Prepare for Stupid Rumors, As Nintendo Schedules Fall 3DS Event

Amidst anecdotal reports that 3DS sales have picked up on the heels of Nintendo's drastic price cut, the company has confirmed talk it will hold a 3DS-focused event just prior to the opening of Tokyo Game Show.

The Wall Street Journal reports the event will take place in Japan on September 13, but it isn't clear what Nintendo intends to announce or show. It may just be a showcase of its holiday lineup, but as Vita launch details should come out of TGS, they may want to make a bigger splash.

Rumors have been swirling the past few days about a potential 3DS redesign that includes a second analog stick, but as I have no way of verifying them, so please take 'em with a massive grain of salt.

A redesign that drastic already? I don't buy it, though a battery bump certainly couldn't hurt. Then again, maybe Nintendo wants a full reset.

Nintendo regularly holds a fall event in Japan where it shows off new games and makes announcements. Launch details for the 3DS were revealed during a similar event last September.

Still not decided on this platform

Hopefully we see some promising software.

Son of a BITCH

If they increase the battery life, charge like $15 a game and reduce the price of the thing to $140 I'll get one.

If they redesign it, I will likely buy it. I have been waiting for an update to the clunky styling of the current 3DS (as well as some game announcements). The second stick is irrelevant to me, but I would like to see a more modern redesign.

I don't buy the redesign either. Some software would be pretty nice though.

"Don't ever buy first gen hardware".......

No thanks, waiting for Vita.

If they release new hardware, I will be pissed. 20 free games or not.

Don't worry people that just bought a 3DS, you'll get new ambassador games featuring 5 FREE Game Boy Advance games when the dual analog 3DS comes out.

Oh AND a theme.

Completely makes up for it.

I was going to get one because the holiday titles look strong but I'm sticking with my pre-ordered Vita and I'm going to buy and ebook reader.

So I heard rumours that it's going to have three analogue sticks, and it'll play Game Boy Color cartridges, and it's going to be called the Nin2endeux 3DS-2.
 
Source: My uncle. He works for Nintendo.

Most likely: Software line up, new 3DS colors
Somewhat likely: 3DS redesign with better battery life, thinner design
Less likely: 3DS redesign with significant hardware differences (e.g. second analog stick)
 
And my "no goddamn way, but it'd be pretty awesome" prediction: Partnership with Apple announced, Nintendo games coming to iOS, DS partners reveal iOS titles with Professor Layton available Holiday 2011 for iOS 5.

I think what a lot of forum posts and the like have been leaving off is that the "redesigned" second analog stick was described as being a $10 add-on in the original articlethat started the rumor(s). I don't think it would be Nintendo admitting defeat as some seem to enjoy thinking as much as them creating a "nunchuck" like add-on developers can either take advantage of or not. It'll likely be that and a battery life upgrade and maybe rebranding. 

If this comes out to be true I'll never buy another Nintendo handheld within a week of launch again.

So not even Nintendo can do 3D... and people think this gimmick has a future?

a redesign is going to kill nintendo

I feel it in my thigh.

Looking forward to a 3DS Lite.

lol

I'm waiting to see if Persona 5 comes out on 360/PS3 or if they decide to do a Persona 4 portable edition, I need to know if that's going to be on Vita or 3DS before I buy a new handheld...if it exists at all.
 
So since I have a while before I need to decide, I am all for a redesign!

A 2nd analog stick is hilarious, if they take that path, they will alienate most current 3DS owners.

People who didn't buy the 3DS + people who did = most of the people who would in theory buy another Nintendo game system.

This isn't going to happen.

Still no games worth playing on it.

better battery life and few more games is all it really needs.

Rumors have been swirling the past few days about a potential 3DS redesign that includes a second analog stick, but as I have no way of verifying them, so please take 'em with a massive grain of salt.

That sentence seems wrong.

I've always wondered why they didn't include a second stick. Stubbornness perhaps?

So I heard rumours that it's going to have three analogue sticks, and it'll play Game Boy Color cartridges, and it's going to be called the Nin2endeux 3DS-2.   Source: My uncle. He works for Nintendo.

If they increase the battery life, charge like $15 a game and reduce the price of the thing to $140 I'll get one.

i love when rumors are so stupid but they turn out to be true like the screen on the wii u controller and freddy on mortal kombat

A redesign? They better not...I'm a mindless consumer but not that mindless! Give it a year or two, c'mon.

From the actual article, the "redesign" appears to be largely a peripheral add-on to give second analogue stick functionality. Nothing about a full on new iteration.
 
I think there has largely been a bit of laziness in disseminating this info (not necessarily here, but in general) and people are freaking out about a telephoned out rumor of an add-on.

The rumor is that they have a big exclusive to show. My guess it's either Pokemon or they got a new Monster Hunter.

@Meowshi: did you purchase a 3DS?

Oh sure a redesign, take an even larger shit on early adopters.

I'm starting to hate Nintendo for the constant console redesigns. I think it's even a factor in the adoption rate of the 3DS. People feeling gunshy about what was obviously not the most well thought-out hardware (speaking of the battery and the general layout/feel of the system, as well as the crazy three layers of different colors, though maybe that last one is a personal preference thing that appeals to some people). 
 
Though I honestly don't think that a console redesign is the focus of this event. I'm betting it will be the software side of things, which is what it really needs to be about. The best hardware is nothing if there's nothing to play on it.

@Scooper said:

If they increase the battery life, charge like $15 a game and reduce the price of the thing to $140 I'll get one.

So basically no then?

I think they are going to show off a 3DS that also works as a WiiU controller (hence the need for a second analog stick). I said I would wait for their first redesign, so I might just be buying a 3DS along with a WiiU in just over a year...

I just want more goddamn battery life.

Oh man. Jocularity.

The rumor actually is about a $10 add-on that would bring the second analog, not a console redesign per se - although it obviously would come built-in on the inevitable 3DS Lite.

If this comes out to be true I'll never buy another Nintendo handheld within a week of launch again.

Imagine the fallout if they do a redesign already.  It would be even worse than the anger from the drastic and early price cut.   At any rate, I had already decided to wait for the first redesign or the first 3DS Pokemon game, whichever came first.  So, I would be fine with a redesign especially if it added a second slide pad, something I feel should have been part of the design from day 1.

Ouch, adding a second analog stick would really be a slap in the face.

Know this, Nintendo... I am more likely to buy your 3DS if you add a second analog stick.

Also, GAMES.

@Meowshi said:

Son of a BITCH

This,

There are a few problems I have with the rumours.

• Second analogue stick: couple this with the $10 add-on and Nintendo's rumoured push for developers to develop with that second stick in mind, this will split the install base at best, render the first batch of hardware obsolete at worst. Also, handheld add-ons historically haven't fared well. I don't buy a handheld to start bolting on stuff. And where would that go?!
• Reducing the 3D functionality: a cost-cutting measure, fine. 3D wasn't that great anyway, fine. But it does defeat the point of owning a 3DS, doesn't it?
• The 3DS released in Spring 2011, and if the rumours are true, a redesign would be announced in Fall 2011 and a release somewhere in 2012. Barely six months between release and a redesign, and then a year at the most for the redesign's release. Retailers will love cleaning the rows of 3DSs for a year, I'm sure.

Did the 3DS fail to live up to expectations? Sure. But... Not like this.

Nintendo 3ds plus confirmed

@theveej said:

"Don't ever buy first gen hardware".......

Someone has to if you ever want second gen hardware. They're called "early adopters" and they generally know going in that they are going to get shafted, but are willing to take the hit to have the first go at a new technology.

BAH! I really liked Shadow Wars and even LEGO SW3 in the 3Ds. And it runs the NDS stuff fine too. Sure, they should have had Mario Land available and Mario Kart for launch. But all this criticism of the thing is not warranted.