Someone actually recently asked me what my favorite controller ever was. Without thinking, I said the GameCube’s. I then immediately received a funny look.
OK, the GameCube controller might not win any beauty pageants, but it’s incredibly functional and comfortable, something every Smash Bros. fan can attest to (unless you’re one of those weirdos who likes the Nintendo 64 version best). So when I saw that someone was able to mod one to work with Nintendo’s 2DS portable system, I kind of freaked out.
The modder is Neal Tew, who did the project in a single afternoon. He used an old capture board to remap the 2DS’ buttons to the GameCube controller.
Above: It looks like a hot mess, but it works.
We asked Neal if he thought about selling his mod. In the past, people have shipped their handhelds to others so that they could add new features (especially back when the Game Boy Advance lacked a back-lit screen). Neal doesn’t know if he’ll get into that business.
“I wasn’t planning to, but if there’s enough demand to make it worthwhile … maybe,” he told GamesBeat. “I’d probably only sell it as a DIY kit. Installing it isn’t trivial, though. It’s not something you can just plug in and go.”
He’d certainly find a market for it. Super Smash Bros. players especially love the GameCube controller. Nintendo is even releasing an official adapter for the Wii U so that people can use the old controller on the new system in time for Super Smash Bros for Wii U. Nintendo is also releasing a Super Smash Bros. game for the 3DS and 2DS, so it’s easy to imagine die-hard fans willing to spend cash on this mod.
Still, whatever he ultimately does with it, Neal accomplished some impressive and fun engineering here. You can see it in action in the video below.