Admit it. You've got an old
GameCube from yesteryear laying around, and the slow economy (
and fear for your life) is holding you back from running to your nearest brick-and-mortar to pick up a Classic Controller for your Wii. You
know you want to play
Super Mario 64 to work off that turkey, but you can't justify laying out the cash. Fret not; YouTube user marcan42 has you covered, courtesy of a PIC18F4520 microcontroller and makeshift GameCube connector, along with a chopped off Nunchuk extension cord. Of course, you could just pick up a
different model, but that would be way too easy. We didn't say it was pretty, but if you're still intrigued, check the full vid after the break.
Update: As a bunch of commenters have pointed out, this can be done already by plugging the GameCube controller directly into the Wii. However, this mod lets you do it wirelessly -- err, if you don't count the big microcontroller and mess of wires.
posted November 29th 2008 12:09PM
Absolutely. Keep it up.
I love how he takes an extra second to move the mouse on his "Gentoo Linux" box just to show the world ' look at me I use linux '
Shameless linux plug...signs of a newb.
He's actually closing or minimizing an application. Could be any number of reasons for it. On the other hand, I can't think of any reason you'd want to show anyone that you use Linux ;)
I was switching to an empty desktop to avoid distraction (I forgot to do that before starting to record the video, and I had audacity recording tha audio). I didn't want people to think that the computer was somehow related to any of this - it just happens to be sitting next to the Wii.
The big deal with this mod isn't that it lets you play wirelessly using a Gamecube controller (something you could already do with a wavebird), but that you can operate the wii menu. That's a feature I have always wished they would add in an update. It's annoying to have the use the wiimote to select your game when you're just going to use the cube one anyways and I detest that batteries are REQUIRED to navigate the menu.
I respect the man's skill, I think he did an excellent job of hacking the crap out of this thing...what's a good hack without a few messy wires?). Even if it's redundant, it's still pretty cool.
Worthless post, most are aware there is no need for this mod, they plug right in anyway, and I understand the "extra's" he did, so dont correct me there. These new engadget writers are horrible.
Are you this much fun in person, too?
Having trouble believing this setup is cheaper than a $20 Mad Catz from Target.
Great job Marcan on figuring out the protocol. I look forward to you releasing your findings or at least selling a product. I'm sure a wiimote to snes/genesis/n64 adapter would certainly have a market. Especially the n64 one. Perhaps you should have shown this with one of those controllers to avoid the criticism from the retards that don't realize what you've accomplished.
BTW, does the classic controller talk i2c, or is it something else?
Man you guys like to gripe the way i see it the dude did something pretty cool that wouldnt be able to do yourself so yout trying to riddle his accomplishment with holes. And somebody siad he needs to do something productive with HIS life that comment should be pointed at the one who siad it.
wii menu thing is winsey, using it over a wavebird in games is not.
you guys dont really see the significance of this
the only game i play on my wii is SSBB
what this means is that, you I wouldnt have to
Set up the sensor bar
Look for the wiimote
Struggle with the on screen pointer
Start Brawl
Make sure the wiimote still isnt on while im playing brawl
i could simply put the disc in and start the game with the gamecube controller without even touching the wiimote or setting up the sensor bar
this is a very good idea, i just hope a smaller version can be made and id definitely buy one
Nice work around.
Hope that Nintendo will not push an update to close it.
Sometimes it's really hard to understand why some companies would force the user to have multiple controllers when the one connected to it should give you the ability to use it's interface.
Is it possible to build on top of the Wavebird module that plugs into your console?
Why would you do this? as the update says, you can just plug it into the wii, or of you want wireless, just get a wavebird controller
Ah Marcan, great to see your still working on stuff like this. Went to the academy with ya and remember ya working on the first Wii and computer connectivity. Good Luck with this mate.
I wonder if this guy could HACK the Wii so that it doesn't suck.
Not setting up the sensor bar, looking for a Wiimote and then starting up a game would be reason enough for me to do something like this. Nice work!
Ok, i haven't got Mario Kart for the Wii, but isn't the point the fact that he's using a GC controller in a Wii game?