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Hand Held Legend is a well established and quite popular company that's been around for more than a decade and focuses on controllers, upgrades and replacements for retro consoles and handhelds of all kinds, be it Nintendo's or Sega's older consoles like the NES, Game Boy or Master System, to modern systems like the Switch, PS5 and Xbox Series consoles.

A couple days ago, Hand Held Legend officially unveiled their latest project titled "GC Ultimate Controller", for which they will start a Kickstarter page on September 16th. This project aims to bring the feel of the original Gamecube controller to modern games and systems by offering a DIY solder-free kit that the user can put together on their own and also customize to their own liking, with even an app made to customize through software and recalibrate the sticks, remap buttons and more.

The project will also offer hardware customization as well, like modifying the octagonal plate for the analog stick to a rounded one, a special split D-Pad design where each button can individually be pressed to make it more accurate, two different triggers, one low profile mechanical (fully digital) and a full analog one to replicate the feel of the original Gamecube triggers too, and other options as well.

Currently, their Kickstarter page lists the following features for the GC Ultimate Controller Kit:

• 1:1 footprint with the original GameCube controller
• Support for GameCube, N64, NES, SNES
• Open source firmware and 3D models (Available on GitHub)
• Compatible with OEM triggers and buttons
• Hall effect joysticks (Gulikit TMR with stick-click buttons)
• HD Rumble (The best in its class for aftermarket controllers)
• Bluetooth support (Switch/PC/Android)
• Configuration app (Android/PC/Mac/Linux)
• RGB stick underlighting
• Split D-pad design
• Dual motion control sensors for improved gyro accuracy (Switch/Steam supported)
• Dual Z buttons
• Built-in support for mechanical triggers OR analog triggers (for all of you Melee and Sunshine enthusiasts)
• Swappable gate-plate (Octagon and Circular included)
• USB-C connectivity and recharging
• XInput support for PC/Android (1000hz input rate)
• Native Slippi support (1000hz input rate)
• Ergonomic trigger shape
• Injection Molded buttons
• 100gf tactile Z buttons

The amount of features so far is quite extensive, and the compatibility with modern systems so far cover Android, PC/Steam, Switch and more, although it is currently unknown if other bluetooth-compatible consoles like the PS5 or Xbox Series will be compatible or not. Additionally, compatibility with original Gamecube, N64, SNES and NES systems via a special detachable USB Type C to Gamecube cable without the need of an adapter of any kind, with the same type of USB-C cable also being available for N64, SNES and NES systems (with only the GC and N64 ones being showcased in the video).

As for the kit itself, here's what will actually be included within each kit:

• Injection Molded Shell (Emerald Blue is the default) and peripheral parts
• Trigger bracket
• Screw and spring hardware kit
• Analog stick caps
• Button set
• Split D-pad set
• Li-Po battery
• Main PCB
• C-Stick PCB

At the moment of writing, the only base colour option offered is the Emerald Blue, but HHL mentions that if they reach a certain stretch goal, more colours will become available, with them sending a survey to backers so they can select the colour of their choice once the campaign ends.

Those interested can subscribe to be notified about the launch of the Kickstarter project, with the current number of followers sitting at around 1000 right now. The GC Ultimate Controller Kit Kickstarter starts off on September 16th, 2024.

"GC Ultimate Controller Kit" Kickstarter page
Hand Held Legend Website

 

[Marc_LFD]

first of all nothing beats the wavebird gamecube controller and second if people want to pay that much for a GameCube controller let the fools waste their money. also them screws on the edges of analog stick are FUGLY

One thing that I was disappointed about the WaveBird is that it didn't have rumble/vibration, but it did use rechargeable batteries than an internal battery.

 

[KirovAir]

I LOVE projects like this. Will probably add this freak to my collection.

 

[juandiego1993]

Oh, I have a question, what´s the posibility of international shipping? I`m fromChile and here we have a decent shipping system.. I know it will affect the cost but is it built to resist an international shipping?

 

[Marc_LFD]

Oh, I have a question, what´s the posibility of international shipping? I`m fromChile and here we have a decent shipping system.. I know it will affect the cost but is it built to resist an international shipping?

If an item is bubble wrapped correctly it'll get to its destination in one piece, unless an employee or porch pirate snatches it. I've sent HDDs to other countries and those things are fragile.

 

[john87]

Currently, their Kickstarter page lists the following features for the GC Ultimate Controller Kit:

• Open source firmware and 3D models (Available on GitHub)

In fact, both the software and the PCB license are not open source; they are source-available. Specifically, since the license is CC BY-NC-SA, with the Non-Commercial clause, it makes the software proprietary according to the definitions provided by the Open Source Initiative and the Free Software Foundation. However, the 3D models are indeed free software and open source.

 

[Bladexdsl]

One thing that I was disappointed about the WaveBird is that it didn't have rumble/vibration, but it did use rechargeable batteries than an internal battery.

used to own 4 of them used them all the way up to the wiiu. was the ONLY way to play smash on the wiiu.

 

[ciro64]

You'd be surprised. I knew the design would be controversial, but I can guarantee if you try the split dpad you won't want to go back. There's definitely an art to it, and I do think something to do with the smaller size, plus the depth of the specific button, the split dpad setup works very well and gives you back a lot of precision that is otherwise to unspecified tilting behavior. I fully stand behind the design of that specific part, and I use it on all of my personal controllers. The dpad is fully open source on github (can't link it because spam filtering lol but it's on HandHeldLegend Github)

Fan of split dpads here, I love them exactly for addressing that unspecified tilting behavior. I think the one you made look gorgeous too!

Good luck on the project! Wasn't expecting n64 compatibility when I saw the video, that's so cool!

 

[NiceMitch]

In fact, both the software and the PCB license are not open source; they are source-available. Specifically, since the license is CC BY-NC-SA, with the Non-Commercial clause, it makes the software proprietary according to the definitions provided by the Open Source Initiative and the Free Software Foundation. However, the 3D models are indeed free software and open source.

I would consider the software protected and not necessarily proprietary. Individual bits of the code I've had no issue people using as reference or even to improve their own projects. I explicitly chose that license as I wanted to protect someone downloading the firmware as is, and selling it. I want to make it explicitly clear that I'm not going to be upset by anyone taking chunks of code and using it, rather just lifting the entire project and trying to sell it. I know it's not technically open source, but I just want to clarify my position here that this is primarily to prevent random Chinese manufacturers from marketing my idea before I've had any chance to recoup my own time and money on the project xD

Post automatically merged: Aug 30, 2024

first of all nothing beats the wavebird gamecube controller and second if people want to pay that much for a GameCube controller let the fools waste their money. also them screws on the edges of analog stick are FUGLY

There are two kinds of people, those who love exposed screws and those who don't hahaha

 

[ShadowOne333]

@NiceMitch one thing that always bothered me about the original Gamecube controller was the small D-Pad, it makes it annoying to play older/retro consoles with it.
Will the GC Ultimate have an option to feature a fully sized D-Pad if the user wants it? I assume the small D-Pad is the default option, is it not?

 

[NiceMitch]

@NiceMitch one thing that always bothered me about the original Gamecube controller was the small D-Pad, it makes it annoying to play older/retro consoles with it.
Will the GC Ultimate have an option to feature a fully sized D-Pad if the user wants it? I assume the small D-Pad is the default option, is it not?

That's why I created the split DPad design, it works really well for the size while maintaining compatibility with the original part.

There is a lot of people, who still for whatever reason prefer the original DPad setup.

Basically, no plans to make a larger DPad for now, I really do think the new DPad design is great and worth trying (I even developed a version of it for pro controller and I prefer it to the original)

 

[urbanman2004]

First off, where are labels to the buttons? Also, the controller looks bare. 3rd off, Retro Fighters have already provide GC controllers w/ a more modern feel that offer the same kind of functionality as the original the GC controllers and what this GC Ultimate Controller Kit project presents, and even though the controller is compatible w/ an N64 by using an adapter, I actually prefer to use a real N64 controller to play on an N64 console since using a GC controller feels weird and I prefer not to use the C-analog stick in place of C buttons.

 

[NiceMitch]

First off, where are labels to the buttons? Also, the controller looks bare. 3rd off, Retro Fighters have already provide GC controllers w/ a more modern feel that offer the same kind of functionality as the original the GC controllers and what this GC Ultimate Controller Kit project presents, and even though the controller is compatible w/ an N64 by using an adapter, I actually prefer to use a real N64 controller to play on an N64 console since using a GC controller feels weird and I prefer not to use the C-analog stick in place of C buttons.

Yes it's bare, intentionally so. It's a design preference, and meant to be customizable!

Retro Fighters GC stuff exists yes but this fits into an adjacent category
- Not original shape
- Triggers do not match original GameCube function (dual-stage press)
- No Bluetooth (need 1 dongle per controller)
- No Hall sticks (will drift)
- Doesn't have wired support for GameCube
- No Gyro
- No N64 support
- No notch/octagon gate calibration

If the controller isn't for you, and the Retro Fighters stuff suits you, that's cool with me

 

[Marc_LFD]

The DualShock has a split d-pad and it's great.

Nintendo Switch on the other hand doesn't have a d-pad, it has buttons for a d-pad. Well, the Switch Lite does have a d-pad, at least.

If this was a Switch Lite OLED I'd totally buy it it looks great.

 

[LightBeam]

Not something I'd buy because the layout is overrated and basically meant for Smash anyway, but more importantly because I know it'll be the same price as the Switch 2

 

[raxadian]

The Nintendo Switch has the most breakable Nintendo controllers ever, then the Nintendo 64, and then the Gamecube.

All my Gamecube controllers still work so no thanks.

 

[Marc_LFD]

The Nintendo Switch has the most breakable Nintendo controllers ever, then the Nintendo 64, and then the Gamecube.

All my Gamecube controllers still work so no thanks.

The Switch Pro Controller? That thing is built like a tank.

 

[NiceMitch]

The Switch Pro Controller? That thing is built like a tank.

All but the analog sticks really. Same alps sensors as the newest Xbox/PS controllers and they tend to drift quickly with regular use.

 

[isoboy]

This changes everything.

 

[CyberPal69]

I wonder how much the RGB lights on the controller add to the cost? I am not sure how useful they would be in a controller. The last controller I owned that had lights in the buttons was a MOGA controller similar to the 123252 model that I see for like $10 on eBay. It was nice for PSX gaming on my phone back in 2012 but I never needed the backlight for the buttons. Even with the phone screen close enough that you can see the controller buttons while gaming, I had them off most of the time to save battery power.

 

[Sin_Alder]

The DualShock has a split d-pad and it's great.

The DualShock doesn't have a split d-pad, though. It's a single piece of plastic with deep divots, which allow the plastic of the controller shell to go over top, giving it a split look. I've modded and repaired enough of them to be intimately familiar with the fact. Even though Sony thinks a split d-pad looks nice (and I'm inclined to agree with them), they also know that split d-pads are terrible in practice, so they only make them look split.