Wii Prototype Controller - For GameCube?! - H4G

We look at a prototype Wii Remote, Nunchuk, and Sensor bar....for GameCube!? Looks like the equipment was in development for the Wii, but being tested with existing hardware, IE: the GameCube.

Support the Show ►►

SOCIAL ►►

--------

New videos every Saturday morning! Live podcasts every other Sunday!

----------------
PO BOX:
Hard4Games Entertainment LLC
200 W 2nd St
Unit 2150
Royal Oak, MI 48068

Disclaimer: Do not send us anything to borrow without our advanced agreement/notice.

#Wii #Prototype #Nintendo #Gaming #WiiMote #GameCube

[emmettturner]

No one ever mentions that the Wii Remote was first in development as a GameCube accessory. After stuff like Guitar Hero and DDR proved popular on the PlayStation 2, Nintendo announced that they had no intention of releasing a next generation system to compete with the then-upcoming XBOX 360 and PlayStation 3. Instead, they said they would extend the life of the GameCube with new and innovative accessories that similarly enable new gameplay experiences. They specifically said this was because the extra horsepower of the 360 and PS3 did nothing for enabling new kinds of gameplay and the GC was powerful enough to play pretty much any game that could be made for those without watering down the gameplay (watered down graphics, of course). You have to remember that this was right after the DS had proved a hit by having gameplay experiences you couldn't duplicate on the PSP even with the extra horsepower.

Anyway, Nintendo clearly made an effort to do what they said. You got stuff like DDR Mario Mix (dance mat), Mario Party 5 (mic), Odama (mic+controller clip), Donkey Konga 1 & 2 (bongo controller), Wario Ware Mega Party Games (GBA), DK Jungle Beat (bongos), and more.

DK Barrel Blast was supposed to be a bongo game on GCN too but it got delayed and released as a Wii game. Chibi Robo, on the other hand, was released with standard GCN controls despite originally being designed for a new GC controller: the pointer remote that eventually became the Wii Remote.

The GCN was not a very successful system and making a series of pointer remote games for it would only further fragment the GCN's already small portion of the gaming market. Someone recognized that it had way too much potential to be wasted on such a thing (GCN Chibi Robo!) and, instead, decided to make it the standard controller for what is essentially a relaunch of GCN hardware: The Wii. That would ensure that every subsequent game supports it and they could update/modernize in other ways (internal storage, SD card, WiFi, Bluetooth, USB, extra memory, better clock speeds, etc).

In a way, they stuck to their guns about not releasing a higher performance console to compete on specs in that generation... and despite everyone moaning and groaning about the Wii's performance, Nintendo proved it was the right choice by setting unbelievable sales records (easily outselling the others). The pointer remote never could have done that for the GameCube and anything 360/PS3-class never would have sold as many due to price so they clearly made the right choice.

I don't think the earliest Chibi Robo versions of the pointer remote had accelerometers inside and were pretty much just the IR pointer and some buttons. All the fancy stuff like speaker, accelerometers, wireless, in-controller storage, etc came about when they expanded the scope with aims to make it a standard controller. Because the Wii is a GCN, it makes sense that Metroid Prime 3 and other Wii Remote games started development on GCN Dev units with prototype controller hardware, but I do wonder if they ever intended to release MP3 Corruption on GCN with the pointer remote. ;)

[neonfuz_]

The clicky buttons are micro switches, while the mushy ones are rubber domes

[MarkVaughnLive]

Seriously one of the most underrated channels on YouTube. Maybe even the internet.

[LaskyLabs]

It's amazing to think that a GameCube could be used as a Wii Devkit.
All you gotta do, is overclock it, put in a hard drive, put in more ram, and a full size DVD drive. Then you could install the Wii OS and use it as a Wii. I'll bet it's not so easy, but it's a fun thought.

[dreamworldtony]

The prototype looks more like a Nintendo product than anything from the Wii-era ever did.

[Retrokaiser]

Does it work with a Wii that has the Gamecube controller and memory card slots?

[JMotion]

Found my way here while going over old Rayman 4 prototype footage due to the recent leak.
This controller features heavily in Rayman Raving Rabbids' original teaser trailer. The trailer features a family taking turns to play the game.
Seems they went to great lengths to try and hide that black cable in all the footage. All the actors were dressed in long sleeved clothing so they could hide the cable up their sleeves, and they never show the controller exchanging hands without a cut in the footage. It even looks like they may have manually painted out the cable in some shots. However, in a couple shots, you can still see the black cable coming from the control, and running up the actors' sleeves.

I always wondered why the controller looked so different in that trailer, but I never took the time to look into it until now. Feels weird seeing this controller in such clear video quality.

[ArtieArchives]

I love these beta and prototype hardware and software videos, you deserve more views!

[TheMapeha]

One title for the Cubemote was Super Paper Mario. That was listed in German stores in 2006 as a late GC release.There must be a GC beta of SPM...

[dearhunting]

Great content as always. Love seeing dev items and oddities like this.

[ErroneousClique]

The Metroid Prime demo can be played on a GDEV - so you either need ODEM card and cables or a NPDP cart and a NPDP writer... GDEV has GC controller ports and memory card ports. Will these controllers not function with GDEV?

[dingdongbells]

I'm not commenting on this video, you can't make me comment ;)

[TariqYasiinProd]

Prototypes usually use off the shelf parts.

[obsidianchao]

This is fucking amazing. I took a few Wii remotes apart for tinkering when the Wii launched and I was surprised that the hardware was basically identical to the Gamecube controller. You can actually replace the Nunchuck stick with a Gamecube stick! The Wii really is just a bigger badder Gamecube, so it doesn't surprise me. What a cool piece of hardware! Thanks for the video!

[FairButNotReally]

Plug it into the wii! They have Memory Card slots and Gamecube Controller Ports on the older versions

[DonDiesel]

cool stuff fellas i love seeing any kind of prototype gear and hardware, its awesome to put yourself in the seat of the dudes who were working on and designing them. also damn you were killing me when you were clowning on those goofy thumbs like what happened there broski haha

[HerecomestheCalavera]

My favorite controller is the Xbox 360 wired controller with the analog stick from a gamecube, the D-pad from a Dreamcast controller. The A and X buttons replaced with NES buttons, B and Y replaced with buttons from a Genesis 3 button controller, the left shoulder button from a SNES controller and the right shoulder button from a 3DO controller. The start button from a Sega Saturn and the select button from PS1 controller. And finally the gas and brake pedals from a Microsoft Sidewinder wheel for the left and right triggers. For some reason this controller is called the Colecovision Collision Action Pad even though it is not compatible with a Colecovision nor does it feature any buttons from a Coleco controller. In addition to hooking up to any device that accepts USB controllers it has an adapter so it can also be used on the Atari Jaguar. A polish hacker from Greenland produced 3 and half of them back in 2009. I was lucky enough to get one before he ran out. It is unknown who bought the other two and a half ones. Perhaps one day you can do a video about it. I know I'd smash the like button if you did!

[RetroBreak]

Amazing episode! Always wanted to get a better look at the prototype controllers!

[TheJotaMaister]

What's wrong with your left thumb? 😕

[tynansl]

holy shit its the endangered wild north western gray toe thumb in his natural environment