IndustryGamers - Informing the Games Industry

Nintendo 3DS Second Analog 'A Smart Move,' says Activision

Posted September 13, 2011 by James Brightman

Nintendo this week officially confirmed that it's planning to release a cradle add-on that will give the 3DS handheld another circle pad analog. Some might think it's an odd move for the leader in handheld gaming, but Call of Duty publisher Activision appears to be supportive of Nintendo's decision.

In a phone conversation today with IndustryGamers, Activision Publishing boss Eric Hirshberg called it a "smart move."

We specifically asked Hirshberg if Activision intended to support 3DS with more shooters since a second analog would make it more compatible with that genre and other genres that might fit better on the Sony's PlayStation Vita. 

"Your thinking is very similar to mine. It does make the hardware more relevant and compatible to the style of games we make," Hirshberg responded. "I don't have anything to announce in relation to that, but I think it was a great move and it opens up that platform to more styles of games."

Perhaps we'll see a dual-analog supported Call of Duty on 3DS in the not so distant future?

James Brightman has been covering the games industry since 2003 and has been an avid gamer ever since the days of Atari and Intellivision. He was previously the EIC of GameDaily Biz.