GoNintendo 'End of Day' thought - What is going on with the 3DS?

The big news for Nintendo just keeps coming. That 3DS press conference next week just got a lot more interesting. We also know that there's a source out there leaking legit Nintendo information. Man, what's going to happen next?! I need some rest to process this all! See you in a few, short hours.

The 3DS is having the craziest first year of any Nintendo platform that I can think of. I cannot believe how much has happened with the system since launch, and we are only now coming up on 6 months with the system! To say that things have been turbulent for the 3DS would be a huge understatement. I can only hope that Nintendo has some grand scheme for the platform, because I'm not quite sure what's going on right now.

The 3DS came out and sold well for its first month, and then things went downhill. That goes for the entire world, which seemed to be less than interested in the 3DS. This was one of the major factors that lead to a 3DS price drop, which was unheard of this short of time into a new platform's launch. While the price point was indeed a big issue for the 3DS, there are other problems as well.

Software support has been dropping like crazy for the system. We went from a ton of announced games before launch to multiple titles being cancelled or pushed back. Developers have stated that they didn't feel their announced projects were right for the system, or they didn't believe their software would have a chance to sell without a bigger install base. Of course, this is a catch-22. The system won't sell without software, and publishers are holding back software because they want more hardware to sell.

Now we're seeing the 01net rumors of a 3DS circle pad accessory coming true, and I'm quite shocked. I figured the Monster Hunter rumor was the real deal, but now we're seeing this bulky accessory coming our way as well. It's not just another circle pad clip-on, this thing is almost a cradle for your entire 3DS that adds another circle pad and shoulder button. Without a doubt, this sucker adds some major bulk to the portable, making it less pocket-friendly.

Is this device going to be developed for by most publishers, including Nintendo? Is this part of a bundle for Monster Hunter? Did Nintendo and Capcom work together to create this thing? Is this accessory just a stop-gap for a 3DS redesign that will be announced next week? SOOOOOOO many questions that just boggle the mind, and they leave me worried about the 3DS' future. I'm sure multiple earlier adopters are left scratching their head, not knowing what's going to hit them next.

What do you think of this accessory? What do you think of the 3DS' future in general? Although I typed out this article, I'm actually at a loss for words about the accessory itself. I don't know what to make of it, but this is one of the few times I can understand 3DS owners being a tad angry. Personally, I need some more time to digest all of this.