Nintendo, you’re a sly one — passive aggressively releasing the worst news of Monday night online.
For those not in the know, Nintendo held a press conference Monday evening, a few days prior to the Tokyo Game Show. Nintendo President Satoru Iwata unveiled a barrage of new titles coming in 2012. A lack of quality titles may not be a problem for the Nintendo 3DS much longer.
What is a problem is the news Nintendo quietly released onto its hardware page after the press conference, but of which they made no actual mention. The 3DS expansion slide pad, which leaked in Japanese gaming magazine Famitsu days earlier, adds a second analog stick to the device, as well as more shoulder buttons. It fits the 3DS much like its charging cradle and will run on a AAA battery.
On one hand, Nintendo’s use of a second analog pad will probably help build relationships with third-party developers. Dual-analog controls have become a mainstay in gaming since the PlayStation 2 and will allow for more console-like experiences on the 3DS.
On the other hand, Nintendo just screwed its consumers. While pricing and release information isn’t available for Western countries just yet, it will run for 1500 yen — about $20 — and release in December in Japan.
The loyal fans who bought before the August price drop received some free downloadable games, but they should still be livid about this.
Regardless of whether you bought the 3DS before its recent price drop — or even if you did — that’s another $20 to add to your total cost. No wonder Nintendo didn’t say anything during the press conference.
Nintendo lists big titles such as Metal Gear Solid: Snake Eater 3D, Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance and Monster Hunter 3G among games that will use the peripheral.
Not everyone will have this peripheral, though. Who do developers design for? Those with two analog pads or those with the one that came attached to the 3DS? If you want everyone to play your games, the latter. If you want to make your best games, possibly the former. Do you sacrifice your audience for quality, or quality for your audience?
If I were a betting man, I would put good money on the second analog pad being integrated into the inevitable redesign of the 3DS. Those who purchased the 3DS at launch will have to buy what may become a fundamental part of the 3DS hardware — almost as if they were field-testing the 3DS before a final design is decided upon.
The expansion slide pad might be the best thing to ever happen to the 3DS. It might mean better games and more developers making them. It also divides the platform between those who have the expansion and those who don’t. Developers will need to decide who to support
afreedman@umdbk.com
