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Wii

Nintendo Unveils New Classic Controller, the Classic Pro

by Carmine Red - February 26, 2009, 6:29 am EST
Total comments: 29 Source: Nintendo

Nintendo's Japanese website reveals a new form factor for the Classic controller that takes it even further in the traditional direction.

The classic controller has always been Nintendo's link to the past, a traditional input setup that's been supported in some Wii games, and necessary for many Virtual Console ones. Nintendo seems to believe that the controller's role is still an important one as their Japanese website has just revealed a new controller, the Classic Controller PRO.

At first glance it's easy to see how the Classic Controller PRO strengthens ties with earlier gaming systems. The most visible addition to the controller are two prongs in the style of earlier controllers like the GameCube controller or Sony's DualShock line. Another change is that the Classic Controller PRO is thicker than the original Classic Controller and can thus support larger ZL and ZR buttons. These buttons used to be small, circular, and positioned in-line with the larger L and R shoulder buttons on the original Classic Controller. On the Classic Controller PRO, they are almost equal in size to the other shoulder buttons and are no longer situated so far towards the center of the controller.

The Classic Controller PRO appears to still sport a wire, so it appears that the controller will still need to plug into a Wii Remote to operate. It is also not known whether this redesign will support rumble this time, or leave it out as the previous version did.

It has no announced price, but it is slated for a summer release in Japan. There is no news yet on a release outside Nintendo's home country.

Talkback

PaleMike Gamin, Contributing EditorFebruary 26, 2009

So they move the second triggers and add a grip? Color me confused.

At least I don't have to buy them I guess.

Can anyone even think of a single game that uses the second triggers? I can't.

TJ SpykeFebruary 26, 2009

Neither can I. The only reason I can think of for doing that is if they find a way to let us use those controllers for playing GameCube games.

DasmosFebruary 26, 2009

It does look more comfortable for use with games that use the control sticks. I've always found them a little awkward with the normal Classic control.

AVFebruary 26, 2009

i already got the grips from nyko which are nice.  rumble would be killer add for me. Star Fox 64 needs rumble !~

decoymanFebruary 26, 2009

Pics or it didn't happen.

Flames_of_chaosLukasz Balicki, Staff AlumnusFebruary 26, 2009

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v438/CONFUZZLED_MUNKIE/classic_pro_photo.jpg

Quote from: Mr.

i already got the grips from nyko which are nice.  rumble would be killer add for me. Star Fox 64 needs rumble !~

I wouldn't hold my breath for rumble. T_T

NinGurl69 *hugglesFebruary 26, 2009

What the fuck, Nintendo.

Are you adding PSX games to the Virtual Console, now?

Chozo GhostFebruary 26, 2009

Quote from: NinGurl69

What the ****, Nintendo.

Are you adding PSX games to the Virtual Console, now?

Considering the way things are going, Nintendo might eventually buy Sony and then yes, all the old PS games might show up on VC.

Ian SaneFebruary 26, 2009

Nintendo really should start packing these things with the Wii itself.  You know why there are four triggers?  It isn't for the VC it's for Wii games.  That's also why they went with the dual-analog when they realistically could have just had an N64 controller for the VC.  The problem is because the classic controller is an extra accessory no one really uses it.  Third parties feel they have to use the remote for all Wii games but sometimes it makes no sense to.  So we get lame crap like waggle.  But the classic design remained a standard, and still does, for so long for a reason - because it's functional and practical.  If Nintendo included it with the Wii than maybe developers would feel that it's a realistic option to support it and use what controller makes sense for the game and not shoehorn everything into the remote regardless of whether it makes sense to or not.

UltimatePartyBearFebruary 26, 2009

Those shoulder buttons don't look very analog.  The way the plastic's shaped, you wouldn't be able to pull them very far.

I've got two Classic Controllers already.  I wouldn't upgrade unless they added rumble and it worked with N64 VC games.

NinGurl69 *hugglesFebruary 26, 2009

I have two as well.  I could buy some wing/prong shells, and that's good enough, RIGHT

GoldenPhoenixFebruary 26, 2009

I am getting a bit of deja vu with Ian's post back before the Wii came out. There is no need to include the classic controller, usually if a game is designed with more traditional controls they add classic controller functionality in addition to Wii-Mote support. It is no big deal.

vuduFebruary 26, 2009

Quote from: Pale

Can anyone even think of a single game that uses the second triggers? I can't.

Doesn't the upcoming Monster Hunter 3 use Classic Controller as its primary control scheme?  Maybe this new controller is in preparation for it.

NinGurl69 *hugglesFebruary 26, 2009

I play a better game of Brawl on the WiiChuk setup than I did Melee with the GameCube controller.

I play a better game of RE4 on the Wii Edition than I did with the GameCube controller.

New Generation Gaming Wins.

broodwarsFebruary 26, 2009

I'd love to try this new Classic Controller on GameCube games (just for the ease of having a wireless GameCube controller without destroying my only Wavebird), but oh wait...it doesn't recognize anything other than the GameCube controller when in GameCube mode.  Well, there goes that.

Yeah, unless they were planning on making this thing work for Dreamcast games or something (now that would be an interesting addition to the VC, though too large unless Nintendo implemented a real hard drive or whatnot), this is obviously intended to make the Classic Controller more user-friendly for Wii game usage.  I can't view the picture, but is the wire still sticking out of the bottom of the controller or is it sticking out of the top where it bloody belongs?

ThePermFebruary 26, 2009

gamecube has 1 less button than n64..this solves the n64 problem. Its easier to port games because now they don't have to worry about reconfiguring the button setup. There were games on n64 that used every button. I like Chozo Ghosts idea on getting the ps lineup

Do want!  I only have one CC and would like to have an extra.  This looks more comfortable for Geometry Wars, and I'm still hoping there will be another GW announced for Wii.  I also use the CC for Brawl... when I actually have someone to play against, that is.  :-(

Quote from: broodwars

Yeah, unless they were planning on making this thing work for Dreamcast games or something (now that would be an interesting addition to the VC, though too large unless Nintendo implemented a real hard drive or whatnot)

Actually that's a very real possibility.  Most DC games didn't fill up the GD-ROM, and elements like movies and music can always be compressed.  If Hudson can do it with TurboCD, I'm sure there's a subset of Dreamcast games that could be mashed into a Virtual Console packet.  The emulation wouldn't be dramatically more intensive than N64.

Oh, and the wire comes out of the top!  WIN

YoshidiousGreg Leahy, Staff AlumnusFebruary 26, 2009

Quote from: Jonnyboy117

Do want!  I only have one CC and would like to have an extra.  This looks more comfortable for Geometry Wars, and I'm still hoping there will be another GW announced for Wii.  I also use the CC for Brawl... when I actually have someone to play against, that is.  :-(

Seconded! The sticks are a little too close together for my taste when playing Geometry Wars, so that additional spacing would be most welcome. 

There's nothing wrong with wanting this, but I'm always flabberghasted when people say they do, especially "core" gamers. Oh well, I guess it just goes to show that stereotypes don't stick.

RizeDavid Trammell, Staff AlumnusFebruary 26, 2009

Quote from: Jonnyboy117

Actually that's a very real possibility.  Most DC games didn't fill up the GD-ROM, and elements like movies and music can always be compressed.  If Hudson can do it with TurboCD, I'm sure there's a subset of Dreamcast games that could be mashed into a Virtual Console packet.  The emulation wouldn't be dramatically more intensive than N64.

Ah, actually I have to disagree.  If the Wii could emulate a Dreamcast, it would be a very close thing.  I'm not at all certain that it could be done.  It would have to be a very efficient emulator.

Well, can't you emulate Dreamcast games on the original Xbox?  Wii is certainly more powerful than that.

EDIT: No, you can't.  Dunno where I got that idea.  But a Dreamcast emulator called nullDC is available on PC and recently came out of beta.

The PS2 emulates the PS1, and the 360 emulates the original Xbox, right? I could see the GC emulating the DreamCast, though it would certainly be difficult.

UltimatePartyBearFebruary 26, 2009

The PS2 has PS1 hardware in it, and I'm not prepared to call what the 360 does emulation.  I think it's more like they wrote wrappers so that the original code would run on the new hardware.

broodwarsFebruary 26, 2009

Alright, now that I'm home and on a computer that can see that image of the new Classic Controller (I guess my work's firewall blocked it), I like this new design a LOT.  It basically fixes 3 out of the 4 things that really bugged me about the original design:

1.  The cord now sticks out of the top.  Oh happy day.

2.  With the prongs now on the left and right sides of the controller, it won't be so incredibly awkward to play games that use the 2 control sticks...not to mention hand-cramping.  After years of playing 3D games with controllers like the GameCube controller and dualshock, it just feels wierd for both my thumbs to angle DOWN to use both sticks...not to mention having no good place to grip to the controller when you do that.  With the new grip prongs, though, I can more comfortably grip the controller and slide my thumbs UP to use the sticks.  That makes a world of difference.

3.  The really tiny LZ and RZ buttons, which feel really wierd to push in.

The remaining issue being the rather floaty (compared to the GameCube controller and Dualshock) Analog Sticks.  I hope that's fixed in the new design as well.

You know, I half-jokingly suggested the Dreamcast-to-VC possibility, but you have to admit that's not all that unlikely with how cozy Sega's been with Nintendo since they turned 3rd party.  Besides the storage issue, though, the biggest problem I could see with them doing that is that most of the games worth playing on the Dreamcast have already been ported to other systems, including the GameCube.  Skies of Arcadia, Resident Evil: Code Veronica, etc.  I know that's never stopped Nintendo before when it comes to the VC, but it could be a factor.

I think Sega would love to see downloadable versions of their DC games on VC/PSN/XBLA. Sega doesn't seem terribly concerned about re-releasing games that have already been re-released on earlier or the same consoles. Just look at Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection, Sonic Mega Collection, Sonic Adventure DX's Game Gear bonuses, and the Virtual Console. Heck, how many ways can you play Sonic 3 & Knuckles on the PC? (S&K Collection, GameTap, Sonic Mega Collection Plus...)

Mop it upFebruary 26, 2009

Is it just me or does the image look photoshopped? It looks like somebody just took a Classic Controller and morphed it with a white GC controller... although I suppose that's what Nintendo did as well.

AVFebruary 27, 2009


I do like a number of things with it, but not enough to buy.

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