Hardware Circle Pad Pro simple and effective fix

[duffmmann]

So, I know a lot of people have certain issues with the Circle Pad Pro. The one I see the most is that it just feels wrong. And I think this has more to do with how the right circle pad is positioned next to the 4 face buttons. Most people suggest a 3DS redesign, with the second stick built into the unit. And while thats an ok answer, I think theres some potential to fix the Circle Pad Pro, increase the value of such a product, and even make a good case for why these versions of the Circle Pad Pro is actually better than a 3DS redesign.

My solution is simple. Add another set of the 4 face buttons and the start button. Place these right below the right circlepad. But thats not all, if you prefer the setup of the right stick being above the 4 facebuttons, that could be a different model available. And even a special edition model, which you'll see at the bottom of my mockups.

But here is where the value is added. Since the circle pad communicated through the infared slot on the 3DS, I have to believe that this new feature should be possible, and I wonder why it hasn't been considered yet. Have the 3DS Circle Pad Pro include rumble force feedback. Games in the future can be designed with this in mind, and game updates could supply rumble to games that have already been released.

Model A

Model B

Model SE

 

[TyBlood13]

You do not know how badly I want the SE model after seeing this!

 

[Rizsparky]

Looks like you've put alot of work into this post, I assume Nintendo is trying to reduce the cost to make these so adding extra buttons maybe out of the picture, I like the rumble idea although it would play absolute havoc with battery consumption

 

[duffmmann]

Looks like you've put alot of work into this post, I assume Nintendo is trying to reduce the cost to make these so adding extra buttons maybe out of the picture, I like the rumble idea although it would play absolute havoc with battery consumption

Well on one AAA battery the regular CPP can run for 480 hours. I imagine if you add another AAA battery the extra buttons wouldn't have much if any effect on the battery life. Rumble would be a feature you could turn on and off. I don't know, but I'm willing to bet on 2 AAA the thing could probably run up to 100 hours with rumble always on. (I could be way off though)

 

[Rizsparky]

Well on one AAA battery the regular CPP can run for 480 hours. I imagine if you add another AAA battery the extra buttons wouldn't have much if any effect on the battery life. Rumble would be a feature you could turn on and off. I don't know, but I'm willing to bet on 2 AAA the thing could probably run up to 100 hours with rumble always on. (I could be way off though)

Rumble does drain alot more juice than a simple infrared connection but I guess it would be a good peripheral to have. The DS rumble pack was a pretty nifty thing, although the support for it was pretty crap.

 

[Jayro]

When the fuck is there going to be one for the 3DS XL? I never see stuff for the XL, and it pisses me off. -.-

 

[2ndApex]

I'd pay insane amounts of money for the SE.

 

[RedCoreZero]

It would be better to edit the power grip pro.

 

[tbgtbg]

When the fuck is there going to be one for the 3DS XL? I never see stuff for the XL, and it pisses me off. -.-

http://www.amazon.com/Circle-Pad-Pro-Nintendo-Accessory-3dsXL/dp/B009LGO88E

 

[Jayro]

http://www.amazon.com/Circle-Pad-Pro-Nintendo-Accessory-3dsXL/dp/B009LGO88E

Thank you for this.

 

[duffmmann]

Here's is the peripheral done with Nyko's design that apparently they cancelled:

Model A

Model B

Model SE


As you can see, in these models, I designed the Start button on the right hand side similar to the Power button on the 3DS, though I would want this to push down easier than the power button. I also added an area where the rumble could be toggled on or off. Finally, the Nyko version of the circle pad pro was to double as a power-pack, extending the 3DS battery, I see no reason why they couldn't keep that function in this device as well. One would of course assume that while the rumble is on though, the extended battery life isn't as long as it could possibly be.

Now obviously these are all just mockups, but I like to practice and enhance my photoshop skills in my free time, especially when it comes to devices that I wished exist, but don't (not yet anyway).

 

[Janthran]

Looks like you've put alot of work into this post, I assume Nintendo is trying to reduce the cost to make these so adding extra buttons maybe out of the picture, I like the rumble idea although it would play absolute havoc with battery consumption

I thought you said "seduce the cost" and had a nice chuckle

 

[nukeboy95]

model se needs the battens flips with thepad

 

[Clydefrosch]

why are you showing this to us?
show it to some 3rd party producers and hope they steal the idea

 

[duffmmann]

model se needs the battens flips with thepad

not quite understanding you, if you're saying the buttons should be where the thumbpad is and the thumbpad where the buttons are, then you're not getting the point of the SE model. Its meant to be in the same layout and design as the gamecube controller. Hence why its a Special Edition controller, it would probably serve best use for the Super Smash game that is to come.

 

[Bobbyloujo]

woahwoahwoah. The buttons to screen ratio is wayyy off here.

Spoiler

Also, why the heck did Nyko cancel that beast? I was so ready to throw all my money at it.

 

[duffmmann]

woahwoahwoah. The buttons to screen ratio is wayyy off here.

Also, why the heck did Nyko cancel that beast? I was so ready to throw all my money at it.

Well the 4 facebuttons and the start button on the actual 3DS would become obsolete. They just sit there only to be used for games where you take the CPP off. Its better IMO than having to use the 3DS facebutton to the left of the right thumbstick.

As for why Nyko cancelled their superior looking CPP, I have no idea, it always looked much more comfortable, though I always thought it still was to suffer with the buttons being to the left of the right thumb pad.

 

[Bobbyloujo]

B2SCR ratio is a joke from a previous thread regarding the number of buttons, not their size.

It kinda seems like a waste having all those extra buttons. If the buttons on the peripheral mimic the buttons on the 3DS, then you have two sets of buttons that do the exact same thing.

 

[Clydefrosch]

the nyko one was probably way to expensive in production while general itnerest in it wasnt sufficient.

 

[duffmmann]

B2SCR ratio is a joke from a previous thread regarding the number of buttons, not their size.

It kinda seems like a waste having all those extra buttons. If the buttons on the peripheral mimic the buttons on the 3DS, then you have two sets of buttons that do the exact same thing.

Yup, you're not getting the point of this then. The CPP has the major misfortune of placing the right thumbstick to the right of the 4 face buttons. This is the issue I want solved, without having owners of their 3DS have to shell out money for a theoretical redesign of the 3DS that would place the right thumbpad beneath the 4 facebuttons.

So my solution is simple. The extra space on the CPP is already there, why not use this space to place the 4 facebuttons (and start since its also far out of the way with the CPP. This enables the user to choose their favorite layout of thumbpad above the 4 face buttons, or below. The original 3DS 4 face buttons just become obsolete, essentially just becoming a part of the system that aren't actually buttons (until you take this CPP off). Then to increase the value of this device, the rumble feature is added. So even though there are 5 more buttons on these redesigns, they aren't really there as you'll never actually push them.