Revolution to affect third-party accessories
IGN
talks with peripheral maker NubyTech, known for its acclaimed Resident Evil chainsaw controllers. The interview looks
into how third-party accessory manufacturers might be affected by Nintendo's Revolution console. From the article:
"... because one of the features of the Revolution will be to download previous content that Nintendo released
back in the 8-bit/16-bit days, there is the opportunity to work with a retro-based controller. That is in the mind of
other third party manufactures too..."[Thanks, Buttonbasher]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Jago @ Jan 22nd 2006 5:09AM
Sorry but the ONLY time I have actually bought a 3rd party controller AND not regreted it were the controllers wireless controllers designed by Logitech for the PS2 and Xbox.
I would rather go with proven quality and solid design then another companies "me too" controller.
designerwhite @ Jan 22nd 2006 5:31AM
What I did, for the N64 and cube, was buy 3 1st party controllers and 1 third party, saving maybe 10, 15 bucks. Since I seldom had 4 players the "bad" controller was the least used. Also, when there were 4 people, the best player would be saddled with it as a handicap. yeah... they're usually pretty bad.
takao @ Jan 22nd 2006 5:55AM
yeah same here...i'm sticking with original ones because in the past they were really bad.. and i'm not really interested in gambling "perhaps the controller is good or perhaps not"
captain_duck @ Jan 22nd 2006 8:12AM
what they really should be thinking of is creating a sword & shield controller so we can play zelda in style ;)
Branewalker @ Jan 22nd 2006 8:16AM
Well, the only time *I* bought a third party controller and didn't regret it was the Asciiware Superpad for the SNES, but I think that might have been a licensed accessory. Can someone else back me up on this?
I think the Logitech pads for Xbox and PS2 were licensed as well.
I take that back! I bought a pelican or madcatz, controller to rip apart and build an all-digital arcade stick for my Gamecube (plays Soul Calibur and Ikaruga great!). That was a $10 purchase I didn't regret. And I would suggest that to others, since the Ninty controllers have a heckuva lot of carbon on some really small copper contacts, so the solder doesn't stick well. The off-brand ones have plenty of copper, and the one I got had little spots next to the button contacts where you can solder to!
Back on topic, though. I certainly wouldn't mind getting a controller for classic gaming. I fully expect someone to come up with an N64-to-gamecube adapter before too long, so you can play those games on an original controller. In fact, why not just do that, and forget the controllers completely?
But if any off-brand controllers come out that fully mimic the Rev, I really don't think there is a remote chance that they will be any good.
Jay @ Jan 22nd 2006 8:35AM
I've found any non-Nintendo controller to be a pain. Well, cept the Xbox S controller. PC, 3rd party Nintendo/Sega etc just never ever felt good. No matter if I was paying 5 or 50.
I've stuck with a Dual Shock style controller for my PC, which does have a high build quality and is comfy. but it's not that great (too many buttons etc)
Hunting_Phoenix @ Jan 22nd 2006 9:48AM
It really depends on what you're using the controller for! For example, I got a two pack of Pelican Eclipse Wireless II's for like $30-40. I played through KOTOR with one, and loved it. I use one of those when playing Morrowind, too. Now for Rainbow Six: 3, they won't cut it, as they're just not as precise as the Controller S. Same goes for Prince of Persia: Sands of Time.
I would agree that the core controller for the Revolution will probably be tough to live up to, and I probably won't buy too many 3rd party controllers in the future, but sometimes they really aren't so bad to use. It depends a lot on what you're playing.
AJ @ Jan 22nd 2006 9:51AM
Well if nintendo only makes the shell, and these 3rd party companies make shells that look like each console I would consider buying them.
ScottE @ Jan 22nd 2006 1:01PM
"NubyTech"
Did anyone else notice that the companies name was newbie (or n0bZ0rZ if you prefer) tech?
Jago @ Jan 22nd 2006 3:38PM
Jay (#6)
You should check out the Xbox 360 wired controller. That is quite possibly the greatest PC controller...period! Sure it might be slightly pricey ($40) but you don't need an adapter to get it to work. Just download the driver from Microsoft and you're ready to go.
Probot @ Jan 22nd 2006 4:41PM
"I would rather go with proven quality and solid design then another companies "me too" controller." - Jago
That's why NubyTech isn't doing that. In the interview, which is linked in the post, they said they're working with Nintendo to make unique controllers, like they did with the RE4 Chainsaw. Their goal is to target is collecters and series fans, not just make cheaper, clone controllers.
Personally, I'd love to see an Resident Evil shotgun controller for the Rev.
And since they are working directly with Nintendo, we might see exact replicas of retro controllers, rather than cheap knockoffs. I wouldn't mind paying for that.
I too have purchased cheap, and poorly-performing 3rd party controllers, but NubyTech is getting an official lisence. And they say Nintendo has "very stringent requirements to meet because of their standards," so hopefully that means we'll be getting some accountablity from this company.
(Hmm, if I ever wanted a PR job at NubyTech, I could just show them this post.)
Jago @ Jan 22nd 2006 5:20PM
"If" they do old controllers, they HAVE TO be IDENTICAL to the old NES, SNES and N64 controllers.
By identical I mean use the exact same molds...lol...
A wireless NES controller would be freakin sweet tho.
RadarScope1 @ Jan 22nd 2006 11:43PM
There should be more wireless retro controllers. But I hate cheap knock-offs, too. I really want to check out the wireless NES pads from Messiah. I know the Generation NEX console was a lump of steaming turd, but I've read some good things about their 2.4Gz controllers. Have any Joystiq readers out there used one of these things?
jadenguy @ Jan 22nd 2006 11:57PM
hori is the best third/second party developer ever.
Princess Zelda @ Jan 23rd 2006 9:19AM
I'll probably buy the hori Gamecube Digital contoller to use with downloaded NES, SNES games. If revoulution lets us use the Gamecube controller port for the downloaded games.
I finally found a Canadian website that stocks them :)
www.videogamesplus.ca
Otherwise I still have my NES and SNES controllers, I really just need an adapter for Revolution gamecube port.
DG @ Jan 23rd 2006 9:42AM
Was anyone else naive enough to think that by buying a third party controller with a "slow-mo" function, that it would actually slow the game down? I remember playing Mortal Kombat on Genesis, trying to slow things down, instead just blocking a lot (the start button was used to block on the original three button controller). I felt like such an idiot.
There was a controll called the Genesis 6-button GamePad Pro, which was by far my favorite 16-bit controller. When I moved to Saturn, the Sega controllers were so perfect as to make third-party accessories unnecessary.
Jago @ Jan 23rd 2006 7:37PM
Saturn controllers perfect...on which planet?
I own a Saturn and have 3 different types of controllers. I have the one that was released in the US, the updated version based on the Japanese version and the 3D controller. All 3 of them felt super cheap in one or another.
Rob Welkner @ Jan 23rd 2006 11:21PM
We had a chance to look around the NubyTech office and check out some of their gear and it seems really cool. We recently ran a promotion with them on the site - you can see some of their products in episode 27 with their lovely marketing coordinator.
http://www.coin-op.tv/