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Original Classic Controller Patent Revealed?

By Jorge Ba-oh (jb)

33969 on 11.07.2008 at 01:02

A recently filed patent reveals a different take to using traditional analogue control on Wii.

The discovery comes after recent banter on a possible Wii-remote-inspired peripheral for Microsoft's Xbox 360. According to Kotaku, a patent applied for back in 2005, published more recently on June 28th 2008, resembles a GameCube shell presumably for locking onto a Wii remote. Some have speculated that it may be a new accessory for Wii, others ponder whether it's more in line with a new portable offering from the Japanese gaming giant.

Due to the patent's application date and references within the document, it's likely protecting the original design for a classic-controller attachment.

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Would this design have worked better than a separate controller tethered onto the Wii-remote?

Thanks to C3's Linkyshinks for the tip.

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Ultralordsmow on 11.07.2008 at 01:08#1

Wow thats cool, so wii-mote goes through the middle thier, hmm thats.... cool

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Demoni Rakkausenkeli on 11.07.2008 at 01:30#2

I think its better how it is. It wouldve looked wierd to me with half a wiimote sticking out.

Agul on 11.07.2008 at 01:31#3

Wow. This far more accurately resembles the original "GameCube shell" Classic Controller design Nintendo described before E3 '06. The final Classic Controller design shown at E3 '06 left many gamers scratching their heads. Including myself. This design could very well be the original Classic Controller design Nintendo had.

Chance favors the prepared mind.

Birdo Is A Tranny on 11.07.2008 at 02:22#4

I prefer this one hands down, the button layout looks identical to the gabecube one (which I like).

tiamat1990 on 11.07.2008 at 03:15#5

That would have been WAY better than the classic controller now. No bloody wires...you just plug the remote in.

jb on 11.07.2008 at 03:29#6

Would have been awesome to have some kinda shell. Still hoping for WaveBird to come back into production!

Or at least something similar, official, and cheaper!

Me loves wireless!

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SuperLink on 11.07.2008 at 04:04#7

It looks cool, the only problem would have been the weight at the top if you had the Wiimote sticking out IMO. It might feel a bit unbalanced.

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James2t3 on 11.07.2008 at 04:10#8

But you could have had some tilt, pointer and a bit of rumble functionality available for the classic controller :O

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Agul on 11.07.2008 at 05:02#9

Blade2t3 said:
But you could have had some tilt, pointer and a bit of rumble functionality available for the classic controller :O

Yeah, that was originally one of the big selling points to the Classic Controller with the shell design. You get the traditional controller layout similar to GC\'s Wavebirds, it\'s wireless, and you have the Wii Remote slide into place adding IR pointing, rumble, and tilt functionality all in one. I want to know what happened. At E3\'06, it was all kind of swept under the carpet and we never got an explanation for the radical design change.

I must say, I do like the Classic Controller as it is now. It works great, it\'s compact, and feels good. My only gripes about it are there\'s no force-feedback, no IR or tilt functionality, and I wish the left D-Pad and control stick were swapped (I hate that about the PS2/PS3 controllers). I can\'t say I mind the cable having to connect to the Wii Remote to function much, but eliminating the need for it would be nice.

( Edited 11.07.2008 04:03 by MechaG2 )

Chance favors the prepared mind.

ohm on 11.07.2008 at 06:22#10

They could've shaped it like a GC controller...

trgdr777 on 11.07.2008 at 07:41#11

iCAME said:
They could've shaped it like a GC controller...

Then it would look really odd with a wiimote sticking out of it.

This was a good idea, but I still think it could have been clunky and/or unbalanced.

Phoenom on 11.07.2008 at 09:00#12

Most likely a possible Wavebird replacement. It's not as if Nintendo are breaking their backs making those things anymore. Smilie

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Mandown on 11.07.2008 at 10:10#13

It looks cool and makes a lot of sense, this will save a whole lot of money in maufacturing cost for the GC controller which they still sell in some regions.

dartmonkey on 11.07.2008 at 11:15#14

If Nintendo were to release a little dongle adapter thingy that allowed you to use a bona fide original controller with VC games (N64, SNES, GC, NES, and perhaps even third party controllers), it would be a significant advantage over other retro download services. Admittedly it would have limited appeal with their new installed user-base, but they're missing a trick by not releasing Wii-white versions of their past controllers. I'd get a white N64 one, and I don't even have any VC games!

Of course production costs might be an issue, but I'm sure they'd be priced accordingly. It would just be a nice little touch/homage to the past that gamers would appreciate.

Less posty, more gamey.