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Cheap Classic Controller alternative for wire haters, master thrusters

by Eric Caoili on Dec 8th 2007 6:00PM

Whenever accessory manufacturer Thrustmaster comes up in conversation -- and it often does -- we can't help but imagine the Simpsons' Duff Man character stabbing the air with his pelvis. So, if you hear us suddenly yell out, "Oh yeah!" now you understand what provoked our involuntary impulse.

Despite the distracting nature of its company name, Thrustmaster successfully put together an acceptable alternative to Nintendo's Classic Controller and WaveBird with several advantages over its first-party competition:

Togglable rumble via switch
Doesn't depend on a Wii remote hookup for wireless functionality, using a GameCube port dongle instead
Xbox-like shoulder button layout
Turbo and slow modes
Mappable buttons

Best of all, Dell's online shop is currently selling Thrustmaster's T-Wireless NW Gamepad for only $13.59 ($19.99 MSRP) until December 13th! Check out more photos from IGN's favorable review past the break. Oh yeah!

[Thanks, Dave]

Source

Tags: classic-controller, dell, dongle, duff-man, gamecube, sale, simpsons, t-wireless, thrustmaster

Reader Comments (37)

When you said, "until December 13th", I thought you meant at the sale price.

I can't find this thing anywhere now, Dell or otherwise.

its just a wireless gamecube controller

Do you know if this controller will work with the gamecube console?

its a gcn donge, most of the time, that would work as a gcn controller

Soooo... it's a Game-Cube controller with remapable buttons? It would be better if it could also be used as a classic controller. It's just under the level of a must have. Although the remapable buttons is tres cool. Something that the VC is lacking for NO GOOD REASON.

How could it NOT be used as a wireless Classic Controller? The GameCube pad plays VC games just fine.

You're quite welcome. Looking forward to using this...

The Wavebird is still better..

The Wavebird's DPad is useless crap.

Although, like the Classic Controller, this one isn't truly wireless (although the wire in this case in on the opposite end of the wireless connection). What idiot would design a wireless receiver to be on the end of a wire?

The kind of idiot who thinks people might not want giant rectangular boxes sticking out of their consoles.

The Wavebird is still better..

I'd be a little more interested if it didn't retain the CC/PS analog configuration. That left analog needs to swap places with the non-dpad there.

That's called a gamecube controller. The entire point of the classic controller is to have the d-pad easier to reach, for the 8 and 16-bit games.

I wonder if this can be used as a straight gamecube controller, as the price is nice at 14 bucks, and I need a fourth controller for Mario Kart.

I really love my Wavebird, as long as I'm gonna have to have a dongle sticking out of the Gamecube port. But the remappable buttons make this pretty desirable.... and cheaper than the Gamestop-branded Wavebird knockoff I bought as a second controller. Might have to give it a shot.

I was going to get it, but I heard it runs on 3 AA batteries.

I don't know about you guys, but I like my accessories running on an even number of batteries.

yeah, that's another downer.
I see it like this at the moment

PROS
-wireless
-GC & VC support
-rumble for GC games (wavebird lacks it)
-remappable buttons
-price
-availability

CONS
-UGLY
-UGLY UGLY DONGLE
-3 batteries :/

overall, i think it's worth the purchase, but that dongle... i just HATE IT.

And a quick question, am i the only one here who just HATES HATES HATES the classic controller's shoulder buttons? you have to press them so much until they reach the point where they click, why did they do them like that? it's the first controller i see it has that kind of buttons, they don't make sense. Everything else about it seems fine to me though.

@Carlos:

So you've never used a Gamecube controller?

actually not, never had a gamecube, but i've been looking for one without any luck cause i recently got metroid prime from a friend. I was hoping for this one as a solution but... i don't know.

What makes the gamecube/classic controller triggers unique is they are analog and digital. They detect a gradient of input before that click. Try it in a game like fzero, when you press a shoulder slightly it banks the vehicle slightly and more and more up until that click.

"What makes the gamecube/classic controller triggers unique is they are analog and digital."

Actually, the XBOX and XBOX360 controllers' triggers are analog too (and so are their face buttons, actually). Takes some getting used to if you're used to PS/PS2 digital toggles, but useful for some things (rocket launcher lock-on in Halo, for example).

I may get this just for the fact that it has mappable buttons...

Thanks for the heads up! Definitely picking one up. I look forward to playing Ocarina of Time with actual C /buttons/ and non-squishy shoulder buttons...

Meh. I want someone to figure out a workaround (or Nintendo to change the firmware) so that the classic controller (or any controller hooked up to the Wiimote) can play GameCube games. Oh, and while I'm at it, be able to exit a GameCube game without resetting the Wii. And a pony.

Nothing, not even mappable buttons, can justify the ribbed sides of that thing.

The description on the box and the site say that it is compatible with Gamecube games. At a little over $14, and rumble included, that's a solid buy right there.

And the site that the author of this article so lovingly directed us to? They're offering free shipping as well. Get on that, y'all. Those things won't last.

Thrustmaster Product Page: http://www.thrustmaster.com/product.aspx?ProductID=95&PlatformID=10

Dell Product Page: http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/products/Gaming_Accessories/productdetail.aspx?sku=A1302857

Yes, it requires 3 AAA batteries. The fact that this controller requires triple-A batteries instead of double-A batteries is worse for me, since I have have rechargeable double-As (and the recharger doesn't take triple-As).

Whoops, didn't see that they linked to the Dell page using the Read link.

And, I also just discovered that my battery recharger DOES support AAA batteries. Looks like I'll have to get this.

Well I went ahead and ordered one. We only have 3 controllers for our Gamecube, and need a fourth for Mario Kart. Hope it works. I think I might like finishing Twilight Princess (GC) with this thing as well, as the rumble will be nice.

$16.99: http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/productdetail.aspx?sku=A1302857&s=biz
$14.44: http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/productdetail.aspx?sku=A1302857&s=dhs
$13.59: http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/productdetail.aspx?sku=A1302857&s=bsd

Dell is starting to annoy me.

so will it work for Geometry Wars?

So you can play Soul Calibur 2 without crazy controls. Excellent

Sweet, count me in. *hates wires*

You know, with the mappable buttons, the GC Mega Man Anniversary Collection becomes the best version available! ^ ^

Been looking for a cheap, reliable wireless Gamecube controller with rumble. With discount and free shipping, why not?

Now I can re-play Metroid Prime in style and comfort. Well, comfort anyway!

Any one know if this controller will work with the nintendo gamecube console?

Please let me know if you ever find out if the controller works with the gamecube console. I need to get one for my gamecube too!

Breaking News

Cheap Classic Controller alternative for wire haters, master thrusters

Reader Comments (37)

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