About DRC changes
I wanted to do a big topic dedicated to a list of modifcations i've heard more than a month ago, applied to the DRC we saw at E3 2011, but the recent picture leak scooped me for 2 or 3 points.
There are still 2 or 3 infos not really heard before nor confirmed, that are important.
1 - According to my sources, the screen size is slightly bigger. Less than an inch. The resolution hasn't changed though. So there would be a slight decrease in the PPI.
-> Nintendo warned developers of this several weeks ago, it is not obvious on the picture leaked, which would reinforce either the smallness of this increase, or the event that it wasn't implemented. Anyway, it should be taken into account in the comparisons, gif, etc, made between the E3 2011 DRC and this one, as the screen is not the same, therefore the proportions are not identical. People should not resize the new padlet in regard to the previous one, by assuming the screens could be fully juxtaposed.
-> This size alteration could hint toward a screen type change, we should see at E3 and compare its characteristics, brightness, contrast, overall quality, etc..
I teased this in the thread 3 or 4 I think (1, 2, 3, 4, and others), and answered to someone relaying a rumor that the screen shrinked in size by stating it was strange, etc.
2 - This "new" screen is still not multi-touch apparently.
3 - The mysterious small square under the D-PAD, is not a vitality sensor, not even in a light version, not a touchpad, not a mini pulse sensor as on sports equipment, not a decorative thing, or whatever. This is the NFC sensor.
-> The demonstration of this feature in the Rayman leaked video isn't representative of how it will work, such a use could obviously have bad consequences for the screen if people would put figurines briskly on it.
-> This technology has an optimal range very limited (a few centimeters), placing the NFC chip in the middle of the controller, behind the screen, wouldn't have been good for several reasons (related to the display), and wouldn't be the most practical and efficient choice to recognize, to establish communication without any problems, with NFC tagged objects, and people would have put those very close to the screen with the risk to damage it.
-> Putting the sensor on one of the controller side, is a way to extend and clearly define the NFC range in this zone. When we lay it down on a table, our knees, etc, we can put more practically and safely in this virtual perimeter near the left DRC border NFC objects, some of which being heavy or with edges that could deteriorate the padlet.
-> It's possible, in order to properly recognize the location of the NFC, and to inform people of this feature, that there will be a sign, a sticker, on this square.
4 - The small button near the power remains mysterious for third-parties. It seems it isn't a touchpad, an additional game input, or other exotic feature. It may be related to the asymmetrical setting of the system. Basically, it could allow an instant switch between the TV and the DRC. Grain of salt for this.
5 - As I said, these changes are documented and third-parties are informed of those for months. It appears they just received the updated padlet. This could be due to logistics, manufacturing, delivery, etc., but it's certainly indicating Nintendo spent some time, until rather recently, to tweak and polish the DRC we'll see at E3.
It's a little less sexy than if I had added as planned the switch from slidepads to traditional sticks, buttons layout modification, and the controller shape slightly changed, it would have deserved its own thread in this case, before the picture being leaked
But it's still interesting, about the screen and especially the mysterious square under the D-Pad. You now know its function for sure.