Topic: How Nintendo must solve analog vs digital trigger conflict

By now we all know the Nintendo Switch has digital triggers. I'm cool with this — I think for most games digital triggers are preferable to analog. For example, think about jump or item in Mario Kart, or ground pound in a 3d mario game, each of these are actions for which digital triggers are definitely better suited. However, there are some games that depend on analog triggers for a good control experience. The main genre where this is the case is realistic to semi-realistic racing games. It would be dumb for Nintendo to limit itself from such games, especially when there is a very simple solution: the GameCube controller!

Nintendo must at some point release a GameCube controller adapter for Nintendo Switch. This will provide the legendary control layout for Super Smash Bros. It will allow for potential GameCube virtual console. And, it provides a means for third parties to make games relying on analog triggers. Unlike the GameCube adapter for Wii U, Nintendo should allow for and market to 3rd parties that the GameCube controller can be used for their games. I'm not suggesting the GameCube controller be supported by all or even most Switch games. But let's say we get a Need for Speed on Switch, for example, it could support Switch joycons and pro controller (w/ buttons doing full gas and full brake), but for those wanting precise accel / brake control, they could support the GameCube controller.

This would provide the best of both worlds — digital triggers for the majority of games where they're preferable, and analog triggers (on a beloved fan favorite controller) for the handful of games that need them.

I don't see the argument for a digital trigger EVER being better than an analog for the reason is that, if necessary, an analog trigger can act like a digital trigger, but the reverse can never be true.

There are newer, better controllers out there, just let the gamecube controller die. Learn to use something different.

Or a new controller with analog triggers?

I think it's a good idea, especially for the inevitable Smash release, but I'm a bit unsure about how you'd neatly attach a GC Controller to a Switch while preserving portability - which is about 50% of the console's appeal. Unless they released wireless GC controllers, it seems a bit awkward. They could get away with a clunky adapter in the Wii U days, because it was just a clunky box that wasn't going anywhere.

@Maxz There's a pretty simple solution. Make the GC controller adapter that came with Smash Wii U available and keep that stocked meanwhile having a special edition of the inevitable Smash port for Switch coming with GC Joy-cons. Those who want to use the original GC controller can still use their old controllers meanwhile those who want a GC controller style experience on the go can get the special Joy-cons.

@Maxz I think the point of the clunky adapter and wired controllers for Smash WiiU was because it's a competitively played game and competitive players will NOT tolerate the latency of a wireless controller, it MUST be wired. They also demand displays with zero lag (and for a long time still used CRTs for that reason.)

Switch Pro Controller already supports direct wired play, so that really negates the whole need for a different wired controller, though they'll probably allow the wired GCN controller to work if they release Smash anyway. I don't see wireless GCN controllers flying unless it's a GCN-like contraption that uses the Joy rails.

A controller that not everyone owns isn't the solution for anything. As it stands the Switch is a portable, and Nintendo must not think analog triggers will hold up well in a backpack or something like that. They're definitely going for controller parity, which is why you don't see the pro with 'HD triggers' or something like that.

@NEStalgia Smash players have been using the GC controller for over 15 years now, I really doubt they'd accept the Switch Pro Controller as a replacement.

Well said

Exactly. And Nintendo has actually hinted at making special GameCube joycons w/ analog triggers. Personally, I'm more concerned w/ the adapter as I see Switch as 80+% for home use, but for mobile parity this is a logical solution. And I don't see the adapter as clunky. You plug it into the dock by USB, and it stays there while the Switch tablet remains portable.

@Haru17 You can have different controllers for different uses. The Wii had the Classic Controller (and the GameCube controller). I see Nintendo waiting at least until next year to announce a GameCube controller adapter so the focus stays on selling Switch controllers for now. Also, another controller for different uses that I think they need to make is a left JoyCon w/ a real D pad. This would be key for side-scrollers which would be great games for mobile play. Maybe this would be GameCube joycon, or maybe another joycon variant altogether.

I've been playing video games for 30 years and I never realized there was different trigger types

@Grumblevolcano Street Fighter players have been using whole hand joysticks for 30 years....they seem to play with new controllers just fine. For the ones that don't there's that absurdly priced Fight Stick. Even for Switch. And it's wired.

Seriously, though, there's no reason other than stubbornness to use a specific controller of a 15+ year old system forever and ever. They can play Melee all they want with their GCN controller, but this is Switch and a new release would be Smash Switch, and it's a new cabinet with a new control layout, and gitting gud means learning the controls. On a paper level once the sound of gnashing teeth dies down that's a perfectly fine reasoning.

OTOH we have GCN controllers with clunky adapters and cables. I'm sure they'll work just fine with Switch. Competitively it's still the WIRE the matters most, so there's no need (or desire) for wireless GCN controllers for competitive players. Casual players will learn and enjoy the current controls. So will some competitors. Some competitors will be rigidly set in their ways and demand "the best" controller, and at that level "the best" means no wireless controller need apply.

Of course, I suck at Smash, so none of the above applies to me personally

You can, but it makes your console intensely confusing — a clearly bad idea. The Switch is complicated enough without inconsistency between different controllers. You'll remember that Gamecube controllers were strictly for Gamecube backwards compatibility. Similarly, the pro controllers didn't work with games with motion controls, another confusing thing.

A problem with Wii U was how so many different controllers worked for it, but not all for the same things. Gamepad, Pro, Wiimote Plus', and Gamecube controllers each had specific and exclusive uses (except the pro controller, which was just a gamepad that didn't do everything the gamepad did).

Not true. The GameCube controller was supported on several Wii games e.g. Mario Kart Wii, GoldenEye 007, Super Smash Bros Brawl. I don't recall anyone being confused about the fact the Wii's theme was motion controls.

I'm not suggesting the GameCube controller should be supported on nearly as many games as it was on the Wii. Honestly, odds are a GameCube adapter does get released eventually. My only point is if we get any 3rd party racing games on Switch they shouldn't be needlessly limited to digital triggers. This would only apply to maybe 5% of Switch games, and they would of course support the Switch controllers, they'd just allow the GameCube controller as an alternative for more precise control. Probably most Switch owners wouldn't even notice, but those that like racing games would be pleased.

If and when they start putting out legacy games on the Switch eShop I don't see the issue with allowing older controllers. For Gamecube games they could do the USB adapter thing, for Wii games they could just have them connect via Bluetooth. As long as you can still use the standard Switch controllers I think that's fine. Some people will want the more "authentic" experience so give them that option.

I'd even go further than that. They've done the NES Classic Mini with it's NES themed Classic Controller. I assume if we see a SNES Mini they'll probably do the same. So as an option when they inevitably do the Switch VC? Support for the Wii Classic Controller via the WiiMote via Bluetooth would be a pretty good idea. Again making it "more authentic" for the people who like that sort of thing.

Obviously the standard setup would also work, analogue triggers for GC games aside. But for people who want the full experience with classic games on their TV? They have the option to use controllers like the original ones.

I really hope for new joy cons with a d pad and analogue trigger when the vc finally arrives.

The current joy cons aren't really ideal for Nintendo's back catalogue. And I want to play them on the go, or off to at home.

The secondary analog stick could also be used for accelerating/braking, like in Mario Kart 8.

This sounds great...except no one will use it except for GC games. I don't think the PS4 or Xbox one have analog triggers either, so why would a 3rd party use them in the Switch?

@TheLZdragon DualShock and Xbox controllers have had analog triggers since the sixth gen. All three companies started using analog with the GameCube, Xbox and PS2, but only Nintendo dropped it for some reason. Pretty much all racing games use analog triggers, and shooters use them a lot too.