classic-controller
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Super Famicom Classic Controller available at Play Asia [update]
Update: Wow, that was fast. The controller is sold out. Uh, people must have way more money than we do. Send us one, plz?If you're looking for more of an authentic experience when playing those Virtual Console games, then know that Play Asia is now allowing folks to order the Super Famicom Classic Controller. Of course, if you want that authentic experience, you're going to have to pay for it. The controller is going for a whopping $70 at the site. Frankly, we'd advise tracking down a SNES controller and doing one of those wireless hacks to the thing. It's got to cost a lot less than seventy freakin' dollars.%Gallery-20586%[Thanks, MoFro!]
Hori's Wii Classic Controller: if you're really into autofire
Fans of the old-timey GameCube will rest easier tonight knowing that Hori is now manufacturing its variation of the classic controller, creatively named the "Classic Controller." We've seen other gamepads in this style, but not many that get it as close to the original design as this -- plus it has those insane autofire switches. These bad boys are available in black, white, and blue on December 4th in Japan, and you can pre-order them now for $29.90 over at Play-Asia.[Via Nintendo Wii Fanboy]
Hori making Cube-style Classic Controller
This month, Hori will release their own take on the Classic Controller, called, shockingly enough, the Hori Classic Controller. The new controller combines the designs of the GameCube and Classic controllers, with the former's general shape, stick layout and shoulder buttons, and the latter's face button layout and Wii-specific extra buttons. It also has individual autofire switches for each button, which make it look scary, like a mini Steel Battalion controller or something.Black and white versions of this controller will be available starting November 27, and a light blue version will follow on December 4. All will cost 2,980 yen ($30.50). Play-Asia is currently taking preorders for $29.90. This looks ideal for people who like the feel of the GameCube controller but hate the scrambled button layout -- or for people who want to artificially boost their performance in the myriad shmups on the VC.
Wii Fanboy hands-on with the Nyko Wing controller
Nyko's been manufacturing peripherals for awhile now. We've spent time with the Kama wireless Nunchuk, their wireless Nunchuk adapter and even the Perfect Shot. Now their latest peripheral, the Wing, attempts to best Nintendo's Classic Controller through wireless technology. Does it succeed? Read on and find out!
Bit players hit it big in Castlevania Judgment
Camilla seems like a minor character in the Castlevania storyline, one of the "other" vampires who appeared as a boss in a few games. She's typically portrayed as a nude, winged woman atop a giant skull. And Golem makes Camilla seem vital -- Golem is nothing more than a vaguely memorable normal enemy! You know, the big guy from Aria of Sorrow who looks like he's made out of logs.Well, they've both been honored with places in the Castlevania Judgment roster. Camilla's been redesigned so that she's in some clothes, though barely, and Golem is a giant, grotesque science experiment with ampoules sticking out of his back. We have screens of both in action in our gallery.We haven't seen the latest issue of Nintendo Power, but according to NeoGAF, the remaining Castlevania III characters (Trevor Belmont, Sypha Belnades, and Grant DaNasty), as well as Cornell the werewolf from Legacy of Darkness, will also be playable.That transcript also notes that the GameCube controller and Classic Controller will both be supported by Judgment. Considering how much it relies on motion controls, using one of those should basically turn it into a different game.%Gallery-27187%
TGS08: Monster Hunter 3 features Classic Controller support, split-screen coop
So, here's some gameplay footage of Monster Hunter 3 (tri-). It's so incredibly gorgeous that we didn't mind typing out Monster Hunter 3 (tri-), which we've just done a second time. It looks pretty far beyond what is expected from a Wii game. Most importantly, it still looks like Monster Hunter.It should be great comfort to Monster Hunter fans (also known as Japan) to learn that it should play like Monster Hunter, as well. Capcom revealed Classic Controller support for the sequel at TGS. We fully expect a specially-branded Monster Hunter 3 Classic Controller to appear soon. They also revealed that two players can play together in a split-screen mode while offline. The screen is divided horizontally.
Tatsunoko vs. Capcom controls want to be friends with everybody
You'll have to travel a helluva distance to find somebody who likes the Wiimote and Nunchuk as much as we do, but there's no getting away from one fact: Nintendo's unique peripherals weren't made with intricate, combo-heavy fighting games in mind.Fortunately, when it comes to Tatsunoko vs. Capcom: Cross Generation of Heroes, Capcom has two solutions. Solución uno: a simplified control scheme whereby a chain combo can be pulled off with a single button press, and special moves don't require input commands. Solución dos: Tatsunoko vs. Capcom will be compatible with the sleek, delicious slab of plastic that is the Classic Controller for the hardcore set. Not that we'd expect fighting enthusiasts to play this with anything other than a Hori Fighting Stick but, you know.In other news: screens!%Gallery-32421%[Via Siliconera]
Revolutionary: The Perfect Controller, part 1
How many times in your history as a gamer have you felt that your console's controller couldn't be any better? Every time I've gotten my hands on a new game controller, there's been something I wished could be different. The NES controller could have been rounder. The SNES controller could have used some more face buttons for Street Fighter. The N64 controller needed speedier room service. The Wii controller is built with expansion, flexibility, and upgrades in mind, and with the addition of a third party accessory, I've been able to mate the Wiimote with the Classic Controller to form a Voltronic gestalt of a controller that should be capable of great things. But is it perfect?
Wii Warm Up: Wing of Freedom
The Nyko Wing solves the one seeming design flaw of the normal Classic Controller -- that short length of cord. Of course, the tradeoff is that you now have AAA batteries to contend with. And also that the controller looks kind of janky (that would be more of a concern if it looked uncomfortable-janky instead of just regular janky). Is the wirelessness worth the battery thing and the slightly less elegant presentation? Have you been waiting for a wireless Classic Controller solution? Have you ever wanted to be, like, three feet away from your Wiimote?
Nyko unveils a strange concept: a wireless Classic Controller
Nyko's Wing is the first truly wireless Classic Controller alternative (that isn't actually a GameCube controller): instead of a short cord, it communicates with the Wiimote via a wireless adapter. Unfortunately, it also looks about as comfortable to use as the Turbo Touch 360. The patriotic-looking Wing runs on two AAA batteries, and can even recharge them while playing via a USB cable. Nyko has yet to release any price or release date for this controller.What's so weird about a wireless Classic? It may not connect to the Wiimote with a wire, but it's still connected. You still have to have the Wiimote sitting next to you (which isn't really a problem). The controller communicates wirelessly with the Wiimote, and then the Wiimote communicates with the Wii. It's like a relay for your button presses. We want one like GameCyte's preview copy.
Yesterday's future tomorrow: woodgrain Wiimote concepts
Joe D's concept of a beautiful, Atari VCS-style Wiimote, Nunchuk, Perfect Shot, and Classic Controller makes us want to slap some wood veneer over the shiny white controllers right away. While thirty years and Jonathan Ive have clouded our minds, one look at something like this reminds us that real electronics look like furniture. Microsoft knows this!Despite being one of the most obvious designs (in our minds), we didn't see a woodgrain theme on the one decal site we checked, the popular DecalGirl. That means the market is wide open! We're not sure, however, what's going on with the lights. Electronics with lights? That's crazy. %Gallery-22424%[Via GayGamer]
Wii Warm Up: Essential equipment
There are certain things that we, as gamers, just need to have. Wavebird controllers, Classic controllers and a rechargeable battery solution for our Wiimotes are just a few of these things. What would you say is essential equipment for your Wii? What peripherals and other equipment can you not live without? Your Zapper? Your Wavebirds, like us? Your Wiimote jackets? What is it?
Wii Warm Up: Going Classic
We're rather big fans of the (potentially endangered) Classic Controller, so were delighted to learn that High Voltage would be including support for the peripheral in its excellent-looking Animales de la Muerte. Producer Micah Skaritka's suggestion that the control scheme would be comparable to Smash TV was especially encouraging, and we now know exactly how we'll be taking down any zombie giraffes that cross us. Animales is far from the first WiiWare title to use the Classic Controller, so what's your preferred weapon of choice when a variety of control options are available? Is there any WiiWare that you feel might have benefited from going Classic? %Gallery-28238%
People panic buying Classic Controllers
The panicked consumer is a predictable beast. Upon hearing that the Wii's Classic Controller might be withdrawn from sale in the near future, more and more customers have been scurrying to pick up the sleek, Virtual Console-compatible pad. Sales at Amazon have shot up by 207% after a court threatened to ban further sales of the $19.99 peripheral unless Nintendo coughed up a bond. As the Classic Controller is still on sale around the 'net, we can only assume that Nintendo did indeed pay up, though the company isn't out of the woods yet: Nintendo will be taking its appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, where it will hope to prevent an outright ban.
Some Nintendo controllers could get yanked from store shelves
Remember that recent lawsuit that didn't work out in Nintendo's favor? Then they tried to appeal and failed? Yeah, things aren't looking so hot for Nintendo right now. And the latest on this debacle, courtesy of Bloomberg, doesn't look good for the house that Mario built.U.S. District Judge Ron Clark denied Nintendo's appeal for a new trial. In Lufkin, Texas, Clark said that he planned to ban further sales of Nintendo's Wii Classic Controller, WaveBird controller and Nintendo GameCube, but must wait for another appeal from Nintendo (this one is headed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit) to go through. Judge Clark is set to issue this ban tomorrow, unless Nintendo posts a bond or puts royalties into an escrow account, which will then stop the ban.Thankfully for Nintendo, the Wiimote and Nunchuk controllers both have been recognized as not violating Anascape's patent. So, sales of each of these peripherals should not be affected by all of this.
Classic control scheme for High Voltage's other game
The Conduit, The Conduit, The Conduit -- that's all we media types bang on about when it comes to High Voltage. But the Illinois-based studio also has a WiiWare game in the pipeline: the scarcely covered Animales de la Muerte, a bloodthirsty shooter set in a Mexican zoo that has been overrun by zombie animals. Let's say that again, shall we: a Mexican zoo that has been overrun by zombie animals. It looks a bit like Samba de Amigo crossed with the gore of MadWorld, and if that's not potential GOTY material, we have no idea what is.And it gets better. High Voltage's Micah Skaritka just confirmed to WiiWare World that Animales would feature Classic Controller support, allowing players to move with the left analog stick and fire with the right, a configuration that Skaritka compares to Smash TV (but which also reminded us of Geometry Wars or Robotron: 2084). Meanwhile, actions that would usually require a shake of the Wiimote (Whip, Throw, Rescue, and Activate) have been mapped to buttons. A welcome addition!%Gallery-28238%[Via Go Nintendo]
Datel releasing Famicom-inspired Classic Controllers
With Super Famicom- and even PSP-inspired Classic Controllers hitting the market, we're not surprised to see someone exploit the sentiments of nostalgic gamers with a pad fashioned after the original Famicom controller.Available in Japan starting this September, Datel's line of retro Classic Controllers -- all four of which you can view in the gallery below -- will retail for ¥1,659 (approx $15.54). It's nowhere near an exact replica, as you'll notice several missing and inconsistent design elements, but the controller features Home and Turbo buttons. Also, you can relive those childhood memories of throwing an NES pad at the wall after crashing into the aircraft carrier for the 20th time in Top Gun.%Gallery-28150%[Via VC Reviews]
Blazepro Classic Controller: Dude, get your own design
The Blazepro Classic Controller claims to be the first third-party Classic Controller, which isn't exactly true -- the Hori Fighting Stick works as a Classic, and plugs into the Wiimote in the same way. But as far as we know, it's the first traditional-style third-party Classic Controller. And it should be a hit among Monster Hunter fans.The product description at SuperUFO says that Blazepro's controller "is looks like a squareness,but the function has no difference between the origin one." It doesn't just looks like a squareness -- it looks exactly like a PSP. As in "somebody made a mold of a PSP as the basis for their controller." It's even got an area at the top that looks like the UMD slot![Via DCEmu]
New Nintendo patent application reveals old Classic Controller
On June 26, a patent application from Nintendo was published on the USPTO's database. The application details a strange-looking controller with the button layout of the GameCube pad and a big rectangular cavity in the middle. Could we be looking at the future of the Classic Controller, or even the next implementation of the GameCube controller for Wii owners?No, we couldn't! This application may just now be published in the U.S., but it's based on a Japanese patent application from 2005. This is the past of the Classic Controller, from back when Nintendo was talking about "shells." That cavity is for the Wii Remote, of course, or, as the application puts it, "an imaging information arithmetic unit."[Via Destructoid; thanks, Blackfreefall!]
Blazepro ships Wii Classic Controller, Nintendo hints at first-party classic attachment
Nintendo has been tight with Wii accessories, allowing few -- if any -- third-party impostors while not being very forthcoming about plans for future first-party input devices. That's all changed today (at least a little) with the Blazepro Wii Classic Controller, an alternative to Nintendo's own dual-stick pad for your Nintendo 64 gaming goodness. Meanwhile, some snoops at Spong found an honest-to-goodness Nintendo patent for what looks to be an official classic controller attachment that combines motion control with the Wii's iconic infrared motion control. As far as availability, the Blazepro can be had now for just $14, but the official Nintendo attachment is still in fantasy patent land. Hit the continue link to check out the patent image.[Thanks, xfiles.fan and nate]Read - Blazepro Release Wii Classic ControllerRead - Latest Official Nintendo Wii Controller Patent Revealed
