Nintendo powers on Classic Controller Pro in Japan

Wii's Virtual Console-oriented gamepad sees aesthetic rejiggering, due for launch in island nation this summer.

Arguably the biggest reason for Nintendo's success with the Wii has been the system's reliance on the motion-sensing Wii Remote. However, the controller often isn't ideal for more traditional gameplay, especially for titles that fall in Nintendo's extensive back catalog rereleased through the Virtual Console. To compensate, the publisher also offers the Classic Controller (pictured, bottom), which features a layout more akin to Microsoft's and Sony's dual-thumbstick gamepads.

Now, Nintendo's more traditional controller is in store for a revamp, as Nintendo's Japanese Web site has revealed the Classic Controller Pro (pictured, top). The most immediate change to the gamepad is that the ZR and ZL shoulder buttons have been moved behind the two existing top inputs, as opposed to being beside them.

The Classic Controller Pro also now features protruding hand grips similar to those seen on the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3's gamepads. Lastly, the Wii Remote connection cord now extends from the top of the controller, instead of from the bottom.

The Classic Controller Pro is expected to launch in Japan this summer. Nintendo did not reveal a release window for other regions and had not responded to GameSpot's request for comment as of press time. Pricing information for the new peripheral was not announced.

56 Comments

  • joesh89

    Posted Mar 3, 2009 4:28 am PT

    just release them super nintendo controllers that japan got with club nintendo.

  • especensor

    Posted Mar 3, 2009 12:26 am PT

    Woop de doop. classic controller pro

    cut the bullsh*t nintendo and just rerelease some damn wavebirds!!

  • gameking5000

    Posted Mar 1, 2009 9:28 pm PT

    @Prof_Aspen

    Then once Sony And Microsoft release something similiar to the Wii remote in the not too distant future then we know the Wii remote is original.

  • Prof_Aspen

    Posted Feb 28, 2009 6:47 pm PT

    Oh yer CorruptGamerGX,
    Nintendo is totally ripping off Sony and we all know Sony's controller is completely originally.

    That said, this controller does look a lot like PSx-3's controller (after stealing the design from the SNES and stealing the analogs from N64 and just doubling the amount of them and the shoulder buttons to win the "look how many additions we can put on one controller" race), most likely to suit the Japanese market who have a good history with Sony's one controller.

    Personally I would have liked one more on the line of GC controller (or XBOX controller, but we all know where who starts 95% of the new ideas in mainstream gaming) where one analog stick is on the left for movement.

    TBH I'd rather just stick to my GC controller, its the best controller anyway, even though aspects of it could have used improving (aspects that PS/BOX controllers are better at).

  • kavadias1981

    Posted Feb 28, 2009 12:10 pm PT

    I already own the classic controller. It does the job. Quit trying to get us to buy so many effing peripherals, Nintendo! Make some effing games!

  • Barnman2205

    Posted Feb 28, 2009 12:41 am PT

    Damn it, Jebril, I lost the game!

  • Jebril

    Posted Feb 27, 2009 11:38 pm PT

    The game.

  • Jedilink109

    Posted Feb 27, 2009 9:57 pm PT

    Sounds frakking awesome.

  • gameking5000

    Posted Feb 27, 2009 5:25 pm PT

    Such small changes to the original Classic controller that it better not be costing very much.

  • puppiemaster

    Posted Feb 27, 2009 1:59 pm PT

    At last the wire at the top, now how about some N64 VC games

  • X-RS

    Posted Feb 27, 2009 1:38 pm PT

    good thing they took a hint from nyko, still how bout gc port somehow...
    as for looking like a ps controller, they coulda been original n made it like a 64 ;P

  • angelkadaj

    Posted Feb 27, 2009 10:04 am PT

    this kind of controller is always good. after all your hands won't hurt after playing. :p

  • evilcheerio

    Posted Feb 27, 2009 8:47 am PT

    It also looks like the thumbsticks are also further apart, I always had a problem with my thumbs knocking on the classic when ever i did anything with dual sticks. Oh yeah all you noobs quit complaining about the a and b buttons. You obviously didn't grow up with a snes controller in your hands.

  • Hekynn

    Posted Feb 27, 2009 6:47 am PT

    ahh a better version eh? very nice I like it with the cord on the top of the controller

  • korn62586

    Posted Feb 27, 2009 4:52 am PT

    looks good

  • BtmnHatesRbn

    Posted Feb 27, 2009 4:52 am PT

    I just buy adapters from CliffRacer or little mom-and-pop 'Net sites and use the real controllers for the games. Thanks to CliffRacer. Nintendo's Classic Controller and go to Hell, because the damned A and B buttons are stupidly placed, making hitting those at the same time hard to do, instead of using a re-mapping of the original A and B buttons to the Y and B buttons like the FC Twin controllers do on that console.

  • wahyudil

    Posted Feb 27, 2009 3:53 am PT

    I think they should use the old gamecube desain ...

  • KBABZ

    Posted Feb 27, 2009 3:20 am PT

    It's not a rip-off of the Playstation controller, it's just smart ergonomics. On the old pad, you had less grip on it since you only used the pressure of the fingers and thumbs to keep the controller in your hand. With the grips, which have been a part of gaming since the PSone and N64 days (yeah, you don't say it was ripping of the N64 controller, do you?), it makes it a heck of a lot easier to use the controller (and shoulder buttons), since you can rest it in your hands. Ever since Nintendo and Sony used it in those days, it's been a staple of controllers. The XBOX, Gamecube, Dreamcast and 360 controllers all use handgrips. Saying that Nintendo is copying the PSone controller is like saying that Holden ripped of Ford's steering wheel because they're both round.

    Although I do wonder about whose idea is was to have the cord come out of the BOTTOM of the controller. Do they play games by facing away from the TV and looking into a mirror in Japan?

  • S_Pac_316

    Posted Feb 26, 2009 11:34 pm PT

    Looks cool. I hope we get them outside Japan.

  • jivemaster

    Posted Feb 26, 2009 10:45 pm PT

    The original classic controller was fine and wasn't terrible enough to need any changes. There are not enough games of this style to warrant a rehash.

    They should release the SNES controller add-on worldwide instead.

  • chikahiro94

    Posted Feb 26, 2009 10:08 pm PT

    Nice to see Nintendo not only returning to one of the best pad designs ever (SNES), but modernizing it and bringing back just a hit of the NES Max too.

  • gameking5000

    Posted Feb 26, 2009 9:43 pm PT

    Corrupt Gamer is right there are far too many "add-ons". If they do create add ons which I don't mind but make them significant and release it at least every 8 months. So they plenty of time to work on other things.

  • CorruptGamerGX

    Posted Feb 26, 2009 7:34 pm PT

    @Maverick82102
    Yes, including that long forgotten light gun that came with it. Who cares? You seem to be making a bigger deal out of this than I am. You can stop crying now because all I want is some good games, not 70 add-ons.

  • Maverick82102

    Posted Feb 26, 2009 7:09 pm PT

    @ CorruptGamerGX

    Why is it a rip-off of the Playstation? Because they resemble one another? Who cares? Sega's Master System controller closely resembled the old NES controller. Does that make Sega a rip-off?

  • nescgi

    Posted Feb 26, 2009 6:50 pm PT

    If this has rumble I might be able to be convinced to buy yet another controller.

  • PatchMaster

    Posted Feb 26, 2009 6:00 pm PT

    Ha, I think they bred a Playstation controller with an SNES controller.

  • RPG_Fan_I_Am

    Posted Feb 26, 2009 5:53 pm PT

    "The Classic Controller Pro also now features protruding hand grips similar to those seen on the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3's gamepads"

    ummmm... are we forgetting gamecube??? or was I just imagining the hand grips on its paddles?

  • The_Owner

    Posted Feb 26, 2009 5:02 pm PT

    It's about LtimeR Nintendo. Too bad they didn't make the thumbsticks click as well.

  • CorruptGamerGX

    Posted Feb 26, 2009 4:41 pm PT

    To compensate, the publisher also offers the Classic Controller (pictured, bottom), which features a layout more akin to Microsoft's and Sony's dual-thumbstick gamepads.

    The Classic Controller Pro also now features protruding hand grips similar to those seen on the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3's gamepads

    Why don't you just admit it's a rip-off of the PlayStation controller GameSpot?

    With that said, I'm tired of these damn add-ons coming every 2 months. Stop being add-on peddlers and focus on making some GOOD games for once.

  • mjc0961

    Posted Feb 26, 2009 4:30 pm PT

    I have that already. It was a $5 tops 3rd party add-on that the classic controller fits into and gives it grips.

  • phase4illini

    Posted Feb 26, 2009 4:29 pm PT

    So it's pretty much the same thing as the original classic controller... Nintendo milking the masses?

  • TheWartongue

    Posted Feb 26, 2009 4:11 pm PT

    nice , a playstation controller

  • moose3469

    Posted Feb 26, 2009 4:08 pm PT

    Hmph.. Shoulda been the Gamecube's controller

  • liugeaux

    Posted Feb 26, 2009 3:36 pm PT

    Please make this work with GC games...I beg of you.

  • nintendoboy16

    Posted Feb 26, 2009 3:34 pm PT

    If there was some way it could be ported here to the US. I'd get it. The Classic Controller alone felt a bit hard to use at times and gave easy cramps like the SNES controller did.

  • BlueFlameBat

    Posted Feb 26, 2009 3:32 pm PT

    Here are two things I wish they'd do with the controller:
    1. Make it available everywhere.
    2. Make the L and R buttons more like traditional flippers instead of analog ones since no Wii game uses the analog function anyway. I hate not getting a response because I didn't press a button hard enough.

  • FelixTheGreat15

    Posted Feb 26, 2009 3:27 pm PT

    If it works with games that need a Gamecube controller, then I'll take it!

  • skwrlX posted Feb 26, 2009 3:26 pm PT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    skwrlX

    Posted Feb 26, 2009 3:26 pm PT (hide)

    the original still looks better. I dont like those handgrips









































  • Iketeru_Guy

    Posted Feb 26, 2009 2:56 pm PT

    >>looks like a blatant copy of Sony's Dual Shock controller.

    which is descended from a blatant copy of the SNES controller. Sounds fair to me.

  • d_ryder

    Posted Feb 26, 2009 2:55 pm PT

    I agree with you enoslives7... looks just like it... only fatter

  • BloodMist

    Posted Feb 26, 2009 2:48 pm PT

    So it's more like the GC controller.Works for me, if i didn't already have one that is.

  • enoslives7 posted Feb 26, 2009 2:45 pm PT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    enoslives7

    Posted Feb 26, 2009 2:45 pm PT (hide)

    looks like a blatant copy of Sony's Dual Shock controller.

  • RealDarkilla

    Posted Feb 26, 2009 2:45 pm PT

    How about a new game instead of a new controller?

  • motherboop

    Posted Feb 26, 2009 2:43 pm PT

    I like it. The original classic controller has a litle too much bulk (not weight) to have no grips.

  • Lord_Artix

    Posted Feb 26, 2009 2:37 pm PT

    @FLEEBS

    You must not have tried to play any of the DKCs or SMW lately.

  • FLEEBS

    Posted Feb 26, 2009 2:27 pm PT

    I don't know if this will ever be necessary. My original Classic controller is still in the box; never been opened, never been used. It's kind of unecessary if you have an old Gamecube controller, which I do.

  • HyruleanLink

    Posted Feb 26, 2009 2:26 pm PT

    The new changes sound good. Buttons did feel a little crammed.

  • ChildOfGaming7

    Posted Feb 26, 2009 1:49 pm PT

    CC Pro...(Metaknight voice) Come!

  • lamprey263

    Posted Feb 26, 2009 1:42 pm PT

    yeah, first thing I noticed with regards to the classic controller is that the new controller has the cord coming out of the top, not the bottom, that was a big complaint of mine with the first classic controller model, that and the fact that I have to plug it into my Wii remote, I'd of much rather had it plug directly into the console itself or at least run wirelessly without having to plug into the Wii remote... oh well, there's still a cord, and it still plugs into the Wii remote, and batteries are still beaucoup clams

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