This morning we reported that Nintendo is to go forward with its plans for a 3DS hardware expansion with the introduction of the slide pad, a cumbersome-looking piece of kit which provides console owners with an additional analog stick.
According to this week’s Famitsu, Capcom’s flagship franchise Monster Hunter will be the first to test the add-on bit of tech, reports suggesting that the series will make its 3DS debut sometime later this year (in Japan at least.) Though the game has yet to be officially announced, we suspect that Monster Hunter 3DS has been in the pipeline for some time, sources claiming that it will borrow the same water-based combat mechanics which were first introduced in Monster Hunter Tri.
Monster Hunter is one of the biggest-selling franchises in the gaming industry, dominating Japanese sales charts year in year out, just the sort of hardcore title the 3DS needs after recovering from an initial lull in interest.
So, what does this mean for fans in the long run? Well, if you live outside of Japan, you may not even be able to get your hands on Monster Hunter 3DS; despite Monster Hunter Tri having launched globally (and receiving healthy support from critics) it couldn’t match the ambitious sales figures Nintendo had expected, even making a loss per game sold in some regions.
What concerns us more is the gradual sense of deja vu which continues to gnaw in the back of our minds. Though it seems unlikely, Capcom could once again neglect its PlayStation fanbase by denying them a fully-fledged Monster Hunter sequel for the PlayStation 3 or Vita. TGS 2011 really couldn’t come any sooner.
Source: andriasang
posem
if the fans are going to get neglected and overlooked like this yet again, the PSP HD remake for PS3 couldnt come sooner..
Sympozium
Use the download (force) Capcom…
Sympozium
Also if there isn’t a Vita version then f**k that, Tri isn’t even great mainly for removing most of the weapons (thats in a portable version >_>)
david
Capcom really are being short sighted about the potential of MH on other consoles. I would bet my house it would sell decently on both Ps3 and Xbox360. Im unsure what the sales figures are for Wii-MH but theres no way I would buy a Wii just to play it and I adore MH.
colmshan1990
Maybe Nintendo are paying them big bucks to keep it on their platforms?
It’s not like Sony or Microsoft do so regularly… Oh wait. They do.
Crocadillian
The PS Vita has over the 3DS:
– 2 proper analog sticks
– Integrated Online
– Cross-game chat
– Capable hardware
– ‘Easy development’
If Capcom don’t release a MH game for the PS Vita, they are either getting a lot of money from Nintendo or have questionable judgement. It seems like quite an obvious choice to make rather than to fudge an extra joystick on a dying, unpopular console that’s had the most negative market response of the last 10 years short of the Gizmodo.
MayContainEvil
If I don’t get a Monster Hunter game on PS3 soon, I swear I will never buy a Capcom published game again.
*Excluding the Devil May Cry trilogy, nothing will keep me away from that.