i see this as possibly being a bad thing. i mean the system looks cool but the PSP struggled with ways to make only one analog stick work with mobile games and in my opinion failed horribly and the games suffered for it. even amazing titles like Metal Gear i had no interest in playing on the PSP because of the horrible camera controls. 
 
So yea does anyone else see this as a potential problem?

I don't need no two analogue sticks for Super MonkeyBall, Animal Crossing, Starfox 64, Pokemon, Paper Mario... Sooo nahh.

You are forgetting the touch screen which has turned out to be a neat interface for FPS aiming.

All third person games would be better if they put the effort into making good fixed cameras. First person games don't really make sense on handhelds. So that's my answer. Compensate for the 1 analog by making your camera not suck.

Yes. It's a problem. Just like it's a problem for the Wii.

The way the 3DS is designed, I heavily doubt this will be an issue, especially with 8-4's very positive impressions on the slide pad.

The DS did fine with no analogue sticks, one is more than enough for the 3DS. The issue with the PSP's single analogue stick is because people are developing games for it that are far more suited to a home console. The 3DS hopefully shouldn't have that problem. Developers should continue to develop games suited to the touchscreen and handheld gaming in general, just like they did for the DS.

No, it's not a problem. I don't WANT games that would require two analog sticks (like console FPS games or what-have-you) on my portable system.

This isnt really any different then the compaints peopel ahd for PSPs 1 stick.

I think that for 90% of games, if you're only gonna have one analog stick you might as well have no analog sticks. D-Pads work better for 2d, and for 3d you want a second stick for camera control.
 
I don't anticipate it really being a problem though because most of the games I will want to play on the thing will be platformers and RPGs, neither of which you need a stick for.

" You are forgetting the touch screen which has turned out to be a neat interface for FPS aiming. "

Like everything on the 3DS, I'm not convinced that there is any need for even one. but in the end, 2 is neither feasible or worthwhile for what the DS is about.

" The DS did fine with no analogue sticks, one is more than enough for the 3DS. The issue with the PSP's single analogue stick is because people are developing games for it that are far more suited to a home console. The 3DS hopefully shouldn't have that problem. Developers should continue to develop games suited to the touchscreen and handheld gaming in general, just like they did for the DS. "

" Yes. It's a problem. Just like it's a problem for the Wii. "  

I don't think it will be too much of a problem. Sure they may be games where we'd like to have it but I feel like the DS had decent work arounds. That should continue I think.

" You are forgetting the touch screen which has turned out to be a neat interface for FPS aiming. "

" @mikmanner said:

" You are forgetting the touch screen which has turned out to be a neat interface for FPS aiming. "

That argument is true for right handed people, but left handers will have a problem. The lack of a second analog stick breaks the symmetry that the NintendoDS provided, thus switching between right and left will become an issue. "

If Nintendo just makes prettier looking DS games and doesn't try to make close to the original ports of home console games then no it shouldn't.  Though when the DS did try games like Metroid Hunters, Mario 64, and Resident Evil 1 the controls sucked ass.

ANALog...he-he.

Yes. It hurt the PSP and it will hurt the 3DS.

There aren't enough shoulder buttons for a dual-analog movement scheme to be practical in most cases and, as most people have already mentioned, games that require that kind of control suck on handhelds. 
 
If the PSP2 was a Dualshock with a flip-up screen, I would be on board for that setup. Otherwise, not a big deal.

 Ask the PSP.

When thinking about Mario 64 DS I say nah

"  Ask the PSP. "

depends on how its implimented but as long as theres a touchscreen itll be much easier to be a pros. addiction rather than a hinderence

" @Bucketdeth said:

"  Ask the PSP. "

PSP has about a hundred other problems the DS didn't and the 3DS won't. "

The touch screen is pretty much a second analog stick. I don't see it having a factor.

It won't be a problem as long as developers don't make 3rd person games that require camera control as well as the use of the R and L buttons. 
 
As for first person games, what I played of Metroid Hunters seemed to work well enough with the touch screen. 
 
I'd still like a second analog stick though and am curious why you wouldn't put one on there.

It's not a problem because: 
 
a) Games on the DS/3DS are not the same as the ones on the PSP; they are more suitable for a portable system, whereas the PSP tries to be a PS2, and fails everytime. 
b) the 3DS has a touchscreen just like its predecessor, while the PSP didn't. 
 
In the end, what handicapped the PSP the most was the single joystick coupled with the lack of touchscreen.

I don't think it'll really be a problem. I bet, much like the DS, most games on the 3DS will be tailored to fit the strengths of the system. Rather than on the PSP where you have games that would really be better on a console crammed on there.

The PSP's one analog stick was a dud because developers still had two-analog PS2 games in mind. Games that are built for one analog stick work well. What worries me more is left-handed usefulness. I'm alright with my right hand, but if I can avoid it, I'd rather use my left. 

I'll be interested to see how long it takes developers to realize you won't be able to really use the analog stick and the touchscreen at the same time. Unless you have a 3rd party holding the console for you. 
 
I'd definitely like to see a second analog stick on there, but we'll see if someone can come up with an effective way to design around that. It unfortunately rules out decent ports of good Gamecube games.