gamecube
Latest
The hardware of Super Smash Bros. for Wii U (hands-on)
When Nintendo announced the re-release of years old game controllers from the Nintendo GameCube home console, it was more than a little surprising. What's Nintendo doing re-releasing gamepads from 2001 for its still new-ish game console? And more importantly, why? It's because of crazy people like me. In case it weren't already clear, I'm a longtime fan of Nintendo's Smash Bros. franchise -- a 2D fighting game featuring a massive cross-section of Nintendo's biggest gaming franchises. Mario fights Zelda, for instance; I wrote a piece breaking down how it works and why it's such a wonderful franchise right here. So, what do GameCube controllers have to do with any of this? Simple: The GameCube version of Smash Bros. (Melee) is considered by many fans, including myself, to be the series' best work to date. Beyond the game itself, the GameCube controller was heralded as a perfect fit for the series. And that's why Nintendo's re-releasing a gamepad from over 10 years ago, as well as an adapter: so the controllers will work with the upcoming Wii U version, dubbed "Super Smash Bros. for Wii U". Still weird, but a bit more logical now, eh? I spent a few hours this morning both using the re-issued controllers and seeing how the NFC-based Amiibo figurines work on the Wii U version of Smash Bros. Let's get crazy.
How Nintendo rolls in 8-player Super Smash Bros.
Moments before attendees grabbed the controllers at a Super Smash Bros. press event, held in a hotel in San Francisco on Thursday evening, Nintendo had a pristine setup (above) aimed at 8 connoisseurs of clash. The configuration - 1 Wii U, 8 wired special-edition GameCube controllers, a token Gamepad and two controller adapter hubs – illustrates just one of the many options you have to exceed the traditional fight between 4 players when the game comes to Wii U on November 21. Each of Nintendo's GameCube adapters supports 4 controllers – add in another adapter and you open the possibility of 8 active, wired players. The adapter itself plugs into 2 USB ports simultaneously, so you'll be taking up all 4 of the Wii U's ports (2 on the front and 2 on the back) if you try to mimic this setup. If you have external storage hooked up already, you can also lessen the load via a powered USB hub. The result, though, is a responsive Smash Bros. experience which serves the true challenge of 8-player mode: finding out where the hell you are in all that delirious chaos.
PSA: Wii U GameCube adapter only compatible with Super Smash Bros.
Following up on an erroneous product listing, Nintendo has confirmed that its GameCube controller adapter for the Wii U is only compatible with Super Smash Bros, and does not function with existing Wii and Virtual Console games. Reports issued yesterday indicated that the adapter would be compatible with a broad selection of Wii and Wii U games, allowing players to use GameCube controllers in titles featuring Classic Controller support. Nintendo disclosed its mistake in a statement to Eurogamer earlier today, emphasizing that the peripheral is exclusively designed for the upcoming Super Smash Bros. for Wii U. "The GameCube Controller Adapter for Wii U is compatible with Wii U and Super Smash Bros. for Wii U specifically - it is not compatible with any other Wii U software," a Nintendo UK spokesperson told Eurogamer. "The adapter is also not compatible with Wii and we apologise for any confusion." [Image: Nintendo]
Did You Know Gaming enters its Cubist period
Having already covered the GameBoy, the trivia maestros at Did You Know Gaming have set their sights on another Nintendo device, the GameCube, a console that apparently came this close to kickstarting Nintendo's fascination with motion controls years before the Wii hit retail shelves. [Image: Nintendo]
3DS mod adds smashing GameCube controller support
With the launch of the exceptional Super Smash Bros. for 3DS looming, some might still be miffed that the game won't support the Circle Pad Pro add-on. Though the game will make use of the new 3DS and 3DS XL's C-stick, some may want a separate controller entirely for optimized Smash Bros. usage. A new 3DS mod introduced late last week does just that, giving players the ability to play any 3DS game with a GameCube controller. The hardware hack is courtesy of dekuNukem, the same modder that delivered an automatic shiny Pokemon finder mod last year. According to the demonstration video seen after the break, those looking to dust off their GameCube controllers for the mod will spend roughly $12 for the parts needed, which include a handful of resistors, a circuit board and an LCD screen from a Nokia phone. The screen offers a visual aid so players can change button configurations from the controller itself. DekuNukem doesn't have a full detailed list of instructions for the mod yet, which results in an empty circuit board on the bottom side of your still-functional 3DS, but they are accepting a few send-in modification requests. [Image: dekuNukem, YouTube]
Sonic Adventure 2 cutscene recreation is no faker
YouTube animator Cameron Turner gives a brief but promising glimpse at what a Sonic Adventure 2 remake might look like in the fan-made scene recreation above, putting a new spin on a memorable clash between Sonic and Shadow. The recreation improves on the original scene in practically every way, adding more dynamic action and fixing its infamous overlapping dialogue. Honestly, the animation here is better than what the voice acting deserI'LL MAKE YOU EAT THOSE WORDS! [Video: Cameron Turner]
Joystiq Weekly: Battlefield Hardline, Watch Dogs review, Evil Within preview and more
Welcome to Joystiq Weekly, a "too long; didn't read" of each week's biggest stories, reviews and original content. Each category's top story is introduced with a reactionary gif, because moving pictures aren't just for The Daily Prophet. With Sony upping PlayStation Plus to six games per month, we're pretty confident that the service is trying to ruin our lives. We're not obligated to tackle every single title, of course, but in the cycle of starting downloads for games "just in case" we ever feel an inkling to play them, we're losing track of which games we should feel guilty about not finishing and which games we should feel guilty about paying $60 for and not finishing. If not for the bills, assignments and the omnipresence of life's ever-ticking clock, we'd plop down in front of our TVs for a few years and knock out every game we ever felt intrigued by. To hell with "everything in moderation" - moderation wouldn't clear out our shelves of "yeah, maybe one day" RPGs, nor would it help us get the timing for our go-to Street Fighter combos down to the exact frame. Moderation is just a feeble admission that we can't control time (yet), and it ignores our potential to play all the video games, which we'll definitely get to. Eventually. Some day. Unfortunately, getting through every game we've ever wanted to play is still just a fantasy for now. Unless you find a way to break the laws of life's constants - if you do, you should totally let us know. We can do co-op or something. Until we reach that dream state, you can get a glimpse of Battlefield Hardline, read reviews for Watch Dogs and Among The Sleep, and dig into a neat feature on Watch Dogs that explains how legalities ruin everything. It's all waiting for you after the break!
Nintendo resurrects its best controller for Super Smash Bros. on the Wii U
Not only is one of Nintendo's most loved games soon to arrive on the Wii U, but you'll also be able to play it using one of the game company's best controllers. An officially licensed adapter will let you plug in up to four GameCube controllers when playing the next-gen iteration of Super Smash Bros. As Joystiq points out, we don't know if there'll also be support for Nintendo's wireless Wavebird via the same piece of kit, or whether GameCube controllers will work with other Wii U titles. Neither do we have any pricing. What we do know is that the adapter will be shown off during a tournament at E3 on June 10th (check out the video below at 2:20). It''ll then presumably go on sale in time for the launch of Super Smash Bros. on the Wii U this winter -- and, from Nintendo's perspective, it surely can't come soon enough.
Nintendo reveals GameCube controller adapter for Smash Bros. Wii U
An officially licensed adapter will allow Super Smash Bros. Melee veterans to play the upcoming Wii U version of Super Smash Bros. with GameCube controllers, Nintendo announced today. The peripheral allows players to connect up to four GameCube controllers to the Wii U via a USB dongle. Nintendo has not announced whether WaveBird wireless controllers are supported, or if GameCube controller support is planned for other Wii U games. Smash Bros. brawlers have plenty of input options to choose from, including Nintendo's own Wii U Pro Controller, Wii Classic Controllers, and PDP's upcoming Wired Fight Pad. The Wii U version of Super Smash Bros. will launch this winter. [Image: Nintendo]
Enter the Super Smash Bros. melee with GameCube-inspired controllers
Do you want to take on the challengers of Super Smash Bros. for Wii U with a sense of fa-melee-iarity? Good news: third-party accessory manufacturer PDP is working with Nintendo to produce the Wired Fight Pad, a controller designed after the original, fan-favorite GameCube controller. The Wired Fight Pad will connect via a Wii Remote's bottom port, so you'll already need to own said Remote to use the Fight Pad. The good news is, that means it's also compatible with the Wii. The Wired Fight Pad will work with any of that system's games that support the Classic Controller or Classic Controller Pro. The Wired Fight Pad is set to release alongside Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, with an estimated price of $24.99. We've been told to expect Smash sometime this winter. [Image: Nintendo]
Capcom polishes Resident Evil 4 for HD Steam debut
After seven years, Resident Evil 4 is returning to the PC, only this time the hordes of maniacal backwoods villagers bearing down on you will be rendered in modern, high-definition graphics. This version of Resident Evil 4 is described by Capcom as the "Ultimate HD" iteration of the game. This means that it includes high-definition graphics running at 60 frames per second - a first for the game - as well as all of the additional content released for Resident Evil 4 in its many, many incarnations to date. Resident Evil 4 will support the full range of Steam features, from Achievements to Trading Cards to gamepad support. When Resident Evil 4 reaches Steam on February 28 it will feature a $20 price tag. According to Capcom, those who pre-order the HD re-release will receive a "60+ track digital music album" as well as an "80+ page digital archive (English language only) featuring Resident Evil 4 characters, creatures, story, concept art, and more." Full details can be found on the game's Steam page.
Wind Waker HD launch trailer depicts a bright, colorful world
The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD makes its retail debut on October 4, bringing with it improved graphics, a handful of gameplay alterations and enough bloom effects to choke a first-year photography major.
Why Mikami shifted Resident Evil from horror to action
There is a clear line of delineation within the Resident Evil series that splits the games into either the survival-horror camp of the originals, or the more action-focused affairs of Resident Evil 4 and beyond. Series creator Shinji Mikami says this switch in tone was fueled by the reception of the Resident Evil remake for the GameCube. "The Resident Evil remake is actually one of my favorites of the series too. But it didn't sell very well," creator Shinji Mikami tells IGN. "Maybe there weren't many people ready to accept that. Because of the reaction to the Resident Evil remake, I decided to work more action into Resident Evil 4. Resident Evil 4 would have been a more scary, horror-focused game if the remake had sold well." Resident Evil 4 has been displayed to the public in (at least) two distinct forms. There's the Resident Evil 4 we all know and love, but prototype video suggests an experience akin to the slow, hulking pace of the original games. "That all came out of the commercial failure of the Resident Evil remake. And then of course Resident Evil 4 sold really well," Mikami says. "I have kind of a lingering trauma there, because the Resident Evil remake didn't sell – much more than people would think."
'Project Unity' is 15 fully-functional consoles in one giant box
Constructed by evil genius/mad scientist/hardware hacker Bacteria, Project Unity is a single, unified gaming console that can play Sega Master System, Neo Geo MVS, GameCube, Dreamcast, Saturn, Intellivision, Colecovision, Atari 7800, Turbografx 16, PS1/PS2, Mega Drive, NES, Super NES, Game Boy Advance, Nintendo 64 and Amstrad GX4000 games.Project Unity's most impressive feature, besides the fact that it works, is that it was constructed entirely out of authentic hardware and does not make use of emulators or combo units like the FC Twin. It also manages to use a single power supply, video output and custom-built controller, regardless of the system selected.Jump to 09:30 in the video above for a demonstration of this behemoth in action, including the repurposed NES cartridges that contain different circuit boards for each controller type, or start from the beginning for some deliciously chaotic wiring shots.
Hailrazer stuffs a Nintendo 64 into a GameCube GameBoy Player (video)
Hailrazer is clearly a fan of the Nintendo 64 and GameCube, but his projects have kept the systems as separate beasts. Until now, that is. His latest mod puts a Nintendo 64 into a GameCube's GameBoy Player add-on, linking the audio, power and video to those of the more modern system. Gamers just have to plug in relevant controllers and flip a switch to play whichever console best triggers a nostalgia trip. About the only setback is the absence of space for a proper Nintendo 64 cartridge slot, which effectively mandates using a not-quite-above-board storage format instead. Given that the two-in-one console is strictly a personal labor of love, it's still quite the achievement -- and it guarantees that Hailrazer's inner circle won't have to travel far for a trip down memory lane. [Thanks, Jon]
Editorial: Why America's most popular gaming genre likely won't work on Nintendo's new console
When first-person shooters made the transition to consoles from PCs over a decade ago, they weren't very good. Or even just good. Despite being today's go-to genre for blockbuster console game franchises (Call of Duty or Halo ring any bells?), the first-person shooter got a rough start on consoles. Game developers -- used to the precision allowed by a mouse/keyboard setup -- had no idea how to design shooters with console gamers in mind. Early approximations like Nintendo 64's GoldenEye and Perfect Dark from Rare were held up as the gold standard for years, while PC gamers snickered and stuck with their superior control mechanics. Bungie's sci-fi shooter Halo: Combat Evolved heralded the launch of Microsoft's Xbox in 2001, and it marked the end of Nintendo's short-lived console FPS dominance. The first Halo game and its developer Bungie Studios are to thank for the modern console FPS -- a streamlined, slower version of its PC progenitor that stands on its own. In the decade since Halo: Combat Evolved launched, Bungie and many, many other game development studios have honed and perfected FPS gameplay on consoles, to the point where it's the leading sales genre in the US (for the past five years, with the exception of 2008, according to NPD). Nintendo, however, has taken a back seat in this genre -- starting with the GameCube and even more so with the Wii, Nintendo eschewed first-person shooters for the better part of the last decade. Beyond the company itself not publishing or developing within the genre (the lone exception being its Metroid series), third-parties mostly offered watered down ports for the last two Nintendo consoles.
Father flips Link's gender to make his daughter the heroine
Maya has really been enjoying The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker. Her father, developer Mike Hoye, says she likes "sailing, scary birds and remembering to be brave," much like Link, the game's protagonist. But girls can go on adventures and rescue their little brothers, too!To emphasize that, Hoyes altered the game's disk image with a hex editor, changing all of the dialogue references about Link's gender to be feminine. Since all the alternatives had to be exactly the same byte-for-byte length, he used "swordmain" for "swordsman," and "milady" in place of "my lad" and "master." He's provided a patch for the disk image, which you can then load up in a GameCube emulator to play.The end result of all this hacking is that a little girl gets to see herself as the hero, and find the courage to defeat Ganon in her own little heart. And that makes us feel, just, you know, so ... What? No, we're not crying! Call of Duty, bro! Go have a look at the Wii U pictures again.
Project Unity stuffs 20 classic consoles into one: if you can't play it, it's probably too new (video)
Most gamer who want to play with more than one or two vintage console platforms often turn to software-based emulators that may or may not be above-board. How about stuffing all of the authentic hardware into one controller and one base unit? Modders at Bacteria's forums have developed Project Unity, an attempt to natively address 20 consoles across 17 actual platforms folded into a single device. The gamepad, arguably the centerpiece, includes two each of analog sticks and directional pads, along with multiple shoulder buttons and a central button grid that can either be used to steer an Intellivision or fill in for otherwise missing controls. Stuffing the unique controller hardware into one gamepad obviously presents problems with board sizes and the laws of physics, so much of the relevant circuitry sits in modified NES cartridges. Our only dismays are the lack of original Xbox support and the slightly imposing challenge of aggregating and modifying that much classic gaming componentry in one place -- if you're more concerned about convenience in your retro gaming than preserving the original feel of that Sega Master System or SNK NeoGeo, though, you've just found Utopia.
Alien Hominid has been played 20 million times on Newgrounds
Before there was, uh, that other game called Alien Hominid (and Castle Crashers), there was the original Alien Hominid, a free browser run-and-gun game that debuted on Newgrounds. And that original game has now surpassed 20 million play sessions, The Behemoth has announced.The brain child of Tom Fulp and Dan Paladin, Alien Hominid was built in Flash and released on Newgrounds way back in 2002. It would eventually be ported to the GameCube and PS2 in 2004 (and Europe would see Xbox and GameBoy Advance ports), then to Xbox Live Arcade in 2007. Currently, The Behemoth is working on Battleblock Theater.
GameStop ending GameCube trade-ins on April 2
Though it's already long past the time you would have gotten any decent store credit for trading in a GameCube or games, the deal's about to get a lot worse. Starting April 2, GameStop will stop taking trade-ins of GameCube hardware, software, or accessories.It's going to be a bit sad to see the giant stack of Donkey Konga bongo controllers in our local store dwindle without any way for the supply to renew itself. That said, if you want a cheap Donkey Konga controller, now's the time to go secure one.
