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[WildArms]

I love this controller. It feels so natural in my hand. I also like the different sizes of the buttons. The R and L buttons are also really cool, although they feel as if they were created just for Super Mario Sunshine and Luigi's Mansion. Are there any other games that make good use of them?

Also, with a lack of a Z button on the left, the GameCube controller has one button less than the PS2 controller (of course, if you do count Select, R3 and L3, then this number goes higher). Was there any reason a button wasn't put here? It seems a bit unnatural to not have a button there sometimes.

Either way I really enjoy using this controller and haven't had much problems with the D-Pad, as not many games use it anyway. Are there any games that use D-Pad as much as the analog stick?

Reason for this topic? Started playing GameCube games on my Wii. F-Zero GX is next :-D

 

[RiskyChris]

A better question is why did the GameCube controller have a right Z button?

 

[castle007]

because you touch yourself at night.

Actually I am pretty sure that the z button is special or something like that. And do you really want another button on this controller??

Besides, the way it was positioned wasn't comfortable at all

 

[Sharp]

I hate everything about the Gamecube controller. That it had no left Z button was the least of its problems.

 

[drohne]

same reason the buttons are funny shaped, and the right analog is a useless nipple -- that controller is a showpiece of meaningless idiosyncrasy

 

[RiskyChris]

I hate everything about the Gamecube controller. That it had no left Z button was the least of its problems.

I like it a lot, though I hate the massive analog triggers that some games use as digital switches.

Hey player, try to guess where the threshold is!

 

[Aokage]

I know it's not a very popular opinion, but I also liked the feel of the GC pad a lot.

I think the Z button was probably an artifact left over from the N64 Z trigger.

 

[Zombie James]

Also, with a lack of a Z button on the left, the GameCube controller has one button less than the PS2 controller (of course, if you do count Select, R3 and L3, then this number goes higher). Was there any reason a button wasn't put here? It seems a bit unnatural to not have a button there sometimes.

Lack of a symmetrical design was definitely it's main problem, imho.

 

[suaveric]

i think it did have a left Z button at one time.. or am i thinking of the Wii's classic controller, which seemed to flip-flop with having two z buttons?

 

[akachan ningen]

Having two Z buttons would make it symmetrical in a way, which isn't kooky enough for Nintendo. A better question is why couldn't they make Z a better-feeling button? It felt awful.

 

[RiskyChris]

I know it's not a very popular opinion, but I also liked the feel of the GC pad a lot.

I think the Z button was probably an artifact left over from the N64 Z trigger.

Otherwise known as the greatest button to ever grace a console pad.

 

[Gigglepoo]

A better question is why did the GameCube controller have a right Z button?

Yup, that was always a pain to hit.

Honestly, the controller has a lot of problems (no Z button, crappy C stick, tiny D pad, no analog stick clicks) but I still loved the thing. Almost all of my multi platform games are on the Gamecube because I preferred the controller.

 

[SantaC]

I have always loved the SNES pads the best.

 

[Juwanna Peezadis]

Another question is: "Why does the classic controller have a left z button?"

Spoiler

Playstation VC games. Believe.

 

[thetrin]

I know it's not a very popular opinion, but I also liked the feel of the GC pad a lot.

I think the Z button was probably an artifact left over from the N64 Z trigger.

I too enjoyed the GC controller, sans the d-pad.

The Z button was awkward and too clicky, but it wasn't bad for things like maps. It definitely wasn't designed to be used often.

 

[Tchu-Espresso]

To add a left z-button, they would of had to lay off 525 employees to alleviate the costs.

And after weighing things up, they decided to keep miyamotos nude masseurs instead.

 

[TrueReligion]

I love the GCN controller.

 

[USD]

The only thing that really mattered to me is that the GC controller worked very well for Nintendo's games and the other exclusives. That's why I don't have any problems with it.

 

[RiskyChris]

Yup, that was always a pain to hit.

Honestly, the controller has a lot of problems (no Z button, crappy C stick, tiny D pad, no analog stick clicks) but I still loved the thing. Almost all of my multi platform games are on the Gamecube because I preferred the controller.

Yeah, it's definitely my favorite controller of last generation.

The Z-button should be more akin to the shoulder buttons on a 360 controller. That's how you do a clicky button!

 

[Dark Ninja]

It was there just in case they were to release N64 games on the gamecube which they did

 

[hellclerk]

as long as i didnt have to use it much (which was often the case), i really didnt care. it was still the most egronomic controler of the last 20 years. only the 360 has beaten it in terms of traditional control design, and that was only this gen.

 

[Nabs]

the z-button wasn't an action button... just meant to call up maps and things of that nature. remember they said we'd be using the gamecube controller for the next 10 years? i guess its kinda true w/ the bc of the wii & the downloadable games.

 

[ElFly]

The only thing that really mattered to me is that the GC controller worked very well for Nintendo's games and the other exclusives. That's why I don't have any problems with it.

Yeah.

Sadly, it is godawful for SNES games, which is forcing my hand to get a classic controller :lol





More on topic, I hear the Z-Button was added at the last moment, on request of some developers who felt the thing didn't have enough buttons. It is a pain to press, at least initially. I've been coming to terms with it lately.

I would have been better if it were under the trigger, and if there were another on the left side.

And, when you consider the Wavebird, it was easily the best controller of the last gen, at least for the games designed with it in mind :lol

 

[Gigglepoo]

And, when you consider the Wavebird, it was easily the best controller of the last gen, at least for the games designed with it in mind :lol

I never got the Wavebird love. It didn't feel right to me. Plus, I missed the rumble.

 

[Firesprite121984]

I never got the Wavebird love. It didn't feel right to me. Plus, I missed the rumble.

The freedom pure and simple.

I missed rumble too, but six feet of cord is just way too short.

 

[Speevy]

Because Nintendo is mean, but not THAT mean.

 

[Capoeira]

It's because Zelda games don't need a left z button, duh.

 

[guldakot]

It really was a comfortable controller to hold, but actually using it to play games was a bit tough. Especially SC2 and CapcomVSSnk. God that digital pad was garbage

 

[Speevy]

:lol If someone needs proof that there is something seriously wrong with the Gamecube controller, play Gladius.

 

[DSN2K]

I swear Nintendo simply made the pad different just to be different, makes no sense at all in design.

 

[RiskyChris]

I swear Nintendo simply made the pad different just to be different, makes no sense at all in design.

It doesn't? The fact that the left kidney button (X?) rests perfectly at the tip of your thumb while hovering over A is not a smart design decision? You can roll your finger to easily hit Y (the right kidney).

The face buttons were amazing in design, much better than the 360's controller.

 

[Speevy]

The face buttons were amazing in design, much better than the 360's controller.

0_o

The 360 controller uses Nintendo's own sensible design which has been a controller mainstay ever since.

Try going from the B button to Y or X, or executing complicated button presses.


Not to mention that practically any genre is crippled by it. Play Tony Hawk with the Cube controller, or SSX.

 

[Kevtones]

It was as useful as the trigger clicks.

 

[ElFly]

I never got the Wavebird love. It didn't feel right to me. Plus, I missed the rumble.

Actually, the Wavebird made me realize how gimmicky is the rumble. I was one of the crazy people who felt the PS3 controller lacking it and adding motion control was a good idea :lol

 

[RiskyChris]

0_o

The 360 controller uses Nintendo's own sensible design which has been a controller mainstay ever since.

Try going from the B button to Y or X, or executing complicated button presses.


Not to mention that practically any genre is crippled by it. Play Tony Hawk with the Cube controller, or SSX.

Ah, you have a point there, though I don't think it's any more difficult than going from X to B on the 360 controller.

 

[Armitage]

The GC controller was great for Nintendo games and terrible for just about everything else.

 

[davepoobond]

i really hate that button

 

[FightyF]

The Z button was ****ing horrible. It's a good thing there wasn't two of those bastards.

 

[dude]

The GCN controller was my favorite, but I don't own a Gamecube, so maybe it's because I used it a lot less.

 

[Secks4Food]

Because you don't need two buttons to pull up a map/inventory/or whatever the hell else that usually went to the select/back buttons.

 

[farnham]

there are two problems with the GC controller (which is a very good controller imo)

1. the Z button
2. the d - pad


the Z button feels unnatural and cannot be called comfortable.. but it gets its job done


the D pad however is a complete missconception... the placing is okay.. but it is so stiff that you just cant play with it..

 

[slidewinder]

Miyamoto ran out of mushrooms before he got around to it.

 

[gimz]

you heard nintendo, least buttons are better

 

[Lobster]

you heard nintendo, least buttons are better

Who would've thunk it?

 

[Vagabundo]

Actually, the Wavebird made me realize how gimmicky is the rumble. I was one of the crazy people who felt the PS3 controller lacking it and adding motion control was a good idea :lol

You are crazy if you believe that rumble was removed because motion was added.

 

[big_z]

I'm surprised no one so far knows the story behind the z button.

Originally there was going to be no z-button at all because nintendo wanted to keep the controller simple and easy to use. However developers bitched a shit load just before release demanding more buttons to make porting easier... nintendo gave in and the z-button was added. That's why there's no left z-button and why it feels like a pos compared to the rest of the controller. It was a last minute addition.

 

[RiskyChris]

I'm surprised no one so far knows the story behind the z button.

Originally there was going to be no z-button at all because nintendo wanted to keep the controller simple and easy to use. However developers bitched a shit load just before release demanding more buttons to make porting easier... nintendo gave in and the z-button was added. That's why there's no left z-button and why it feels like a pos compared to the rest of the controller. It was a last minute addition.

Damn you, Nintendo.

 

[ElFly]

You are crazy if you believe that rumble was removed because motion was added.

I don't think that. I thought it was a good side effect of the crazy lawsuits :lol

On the other hand, that was one of the few things I liked about the PS3. Oh, the Bluetooth remote for the Bluray player is hella cool too.

 

[ElFly]

It really was a comfortable controller to hold, but actually using it to play games was a bit tough. Especially SC2 and CapcomVSSnk. God that digital pad was garbage

I actually did 720° moves and in fact almost all the super moves on it easily*. The real problem was the buttons.


*Except those Guile/Chunli flash kick supers. I've never been able to pull out those consistently on any controller, even the arcade :lol

 

[FightyF]

I'm surprised no one so far knows the story behind the z button.

Originally there was going to be no z-button at all because nintendo wanted to keep the controller simple and easy to use. However developers bitched a shit load just before release demanding more buttons to make porting easier... nintendo gave in and the z-button was added. That's why there's no left z-button and why it feels like a pos compared to the rest of the controller. It was a last minute addition.

They should have thought it through a bit more. The problem with the Z button is that it has a hinge on one side. So it is non-responsive if you hit the part of the button nearer to the middle of the controller.

If it were like ANY other button featured on ANY other Nintendo console, it wouldn't have been that bad.