We're strong advocates for the New Nintendo 3DS here at Nintendo Life, but not all of its enhancements and extras are universally loved. The C-Stick, for one, certainly has its critics - this writer likes it, but its occasional resistance to moving down can be one issue. Some simply don't like it, probably because it reminds them of an old HP laptop from over a decade ago - we still reckon Nintendo ordered a batch of old discarded laptop mouse nubs. Ok, maybe not...
In any case, some take matters into their own hands, and one owner has applied a very simple mod to replace the C-Stick with a PSP stick. That's arguably a slightly weird choice as the PSP equivalent had its own critics, but in practical terms it can be a relatively simple swap, as you can see below.
Well, it sure works - let us know what you think of this mod in the comments.
[source tinycartridge.com, via reddit.com]
Comments (54)
For why?
He'd have been better off replacing it with another circle pad nub, TBH.
Haven't had any need to use c stick yet. What games use it or require it
I'm so doing this! I hate that nub! It feels weird.
The PSP stick wasn't even that good.
Not a bad idea actually! Anything is better than using that awful nub on the n3DS
Anything is better then the current one for comfort.
That New 3ds nub is a dreadful design choice.... More than enough real estate to fit another circle pad. Had a chance to give the public what they were asking for and blew it ..... again. Baffling!
@sandman89 Xenoblade 3D really the only one. Hyrule Warriors legends only really runs on a new 3ds. I too, see no need to upgrade.
@sandman89 Every non topdown 3D game ever. The N3DS C-Stick is just completely horrid.
@sandman89 Codename Steam, Majoras Mask, Monster Hunter 3/4 U, and xenoblade just to name a few. Any game that could use the circle pad pro. Just a few older games here as well, Resident Evil Revelations and Metal Gear Solid 3.
@sandman89 Helps a lot on Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate.
The nub feels like a nipple on a cold day. Not good, but that's the best Nintendo can do with limited space on the 3DS.
Xenoblade Chronicle 3d is the only game that REQUIRES the nub. Other games that support it don't really work that well. Resident Evil for example, just feels weird with the nub.
Hopefully the next portable (50% of the NX or not) has a proper right stick. The nub "functions"... but it doesn't always "work".
Yeah, I feel like I'm in the minority who hasn't had a problem with the c-stick. I can see why people have problems, but I haven't had any issues so far, so...
I guess this is nice for anyone who wants to change the stick?
Pretty interesting. I have like 7 psps that I keep for spare parts. Mwhahahaha.
I'd love to do this. The PSP's stick isn't great, but I can't STAND the little nub that they call a C stick.
After ruining the nub on 300 hours of MH4U, my c-stick wouldn't register down or left. I've done this replacement, and it works admirably well.
I did this mod myself after seeing it on Reddit and it works better than you'd think. The main thing with it is giving you something larger and more solid to work with. There were times where I felt like the rubber nub was squishing into the 3DS while playing Monster Hunter. I've tested it out with the few games that make use of it and it certainly does seem to make a difference.
@Dr_Awkward Really? it broke at only 300 hours? Mine is still working perfectly at 480 hours.
I'm not doing this to my "New" 3DS but I will admit that the nub could be better. I too have the problem of pulling down on the nub. Usually it works again by resetting the camera in-game.
Now if my nub completely fails....then I will give this a try.
The PSP Analogue is just horrible. So this idea is just really silly.
You guys must have sausage fingers of a brute to complain about the current 3DS c-stick... daaamn.
@DiscoGentleman you win!
Wow, I can't believe that worked. He seemed completely clueless as to what he was doing in that video, just kind of like, "Yep, I ripped the C-stick out, now I just have to pop this PSP stick in there!" I can't believe it actually was that simple.
I think the main problem I have with the C-stick is, it's not actually like a laptop nub. Those things are actually really nice and smooth, and you really feel like you have good control over how the mouse moves. The C-stick, on the other hand, when say, using it to move the cursor in Smash, can only move in a few directions and it just feels really imprecise..
I don't have an issue with the c stick.
But I do with the A B X Y buttons. They are very clicky on the New 3 DS xl.
Some people are sensitive to certain noise like, click click click click click click click click.
I play the 3ds with ear buds so others in the room can listen to the tv, but they also have to put up with the constant clicking.
Mobile phone manufacturers manager to suppress the sound of the physical keypad years ago and some of Nintendo's previous DS's had less clicky buttons.
Let's hope the next 3ds and the NX don't suffer this. It's not rocket science to have a quiet button press its just good design.
...A waste of time, but whatever.
I prefer the CPP over the C-stick by a wide margin. That nub is the main reason why I didn't convert to a "new" 3DS.
I know people who tried this are saying it's a great improvement, but....the hard, rough texture of the PSP stick coupled with the fact that it's still not a moving stick in the video makes it look like it could get painful or mildly irritating to use this for long periods of time.
Cool but unnecessary. The C-Stick wasn't that very useful anyways.
I pasted a piece of textured rubber on mine months ago, and now I'm 360 no-scoping targets in RE:R lol.
I understand why Nintendo didn't go with a full circle pad, it just wouldn't work on the New 3DS, and a pointer stick is a good enough replacement. But what I don't understand is why they just slapped a small, cheap piece of plastic that doesn't protect the internals from sweat and has no grip to it like even laptop nubs.
@BinaryFragger
Let's not go praising Sony for their awkward wobbly tooth picks either. I've played the Vita extensively and, while brilliant in concept, it's still one of my least favourite features in execution.
All I know is I've played a lot of MH4U, and in those heated battles, a LOT of c stick gets used and my hands get very oily and sweaty because of it. As a result, the c stick loses it's friction on your finger, making it hard to move around, especially in the downward directly. My only recourses have been to use my thumbnail or keeping having to wipe off the nub as much as I possibly can to regain friction. For low action games that don't require high octane camera usage, the nub is relatively fine, but would it have killed Nintendo to either make it a mini-slide pad, give it an indented grip, or ease up on how stiff it is? I may as well get a circle pad pro at this point, which I never wanted lol!
anyone who has played MH4U knows how valuable and necessary the C-Stick is. rawr~
@BinaryFragger nah, it's an improvement. Your taking a nub and replacing it with something more useful. Don't diss until you try....Not everything Nintendo does is better than available on other devices. Nintendo are notorious for penny pinching.
You may not realise this but even my phone nearly nearly two year old Xperia Z1 is WAY more powerful than my 3DS for example and has a 1080p screen. The 3DS has a 240p screen. It's good to know a few facts.
Just a PS douche's way of saying: I put up with Nintendo and think I can "solve their problems" by putting in a "superior" c-stick.
N3DS original is much better. No need to change it.
The amount of people dissing this without even understanding what the mod is doing is sickening. The New 3DS' nub is ridiculously tiny. It's not very easy to get a good grip on, especially if your fingers are bigger. This mod isn't replacing the laptop-pointer-esque mechanism with the terrible, mushy analogue stick from the PSP. It's taking the little rubber nub off of the New 3DS and replacing it with another, much larger cap.
I fail to see how this could possibly be any worse.
@fluggy then you design a new 3ds and tell me how a full 2nd nub would work, your forgetting about the tech inside.
Huh...I just jab my thumbnail into the nub and use it that way, no sweat(litterally). I couldn't tell from the video but does his 3DS close all the way now? I wouldn't want my screen pressing against that PSP nub when the unit is in my pocket.
So they replaced a terrible stick with a good one, yay?
@evosteevo
According to the original Reddit poster who did this, yes; it closes all the way with no screen scratching whatsoever.
The PSP stick works pretty great, so there's no need to badmouth the little thing.
Its placement on the PSP Go, however, was a dumb move on Sony's part.
I think C-Stick must be improved in next console, although it looks good
@Uberchu
Not forgetting about any technical side... The 2nd stick electronics are already in the New 3DS. Mechanism is there ... all you do is replace the nub with a slider!!!
I just did this, and it feels SO much better... The original C-nub isn't just unresponsive, the way it juts out really hurts my thumb. The PSP stick (well, I guess pad now) actually feels like it's meant to be used.
While I'm not against modding in general (it can be awesome fun), I do think this is kind of pointless.
Why change a C-Stick with something else practically the same? (or worse?)
All you've done is make your 3DS unsellable. (Not that I'd ever sell any of my 3DS).... But he mutilated it! People don't really care for their consoles like I do though and I respect people's right to do this.
I am interested in these C-Stick mods, though. I want to see someone skilled enough to actually place a second Circle Pad in there, somehow. That's when I'll be impressed.
This mod looks terrible. I cringed as he pried the little piece of rubber off. A better idea would have been to use or fabricate a slider to go on top of the nub.
But the nub doesn't work like a slider. The slider moves around with little force. The nub is actually a force sensor, detecting pressure applied to it. A lot of force moves it a tiny distance so a slider still won't feel right.
I'd just leave well enough alone.
Obviously, I'm in the minority, but I love the c-stick. It takes a bit of getting used to, but it's fantastic in Monster Hunter 4 (I even use bow) and it's great in Xenoblade.
Maybe it's just that most people think it's like a regular analog stick while it's totally different and responds very differently.
@bezerker99 Amen!
@liveswired it's good to know that the new 3ds costs 170 and has 10 physical buttons + 2 analog sticks (1.5 to be precise + dpad and some other physical parts. it all drives production cost up. so comparing 3ds or any handheld device to a smartphone is not really a fair comparison. you'll say "b-b-but the vita has far better specs and still under 200". yeah, thats probably why its dead already. we have to remember - to stay above water those companys have to actually earn money and it is difficult to compete when every casual is playing 2$ "games" on his/her iphone. I for one want to have a full blown gaming experience in my pocket and apploud Nintendo for keeping alive.
The C-stick has been fine for me with a more slow-paced game like Monster Hunter or even Majora's Mask to a certain degree, but trying to play Snake Eater 3D with it was hell.
Wear and tear will make this a solid backup plan!
@sandman89 Games like Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate.
@zool I really like the tactile sound and feel to these buttons. They Feel much more superior to me than previous generations.
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