Retro-Bit Gaming Reveals A Game Boy Player-Inspired GameCube Controller

This is how retro hardware should be sold. Make it cheap enough that everyone interested doesn't have to think twice about it, rather than over-pricing it into niche-dom.

Chin-up those that spent money in recent times on the inflated Logitech versions from back in the day.

Spice Orange version when?

Edit: I said Logitech but think I meant Hori.

This controller really isn’t for me, but you can’t argue with that price. Looks well built too.

I do need a wireless GC controller that is on-par with Wavebird quality, but without the price of actually paying for a Wavebird. Anyone have any suggestions?

A.. Gameboy... Player-inspired, uhhh Gamecube controller for your... Gamecube or your Wii.

I think I had a stroke with this one lol. Pretty cool especially since it's so cheap but it took me a second (or several) to understand what this thing even was and why it exists.

As long as it doesn't had lags and the d-pad feels good enough then I may check it out.

@IceClimbersMan This thing is an affordable alternative to the Hori Digital Pad for GameCube. It was made so those who couldn't afford the real deal could try it. I had used a lot of Retro-Bit controllers in the past, all with varying quality. A lot of their Sega Genesis controllers were good but a majority of their Super NES ones tend to have quality issues especially with the buttons and d-pad.

I like the way it looks.

But the biggest problem with the GCN controller was the button layout was abysmal for playing GBA games. So... this is definitely a weird controller to greenlight and sell.

Can't believe I'm the first to point out....no C-Stick? Not really an authentic experience then, is it? The D-pad can function as the C-Stick as needed, but many games require both sticks to be used at the same time, so I don't really understand who would want this.

I never understand the appeal of Gamecube style controller with letter Y position of ABXY command buttons.
I still think PS2 controller looks better than Gamecube controller.

Oh I was very confused, it's inspired by the controller that came with the Gameboy Player

Was confused about the GameBoy link there as it didn't have a controller and didnt look like the game boy controls except for the d-pad

@IceClimbersMain The original controller was up to like $60 used over a decade ago when I was looking for one at a decent price. I can't imagine expensive they are today!

@Bunkerneath Hori also made a Super GameBoy-specific controller for the Super Famicom.

How I would love if this instead was a ”Game Boy Player-Inspired GameCube Controller for the Switch”.

@Bunkerneath It did not come with the Gameboy player, though. It was a separate purchase, and I think it was only released in japan. I imported one of those back when they were new, and I wish they would have gone with a different button layout, because the GC layout is horrible for Gameboy games. At least the d-pad was way better than the tiny one on the GC controller.

@ATHFjman18 Yeah I was in the same boat a few years back. I got a couple of random third party knockoff ones that have been working quite well. Just got them off of eBay though. Multiple sellers have them.

@HandheldHaunter I’ll have to look into them some more. Saw a couple of unknown branded wireless controllers in the past, but just assumed for $25ish they were super low quality, would just feel cheap in your hands and break easily.

You should be able to use it with a certain sea mammal based emulator via the Wii U/Switch USB adaptor. Key word is should! It should also work on the Wii U/Switch with that too 😊

SNES NSO games are certainly good with this.

As much as I love the Gamecube controller this looks cool and much more comfortable specifically for playing games on the Game Boy Player (for GBA and GB). Will have to pick one up.

@ATHFjman18 Yeah that sounds like them. That's a couple of years I've had them now and they do the job.

I've wanted a controller like this for ages as I wanted to dip in to some GBA games using a Game Boy Player. The price is perfect, just need a UK retailer to stock it now.

@gcunit I bought the HORI one for $12. At one point it was dirt cheep. Its the resale market that jacks the prices up.

another company recently made one that is almost the exactly like the hori one. I have both and although the Hori one is better the other is pretty close. I forgot the name of the third party company who made it though and I am not home to check it out. still this is a nice alternative to them both.

@Ratmasterd21 Yeh, 'at one point', but I bet that wasn't any point recently

@RupeeClock Whoops, my bad. Didn't see the word "Player" and just saw GameCube. Thanks!

@Bunkerneath I thought it was going to be a version of the Hori SNES Super Game Boy Commander Controller. https://consolevariations.com/variation/controller/super-game-boy-commander-sgb-hori-controller

With the shoulder buttons (which I’m not sure we’re on the Hori original) this will be great for both Game Boy and Game Boy Advance games, as the X and Y face buttons are redundant for both those systems. Might be worth a look…

This is very cool, the Hori Gameboy Player controllers go for crazy prices now on eBay (between £125-£225 used, and there’s currently one on there for £880 new…..) so this will be an amazingly affordable alternative. I just hope the D-pad is decent, if so I’m in!

@Anti-Matter With a regular controller, you can be unsure at a given moment what button you're keeping your finger on, as it's just a grid of identical buttons. Not so with the Gamecube controller, because of the unique shapes and layout. And that is what I loved about it, though it didn't work as well for every game or genre. But when it did, I preferred it to the standard layout of buttons. But that C-Stick should've been just a normal analog stick for twin stick first person shooters (Timesplitters 2!).

@F-ZeroX
Maybe I have different gaming experience from different machines, since I grew up by PS2 games during early 2000's era, I used to play games with PS2 style controller with different button placement to Gamecube style controller and I played different games with different button position for specific reason.
The reason I prefer PlayStation style controller than Gamecube style controller because I am a huge fan of DDR games and DDR games are mostly available on PS2 with Arcade based songs so when I played DDR games with normal controller (not the dancing mat) I really need the controller with button position looks exactly like DDR pad (Up Down Left Right) and PlayStation controller have exactly button position I want with X as Down arrow, Circle as Right arrow, Triangle as Up arrow, Square as Left arrow. I used my two thumbs to press both D-Pad and action button commands like I used my two legs stepping on dance panel so the PlayStation style controller have a perfect model for my thumbs can navigate from one button to another button seamlessly.

Meanwhile, the Gamecube controller style have completely different action button command position with A button in the middle, B button at bottom left, Y button at top left, X button at top right, so it looks like letter Y position.
With that position compared with SNES style action command button position with A button on the Left, B button at Down, X button on the Right, Y button at Up, the Gamecube controller style can mess up my gaming experience especially playing the only DDR on Gamecube DDR Mario Mix.
How am I supposed to press the action buttons correctly with Gamecube style controller when I see the arrow position on the screen while Gamecube style controller doesn't have Up Down Left Right position button mapping?

Gamecube style controller might be working on certain games but definitely not working well with DDR games since it requires exactly same arrow position button mapping to clear the game so I will not get confused by different button mapping from Gamecube while I'm seeing Up Down Left Right arrows on the screen.

@Anti-Matter Yeah doesn't work for DDR, simple as that. I guess that's why they abandoned it. It 's non-standard and doesn't work (well) for every game. I personally loved it for F-Zero GX, keeping my foot on the gas (A button) while boosting (Y) and doing side attacks (X). Also worked like a charm for Smash.

This will work on SNES and Genesis/Megadrvie VC Wii games right?

@BongoBongo123 By all logic it should. I cant see them adding any smart chips into something that cheap, so it should give just "dumb" inputs like any other old controller.

@Edd-O There are some clones of the Hori controller. As example the "Old Skool" Digital controllers, which are almost identical to Hori's, only a fraction of their price, however a little bit dodgy d-pads (apparently these can be swapped out with genuine SNES d-pads).

@ATHFjman18 One solution, which however isn't much cheaper than actual Wavebirds, would be modifying the GC with the Bluetooth controller board from Laserbear. That way most wireless controllers can be connected to the GC.

@GekkoPPC Hmm sounds like more work than it’s worth. At least for me. I can’t say I’ve done much modding to my OG hardware. Maybe I’ll keep holding out hope for a cheap Wavebird listing I can jump on…I can dream at least. lol

@ATHFjman18 While I love my wavebird. I cant help but think owning one is a losing fight. They have components that wear out and quality replacement parts are bit hard to find. Aftermarket parts are basically same stuff that's put into the clones (weirdly stiff button membranes and analog sticks with wild sensitivity range).

@gcunit You'd win that bet it was literally in 2007