[Mama Robotnik]

I'm not sure if this is threadworthy or not, but its such an obscure find I had to share it.

Do you remember the Resident Evil 4 Chainsaw Controller and the awesome Street Fighter 15th Anniversary pads?









They were made by a company called Nubytech, and designed by Alfredo Tato.

It seems Aldredo had a few other designs that didn't make it into production. As shown on his Behance portfolio, they had developed at least one "The Legend of Zelda Controller", complete with elaborate packaging and papers. Its certainly quite a sight.









The packaging is pretty damn amazing. I want this on my shelf! And the controller itself?



Not so much. After all that, I don't actually like it at all. Its pretty unpleasant. I'm particularly averse to the logo in the bottom-left. But its certainly an interesting novelty.

I assume the intention was to sell it alongside Twilight Princess, as all the art and logos are from that. Either Nintendo weren't interested, or perhaps they commisioned the controller and were unhappy with the result.

If you explore further into the linked portfolio you can find some Mortal Kombat controllers that I don't recall being released, and some clear images of the custom artwork of SF characters made for the controller packaging.

[Ninja Scooter]

Fugly as shit.

[Glix]

That is vile.

[Mama Robotnik]

Fugly as shit.

I think you've surmised Nintendo's reaction word for word upon seeing it.

[BocoDragon]

Lol smiley where art thou?

[crazy monkey]

i would buy it in heart beat

[Jive Turkey]

Yeah not only does that look like hell but I can't imagine it being any fun to use. The novelty of owning it would be cool though.

And is that a second Z button I see?

[Slayer-33]

Wtf is this shit.picard.jpg

[timetokill]

Packaging is good, but yeah, the controller leaves a lot to be desired.

[Bisnic]

This doesn't look confortable to hold at all.

[MikeE21286]

yikes...yeah, that book is 100x better than the controller. The controller's ugly as hell.

[enzo_gt]

Miyamoto: (laughs)

[Gravijah]

[tiff]

The mockup looks alright, but... yeesh.

At least they could have put the design on the shield.

[Scuba Steve]

colon laugh out loud

[Mama Robotnik]

yikes...yeah, that book is 100x better than the controller. The controller's ugly as hell.

The book-box packaging design would be awesome for a twentieth-anniverary Zelda compilation package. On my bookshelf it woud look amazing.

[radioheadrule83]

Give that thing normal GCN controller handles, get rid of the lame art on the left handle and the leather strap on the right handle, and then you're talkin'...

Sometimes less is more.

The book packaging design is beautiful though. Aside from the giant Gamecube logos.

[MikeE21286]

The book-box design would be awesome packaging for a twentieth-anniverary Zelda compilation package. On a bookshelf it woud look amazing.

I would definitely pay good money for that

[MisterHero]

I think it looks interesting but it's functionally unwieldy.

[Whimsical Phil]

So wait...the idea was to have a metal buckle digging into your right hand as you play?

Makes perfect sense.

[Gravijah]

So wait...the idea was to have a metal buckle digging into your right hand as you play?

SOUNDS LIKE PLAYING A NEWER ZELDA GAME TO ME AMIRITE

[USD]

So wait...the idea was to have a metal buckle digging into your right hand as you play? Makes perfect sense.

I'd assume it was removable, but the thing looks totally unnecessary regardless.

[Jive Turkey]

I bet the buckle would feel real nice during long sessions.

EDIT: Damn it Phil...

[aaaaaa]

I like the leather grip.

[Door2Dawn]

Looks fucking awesome

[Lunchbox]

looks like those 5 dollar knock off controllers

[I Push Fat Kids]

I still have that RE4 one sealed somewhere in a closet... Might be worth something. Might.

[Regulus Tera]

That packaging could serve as a limited edition case for Skyward Sword.

[Totobeni]

so even the controller was Southpaw, oh yeah I remember when Link was Left-handed, good days :(

[DonMigs85]

It looks like Link morphed into a controller. Maybe they shoulda modeled it after Midna's mask or the wolf instead.

[Why For?]

Would have bought it straight away.

It's not pretty, but I would have bought it regardless.

[lunarworks]

Why do they have to put art on these things?

A game-themed controller should just be designed in the style of the game.

[HalfwayOrb]

i think the glovey thing's just to be displayed or some shit, u take it off when u play.

[Chet Rippo]

It's a neat idea on paper, but the real thing is ugly as sin.

[Hot Coldman]

Probably got canned when TP became a Wii game as well.

[IrishNinja]

it'dve sat on a shelf next to the RE4, Dragon Quest, onimusha etc controllers.

unlike my wu-tang controller, which is fantastic and only lacks dual analogs, tragically.

[farnham]

i fully expected a wiimote and nunchuck for some reason

[Agent X]

If you explore further into the linked portfolio you can find some Mortal Kombat controllers that I don't recall being released, and some clear images of the custom artwork of SF characters made for the controller packaging.

The Mortal Kombat controllers were released.

[Mandoric]

The book-box packaging design would be awesome for a twentieth-anniverary Zelda compilation package. On my bookshelf it woud look amazing.

Err, thirtieth?

[RetroGreg]

I think it's really ugly. And I certainly don't miss the "C Nipple".

[drohne]

aka 'the gimp' -- who knows what horrors its leg-brace conceals

nb, this is still more of a zelda controller than a touchscreen or a wii remote

[Medalion]

The controller itself is ugly but I like that Zelda Book box?

[Slime]

Ugly clusterfuck. I like the box though.

[Bear]

Err, thirtieth?

The series is exactly a week short of 25 years from its first (Japanese) release, around 23 and a half years from it's NA release. NoA can probably still do a 25th anniversary, though I doubt they will.

[BowieZ]

There will be a master sword Wiimote for Skyward for sure.

[lethial]

Nice box but that is one ugly neckbeard display controller.

[gunstarhero]

Falls under the "so bad, it's good" column for me.

[BertramCooper]

They put a belt on a game controller.

Not enough Nomura has thought of that.

[John]

what the

[Mama Robotnik]

Thanks for the namecheck Kotaku. As per usual a gaffer discovers something, other sites write the articles taking the credit, and include a tiny link in the footnotes as way of acknowledgement. Yeah I'm whining and I'll shut up now.

The Mortal Kombat controllers were released.

I stand corrected.

Err, thirtieth?

We stand corrected.

Nice box but that is one ugly neckbeard display controller.

It looks like all the production values went into that beautiful box. The pad actually looks cheap, and thats its main problem. If it looked more like the render on the box, with a second belt-buckle thing instead of the silly Zelda logo, it would be more tolerable.