Hardware the 3DS analog sticks suck a lot.

[Coto]

Hey at least is not as fugly as the stick the PSP has

 

[Lunatics]

Not only do I have a hard time keeping my thumb on it for more than 10 minutes at a time, but it also feels like the direction detecting is terrible at it. I will be playing zelda and Z target to run backwards to get around faster, however when I try this on the DS, Link just runs sideways backwards to the right, I push it ever so slightly to the left and he starts going to the left. Getting an actual straight forward or backwards line is so hard on it.

Also I don't know why you're all hating on the PSPs stick except for the fact that this is basically a Nintendo forum so the majority of you are bound to be fanboys, but the PSP stick was definitely not as shitty as you are trying to make it out to be.

 

[Slyakin]

With the clamshell design of the 3DS, it would have been extremely hard to make the thumbstick comfortable, without making a hole in the top screen to fit it. I'm pretty sure that, in the future, there will be some 3rd party solutions like the FPSFreek for the 360 and PS3.

BTW, link to FPSFreek here.

 

[Zarxrax]

My thumb has never slipped off of the circle pad, and it doesn't hurt me at all.
Wtf are you guys doing, lubing your hands up with lotion or sweat?

 

[jamesaa]

The circle pad isn't great, but for a handheld it's bearable.

What I'm not looking forward to is having the same circle pads on the wii u controller where there is no reason to not have proper analogue sticks

 

[Rabbi Nevins]

yeah ive never had any problems. Maybe im just used to the psp pad or something. THAT is bad.

 

[DxEggman]

Analog Stick > Circle Pad > PSP nub

Nintendo couldn't have a clamshell system design with an analog stick so the Circle Pad was the best compromise.
I've had my thumb slide off the pad too, but its not too bad. They could have used a stickier, ribbed rubber I guess. (gross)

Spoiler

All right.....!

Ontopic, anyone have a good method of cleaning the circle pad? after wiping down the system wiith a microfiber cloth, the pad still seems slightly oily....

 

[Demonstryde]

Not only do I have a hard time keeping my thumb on it for more than 10 minutes at a time, but it also feels like the direction detecting is terrible at it. I will be playing zelda and Z target to run backwards to get around faster, however when I try this on the DS, Link just runs sideways backwards to the right, I push it ever so slightly to the left and he starts going to the left. Getting an actual straight forward or backwards line is so hard on it.

Also I don't know why you're all hating on the PSPs stick except for the fact that this is basically a Nintendo forum so the majority of you are bound to be fanboys, but the PSP stick was definitely not as shitty as you are trying to make it out to be.

have you tried recalibrating the circle pad?????as this sounds like it will solve your issue.

 

[Deleted User]

Not only do I have a hard time keeping my thumb on it for more than 10 minutes at a time, but it also feels like the direction detecting is terrible at it. I will be playing zelda and Z target to run backwards to get around faster, however when I try this on the DS, Link just runs sideways backwards to the right, I push it ever so slightly to the left and he starts going to the left. Getting an actual straight forward or backwards line is so hard on it.

Also I don't know why you're all hating on the PSPs stick except for the fact that this is basically a Nintendo forum so the majority of you are bound to be fanboys, but the PSP stick was definitely not as shitty as you are trying to make it out to be.

While I agree that the circle pad is not perfect, it could have been a lot worse and it feels like it's a good trade-off for a handheld. What made the PSP nub uncomfortable to use was more the position than the nub itself, at least for me. That's actually the one thing I don't get when looking at the PSVita. Why didn't they change the position of at least the left stick?!

 

[baramos]

I don't mind the circle pad It's definitely an improvement over the PSP's slide pad or whatever it was called. But they still both have that problem of the way it feels like it's rubbing as you move it especially when sliding it along the edge, it just doesn't feel smooth almost like it's skipping along some times but not one else I know has ever seemed to care. I know that it comes with this technology I still find it really annoying on both the 3DS and PSP but I'm prob just OCD though

.

 

[RNorthex]

don't compare the ps's analogs to the 3ds's
it's a handheld which can be closed
like this, it's harder to break it and if it would be like the one on the ps controller, then the design would be ridicilous
this is probably the best they could come up with, for me, it's quite good

 

[sadak5]

Nintendo invented 'Nintendo Thumb'

Tht's epic!!!, also, as our thumbs are already used to the pad, with the analog we need to upgrade the thumb to "Nintendo Thumb DS"

 

[awssk8er]

I know exactly what you are talking about with the "repositioning", but it's never happened to me with the 3DS.

If anything, that happens less to me because the analog pad is indented. Personally, I love the indented pads. I prefer them over a standard one.

My only complaint is how it isn't changeable. You can destroy the analog pad with your nail so easily if you wanted to, and at that point the handheld is kind of useless.

 

[DxEggman]

Sometimes i think im messing up the pad playing ssf4, going from one direction (say, left) to another (down-right) really fast; it seems like something is clicking inside.
Also, someone needs to make a bit of plastic that can go over the circle pad, like those grips for the ps3/psp/360.

 

[Deleted User]

Yup. It sure does hurt my thumb after some time and my thumb also got off it quite a few times already. However, I guess for handhelds it's still the best you can get. Much better than having a shitty stick like the PSP's.

Actually... maybe there is a better solution. If they just removed the stick alltogether and replaced it by a touchsensitive field or something like that. I suppose that would just make it more expensive, though.

That would be shit.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CLX5LwI6w68