Nintendo confirms Wii Wavebird support

by Jason Wishnov { Sep 29th 2006 at 5:44PM }

Back when Nintendo first announced that the Wii would accept standard Gamecube controllers as a form of input device, there was the question of Wavebird compatibility. The Wavebird, the first truly effective wireless controller, requires a block "receiver" be plugged into the Gamecube, and since the ports on the Wii appear to be recessed into the system, many wondered if they would properly fit.

Wonder no more! Nintendojo had Nintendo representatives confirm Wavebird support, o' glorious day! You'll still need the receiver, however. Also mentioned was that the Gamecube controller can be used with "select Wii games" ... Super Smash Bros. Brawl sounds like a prime example, assuming we won't need to buy the classic controller to play it. Thanks, Nintendo.

[Thanks, Ritz and Nushio!]

Tags: controller, Gamecube, Input, Wavebird

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Exo @ Sep 29th 2006 5:49PM

HAH, I knew it.

You all argued with me in teh original blog, and I kept saying you would still need the receiver.

Common sense wins again!

Dracula Jones @ Sep 29th 2006 6:31PM

Maaaaan, I so wanted to flush that receiver down the toilet. Still good to hear a confirmation on Wavebird support, though.

Exo @ Sep 29th 2006 8:16PM

Why wouldnt there be support? we have known since E3 2005 that it would use cube controllers, that instantly means wavebird support.

metayoshi @ Sep 29th 2006 7:40PM

Dracula Jones: "I so wanted to flush that receiver down the toilet."

Saaaaame here. My receiver loves to just not work on me sometimes.

In any case, I was expecting this, but still... confirmation of wavebird support is a great thing.

Author X @ Sep 29th 2006 8:49PM

The wireless recievers are a bit bigger than regular controller plugs, and since the ports are recessed there was a chance you simply wouldn't be able to physically plug them in. The other question was, rather than could they be used as regular GCN controllers, could you just have the Wii recieve the signal directly without the reciever? To which the answer is a resounding no.

Marc @ Sep 29th 2006 10:59PM

"Super Smash Bros. Brawl sounds like a prime example, assuming we won't need to buy the classic controller to play it. Thanks, Nintendo."

Actually, I'd rather buy a VC controller to play GC games (since GC games are now PAST software, the VC controller SHOULD support GC games).

But about Brawl, why are we only limited to GC controllers? When will Nintendo say that Classic Controllers can be GC controller substitutes? I mean, any idiot can tell by looking at them that they both have the same buttons in the same locations (minus the primary analog stick).

Josh @ Sep 29th 2006 11:33PM

Marc, I agree. Reports keep coming in telling us that we can use GameCube controllers for games like Super Smash Bros. Brawl and Dragon Ball Z Budokai Tenkaichi 2, but I want to know if we can use the Classic Controller! Why be limited by the old design? The Classic Controller has more buttons...