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Classic Controller and N64

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    Classic Controller and N64

    I recently purchased a classic controller for VC games as the layout of a GC controller doesn't quite feel right for SNES stuff, ie. when holding b to run and a to jump. For SNES games the classic controller is great - it's essentially a SNES controller with analog sticks right?

    For N64 games, however, the button layout is ridiculous. On a regular N64 controller the b button is diagonally up-left from the a button. You'd think Nintendo would just map it to the classic controller in a similar fashion, ie. a-b would map to b-y or a-x. But no, as I'm sure many here know, they have mapped a to a and b to b. Why?!? This makes playing virtually every N64 game that I've played over the years on the real machine impossible on the classic controller. In Smash Bros. I instinctively go to the up-left button to do my special move and Mario 64 is equally hard to play. It's just not a button layout that any game (I've played) has ever used. Everyone knows that jump is supposed to be on the bottom button!

    I imagine they did this because the buttons on the classic controller are labelled a-b-x-y so when an N64 game says "press a to continue" it makes sense. But people know they're not playing the game on its original system so I'm sure they'd be able to figure it out. Nintendo could have just made the buttons different colours and explained in the instructions how the buttons on various systems match up to the colours. Or they could have just allowed us to customise the controls. I've played around enough with emulators to know that would have been a pretty trivial task.

    I imagine it's just as difficult to play NES games with it but I use the Wiimote for those. So now I guess it's back to using the GC controller for N64 games, which for some reason seems to work fine with them. Perhaps it's the big a button which screams "I am the main button, jump with me!" Has anyone else had the same problem when using the classic controller on N64 games? Did you get over it?

    #2
    Haven't played many N64 games on the Virtual Console but I never understood why Nintendo don't allow for custom mapping buttons when the emulated console original pad has less buttons that your pad or choice (like the Megadrive).

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      #3
      I've read about an adapter for using N64/SNES/NES controllers with the Wii. I just had a look for it and it seems it has yet to be released, but you can read about it here:

      CNET is the world's leader in tech product reviews, news, prices, videos, forums, how-tos and more.

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        #4
        Just a little news on this front.

        That converter exists now, as this ebay selller is listing a few:


        However, for N64 controllers, it will swap the L & Z buttons around, and with no option to button map, it will frustrate N64 Wii virtual arcade players.

        The only other option is this ebay seller selling a modified N64 controller:


        How it works is that by default when plugged in the L & Z buttons are swapped (much like the adaptor above) however, by holding the L button before the Wii is powered on (or before you plug this into the Gamcube controller port) it will swap the buttons around, so you will get 1-1 button configurations in Wii N64 ports.

        It's quite pricey for what its worth, so i thought I'd give a heads up to those interested.

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