Nintendo re-launching GameCube controller... in Japan

Wouldn't you know it? No, really -- didn't you completely understand that Nintendo wouldn't be releasing something as magnificent as a stark white GameCube controller in the States? Okay, so maybe NoA hasn't made that official, but we're betting the unit you see there on the right will be a (highly coveted) Japanese exclusive. Apparently the Big N is re-issuing a Wii-white GameCube controller in its homeland this month with an extended (3-meter) cord, and while we can't glean any pricing information from the crumb of information out there right now, go ahead and start stacking those pennies for use on your favorite importer.

[Via Joystiq]

Update: Apparently it'll cost around $20. Thanks, Chebwa!

[mikejhitchcock @ Apr 9th 2008 5:16PM]

So Nintendo is trying to sell us wired GC controllers, wouldn't it make more sense to add a little B.T. Action to these babies?

[James @ Apr 9th 2008 5:20PM]

Bit Torrent?

Oh, right BlueTooth.

Sorry, my mind is plagued.

[Greg @ Apr 9th 2008 5:44PM]

I was thinking the same thing. A Wii Controller, based off of the GameCube controller (one of my favorites). They could even add an IR Receiver, and Motion Sensors, so you could use it in place of a Wiimote.

[tiuk @ Apr 9th 2008 7:20PM]

Yeah, I don't get the point of this. If it's wired anyway, people might as well just buy old GameCube controllers.

[Gendreavus @ Apr 9th 2008 7:37PM]

The point is that the cord is 3 meters longer. If it were wireless it would be a wavebird and not have rumble. If it had the motion detecting in it it would be a Sixaxis and suck (also, then it would be a Wii controller with tons of buttons, not Gamecube). I always play Brawl with a GCN controller, but I'm sick of having to choose between rumble and moving my Wii off of my TV onto the floor where the cord can reach. This will help tremendously.

[YoYoYo @ Apr 10th 2008 8:22AM]

Ahem. Extension chords, anyone? Hell of a lot cheaper than new controllers.

[JARSInc @ Apr 11th 2008 4:21AM]

Wireless and rumble should be able to fit into a normal sized gcn controller (not a wavebird) if it can fit into he wiimote...

[I LOVE THE CAPS LOCK KEY @ Jun 15th 2008 1:31AM]

The answer you are looking for is called the Nintendo Wavebird.

[LordZargon @ Apr 9th 2008 5:16PM]

Now, don't get me wrong, I love Nintendo, but the layout of the N64 and Gamecube controllers never clicked with me. It was like someone ate the buttons and sneezed them out onto the controller and they went with that!

That said, I guess if you like them (as some of my friends do) its a cool and good thing.

I guess wireless would've been nice :P.

[Sora267 @ Apr 9th 2008 5:45PM]

I hope you mean vomited, as most people don't really splatter their eaten food all over something when they sneeze.

In all seriousness, though, the button schemes on ALL last-gen controllers was whack. But I found the GC's shape to be more comfortable (I own both a Wii with GC controllers and a PS2, and I've played a lot of Xbox).

[Andrew @ Apr 9th 2008 6:01PM]

You didn't like the N64 controller?

I loved it, I thought everybody did.

That trigger Z button was genius at the time and made Goldeneye sessions awesome!

[bo sneb @ Apr 9th 2008 9:29PM]

i wasn't a fan of the gamecube controller. i don't like how the face buttons are all different sizes, with an obvious bias to the A button. it's as if all games for the system would be designed so the A button is the most used (which may be the case, i dunno). guess it wasn't an issue to most of y'all, but i prefer my buttons to be evenly layed out and the same size. kinda like the 360 controller or dualshock. actually exactly like that.

[Trey Sweeney @ Apr 9th 2008 11:27PM]

i like the GC controllers, except for the fact that you can't play shooters as well. if they had 2 analog sticks, games would be so much more fun to play

[Blue Sunshine @ Apr 9th 2008 5:16PM]

So they're re-launching a Gamecube controller.... that's wired... I feel like I'm in a time machine.

http://www.miscgarbage.com

[Lowest Ranked @ Apr 9th 2008 5:21PM]

I have a time machine in my closet.

It looks like a brown box, and it goes at only one speed and into the future.

I get in it for two hours, and when I come out, I'm two hours into the future from when I got in!

[Kido1986 @ Apr 10th 2008 12:39AM]

My time machine comes in bottles about 1.75 liters at a time, and has some crazy looking Russian writing on it.

[JaggedToaster @ Apr 9th 2008 5:17PM]

Going off of a picture I saw on another website, this will cost 2000 whatever-currency-Japan-uses. Anyone want to convert that to US dollars? I'm way too lazy.

[makishima @ Apr 9th 2008 5:19PM]

About $20

[DeoWulf @ Apr 9th 2008 5:18PM]

I'm assuming this is for Smash players who like the gamecube pad? But, most of us already have wavebirds anyway.

[BrettB @ Apr 9th 2008 5:26PM]

I just recently bought new gamecube controllers at Gamestop so I'm surprised there is a re-launch going on in Japan. I never new they stopped being available. Actually, I really wish they're re-release the Wavebird here. I would like to get a couple but they are a bit expensive on ebay(when you can find them).

[Chebwa @ Apr 9th 2008 5:18PM]

Apparently it'll be roughly $20.

http://www.nintendo.co.jp/wii/controllers/img/gc_photo.jpg

[Chebwa @ Apr 9th 2008 5:19PM]

Whoops! Separate image. Looked like one big one.

http://www.nintendo.co.jp/wii/controllers/img/gc_data.gif

[bartoron @ Apr 9th 2008 5:18PM]

It's obviously because pretty much everyone was has a Wii has Super Smash Bros. Brawl, and no one in their right mind would use a Wii remote to play Brawl.

[Blah @ Apr 9th 2008 6:34PM]

Actually, using the wiimote and nunchuck to play is no different from the gc controller, to me at least.

[Matt @ Apr 9th 2008 10:53PM]

It's a different feel, but after playing a couple matches its fine.

[kidvalor @ Apr 9th 2008 5:20PM]

this probably ties in with super smash... me and all my friends use the gamecube controllers (anything other controller sucks)... and the controllers really aren't long enought and those controllers would match a wii very nicely

[David @ Apr 9th 2008 9:17PM]

I actually like the classic controller for brawl. I haven't heard anyone else say they use it, but I like the sticks better and also the position of the z button works better for me...

[makishima @ Apr 9th 2008 5:21PM]

Good god just re-release the wavebird please. Maybe a wavebird 2 with a rechargeable battery inside that I can plug into one of the USB ports on my Wii? Please? No? .....damnit

[giantenemycrab @ Apr 9th 2008 5:25PM]

Two words: Play Asia.

[triforceOFcourage @ Apr 9th 2008 5:25PM]

Ah, crap. Why is it that they continue to release the cool stuff in Japan and neglect us in the States? Don't they know that we will eat up any piece of junk accessory you toss our way? Hmm...Here's to hoping we get an exclusive white WaveBird, eh?

[Quix @ Apr 9th 2008 5:26PM]

Note to Nintendo: BRING BACK THE WAVEBIRD! Best traditional controller ever. Period.

Sure, I loves me some Wiimote and Nunchuck, but for classic control-style games (i.e. Brawl), the Wavebird reigns supreme.

Wish I had bought one more while they were still on store shelves.

[vdogg89 @ Apr 9th 2008 5:30PM]

http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dll?from=R40&_trksid=m37&satitle=wavebird&category0=

[triforceOFcourage @ Apr 9th 2008 5:45PM]

Lawl, do you notice how expensive those are? $50 new? C'mon...

[Ypoknons @ Apr 9th 2008 6:12PM]

At least bring back the Wavebirds for Smash.

[prateeko @ Apr 9th 2008 6:16PM]

Why they still sell regular controllers but not wavebirds is beyond me, esp since it's clear people like a controller that's a little more traditional for games that have long been played by traditional means...

Oh, and finding 2 near-new wavebirds @ GS ro $18 each FTW!

[Jody @ Apr 9th 2008 5:29PM]

WHy not just get the Mad Catz wireless controller? I've got 2 of them and they work perfectly for SSB. They are like $15 at amazon

[PeterF @ Apr 9th 2008 11:13PM]

Third-party controllers are CRAP

[Luigi193 @ Apr 9th 2008 5:30PM]

I'd rather have a 9 ft GC controller, then a wave bird because of batteries... hope it comes here, my GC controllers are beginning to get crappy...

[Maestro @ Apr 9th 2008 6:27PM]

I've had a wavebird for years and battery life has never been an issue. Now my 3 yr old plays around with those controllers and leaves them on all the time. Still not an issue.

[ron charette @ Apr 9th 2008 5:34PM]

And here I was thinking that Smeesh Bros. was never going to be the same again...

[Jay @ Apr 9th 2008 5:55PM]

oh neat, a new controller to make a bong out of!

[d840 @ Apr 9th 2008 7:39PM]

that was supposed to be a response to a different comment. and while I'm here, what kind of stoner reads a tech blog? Stereotypical I know, but a rare occurance none-the-less.

[d840 @ Apr 9th 2008 7:44PM]

WTF! Look at the timestamps on these! My older post shows after my newer post explaining that it was a mis-post, as well as after this post, pointing out the discrepancy.

[d840 @ Apr 9th 2008 7:06PM]

No, the n-64 controller was crap. Always felt awkward to use for me.

[nxtiak @ Apr 9th 2008 6:01PM]

Nintendo needs to re-launch the Wave Bird controller here in the USA.
All these Madcatz and knockoffs SUCK.
It's ridiculous how Wavebirds cost from $50-$100 for brand new Wave Birds!!!!!

[nxtiak @ Apr 9th 2008 6:20PM]

"It's ridiculous how Wavebirds cost from $50-$100 for brand new Wave Birds!!!!!"
I meant on eBay.

[Morgan @ Apr 9th 2008 6:57PM]

I bought two japanese wavebird controllers a few months ago from a company called SoftUK.com. They work fine and they seem to still have some in stock so if you are in the UK you might want to have a look. There order system is a bit strange though so make sure you read carefully as it asks for lots of things seperately (like house number and street name).

Direct link to wavebird controller http://www.softuk.com/Nintendo_Gamecube_Product_View.asp?ProdID=GC0002

Disclaimer: I am a customer only but was very impressed with the quality of service and general friendliness from whoever runs the company :)

[BatteryAcid @ Apr 9th 2008 7:05PM]

That would be great, i loved the Game Cube controllers. They should really think about re-releasing the Wave Birds also. I thought id mention that upon hitting the link on the picture on the page on the read link it brings you to a comparison page of all controller options. This page shows the controller in PURPLE similar to the original game cube controller. So maybe there just showing a photoshop of the Game Cube controller to match the Wii. Here is the link to the controller comparison page: http://www.nintendo.co.jp/wii/controllers/table.html

[Adam @ Apr 9th 2008 7:47PM]

What ever happened to this? Was this just a photoshop job?

http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/ciu/e0/ad/5ba5224128a0c7dddf077010.L.jpg

[thetinguy @ Apr 9th 2008 9:36PM]

Lol, yes someone took a wavebird and 'shopped the wiimote into it.