Wii Classic Controller Pro now available

Ryan Wilsey 20 Apr, 2010 at 2:27pm ET Article published in Gaming

Wii Classic Controller Pro feature banner

For those Wii owners who miss the GameCube controllers and dislike the standard Wii Classic Controller, you may find yourself drooling over the new Classic Controller Pro. Previously available only in Japan, Nintendo has announced today that the controller is on the prowl in the States.

Black Wii Classic Controller Pro in its box

The Classic Controller Pro is similar to the original Classic Controller, but has some welcome changes. The Pro model sports GameCube-style ergonomic grips, as well as two rows of shoulder buttons, a la the PlayStation controller. It also comes in two polarizing shades: black or white. The rest remains unchanged: the Pro still sports a well-proportioned D-pad, twin joysticks and a connector for a Wiimote. The Pro is compatible with over 460 Wii, WiiWare, and Virtual Console games (however, it cannot be used to play GameCube games running on the Wii console; you’ll still need a GameCube controller for that).

The new controller was also made available today for those that purchase the limited-edition bundle for Monster Hunter Tri, which comes with Classic Controller Pro for $69.99; the bundle has reportedly been met with surprisingly high demand, selling out in many areas.

The Classic Controller Pro is available for $19.99 from game and electronic retailers everywhere.

For those Wii owners who miss the GameCube controllers and dislike the standard Wii Classic Controller, you may find yourself drooling over

the Classic Controller Pro. Nintnedo has announced that the Classic Controller Pro goes live today, after previously only being available in

Japan. You can snag one of these for the competitve retail price of $19.99.

The Classic Controller Pro is similar to the original Classic Controller, but has some welcomed changes. The Pro model sports GameCube

controller-like ergonomic grips, as well as two rows of shoulder buttons, a la the PlayStation controller. It also comes in two polarizing shades:

black or white. The rest remains unchanged — it still sports a nice-sized D-pad, twin joysticks, and plugs into a Wii Remote similar to the

Ninchuk to function anywhere in your living room to play over 460 Wii, WiiWare, and Virtual Console games (however, can NOT be used to play

GameCube games running on the Wii console).

The controller was also made available for those that purchased the limited-edition bundle of the Monster Hunter Tri game, which came either

standalone or bundled with a Classic Controller Pro. This bundle also made its debut today in North America, at a price of $59.99. The bundle

has reportedly been met with surprisingly high demand, selling out in many areas.

Comments

20 Apr 2010 ~ 5:37pm CB

(however, it cannot be used to play GameCube games running on the Wii console; youâ€™ll still need a GameCube controller for that).

Seriously? SERIOUSLY?! I just... I just.... ugh...

/me storms away in an insulted huff.
20 Apr 2010 ~ 8:43pm Bandrik

CB wrote: »

Seriously? SERIOUSLY?! I just... I just.... ugh...

/me storms away in an insulted huff.

LOL...wut? =/
21 Apr 2010 ~ 1:28am Bleep. And it still connects to the gawd damm Wii-mote? Jesus guys, can't you just put the wireless bluetooth tech in the controller itself so we don't have to buy a $40 wii-mote on top of the $20 for the controller? Datel did it, Nyko did it... why can't you?
21 Apr 2010 ~ 6:48am CrazyJoe So you have to buy a $40 wii-mote on top of the $20 controller.
21 Apr 2010 ~ 6:50am Snarkasm Or, you know, you already own a Wiimote.

Who precisely are these people that own Wiis, but not Wiimotes into which they can plug their yet-another-controller?
21 Apr 2010 ~ 9:39am Thrax Critics have mastered the power of time and space and no longer require a Wiimote for their controllers.
21 Apr 2010 ~ 9:53am Ryder Uhhh, am I missing something? The Wiimote you are referring to, is that not the standard controller that comes with the Wii? :confused2
21 Apr 2010 ~ 10:13am Thrax Yes. Yes indeed it is.
21 Apr 2010 ~ 10:15am Ryder :shakehead I fear for the future.

EDIT: I understood your frustration CB, still have to use the older controllers for some games.
21 Apr 2010 ~ 10:17am CB Yes, the connection to the WiiMote is not the issue. I actually like that feature, personally, because it cuts back on the cost of each new control device.

What I don't like is having to lug out my old GameCube controllers when I want to play a GameCube game. If I had a box of Wave-birds that'd be one thing, but I only have one wavebird, and with my home entertainment set up, that means that if we want to play a multi-player Game Cube game, one person has to go stand within 5 feet of the television.

There is no reason to continue to disallow the new controllers from controlling GameCube games. If nothing else, they could at least offer an adapter to plug the GC controllers into the WiiMotes.
27 Apr 2010 ~ 7:52am Joe It's not a question of nintendo LETTING you do anything, when the wii plays GC games it turns, for all intents and purposes, into a gamecube. A gamecube that doesn't use wii remotes.

The XBOX 360 on the other hand uses software to run old XBOX games so it can uses the new controllers.

I can't see you playing viewtiful joe on a classic controller anytime soon I'm afraid.
15 Jun 2010 ~ 4:58pm Master DC 2 things:

1. @Joe: You do have a point, as once the GC game starts, you can't use Home, and you have to use the original settings for a GC game (usually no widescreen), and you must turn off the "Wii" instead of going to Wii Menu or any of that other stuff.

2. I am going to buy a Classic Controller this week (never had an original one, and haven't used a pro yet), and am DEFINITELY going to get a Classic Controller Pro. I am not sure which color is best. I have read that black will get fingerprints, smudges, etc. seconds after taking it out of the box, but I don't know about white (I have all white controllers, even a white GC controller XD) because I think black is cooler. Any suggestions? (If I don't receive any by today/tomorrow, I have probably already gotten one, but still give suggestions if you want.)