Over the years, there have been plenty of prototype Nintendo systems, controllers and accessories publicly revealed. If you think you've seen them all, perhaps not. Ars Technica reports how a recent listing on a Japanese auction site has shed light on a rare Wii Remote prototype designed for the GameCube.
The controller sold for 74,000 yen ($663 USD) and came paired with an early Nunchuk prototype and a longer and slightly different looking sensor bar that plugged directly into the memory card slot. The source notes how the remote is wired to the system with a GameCube controller connector - unlike the final version of the Wii Remote which was wireless. The earlier iteration of the Nunchuk seemingly used an ethernet cable and the entire setup is reliant on the same IR sensor bar technology that eventually shipped with the Wii. At this point in time, the auction's winner has not been able to get the GameCube Wii Remote running on any of his own hardware and is yet to inspect the controller's internals.
If you're unsure about the legitimacy of this prototype, WayForward Director James Montagna has issued a number of tweets reaffirming its existence. He explained how he first saw it back when the Wii was still being referred to as the Revolution. Montagna also noted how all of the buttons on this earlier prototype model were lifted straight from the Game Boy Advance SP. The discussion prompted him to post more recognisable prototype images of the Wii Remote that were closer to the final product and originally shown around the time of E3 2006.
[source arstechnica.com, via twitter.com, twitter.com]
Comments 35
Huh, that's interesting.
I like how NL changes the color palette of the site depending on what system the article is about.
Also, Neat! Not worth buying, but cool to see the early development of the Wii controller tech/hardware.
Intriguing...
WiiCube !
Seems almost certain that it would only work with special software. Perhaps even a prototype wii console.
Trying to imagine attempting to make a bowling or golfing shot with that... Without snagging the cord and pulling the GameCube off the shelf in the process.
It's cool how they mostly used parts from existing products. The article mentions that the buttons are from a Gameboy Advance and the cable for the sensor bar looks like it is from the microphone accessory.
It would be interesting to know how they made housings for the controllers.
@nintendork64 Yeah, considering all the damage done by idiots with the Wii remotes, imagining what would have happened if they were wired isn't a pretty mental image.
@TheFox gotta respect the wrist strap. Unfortunately it wouldn't solve the cord snagging problem.
Wow that's really cool.
Woah, that’s neat!
Very interesting. This highlights just how Nintendo focus on the style of play first, before designing the console itself. MS/Sony have a much much more console focussed approach with the controllers mostly an afterthought.
Cable city!
Glad this was never released in this state, we may never have had the wii era of games
Amazing
Cool. They're always trying something new. That's why I'm still with Nintendo after 30 years.
Interesting.
wow this is really cool !
I remember Iwata at the time hinting they may be able to extend the life of the Gamecube with new control schemes. Obviously they decided on a new console instead which was a much better decision.
This may be proof that the GameCube version of Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess was originally going to have motion controls as well but Nintendo decided to just make a whole new console for that version of the game.
@retro_player_22 If that was the case they would have designed TP with Link being right-handed to begin with and not had to have mirror-flipped hyrule entirely for the Wii release. đŸ˜©
Huh, interesting. So it's certain that this was for the GameCube, and wasn't just an early, wired prototype Wii remote? The Wii's only controller ports were GameCube ones, so I would assume a wired prototype controller for the Wii would still use a GameCube controller port.
@datamonkey
That is correct! I remember it well. Those were fun times. Many fan sites had it all figured out from Iwata's comments.
I believe he calld it "3D movement" and would use words like "untethered" and "depth". Other ideas were projectors for 3D viewing that the remote could "reach into".
They hinted at the new control they could add to classic games.
Then it all hit warp speed (remember the "Nintendo ON" concept?!) once the Revolution was incoming.
Upon the controller reveal for Wii, I was shocked at how close some of the fans actually were.
This is really cool! It's probably for the best that it became a staple of the Wii instead. That console sold like hotcakes.
@J-Biz
It's possible that they thought Link should stay left-handed throughout the game even with the motion controls, but decided to flip the game as an afterthought of working better with right-handed people.
Also, the way Link can both swing his sword and hold it out while running for the first time in any Zelda game seems to support the motion control theory as well, since it does make things more convenient for people swinging the Wii remote around too much, but it's a bit of a stretch.
I guess the point is the theory is interesting and could explain more things about the games made during the Gamecube-to-Wii transition.
@nintendork64 Looking back at how bad the battery drain on Wiimotes were... I'd prefer a 3-4 meters long cord.
This is not a prototype of the wii mote for Game cube. This is one of the very early Wii SDKs which were modified GCs.
http://web.archive.org/web/20060316130022/http://revolution.ign.com/articles/694/694785p1.html
@msvt Yeah I remember the Nintendo ON concept!
Fun times as nobody had any idea of what to expect but had the feeling a "megaton" was on its way regardless!
Makes sense, the Wii wasn't too far of a Stretch from GameCubes power. Could it work 'on' the Wii with all the GameCube slots ?
@TuragaNuva It looks like it was designed for the GameCube but that doesn't mean they ever intended to release the controller for it. They just used it as a starting point for the Wii development.
Maybe, considering that the initial Wii models had Gamecube controller ports, maybe the Wii Remotes weren't originally meant to be wireless? ...Yeah, probably not, but that was my first thought.
The Wii mote was first revealed at Iwata's keynote at TGS 05, not E3 2006.
@J-Biz I believe the mirror flip mode where Link is right handed may had also been considered at one point for the GameCube when they are testing with this prototype product but perhaps at the last moment when Iwata brought in the idea of the Wii they then simply make that part a separate game itself. This may also be why both the GameCube and Wii versions were able to release on the same year and may also be why the Wii version was release first cause Nintendo want to make sure the motion control aspect works.
What I'm trying to say is they are working on the GameCube version first but after finishing it they then make a reverse version which would use motion control that may had been an extra mode on the GameCube but since they decided to make motion control the focus of their next console anyways, that mode became its own game on the Wii and was removed from the GameCube version. That may also explain why GameCube controllers are still compatible on the Wii version cause it was originally suppose to be for the GameCube version in the sense that if player doesn't want to use motion control they could still progress through it using normal control.
Nice find!
Though it's probably a not a "Wii Remote Prototype For The GameCube", but rather a "Wii Remote Prototype For The Wii Prototype". Even the finished Wii had GameCube ports, so why wouldn't a prototype?
It's obvious they would use GC ports in earlier stages, since implementing wireless would only make sense if the general motion mechanic worked out.
Why didn't he try plugging them into a Wii? They're Wii controllers.
it would not be the first time Nintendo had held back some techs for use at a later time when it would be better or easier to implement
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