what I can glean from the image, it's just a caddy. The 3DS doesn't have an expansion port, so how's this thing supposed to communicate with the 3DS? Wirelessly? That'd mean it'd either need it's own power supply or it's going to leech off of the 3DS' already strapped energy reserves, though arguably not by much. It clearly isn't intended to enhance the 3DS beyond the additional analog nub, so, what the hell Nintendo?

I'm wondering about that, too... From what I've seen, I guess it can be inserted in the cartridge slot and have another slot for the actual cartridge. I think we'll know for sure next week.

[YamI]

Great! Thank god I'm getting one soon. Hehe. I'll be sure to add you guys.

[darkhamsterlord]

The analog stick is a cradle, so it probably interacts with the 3DS in the same was as the charging cradle does. If the charging cradle can get power into the 3DS, I'm sure the analog stick can get power out of it. Yeah, it would reduce the 3DS' already limited battery life, but it's not like anyone on this planet has pockets big enough to carry the thing around with that massive analog stick attached to it anyway, so you can probably just plug it in and sit by the wall while you play.

[Apothem]

The Analog Cradle encompasses the entire bottom half of the 3DS, save for three exceptions: The headphone jack, bottom-front; The volume control, left side; The power jack, back-right. The charging dock connects to and transfers energy by way of the power jack which the cradle seemingly doesn't interact with. The mockups at present also don't show the cradle interacting with the cartridge slot in any way, short of covering it, which leaves me baffled as to how the 3DS is supposed to interface with the device. I'm guessing wirelessly, unless I've overlooked something. Now, as for the increased size:


Physical Dimensions of Various DS Models:
__________________________________

DSi XL
_____________________________
X: 161 mm | 6.30"
Y: 91.4 mm | 3.60"
Z: 21.2 mm | 0.83"


3DS
_____________________________
X: 134 mm | 5.30"
Y: 74 mm | 2.90"
Z: 21 mm | 0.83"


3DS (with Analog Cradle)
_____________________________
X: 138 mm | 5.40
Y: 76 mm | 3.00
Z: 24 mm | 0.94

As you can see, even with the cradle the 3DS, over all, is still smaller than the DSiXL, and if anything would look to make the device more comfortable to play. If you found the DSiXL unwieldy, than it could present a possible problem. I however love the DSiXL, explicitly for it's improved dimensions, and anything that brings the 3DS further inline with such is at least some small step forward in my book. That said, if it is indeed independently powered, that would just be plain silly, though it does have what appears to be a screw at it's center, where the 3DS fits into, for a battery hatch, perhaps?

[AuroraUnitComplex]

The Japanese 3DS conference is streaming live tonight. (Equivalent time for each region can be found here). Anyone else going to watch? I'm curious to see if they are going to announce any new titles and also see how they are going to show off that cradle accessory.

[Chris]

Anyone else going to watch? I'm curious to see if they are going to announce any new titles and also see how they are going to show off that cradle accessory.

Like all these events, can wait till morning and can just read the best bits at work

[Naner]

I could just read about it tomorrow morning, but I think watching it live is just too fun to pass. So I'll be watching in less than three hours.

[HYRUL3]

Well. They just announced both Monster Hunter 3G and Monster Hunter 4 for 3DS.

Anyone who thought the 3DS was going to be a disaster will watch in terror as Japan buys six 3DSes for every household. IN THE WORLD.

[Naner]

And I'm more excited for that new Fire Emblem. It looks good.

BTW, Nintendo announced the little thingy for the second pad will cost around $15-20 in Japan, and it'll require a AAA battery to work...

In better news, Four Swords will have a few new features, including a single-player mode, and will be released September 28th.

[KingBroly]

I have a question, Can't the 3DS hook-up to the internet? Cause I would totally hi-jack someone's wireless connection.

Only via WiFi.

KB, what's your source for all those people wanting Hunters remade on Wii? It just wasn't very Metroid, regardless of what console it would be on.

Um...it was mainly comments made on GoNintendo and NeoGaf and the original NSider. People were clamoring for that stuff, myself included (because I think Hunters is unplayable) because the controls for Corruption looked slick as hell.

I mean, the Echoes Multiplayer on Wii was...marginally better than its Cube counterpart, but it still needed online.

Perfectly honest here: From other angles, that cradle looks like it'll be comfortable.

[Chris]

I mean, the Echoes Multiplayer on Wii was...marginally better than its Cube counterpart, but it still needed online.

It needed throwing away. They either do MP properly or not at all, a crappy FFA on a few maps isn't going it properly. Sadly the ADHD online gamers of today can't play anything that involves thinking beyond 'shoot the enemy' and that doesn't involve unlocking crap and has lots of pointless achievements.

I don't trust anyone to do a Metroid online (or offline) MP as it will feature camping, grinding, a cover system, regen health, crap maps, unbalanced persistent unlocks and dressing up options.

[Naner]

The only "modern FPS" feature I would like to see in a Metroid Prime game would be covering (or at least crouching), because I actually missed it a bit when playing the Trilogy. All the others would be complete crap.