ClassicController
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EVOtainment System brings emulation greatness to the HTC EVO on a Wiimote and a prayer (video)
In a world full of cheap, plastic Wiimote accessories, aisles that overflow with flimsy little steering wheels for Mario Kart, one man found purpose. One man found something good to do with them. One man created the ridiculous contraption you see above. That man is Jack Malone, crafter of this the so-called EVOtainment System. It's a Wii racing wheel from Nerf that's been drilled out and augmented to enable a Classic Controller to join the party, backed with a strip of 3M Dual Lock. Up top a universal GPS mount clings desperately on to his HTC EVO, which connects over Bluetooth to the Wiimote. It's emulatory bliss in a design that's only a little bit less chunkier than the Game Gripper. Update: Video after the break! %Gallery-118579% [Thanks, Jack]
Wii Classic Controller Pro coming to confused, oversized US living rooms in April
After doing the whole "Nintendo" thing in Japan, Nintendo has brought its Wii Classic Controller Pro Stateside to ensure us Americans were being properly Nintend'd to. That's right, yet another control mechanism, with its own set of slightly different buttons (this time dual shoulder buttons) and ergonomics (some DualShock-style grips) to thoroughly confuse and delight hapless Wii owners. Interestingly, the controller is making its debut in April as a bundle with Monster Hunter Tri; the game is compatible with the tried and true Wii Remote + Nunchuck combo and the hardly relevant Classic Controller, but we have a feeling those extra, Professional shoulder buttons will come in handy when plying the game mechanics of monster hunting. Separately the controller comes in black or white for $20, while bundled the game and controller will retail for $60. Our dignity as a once-proud Wii owner? Hardly worth a Craigslist listing.
Classic Controller Pro appears at E3, unbeknownst to Nintendo
Well, here's a curious one. Those eagle-eyed folks at Joystiq caught sight of a pair of Classic Controller Pros for the Wii at Nintendo's E3 booth, which wouldn't be so unusual if not for the fact that it still hasn't been announced for release outside of Japan. Adding to the intrigue, the Nintendo reps at the booth apparently know nothing (or weren't talking) about a planned release, and there's no official word to speak of on the E3 press site either. Yet the controllers were there for all too see, which leads Joystiq to rightly speculate that a release 'round here is now decidedly more likely than not.
Nintendo's Wii Classic Controller Pro ready to turn tricks in Japan
Now that you've had your fill of mocking amateurs with their Wii Classic Controllers, it's time to prove your skills by going pro. Nintendo Japan just listed the Wii Classic Controller Pro that brings a bit of Dual Shock schlock to the dual-analog controller -- that means grips and a two-row shoulder button configuration. It's expected to hit Japan sometime this Summer which could mean a Christmas-time launch elsewhere should the stars align.[Via Joystiq]
Man hacks GameCube controller for the Wii with tremendous effort
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.
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]
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?
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
Revolutionary: GlovePIE v.30, The Great Equalizer
Every (other) Tuesday, Mike Sylvester brings you REVOLUTIONARY, a look at the wide world of Wii possibilities. So you've tuned in to Revolutionary expecting to see the dramatic conclusion of the Controller Showdown. Well, as I was evaluating games to use in the matchup, I found myself revisiting old scripts I'd put aside, and building new scripts for games which wouldn't be fit to judge the motion sensing capabilities of the Wii Remote and SIXAXIS. I realized that because of the recently updated build of GlovePIE, my passion for scripting has been re-ignited! You see, the latest version of GlovePIE supports the SIXAXIS, Xbox 360 control pad, and standard PC control pads, on top the already robust support for Wii Remotes and attachments. There's also a new function which allows you to easily write scripts for any and all of these controllers universally. So, before we commence with Round 2, let's take a look at the GlovePIE update that will figure heavily in the big battle.
Fanswag: And the Eternal Night winner is ...
Well, another week has come to a close and so has another giveaway. The winner of this will, as you already know, receive our review copy of The Legend of Spyro: The Eternal Night and some goodies from the fine folks over at RedBeard. It's a fairly sweet prize pack that will bring happiness to the winner, we hope. And, let' get to choosing one!Our winner, chosen at random, is: Diana Lindeman, who said she wanted to win because "A new game means new ideas and fun." Well, we couldn't agree more, Diana! Congratulations on your win and thanks to the rest of you for entering! Better luck next time!
Wii Fanswag: Eternal Night and more RedBeard goodies
Following our review of The Legend of Spyro: The Eternal Night, we must do what any responsible blogging outfit should do: give it away. We may not have given it the best review score imaginable, but we know that there are Spyro junkies out there who would love to give the game a try. If you don't like it, sell it or trade it for something else. To sweeten the deal, the fine folks at RedBeard have provided us with the Wiimote and nunchuk skin, along with the classic controller skin, you see above.So, what must you do before you can get your hands on all of this? Well, first off you need to be 18 years of age and a legal resident of the United States. Second, you need to leave a comment before 11:59PM EST on Thursday, November 8th, telling us why you think you deserve this prize pack. And third, you need to sit back and wait to see if you won. We'll select a winner (by random, of course) come Friday, November 9th. Before entering, you'll have to be sure to read the rules, however.Just to make things clear: One grand prize winner will receive The Legend of Spyro: The Eternal Night ($50), one RedBeard Wiimote and nunchuk skin ($10) and one classic controller skin ($10). Best of luck to all of you and thanks for reading Wii Fanboy!
NiGHTS website hints at control options
The issue of NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams' control scheme is getting more complicated-- and, to us, more awesome. Reports from TGS indicated that the game made no use of motion controls; later, we heard that the motion controls were optional, and disappointing. But it seems that we have yet to hear the whole story about the control options for this game.Sega's North American NiGHTS website has opened up, and its "features" area lists the supported controllers for the game. According to the website, it is possible to play NiGHTS with the Wiimote, Wiimote and Nunchuk, Classic Controller, or even a GameCube controller. We still have yet to determine the specifics of any of the control schemes, but it at least seems more likely that there will be one for everybody. And, as with Super Smash Bros. Brawl, we're excited about replaying the game using different control schemes.The website also features a brisk history of NiGHTS and a short video of the Saturn game in action. It also features a lovely sparkle effect when you move your mouse.
Thrustmaster's new classic controller lacks wires, point
Readers with good memories probably remember our annoyance at having a dangling remote and wire sitting on our lap when using the Wii's classic controller. So you'd probably think we're psyched about Thrustmaster's recently-announced wireless classic controller. But we're not. For one, Nyko's classic controller grip pretty already solves the problem elegantly for less than half the price of Thrustmaster's $18 controller.Secondly, this thing is a monstrosity, with ugly aqua blue rubber on the grips and analog sticks and a bloated design that reminds us of the PS3's scrapped boomerang controller.Finally, the thing is really just a wireless GameCube controller with a modified button layout. Besides meaning less-than-perfect compatibility, this also means the unit requires an ugly dongle that hangs down from one of the GameCube slots on your Wii. At that point you might as well just go with the better-designed WaveBird, or just make your own solution. In either case, you can probably just skip this cash-in accessory.[Via WiiFanboy]
Thrustmaster offers up wireless Classic Controller
One of our problems with Nintendo's official Classic Controller is how it has to be plugged into the Wiimote to be used. It's not that big of a deal, but sometimes the cord can become a nuisance. Thankfully, third-party manufacturer (and ridiculously-named company) Thrustmaster have devised the wireless solution you see above. Sure, it may not be much to look at, but at least there aren't any wires.To connect the controller to the Wii, you'll have to plug an adapter into one of the GameCube ports on top of the console. We suspect that won't be an issue with most of you, as we're certain you (like us) already have a few WaveBird adapters plugged in up there. And, to add even more appeal to the thing, it'll only retail for $19.99, the same cost as Nintendo's official solution. We'll have to wait until the thing releases to see, but we're pretty sure that Nintendo's controller will end up winning in the end based on feel alone. That thing looks bulky.
Hori Fighting Stick, unboxed and in the nude
Japanese site Game Watch got a hold of Hori's Fighting Stick Wii, posting photos of the arcade controller out of its box and in use at their office. They might as well have put up pictures of themselves caressing its white casing, smirking at the camera with a "you wish your life was as good as ours" look, shirt half unbuttoned to suggest the night ahead, for all the jealousy they've aroused in us. Quarter circle forward past the post break break to see a couple of those images. The Wii remote dangling off of the arcade stick, unfortunately, isn't very attractive. We prefer not having to hook anything on for wireless controls, but we wouldn't have minded the Classic-Controller-styled setup if there was at least a way to unobtrusively attach the remote; it's not like there isn't any room inside the arcade stick's mostly empty shell.
Wii Warm Up: Weapon of choice
At the moment we have three options for playing most Virtual Console games: the Wiimote, the Classic Controller, and the Gamecube controller. None of them are 100% accurate recreations of any original console's controller, but each has their advantages-- you're guaranteed to have a Wiimote, you're almost guaranteed to have a Gamecube controller, and the Classic Controller has the best compatibility.We speculated about some kind of Wavebird relaunch, but so far that has yet to happen, indicating that Nintendo is throwing their support behind the quasi-tethered Classic Controller. But what about you? How do you roll on the VC-- tipped Wiimote, recycled Wavebird, or specialized equipment?
Classic Controller gets skinned
You've been able to cover your Wiimote and Nunchuk with a colorful silicone shell for some time now. But your poor Classic Controller has remained-- shamefully-- nude. Cyber Gadget is offering a solution to this indecent situation with Classic Controller skins in six colors: blue, pink, white, black, clear, and clear black. They even come with little coordinating analog stick covers! Cyber Gadget has yet to put these up on their own site, so it seems that they aren't available for sale yet. We're sure someone will offer them to non-Japanese markets once they're released.
Analog sticks bothering you? Cover 'em up!
Do you hate the feel of the analog stick on your nunchuk attachment or classic controller? Is your thumb always slipping off? Well, you might want to get checked for leprosy (ynuck, ynuck) ...For all of you gamers out there without this highly-infectious disease and find yourself totally appalled at our horrible attempts at humor, Japanese company Cyber Gadget has a solution for you with their removable analog stick covers. Interchangeable, the various nubs included in the package feature different textures and shapes for the discerning gamer. Do you hate the feel of the classic controller and nunchuk's analog sticks?See also: Protect your Wiimote with a decal SHOCKii Wii case replacement prototype photos We got your dock right here, buddy! A taste of future accessories? Case mods: new colors sooner than you think
Clip brings Wiimote and Classic Controller closer together
While it's not quite a DIY project -- unless you happen to have a Stereolithography machine in your garage -- this one-off clip from mechanical engineering student Chris Williams does offer a glimpse of some potential Wiimote / Classic Controller bonding to come, should someone ever mass produce such a thing. As the close up pic after the break shows, the clip is designed to slot snuggly into the Wiimote's and Classic Controller's respective nooks and crannies, ensuring that the Wiimote won't ever feel left out again while you enjoy some of the Virtual Console's old school offerings. Of course, as Williams points out, it would also open up the possibility of future games that take advantage of tandem controllers, although if that ever happens, you likely won't have to build your own clip.
Fire Emblem Wii TV ad focuses on Classic Controller
One of Famitsu's criticisms of Fire Emblem: Dawn Goddess, which is released in Japan this Thursday, is that the game makes no particular use of the Wii's Remote. This could have been a GameCube release. But it's not, and yet there remains a perfectly adequate way to play Fire Emblem: get a Classic Controller (which is just what the girl in Nintendo's latest TV ad has done). Click through to see the TV spot and notice the girl's surprisingly honest facial expression -- does Classic Control mean profound boredom?
