Wii compatible with WaveBirds?

By Tom Bramwell Published 29 September, 2006

According to Nintendo US PRs.

With pre-orders for Nintendo Wii now mostly live, some of you might be considering chucking away your old GameCube stuff - well, don't.

Because a report citing Nintendo's US PR firm Golin Harris claim that WaveBirds and GameCube controllers can be used with all Cube games on the Wii, and even select Wii disc games.

The WaveBirds still need to use their receiver plug-ins, which apparently slot into the top of the console.

The report, which comes from Nintendojo, also claims that Nintendo has yet to detail compatibility between Virtual Console titles and Cube controllers, but should release more details closer to launch.

Picture of Tom.

About Tom Bramwell

Tom is Operations director of Eurogamer Network and Editor-at-Large of Eurogamer.net. He joined the company in February 2000.

Read more articles from Tom by visiting the Tom Bramwell archive page.

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Comments (24) Latest comment 5 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • brooza664 #1 5 years ago

    Well, that's "handy"!!!

  • Hog-lumps #2 5 years ago

    Are the cube controller ports still only accessable through a flap (matron) in the top?
    Isn't it going to look a little unsightly with the wavebird receiver sticking out the top and the flap open?

  • Huntcjna #3 5 years ago

    I knew those 4 wavebirds I bought for $12 in walmart in Florida would come in handy. :)

  • Beano #4 5 years ago

    Wow... amazing no-news article.

    "Wii works with the Wavebird controller just like a wired GC controller.. because the wavebird works JUST like the GC controller... wiii"

    Slow friday :)

  • peterfll #5 5 years ago

    Well I didn't know and it's really cheered me up on this grey Friday afternoon.

    Here here!

  • Psi #6 5 years ago

    shame about the flap thing, didn't want to have to use the plugins, thought 4 of them were internal to the wii tbh

    still the wavebirds gotta be my fave jpad.. thats why i've got 4 :(

  • Psi #7 5 years ago

    well, least i can still sell them for the next 5 years or so :)

  • The_Foo_Fighter #8 5 years ago

    Did anyone not know this?

  • Scurrminator #9 5 years ago

    they don't look too bad, got one here, though it might look a little odd with four of them sticking out the top like chimneys
    Edited by 1 at 29/09/06 @ 15:38

  • Hog-lumps #10 5 years ago

    Did anyone not know this?

    Actually I thought it was quite likely that the bulky reciever would clash with the flap/console housing, so no I didn't know this!

  • brokenkey #11 5 years ago

    there were screenshots floating around showing the wireless receiver bit plugged in to the Wii

  • kangarootoo #12 5 years ago

    1. I didn't know this.

    2. No-news criticisms are just bloody pointless and boring. Thats a fact, its in the encyclopaedia.

  • peterfll #13 5 years ago

    Actually, I did know this as I already have my Wavebords connected up to the Wii I have under my TV already.

    Ner-ner-ner-ner-ner.

  • Rirekon #14 5 years ago

    "2. No-news criticisms are just bloody pointless and boring. Thats a fact, its on Wikipedia."

    Fixed ;-)

  • Royal Fool #15 5 years ago

    I hope they don't require you to buy the "classic controller" for NES games, since the Wii remote is more than perfect for that sort of thing.

    ..but knowing Nintendo, they probably will, lol.

  • JP #16 5 years ago

    Any idea if the white "classic controller" they've shown in a few photos will be wireless? That thing looks superior to the Gamecube controller if only because of its non-tiny D-pad. If it were wireless as well the Wavebird would probably be out of a job.

  • kangarootoo #17 5 years ago

    I'd be amazed if the Wii control pad wasn't wireless. The tech is all there, not that expensive, and making it wired would kind of be a it of a PR gaff.

  • haowan #18 5 years ago

    The classic controller IIRC will plug into your remote just like the "nunchuck" controller add-on. Odd? I guess so, but it makes sense from a hardware point of view. What's the primary, main thing you use to control your games? The remote. What's everything else? Bits you plug into the remote.

  • Santino #19 5 years ago

    so far the classic controller plugs into the bottom of the wii remote to get its power, since the wii remote is wireless it isnt directly connected to the console, just the remote. Guess it is easier than buying batteries for it, but then the wavebird lasts for 100 or so hours on 2 AAs. I'm sure the 'bird or regular conrollers will work with virtual console games too (hopefully) :)

    EDIT: ah i see haowan got there first :)
    Edited by 1 at 29/09/06 @ 22:28

  • haowan #20 5 years ago

    Your reply makes more sense though :)

    /walks into another wall

  • Bates #21 5 years ago

    Where's the news? Haven't we known this for ages?

    Good going EG!

  • smelly #22 5 years ago

    I took that the wavebird would be compat by default.. couldnt see any reason it wouldnt have been.

    What I want to know, is whether the classical downloadable games and smash bros, etc will be playable with it.. Or whether they'll force me to buy a "classic controller" for them.

  • Der_tolle_Emil #23 5 years ago

    a report citing Nintendo's US PR firm Golin Harris claim that WaveBirds and GameCube controllers can be used with all Cube games on the Wii.

    I especially love that part. What else should the cube ports be for if not for the cube controllers?

    Anyway, confirmation that wavebirds work is nice (although I don't have one) but I guess everyone expected them to anyway because they come with their own receiver. If the cube already had a built-in receiver things would look different.

  • Pooley #24 5 years ago

    Well, preordered my Wii on the wiikend from Game. There's gonna be a preorder pack released next month, which might be interesting. £20 down and two months to go...