GameCube controller modified: Rumours untrue

Nintendo of Japan has confirmed that the GameCube controller has gone into mass production at its Japanese manufacturing plant, meaning that the design has been finalised.

There have been several rumours on the Internet, and in various print media, that the design of the unit has changed since it was last on public display at E3 in May of this year. It has been said that the button shape and configuration had been changed again by Nintendo, in particular the B button which, it was reported, has gone back to being kidney shaped, as it was when first shown at last year’s SpaceWorld.

This is not true. There are some changes though, so read on. The analogue control stick on the left has now been fitted with a dimpled rubberised grip on the tip. One of the (few, tiny) problems with the Nintendo 64 controller was the fact that your thumb was prone to slipping from the stick at crucial moments. Regarding the GameCube controller, it seems that this will no longer be the case.

Also changed, although minimally, is the analogue camera stick. Nintendo has beefed it up a little to give added control to the player.