SNES-inspired Wii U controller spotted
By
Eddie Makuch, News Editor
Australian EB Games shop lists variant that combines Wii U Pro Controller and classic SNES input for around $49. [UPDATE]: Nintendo Australia has confirmed the controller is not an official Nintendo product.
Nintendo's upcoming Wii U console is a step towards the future, but that doesn't mean the company is forgetting its past. EB Games Australia has posted a listing for a new controller that appears to combine the Wii U Pro Controller with a classic SNES input.
The new and unconfirmed controller (at right) places the SNES input directly below the Wii U Pro Controller's thumbsticks. It includes the controller's iconic rounded form, as well as the same color-appropriate A, B, X, and Y buttons that appeared on the original.
The result is the "Wii U Controller - SNES version," which the site suggests will launch with the console in Australia on November 30 for AUD $48, or about $49. Listings for the controller are not available through North American or European retailers.
[UPDATE]: Nintendo Australia has confirmed the controller is not an official Nintendo product.
By
Eddie Makuch, News Editor
Eddie Makuch (Mack-ooh) is a News Editor at GameSpot. He works out of the company's Boston office in Somerville, Mass., and loves extra chunky peanut butter.
239 comments
i saw something listed on my shstem at work (JB Hifi), Wii U Retro controller $49 AU. soooooooooo getting it if its really that style (plus staff discount makes it only $35ish). now i have never had good luck with third party controllers, steering clear of them since the N64, but maybe this will be good? considering JB Hifi has cut the price of the Wii U to $399 instead of $428, that gives me more reason to grab it!!
Old School rises on the modernshit...Finally, i hope the WiiU is the throwback that i expected!
@godzillavskong until our hands evolve into another shape, this is it. this shape of controller has settled into the norm after being sculpted, tested and designed from many years of study into the perfect outlay for the paws that we all have. So pretty much all controllers are going to look near on the same until we evolve or change how we interact with games.
Shape itself, maybe, but its a comfortable grip, so I'm glad in that aspect. As for the analog sticks, the Xbox 360 controller could be compared better to Gamecube's.
1 Like @godzillavskong To an extent but the analog is different which is a pretty big difference when it comes to actual usage. If they look really similar well, who cares? Its a controller, its about what feels best when your playing.
hmmm, I like the idea, but i don't like the design, it looks very uncomfortable. But then again, I won't know for sure until i get one in my hands. if it's real my store will have some soon.
@FreedomPrime Hmmm... maybe. But I think I can see myself using it (if I ever get the Wii U, which I'm still VERY sketchy about). I just think I would hold it a little further down on the sides instead of how I would hold a regular controller if I'm just using the SNES part.
1 Like @Ansem_Rev It does look like a 360 controller. Except i'm sure it has a much better D-pad
The stupid thing is, since they didn't move the plus and minus buttons, the Select and Start buttons are completely unnecessary. So it's obviously just a mock-up, because there are two superfluous buttons on the thing.
Just perfect for playing the upcomming smash brothers title. I love it. Brings back the good memories too of the best console from nintendo, the snes. (in my opinion)
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@Suikogaiden How do you get to the buttons easily when both sticks are on bottom? You know, like the DualShock?
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That's great, except the Pro controller already has this exact design, except without the SNES elements, so it has nothing to do with nostalgia.
1 Like Hey look! The SNES and the 360 controller made a baby. How cute... No, it's just ugly. Bring back the MegaDrive(Genesis) controller then we talk.
@rarson @littlestreakier the xbox controller is basically the son of the sega dreamcast controller. so the sega pads are bad argument is a little invalid there :)
Meh. I have one of those. Doesn't hold a candle to the SNES controller. But I've been spoiled by Nintendo controllers from the early days.
Plus, I don't care for the 6-button layout.
@funny16 @rarson @littlestreakier
I will never forget that controller. It was such a big step up from the original Genesis controller.
Are you talking about a stick? I've got some Saturn sticks that were pretty solid, but I never use them. Their gamepads suck.
2 Like
Ew. Why would anyone want to play with a Genesis controller? They're cheap, dodgy, and horribly laid out.
@rarson @Battle_Pants Yep SNES ASCII pad was the best. Nintendo quality with turbo fire. Also it was even more comfortable to hold than original PAL SNES pad.
All companies borrow ideas from each other, Nintendo are not the great innovators that many people believe, almost every peripheral that nintendo has released has been borrowed from elsewhere. Admittedly, these devices were somewhat transformed but borrowed none the less.
I haven't played the 360 in a while, but aren't the joysticks, or at least the right one, in a little lower spot?
@tightwad34 @bongsyas_23 Ya, which does make a pretty big difference. I honestly prefer it that way, but its not to say I don't like this controller even if it looks like it is the Xbox one.
2 Like Considering the overall shape of this controller...seems kind of pointless IMO. What would have been cool is if the SNES part of the controller was detachable so that you get the actual feel of the SNES when playing downloadable games. Then simply reattaching the SNES part of the controller back into the housing (extra buttons, etc.) to play Wii U games.
1 Like I would have totally bought one if it was an official Nintendo product. But I learned a long time ago not to buy third party controllers. Still going to get a real Wii-U Pro controller to use on my PC.
Then again that Ascii pad for with the six turbo switches was the best controller I ever owned for the SNES back in the day.
Anyone that knows the slightest bit about the history of video game consoles can conclude that the 360 controller was inspired by many other controllers including mostly Nintendo controllers. It's now time that Microsoft gave something back to the industry and thankfully they has saved Nintendo development time by designing a decent model for Nintendo to use for third party games.
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