Has Nintendo stopped Gamecube accesory production?

[Atariboy]

And they also only have about 10 stores last I checked. I saw a ton of Wavebirds a couple months ago in Canada at a Wal-Mart after hearing they were impossible to find anymore at boards like AVS, DP, and this one, and finally got one, doesn't mean thats typical of anywhere else.

 

Up here in upstate NY, wired 1st party GameCube controllers disappeared early in 2007 for some reason. I tried a ton of places hoping to get another one for a spare before they disappeared and was too late. Your mileage may vary, but I suspect at this late point they won't be available at a lot of stores.

[nathanallan]

A few notes, I also have the Pelican GB controller, I think I paid 6.99 for it.

Just in case anyone wants to pick up one, can you tell us how it does? Quality and feel wise?

 

Nathan

[DragonmasterDan]

A few notes, I also have the Pelican GB controller, I think I paid 6.99 for it.

Just in case anyone wants to pick up one, can you tell us how it does? Quality and feel wise?

 

Nathan

 

The D-Pad is 8 way directional and is a little bit looser than I would like. It feels alright. I'm certain the Hori controller is probably better but when you consider the difference in price this may be a better value.

 

Added in edit: Here's a picture of the Pelican.

Edited February 1, 2008 by DragonmasterDan

[joeybastard]

I was in an EB last night and they had quite a few GC controllers and even a couple of used wavebirds.

[+wood_jl]

Wavebirds are only $14.99 at "Gamestop."

 

They price them THE SAME as regular Gamecube controllers. They also do not distinguish between Nintendo brand controllers and off-brand controllers.

 

What that means is that if you can find one, a Nintendo-brand Wavebird is the same price as an off-brand wired controller (or a Nintendo wired, or off-brand wired, etc).

 

I'm stocked up now! What a deal!! Just be SURE to check the free play on the analog stick and make sure it's reasonably tight. I had to take ONE back and get a refund, then found a nice, tight replacement at another Gamestop.

 

Wii lovers, don't be offended, but I don't want to flail my arms around when playing videogames, thanks. I'll go do the real thing if I'm not lazy enough to be playing videogames. I also don't want my controller split in half with a little wire between them. Both hands on one controller allows one to hang on to the controller and relax the arms. When I want a real workout, I play racquetball or get on a bicycle. Therefore, I think the Wavebird is the ultimate evolution in Nintendo controllers, and for $15 a steal.

 

The fact that Gamecube graphics are equivalent to Wii graphics, yet Gamecube stuff is dirt cheap, makes Gamecube stuff quite a bargain. Never realized how good the Gamecube was, until I saw they were able to sell the same thing (almost) with gimmicky controllers as a new system to an unsuspecting public. Guess they were going for the "mass market" who has no idea what "1080p" means anyhow. Any my, how they've succeeded.

[Vic George 2K3]

I just got a like-new Gamecube from Amazon.com, and I bought a used copy of Legend Of Zelda: The Wind Waker to test it out. It works. Now I'm waiting for a Gameboy Player with bootup disk and a memory card from eBay.

[nathanallan]

I just got a like-new Gamecube from Amazon.com, and I bought a used copy of Legend Of Zelda: The Wind Waker to test it out. It works. Now I'm waiting for a Gameboy Player with bootup disk and a memory card from eBay.

You are gonna LOVE the gameboy player! Tip from experience, put the startup disk in a regular case, the little clear one they give you tends to get lost easy.

[+wood_jl]

I just got a like-new Gamecube from Amazon.com, and I bought a used copy of Legend Of Zelda: The Wind Waker to test it out. It works. Now I'm waiting for a Gameboy Player with bootup disk and a memory card from eBay.

 

 

Gameboy player is totally awesome. I can't believe they gave it up. I can't believe they didn't make it work on the Wii.

 

It's worth it for Advance Wars alone. I am so used to playing Advance Wars 1 and 2 on a television that I can hardly get excited about playing a new version on a DS screen.

 

If they'd make a DS-player for the Wii, I'd probably have to have one eventually.

 

But the industry seems to be abandoning backwards compatibility. How much more would it have cost for the DS to play Gameboy Color (and earlier) games? Why doesn't the Gameboy Pocket play old Gameboy games?

Gamespot had a news story month or so back that a new Nintedo patent on another iteration of the DS has been filed, which means it may be in the works. It abandons Gameboy Advance compatibility completely.

 

I guess so you'll buy the simplest games that you still have and like - all over again - or "rent" them on a virtual console-type of thing.

[Vic George 2K3]

I just got my Gameboy Player in today, and so far I'm pleased with it. It can even play my SuperCard SD cartridge, which means I can play my converted ColecoVision, NES, SMS, Game Gear, and MSX games on the Gamecube.

[MCHufnagel]

Gameboy player is totally awesome. I can't believe they gave it up. I can't believe they didn't make it work on the Wii.

The way the GBPlayer fit into the Gamecube would make it a problem logistically making it fit into the Wii. Also, the Gameboy series is basically finished. Why would Nintendo spend the money to engineer a GBPlayer to fit the Wii when they wouldn't be A) selling many or B) any at all?

[+wood_jl]

Gameboy player is totally awesome. I can't believe they gave it up. I can't believe they didn't make it work on the Wii.

The way the GBPlayer fit into the Gamecube would make it a problem logistically making it fit into the Wii. Also, the Gameboy series is basically finished. Why would Nintendo spend the money to engineer a GBPlayer to fit the Wii when they wouldn't be A) selling many or B) any at all?

 

Well, seeing as how the Wii is "Gamecube compatible" it likely wouldn't have been a challenge electronically to do it. So they choose to make the Wii physically incompatible with Gamecube accessories by standing it on it's side for a "cool new look" which helps (in the eyes of the technically-challenged) ameliorate it's "Gamecube 1.5" status. Why do it? (1)Reward the few loyal fools who bought a Gamecube last generation. Because the Game Boy Player is awesome, and (2) it'd be one more reason for me to upgrade to a Wii. (3) So the Gameboy series is finished? Silly me, I was still having fun with it. I suppose I should declare it a piece of shit and shitcan it in some obligatory fashion. Gamecube is finished too; why don't you apply the same logic to Wii's backwards-compatibility with Gamecube? Is Gamecube any LESS finished than GBA? Probably more so. At any rate, how ridiculous (to you) to want your Gamecube accessories to work with your new Gamecube-compatible Nintendo. What an assinine expectation!!! I guess wanting the GC controllers to function as classic controllers can go in the same boat.

 

Since it's important to have the latest stuff and show it to others and brag, why not a "DS player" for the Gamecube? Oh yeah, that's right....the Gameboy player SUCKED HARD in reality, and anyone who still enjoys it and wants for its longevity is full of shit, as would anyone who likes playing the same game on the big screen at home and small screen on the go. What a novel concept....oh but nobody would buy one.. Ok, now we understand where you're coming from.....carry on.

[MCHufnagel]

Gameboy player is totally awesome. I can't believe they gave it up. I can't believe they didn't make it work on the Wii.

The way the GBPlayer fit into the Gamecube would make it a problem logistically making it fit into the Wii. Also, the Gameboy series is basically finished. Why would Nintendo spend the money to engineer a GBPlayer to fit the Wii when they wouldn't be A) selling many or B) any at all?

 

Well, seeing as how the Wii is "Gamecube compatible" it likely wouldn't have been a challenge electronically to do it. So they choose to make the Wii physically incompatible with Gamecube accessories by standing it on it's side for a "cool new look" which helps (in the eyes of the technically-challenged) ameliorate it's "Gamecube 1.5" status. Why do it? (1)Reward the few loyal fools who bought a Gamecube last generation. Because the Game Boy Player is awesome, and (2) it'd be one more reason for me to upgrade to a Wii. (3) So the Gameboy series is finished? Silly me, I was still having fun with it. I suppose I should declare it a piece of shit and shitcan it in some obligatory fashion. Gamecube is finished too; why don't you apply the same logic to Wii's backwards-compatibility with Gamecube? Is Gamecube any LESS finished than GBA? Probably more so. At any rate, how ridiculous (to you) to want your Gamecube accessories to work with your new Gamecube-compatible Nintendo. What an assinine expectation!!! I guess wanting the GC controllers to function as classic controllers can go in the same boat.

 

Since it's important to have the latest stuff and show it to others and brag, why not a "DS player" for the Gamecube? Oh yeah, that's right....the Gameboy player SUCKED HARD in reality, and anyone who still enjoys it and wants for its longevity is full of shit, as would anyone who likes playing the same game on the big screen at home and small screen on the go. What a novel concept....oh but nobody would buy one.. Ok, now we understand where you're coming from.....carry on.

I hope you're not implying that I feel that the GBPlayer was stupid or useless. Nowhere in my statement did I mention that. I have one with my cube and I love it! But a company needs to be practical. Does Nintendo even make GBA games anymore? I think only 3rd party games are coming out now. If a company no longer makes a product, you really can't expect them to support it. Companies are in business to make money. I can find Genesis and Dreamcast games at a local shop, but should I expect Sega to make consoles to play those games?

 

I haven't measured them against each other, but it looks to me that the Wii is around the same size as the GBPlayer. Too much money to invest in developing a way to hook them up together and not enough return. Smart companies don't spend money that can't be recovered.

 

I tell everyone who'll listen to pick up a Gamecube with a GBPlayer. The cost of them together used is less than the price of new game.

[Bilnick]

Nintendo could have just integrated a GBA and/or DS slot in addition to a SD slot. My guess is that the Gameboy Player was not a big success on the Gamecube, so they saw little advantage in designing the Wii so that it also could play portable games.

 

Nintendo can probably sell GBA games on the VC and make more money than any GBA player would have made anyway.

[Crimefighter]

Excuse me...the problem putting the DS on a Wii is that the DS is a touch screen...you can't do that using motion controllers!

[Gregory DG]

Excuse me...the problem putting the DS on a Wii is that the DS is a touch screen...you can't do that using motion controllers!

Why not?

[+wood_jl]

Ok, some very good points brought up in this thread.

 

I think, however, that it should be said one of the coolest things about the Gameboy Player was the ability to play the **EXACT SAME** game on both a handheld and at home.

 

The Super Nintendo games - Donkey Kong Country 1/2/3 and Yoshi's Island are completely awesome in this regard. After getting stuck/giving up at one point, having the ability to either play it mobile after being stuck at home, or play it at home after getting stuck on the bus - is a priceless aspect of the Gameboy player.

 

It seems we shall never again see a system that allows you that freedom and choice. Mobility, and while at home, a huge screen and *comfortable* controller.

 

I suppose that loss is the basis for my disappointment.

 

BTW: If you ever see a Gameboy Player disc (loose) for sale and it's reasonably priced ($5 in my case), buy it and you can get a Gameboy Player that's missing the disc for CHEAP on Ebay. That's what I did for a second GB Player.

 

The only thing left to do is hook all the crap up to play a battle of Advance Wars with 2 Gamecubes/GB Players, TVs, etc. Anybody ever tried anything that ridiculous?

Edited February 12, 2008 by wood_jl

[Bilnick]

Excuse me...the problem putting the DS on a Wii is that the DS is a touch screen...you can't do that using motion controllers!

 

Sure you could. Use the Wii remote to move a virtual stylus around the screen and press a button to "touch" the screen.

 

 

The Gameboy player was a neat add on for the Gamecube, but in this day of reselling old games at inflated prices, I think the days of Gameboy players, Master System adaptors, and probably even backwards compatability will go way of the dodo bird.

[Vic George 2K3]

The only thing I don't like about the Gameboy Player accessory is its need to have a boot disc to start up a game everytime you want to play a Gameboy, Gameboy Color, or Gameboy Advance cartridge. It would have been better if it had a special kind of memory card that the system would have detected in order to run the Gameboy Player.

[joeybastard]

Excuse me...the problem putting the DS on a Wii is that the DS is a touch screen...you can't do that using motion controllers!

 

Sure you could. Use the Wii remote to move a virtual stylus around the screen and press a button to "touch" the screen.

 

 

The Gameboy player was a neat add on for the Gamecube, but in this day of reselling old games at inflated prices, I think the days of Gameboy players, Master System adaptors, and probably even backwards compatability will go way of the dodo bird.

 

The Wii remotes are no where near as precise as using the stylus used on the touchscreen. I think most games would be a disaster to try to control if they're stylus heavy.

[Vic George 2K3]

Speaking of Gamecube accessories...I just got a PlayStation 2 controller adapter for use with my Gamecube, and so far gameplay has somewhat improved now that I'm using PS2 controllers rather than the totally weird (and not quite comfortable) Gamecube controllers.

[Gregory DG]

Speaking of Gamecube accessories...I just got a PlayStation 2 controller adapter for use with my Gamecube, and so far gameplay has somewhat improved now that I'm using PS2 controllers rather than the totally weird (and not quite comfortable) Gamecube controllers.

I've been using this controller as my GameCube controller on my Wii and I love it.