SNES Wii controller coming to Japan in April

Like some of our editors here at Engadget, we know you long for the carefree, multi-hued days of the Super Nintendo and all its Mode 7 glory. Well, if you live in Japan, are a member of Club Nintendo (wherein you earn points for purchases of the company's games and accessories), and have the patience to wait until April, you could be the proud owner of the Wii SNES (Super Famicom, rather) controller. The gamepad won't be commercially available, nor will it be offered stateside (as far as we know), so now is the time to firm up your relationships with Japanese friends, or start saving pennies for your forthcoming eBay bidding war. Either way, the chance to relive your youth is just around the corner.

[Thanks, J]

[RD @ Nov 16th 2007 11:08AM]

Jeez. This makes me question my unerring loyalty to Nintendo. Why do they do stuff like this? Don't they know how much money they could make by releasing genuine replica controllers for each system? I'd buy each. Yes, I'm that loyal/stupid.

Reading stuff like this just makes me upset. They have a right to release limited edition products, but they treat America like stepchildren.

[Anthony @ Nov 16th 2007 11:32AM]

I can see the boardroom discussion now (please know this has been translated into English):

Person 1 - So we have this great idea: We're going to make controllers for our new console that allow users to play older games that they've bought or downloaded.

Person 2 - That's great. Now how much will we charge.

Person 1 - That's the best part: We won't. You see, we'll make it really exclusive so that only a handful of people can get them.

Person 2 - Yes! That way we won't increase console or game sales at all. Brilliant.

Person 1 - Yes. In fact, now that I think about it we could only make 1 controller & then publicly run over it with our super modded 1984 mini-van.

Person 2 - Dude. That rocks. Seriously.

[John @ Nov 16th 2007 11:14AM]

I really hate regional or special edition things. And this is both. it's like albums that come out with bonus tracks, but only for certain places. For half of the damn albums I buy, there are at least two versions - a US version, and then a UK or Japanese version that only differs in that it has bonus tracks. Sometimes, it's the US version with the bonus tracks. But you can at least download those, even if it makes organizing everything a complete hell. But here, you have something only available to members of the japanese nintendo club. Thanks for rewarding your customers, Nintendo.

[SteveJ @ Nov 16th 2007 11:20AM]

Why settle for wired? Mod a real SNES controller to be wireless and Wii/GC compatible: http://www.ppl-pilot.com/snes_asm.htm

[J. Evans Turner @ Nov 16th 2007 5:23PM]

I glanced over the guide several times and saw no information about a receiver, nor whether the flashed controller is Bluetooth compatible (doubtful, there is no home/synch function anyway). How, exactly, does it interface with the Wii?

[victor @ Nov 16th 2007 11:30AM]

I just wish they would do club nintendo here in the states. I register every frickin thing i buy from Ninty and don't get anything special.

[Dave @ Nov 16th 2007 11:32AM]

You can already do this with a standard SNES controller and a RetroUSB adapter, it plugs right into the GameCube port:

http://www.retrousb.com/index.php?categoryID=80

They have NES and SNES adapters available. Controllers are only a few bucks on ebay, and you can get "new" knockoffs if you don't want used.

[GumbyX84 @ Nov 16th 2007 11:52AM]

The only difference between those adapters and this special edition one is that (I think) the special edition one plugs into the wiimote. I am not totally sure about this. If it plugs into the GC ports on the wii, there is no difference except you get the special edition one for "free", if you buy enough Nintendo products.

Personally, I am ok with my Classic Controller, but if this could be used with the wiimote, I would probably get it.

[rawd @ Nov 16th 2007 11:47AM]

"hey guys, i know what we can do with all this old SNES overstock"

[Yoshi Likes Boys @ Nov 16th 2007 12:14PM]

Actually, if these plug into the Wiimote, then they're re-engineered and not old stock, since the old pads were not designed with power conservation in mind, which is why no wiimote/NES pad adapter was ever developed.

[JPN @ Nov 16th 2007 11:49AM]

Once again, Club Nintendo in Japan does something awesome. Personally, I'm annoyed I can't get one, but I think it's really cool they offer something like that to hardcore fans. I think they have a refreshing point of view toward their fans. And hey, you can't win em all, it would be special if it were widely available...too bad we're getting screwed...but every culture/country/etc. gets exclusive things that other's don't.

That does make me feel all warm and fuzzy inside, even just looking at it...

[Dale @ Nov 16th 2007 12:49PM]

The Japanese offers are fantastic, but us westerners aren't totally hard done by. When I lived in the UK, I got a Game Boy Player, the Zelda Collector's Edition and Pokémon Box: Ruby & Sapphire from the UK equivalent of Club Nintendo; and since I came to the US, I've gotten a Wiimote keyring, a special LoZ: The Phantom Hourglass feather stylus, and my wife has a set of multi-coloured stylii on the way.

Still... the controllers Club Nintendo gets are awesome, especially the Mario-branded GC controller a couple of years ago.

[NG @ Nov 16th 2007 12:01PM]

i think i will still buy that... i really miss the old time

[rv @ Nov 16th 2007 12:22PM]

Man I would probably buy the wii if they made an n64 controller.

[o29 @ Nov 16th 2007 12:38PM]

I'll always have a special place in my heart for that controller and for the blisters that subsequently resulted from playing too much Mario Party on it.

[Mo @ Nov 16th 2007 1:04PM]

I totally agree. The location of the Z button on the classic controller sucks. If they made an N64 controller that hooked up to the Wii remote, I'd be all over it. I'd probably even buy 4 of them, just in case.

[rv @ Nov 16th 2007 6:35PM]

Oh man. Everyone asked me why I had bandaids on the palms of my hands. I hated those games.

[Jeff @ Nov 16th 2007 1:01PM]

Nintendo should release a Wii controller that is exactly like the NES one. The blisters and arthritis are all part of the experience!

[Garst @ Nov 16th 2007 2:21PM]

I love my Wii, but this is a completely pointless seems how they already have the classic controler.

[Chase Schrader @ Nov 17th 2007 1:46AM]

i need a n64 controller, i hate the c stick being under the a and b buttons, n z button where it should be, and it would be cool if a memory pack/pokemon gb thing could go in it.

[J. Evans Turner @ Nov 16th 2007 5:24PM]

My big question is:
Does it plug into a Wii remote like a Wii Classic Controller, or does it plug into a GC connector on the Wii?

[BigD @ Nov 16th 2007 11:12PM]

Sounds like a job for benheck!!!!!!!!!!

He could make an even more limited edition one on this side of the water.

[AndrewNeo @ Nov 17th 2007 2:49AM]

I can understand if their intent is for the retro look, but otherwise, why? The classic controller is laid out almost identically.