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That Horrible 3DS Analog Stick Rumor Is Coming True

Bizarre, awkward looking add-on being developed in conjunction with Monster Hunter 3G.

I didn't report on the rumors Nintendo would be releasing an add-on for the 3DS that would provide the handheld with a second analog stick for two reasons. One, I couldn't verify them. In almost every case, if I'm unable to come up with secondary confirmation of a rumor, you won't read about it here. It's not my style. Two, it sounded ridiculous, a move that would make more sense--if any at all--for a re-design. Even if you entertained the idea of it coming prior to a re-design, why split users?

Turns out, it's looking to be true.

The add-on, which reportedly acts as a cradle for the handheld and simultaneously adds several shoulder buttons (there are conflicting reports on this specific fact, hope to have clarity in the morning), has appeared in the newest issue of Famitsu. It's being released in conjunction with Monster Hunter 3G, apparently scheduled before the end of the year, at least in Japan.

What's this monstrosity look like? Your wish is my command, courtesy of Twitter user @south1996.

No Caption Provided

No, you haven't lost your mind! This isn't some crazy dream!

Granted, much could change; we're getting the very first details on this translated from a magazine reveal. Nintendo has a press conference ahead of the Tokyo Game Show this month, currently scheduled for September 13. We should see more about this add-on there. I'm especially interested in finding out whether Nintendo has the balls to charge for this.

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373 Comments

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Seesic

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Edited By Seesic

I'm not sure how I feel about this, I love Monster Hunter but that looks ridiculous and unwieldy. 

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Azteck

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Edited By Azteck

@outerabiz said:

im calling it now. The Wii-U console will come with a handle.

For when you desperately want to have a Wii-U-LAN!

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outerabiz

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Edited By outerabiz

im calling it now. The Wii-U console will come with a handle. 

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Dany

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Edited By Dany

this is all dumb

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Benny

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Edited By Benny

And so the wait begins for the 3DS lite with better battery life and built in second analog stick

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Altersparck

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Edited By Altersparck

Looks like 3D wasn't the knockout gimmick Nintendo thought it would be. Although, the Sega 32X-esque approach to hardware is... disheartening.

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deactivated-5865c6a5c9438

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Looks like I won't be buying a 3DS any time soon.

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deactivated-59a31562f0e29

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um
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catbusstop

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Edited By catbusstop

The idea of "patching" hardware is both hilarious and terrifying in equal measures.

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TehFlan

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Edited By TehFlan

What? Seriously?

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kagato

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Edited By kagato

It looks horrific...but i really really like Monster Hunter! If it comes packed in then its a no brainer, i really didnt think this rumour was going to be true...

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VicRattlehead

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Edited By VicRattlehead

man the things companys do to get monster hunter on there system...

lets be honest though nintendo got some great games coming up on the 3DS

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vigorousjammer

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Edited By vigorousjammer

*sigh* and my DSi just broke... so I figured i'd buy a 3DS.

At $169 it seemed like a no-brainer.... now i'm not so sure.

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Cazamalos

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Edited By Cazamalos

Nintendo is willing to do everything it takes to stop monster hunter being psp/vita exclusive 
being that aggressive takes some balls 
now i have more reasons to patiently wait for a 3DS redesign and a robust games library

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MideonNViscera

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Edited By MideonNViscera

Oh no. Wonder how much GameStop'll buy a 3DS for.

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Thor_Molecules

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Edited By Thor_Molecules
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The 3DS is becoming more of a joke every single day. Oh how the mighty have fallen.

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ervonymous

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Edited By ervonymous

Now THAT's portable.

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GoofyGoober

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Edited By GoofyGoober
@captain_clayman: That outrage comment goes so well with Mr Krabs. I guess Mr Krabs can indeed feel it.
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Ronald

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Edited By Ronald

It nice that in their "SECRET SCOOP" they made sure to mention "MH3(tri-)G" so we would know what this was for. With this addition and the Vita coming with two analogues the claw will be a thing of the past, which means we'll have people telling them young kids how easy they have it being able to control the camera with an analogue stick. "Back in my day..."

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Kato

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Edited By Kato

Aeathletically, it's a shit-show, but if it adds extra battery life and launches alongside a re-design which includes the extra stick, battery power, and shoulder buttons...then I think it could save the 3DS. I'd totally buy one of these if I already was an owner of a first-gen 3DS (and it extended battery life...which IMHO, it has to).

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toowalrus

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Edited By toowalrus

Oh God no Christ no what ugh.That's just about the worst thing ever. I'm glad I held off buying a 3DS, maybe an eventual re-design will add that 2nd analog stick onto the system itself, because there's no way I'm using that thing. However... I still want Luigi's Mansion 2. Oh Nintendo! You fucked up, big time... but at least you know it.

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s-a-n-JR

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Edited By s-a-n-JR

Wow. Guess I'll be waiting for the inevitable 3DS redesign.

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SMTDante89

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Edited By SMTDante89

Could have been much worse, I guess.

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ma_rc_01

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Edited By ma_rc_01

Secret Scoop!

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tanador

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Edited By tanador

This just shows that Nintendo is still living in the time when people still believed in them. There old school business model is broken and needs to move into the 21st century. Come on Nintendo really!?

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metalsnakezero

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Edited By metalsnakezero

Why didn't they just add it in the first place!?

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Vexxan

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Edited By Vexxan

That's the dumbest shit I've ever seen in my 20 years on this planet.

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Chris_Ihao

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Edited By Chris_Ihao

The placement of the stick is the worst part about it. Just right of all the buttons? Nah.

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herocide

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Edited By herocide

No designer in this decade would sell that addon looking the way it does on that magazine. It's almost certainly a prototype. Also, I welcome a second analogue pad as long as it's comfortable and cheap by the time a redesign comes out (if it does).

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MooseyMcMan

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Edited By MooseyMcMan  Online

Oh Nintendo...

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TaliciaDragonsong

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YAY MONSTER HUNTER

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PhilipDuck

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Edited By PhilipDuck

Oh no!

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RE_Player1

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Edited By RE_Player1

I said this would never happen... Now I know how Will Smith feels when he said that HP is in it for the long haul.

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Zithe

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Edited By Zithe

@MattyFTM: If you are right, I would hope they could have come up with something better than this thing, heh. Who knows.

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MattyFTM

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Edited By MattyFTM  Moderator

@Zithe said:

@MattyFTM: I don't think Nintendo is that smart/evil. I think they just made a somewhat poor design decision to go with 1 circle pad on the 3DS and now they are using this as a stopgap for their improved one. The end result is the same, but I don't think they had this planned in advance.

Hardware revisions make nintendo a lot of money (and lets them exaggerate their market share). They must have been thinking about them prior to the 3DS release. It might not have been set in stone, but I'm sure it would have been mentioned as a possibility at least.

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WinterSnowblind

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lizzard2

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Edited By lizzard2
@maskedarcstrike: No back in the day we had Game and watch.. :P
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ryanwho

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Edited By ryanwho

Cry about the lack of a 2nd alanog stick. Get analog stick. 
 Cry that they add a 2nd analog stick in an optional peripheral instead of forcing you to buy a new model. Gamers. Jewfro'd bitchfaced gamers, never satisfied.

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Zithe

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Edited By Zithe

@MattyFTM: I don't think Nintendo is that smart/evil. I think they just made a somewhat poor design decision to go with 1 circle pad on the 3DS and now they are using this as a stopgap for their improved one. The end result is the same, but I don't think they had this planned in advance.

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MrKlorox

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Edited By MrKlorox

Ugh. Dammit Nintendo.

edit: Also this would have been the perfect chance to add analog triggers, but look who we're dealing with: Friend Code Inc.

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GS_Dan

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Edited By GS_Dan

Fat bottomed girls...

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mnzy

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Edited By mnzy

SCOOP!
 
Also: this is not the actual re-design, this is how they make the first version of the 3DS compatible with the new one.

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MattyFTM

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Edited By MattyFTM  Moderator

This is obviously part of nintendo's plan all along, purely for the sake of hardware revisions. The 3DS build quality and design is good, so they can't do a DS to DS lite style revision. It already has online functionality and camera's, so they can't do a DS lite to DSi style revision. They could do an XL revision, but I doubt that would make people rush out and buy a new 3DS. So they're releasing an addon that adds a new analogue stick, and in a few months time they'll come out and say a new 3DS is coming with the second analogue stick build in.

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DesktopMan

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Edited By DesktopMan

I'm a 3DS ambassador and that's fucked up.

It does not look like an official Nintendo product though. Why would they launch that with a 3rd party game?

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krabboss

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Edited By krabboss

Two, it sounded ridiculous, a move that would make more sense--if any at all--for a re-design.

What? That makes the least sense of all. That would split the fanbase and lock those who don't have the new SKU out of playing games that use it. Why on EARTH would you think them doing it this way makes more sense? 
 
Seriously.
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AndrewB

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Edited By AndrewB

*sigh*

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Cyrisaurus

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Edited By Cyrisaurus
@byterunner: You're joking, right? YOUR post is the saddest here. You actually think this thing will be better to hold? More comfortable? Yet you're saying it's a prototype because you're lying to yourself about the first two things so you want to believe it will be better when it's out. Wake up, this is real and it sucks. Nintendo is making you their bitch, and you're just accepting it when you don't have to. Stand up and say "No, Nintendo, NO"
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Zithe

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Edited By Zithe

Now that my initial shock has worn off, I can say that as ugly as this thing is, it might not be so bad as long as it feels good in my hands. The extra shoulder buttons could be useful.

I just wish the grip wasn't thicker than the 3DS itself. If I didn't know anything about this and I saw someone whip it out in public, I would expect them to have just woken up from a 15-year coma.

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jkuc316

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Edited By jkuc316

Okay, I don't even know if I want a 3DS anymore\
 
EDIT: Okay, I've calmed and not  see this as something acceptable. It's not like a 2nd circle pad is important enough to be as large as the 1st. I just wish this is only like $60 (and comes with free Monster Hunter 3G)

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crunchbitejr

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Edited By crunchbitejr

Surely not.