Those Famicom Mini Pads Sure Are Small

Called it. It's a shame these controllers can't be used on Wii U VC/Famicom Remix... or be at least a little bit bigger. On the positive side, the system comes with two controllers, unlike the NES Classic Edition.

Built for smurfs

I don't really like the Famicom mini pads. The controllers are too small, can't be detached or used on any other system. Having said that, our controllers are nerfed as well. The cord is way too short. Probably to prevent us from doing this in frustration while waiting for NX news.

Japanese people have small hands

isnt the Famicom Mini name already used? http://s.emuparadise.org/GBA/boxart/1383.jpg

I think they'll be ok for the Japanese market, but they do look tiny. Just remember, we had North Americans using the GBA SP's config. And there are some big hands over here. That seriously looked like a tight squeeze for some of us, but once you got into the game it was fine. I still get a little chuckle when I hear about ppls hands cramping up after an hour of 3ds XL. Those must be some big mitts, and that's coming from a piano/keyboarder. An SP would be absolutely unplayable for those guys unfortunately.

Yeah, I commented on this on the article about the announcement of the system a few days ago but I wasn't 100% sure if I was right. Anyway, it makes sense to keep them proportionate to the console since they basically integrate into the console itself, but man I would have a hard time with those things.

Let's be honest, this isn't the hardware you'd use for hours anyway.
I see the NES & Famicom Mini as the children of the "Game and Watch Mini Classics".
Those were tiny, too, and were memorabilia just as much (if not more) as they were video games.

@SLIGEACH_EIRE lol

They will be great for kids at least.

woo, I guess if I get this it is going on a shelf. Too small for my long fingered hands.

I could see the size being a problem for some people, but I doubt I would have troubles using it if I were to play on a Famicom Mini. Seems a bit silly to make the controllers stuck onto the console though considering it can't load cartridges like an actual Famicom due to its size.

Like two game boy micros on a short leash

It's the perfect opportunity for me to test my human/cat brain swap experiment. My human subject keeps bringing me back dead half eaten sheep. This Famicom mini may just salvage my work yet.

Ah, so the second pad does come with the Microphone. Will it work I wonder? If so, you will be able to clear enemies in "Zelda no Desentsu" by screaming into it. And no, I don't think they will last long playing both Kunio games included. I will try to be gentle with mine.

@SLIGEACH_EIRE Well that might win the Internet for today.

I don't see this as a problem in Japan, so many tiny G&W systems over there and they've been playing games on phones for years, and presumably typing texts and emails.

Maybe each Famicom Mini will come with a piece of sandpaper?

Too small. It's a silly design decision imo. But it will be mostly fine for kids at least.

The thing is, older consoles often had fairly small controllers to start with - probably because gaming was seen more as a hobby for children back then. So making them even smaller doesn't seem like a great plan. Would look nice on a shelf though...

I'd really like to see these controllers next to a GBA micro for comparison... preferably with the Famicom faceplate!
Edit: Did the homework myself, though it was hard to find a helpful image of the GBA micro with a Famicom faceplate, so I had to make do with what I could find.

So, in the end, we are getting the better deal. Interesting.

Sure, they are small but not impossible to play on. Go back and play a Gameboy Pocket or GBA SP. Those are just as tiny and totally playable. At least for me that is. No worries!

My main gripe would be how they aren't detachable and usable on the Wii Mote.....

@Nintenbomba128 well it's not called famicom mini. the official name is Nintendo Classics Mini: Famicom

I like the look of the Famicom mini more than the NES mini. But I like the exclusive games on the NES mini more.

Only Donald Trump has hands that are small enough to play with this controller.

They might be getting two controllers with the system, but I rather have what we are getting. Normal sized controllers that can also used in the wii remote to play NES virtual console games is appealing to me, and those famicom controllers would be way too small for western gamers to play with. Overall, I actually think we are getting the better deal for once

@Pluto14 +10 points.

@allav866 That bottom image is of Warwick Davis playing the Famicom Mini.

@bezerker99

I think my GBA SP is bigger then that.

They're ACTUALLY still hard-wired? I thought they realized that was a bad idea by 1985 (when the NES launched).

its not the size of the controller, it's how you use it

I think younger players used to the micro-buttons on modern handhelds would be surprised by the large buttons on an NES controller, not even set at an angle!

The best way to get around this problem would be to have a really long HDMI cable. (This is what I do currently with my Famicom, just wheeling it over on a chair closer to the couch and using the longest power/coax cables I've got.)

Still, that's kinda weird that Nintendo is being so purist on this. When those pads wear out, you're done... unless you do something like this.

Hmm, well now I'm curious on how these are hardwired in.

@SLIGEACH_EIRE at least with ours you can get an extension to increase their reach.

The site also said that this was just a mock up so maybe it's a non working model and the last day to reserve was this Tuesday. No info on the mic for controller 2 but being hard wired gives me hope it'll work! There's also the front port to hopefully plug something in

Controllers are generally smaller for Asians anyway like how MS released a smaller Xbox controller for Asians.

I would have trouble using these. my hands get sore from my new 3ds but not my new 3ds xl so I'm thinking these small pads would not be good for comfort.