The GameCube controller is one of the most classic gamepads, but some feel that it's lacking in certain aspects. That's why a company has taken to Kickstarter, in order to create the ultimate modernized, competitive-friendly GameCube controller. Called the Panda Controller, it features improvements upon Nintendo's creation, such as a tactile d-pad, wireless connectivity, customizable triggers, an expansion pack, and swappable internals. In a video that showcases the Panda Controller, it's advertised as being easily taken apart in order to use new shells that change the grip or buttons. It's usable with modern platforms as well as the original GameCube. The Panda Controller is currently available on Kickstarter, with the $90 tier netting you the gamepad itself, which is scheduled to launch in December 2022.

 

[Ahmir]

they got motion controls W

 

[Memoir]

I'll never understand why people love the GameCube controller... It's massively uncomfortable, the ergonomics are trash, I hate the sliding analog triggers, the childish ABXY layout is better left for Fisher-Price toys, The tiny GBA-sized Dpad hurts my thumb, the Z button is in the most useless spot... Hands-down the worst controller my hands have ever had the displeasure of holding. Sorry, not sorry... but I can't get excited over a 'slightly better' useless product.

I'll never understand why people don't like "x".. It's *insert random arguments and opinions here*. The *negative input goes here*. Hands-down the worst *insert type of product here*. Sorry, not sorry... but I can't get excited over a 'slightly better' useless product.

I mean, I legitimately don't understand how people can prefer the Playstation controllers. Nothing about them is ergonomic, and in some cases they feel too wide. Even for my larger than average hands.

Or better yet, I don't know why people think the Switch is the greatest product from Nintendo.

 

[CMDreamer]

This would be more suitable for a very limited customer diversity. I don't find it very useful nor a must have, even though I still think the NGC controller is the best one for a wide range of game genres.

 

[NinStar]

Sure, if you're that shallow.

It works very well in other games outside of Smash.

Well... It works great for games that are designed around it, but for the vast majority of games, using a GCN controller is a really weird choice due to the layout of the action buttons, even during the GCN era there was a lot of third party games that played terrible due to the controller layout.

By the way, did you remember that time when Nintendo gave us the option to play Super Mario World on the Wii using a GameCube Controller? It was awkward to a point that I would consider unplayable.

 

[wolffangalchemist]

If the gc controller wasn't already good enough for what it does, I would probably bite. Also confused about the d-pad needing anything done to it, sure it isn't the best but competition wise you really only have smash( mainly melee) and every version of smash just uses that for taunting. Not like it's that bad, lots of worse d pads out there... not to mention nintendo has reissued them In recent years, probably one of the most common controllers to find. Unless the thing has zero input lag wirelessly, might be a better wavebird atleast.
If i was gonna invest in controllers i would get a few sets of the 8bitdo for my older systems. But it's kinda hard to beat what was orginal to the systems. Also just gonna throw this out there... seems like it might be one of those things that turns into just getting a glorified version of the crap chinese wireless switch gamecube shaped controllers. Gonna say 80% chance of this, almost positive.

 

[gumbyx84]

Did you guys watch the video? Wireless connectivity is a "Expansion Pack" add-on and it's only for Switch and PC.

Direct from the Kickstarer Page:

Is this a wireless controller?


It can be! If you purchase the Switch & PC Wireless Expansion Pack, you can slip it right into your controller for a seamless connection. As for response time testing, we can’t say definitively without finishing a few more things but matching the Pro Controller delay (1 Frame) seems doable!

 

[Guacaholey]

While cool, this thing kind of seems like a nightmare. My favorite controller is the GameCube controller, but it's really not designed for a lot of games. Basically it works for GameCube games (even some of them clearly weren't made with that controller in mind), and Super Smash Bros Ultimate, Mario Kart, and Pokémon. But good luck using it with third party Switch games where controllers are either designed for the Pro Controller or just taken from the other consoles (i.e. B being the interaction button in Dark Souls Remastered). Just imagine playing Dynasty Warriors or its spin-offs with a GameCube controller.

I don't like that wireless requires you to swap expansion packs, might not have gyro. Just pack these standard things in considering it's currently a $90 controller. There are third party Pro Controllers in a GameCube shape and layout that already have those things but no analog triggers since they're just Switch controllers. Surely doing all that with analog buttons would've been way easier than all this extra advanced crap people won't use.

 

[LightBeam]

Too expensive for me but it looks so nice honestly. I like how customizable it is, tho at this price I just can't buy something I won't have much use

 

[Bladexdsl]

wait for nintenDMCA to take this down. they will wait for him to release it to the public than strike it's how they move.

 

[raxadian]

If lucky, around $90-100.

But if it's a limited edition it's rarer and more desirable.

Nah is the gray one.

 

[The Real Jdbye]

I’m pretty sure that Valve has a patent for segmented swappable inputs also, so that’s two question marks.

Valve has never made a product with swappable inputs as far as I know? Shouldn't it be MS that holds that patent (the Elite controller has that functionality)

 

[Foxi4]

Valve has never made a product with swappable inputs as far as I know? Shouldn't it be MS that holds that patent (the Elite controller has that functionality)

They don’t need to make a product to hold a patent lol, that’s what patent trolling is. I thought they had it patented, and they do:

https://patentscope.wipo.int/search/en/detail.jsf?docId=WO2020060861&tab=PCTBIBLIO

Though admittedly, they’d have to care, and show that it infringes on their design.

 

[Stwert]

If they made it with a wireless receiver for the GameCube, then I’d maybe consider it. Otherwise, I’ll pass and stick with my Wavebird.

 

[Guacaholey]

watch the kickstarter fall by nintendo's hand, 3rd party controllers had some sort of licensing agreement with nintendo (even though officially not endorsed) only exception is cheat devices (could be wrong though)

Plenty of unlicensed controllers. 8bitdo are unlicensed, as is virtually every one that isn't PDP, Hori, or PowerA.

 

[SonicRings]

The best controller design is getting this kind of treatment? I look forward to seeing further developments. Just wish it wasn't 90 bucks. I'm guessing that's USD (they never specified), which will be a lot in Canada.

A Pro controller is already $100 here, which is considered overpriced, so this being like $120 may just be too much. Not to mention the colours look terribly lazy.

Unless of course all-white is just the prototype colour and it'll have actual presentable colour schemes when it releases.

 

[Julie_Pilgrim]

they’d have to care,

oh thank fuck we have nothing to worry about then

 

[BLsquared]

So, they're naming a GameCube controller, for the Switch, after the codename for the 3DS? So confused lol

 

[Spider_Man]

Hard-core controller for a console and its games that weren't exactly hard-core.

Also, do people really hammer their controllers like they do it this video, smashing buttons and analogue stick.

 

[Guacaholey]

Or better yet, I don't know why people think the Switch is the greatest product from Nintendo.

Because we get the honor of giving Nintendo like $400 for different pairs of joycons.

 

[MikaDubbz]

wait for nintenDMCA to take this down. they will wait for him to release it to the public than strike it's how they move.

Why would Nintendo go after a third party controller, especially one that deviates this much from the look of an official controller? The only time I ever remember Nintendo going after a third party controller was when Nyko made the wireless Nunchuck controller for the Wii that looked exactly like an official Nintendo Nunchuck controller, except that it was wireless. It was due to that lawsuit (or threat of lawsuit) that Nyko's wireless nunchuck controller then saw a redesign that made it look different enough from an official nunchuck controller to not be infringing on Nintendo's design and then stayed on store shelves. I look at this controller and see nothing all that unique from what has already been done by other third party controllers that still exist without issue, in fact Exlene's wireless GameCube Switch controller looks far more identical to an actual GameCube controller Just wireless instead of wired (and with extra buttons as needed for the Switch too), and Nintendo hasn't done anything about that controller.