GameMaster
04-05-2002, 01:43 AM
Nintendo's Wavebird is now in final form and has even been tested by the guys at IGN. Read on to see what they had to say...
Derived from IGNCUBE...
Give Us the Bird
Our blowout impressions of the wireless Wave Bird controller (w/ pictures).
April 04, 2002 - At Nintendo's recent Gamers Day Summit in Seattle, Washington, editors on hand were treated to the finalized version of the Wave Bird wireless GameCube controller -- fully working, fully playable, and rearing to hit the market. The device, which will retail in the US for $39.95 beginning June 24, performed exceptionally well. Our impressions, below:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Wave Bird is Nintendo's long-touted wireless GameCube controller, capable of working at distances up to 10 meters, or 30 feet. The device transmits RF signals over more than a dozen selectable channels to a receiver plug that fits into one of the controller slots on a GameCube console. The RF standard enables the wireless connection to stand true -- even under the covers or behind a wall. And because of the different channel frequencies, it's even possible to hook four Wave Birds up to a single machine, enabling a totally cordless multiplayer experience. It's just that simple.
Or is it? The Wave Bird isn't exactly the first wireless controller ever conceived. Several have shipped in the past for other platforms courtesy of third-party hardware manufacturers, and they've all shared one major thing in common: unreliability. The signals have for one reason or another always proven unstable, working the best at closer ranges, but never performing to the standards of a corded controller. But Nintendo's controller, thank the stars and the heavens, does not fall into the same category -- it has been put to the test at near and far ranges, and it has passed without flaw. Perhaps this is the Nintendo Difference in motion.
Size Doesn't Matter
The Wave Bird controller is nearly identical in size to the standard GameCube one, except for a slightly extended lower end, a necessity for battery storage. Surprisingly, the two controllers weigh about the same too. After playing with the device for a few minutes, in fact, one may actually forget that they are not using the corded controller. It fits -- like the original controller, wonderfully snug. The only difference in feeling, of course, is that the Wave Bird doesn't feature a rumble option as the controller does not have the ability to receive signals from the GameCube, only send them. The omission of the rumbling is, however, not a terrible one -- it's just not an important sensation to the gaming experience.
*
Ready for some wireless fun
*
What's Changed?
There are a few differences with the latest revision of the GameCube controller. The biggest is that it no longer features a 'quick' button -- a function designed for fast-trigger gaming, according to Nintendo. Either the company figured out a way around the battery-zapping feature, or simply decided that it was ultimately not worth the drain on power. In its place is an orange LED that lights up when the controllers signal is being used, a handy way to test the connection. Switching channels is as easy as rotating a dial on the lower end of the controller, which works to absolutely eliminate interference from other connected Wave Birds. Beyond everything else, the controller now appears to be the standard gray, as has been seen for years on Nintendo 64 controllers. It's somewhat dull, not nearly as flashy as the silver prototype, but we'll live, and once you play with the device we imagine you will too.
Nintendo's Demo
Obviously proud of the device, Nintendo showed us one demonstration of the Wave Bird's functionality at different distances. It began by proving that it worked quite triumphantly from short distances of a couple feet, but also amazed us by hooking up a Wave Bird to a GCN perhaps 35-40 feet away, and behind a wall -- it worked without a single stutter. Of course, the company doesn't recommend using its wireless controller from distances so far, but the mere fact that it's possible is a testament to the reliability of closer range cordless play.
Playing Around
We played with Wave Bird for more than five hours, testing the controller with the latest version of Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem, a title that will incidentally ship on the same day as Nintendo's wireless controller. It performed perfectly, from various distances. Initially, Eternal Darkness was running with a regular controller. We paused the game, plugged in the Wave Bird receiver and turned on the controller -- it worked. Easy and intuitive, just the way we like it. From there, we had a go with the game, running around, flipping through menus, casting spells and generally trying to test the reactions of fast movements. Wave Bird got the trick done without a hitch, delivering fast response times, no lag, no stutters and no broken connections.
*
*We attempted the same experiment from a distance of perhaps 15 feet. All of the same tests were executed with exactly the same results -- flawless performance. Interestingly, some less informed members of the press who had obviously never heard of or seen Wave Bird in action kept looking for the wires that connected the controller to the console. This was amusing. These same people, when walking in front of us, could be seen checking the flooring for wires, as to not trip over them. It was refreshing, for them we imagine and certainly for us, not to worry about such wires, or the accidentals that are commonplace with them.
Overall
Overall our first real play time with the Wave Bird convinced us that, barring any possible battery power consumption drawbacks, this is the best controller to own, period. The feeling of the GameCube controller, our personal favorite across all next-generation consoles, remains unchanged -- snug and well suited to the hands. But now there is the added benefit of no wires, no worry of the family dog chewing away the cords to a controller, no worry of one's little brother tripping over the wiring and breaking something. And because the RF signal works from a distance of 30 feet, sometimes more, gamers can sit and play wherever it is they feel most comfortable without worry of the wire reaching. At only $39.95 -- a few bucks more than the regular controller, Wave Bird scores big. Come June 24, there's only one way to play Eternal Darkness as far as we're concerned -- wireless.
Sounds great! Can't wait to get one! To see the pictures click here (http://cube.ign.com/articles/356/356754p1.html)
What do you guys have to say?
Derived from IGNCUBE...
Give Us the Bird
Our blowout impressions of the wireless Wave Bird controller (w/ pictures).
April 04, 2002 - At Nintendo's recent Gamers Day Summit in Seattle, Washington, editors on hand were treated to the finalized version of the Wave Bird wireless GameCube controller -- fully working, fully playable, and rearing to hit the market. The device, which will retail in the US for $39.95 beginning June 24, performed exceptionally well. Our impressions, below:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Wave Bird is Nintendo's long-touted wireless GameCube controller, capable of working at distances up to 10 meters, or 30 feet. The device transmits RF signals over more than a dozen selectable channels to a receiver plug that fits into one of the controller slots on a GameCube console. The RF standard enables the wireless connection to stand true -- even under the covers or behind a wall. And because of the different channel frequencies, it's even possible to hook four Wave Birds up to a single machine, enabling a totally cordless multiplayer experience. It's just that simple.
Or is it? The Wave Bird isn't exactly the first wireless controller ever conceived. Several have shipped in the past for other platforms courtesy of third-party hardware manufacturers, and they've all shared one major thing in common: unreliability. The signals have for one reason or another always proven unstable, working the best at closer ranges, but never performing to the standards of a corded controller. But Nintendo's controller, thank the stars and the heavens, does not fall into the same category -- it has been put to the test at near and far ranges, and it has passed without flaw. Perhaps this is the Nintendo Difference in motion.
Size Doesn't Matter
The Wave Bird controller is nearly identical in size to the standard GameCube one, except for a slightly extended lower end, a necessity for battery storage. Surprisingly, the two controllers weigh about the same too. After playing with the device for a few minutes, in fact, one may actually forget that they are not using the corded controller. It fits -- like the original controller, wonderfully snug. The only difference in feeling, of course, is that the Wave Bird doesn't feature a rumble option as the controller does not have the ability to receive signals from the GameCube, only send them. The omission of the rumbling is, however, not a terrible one -- it's just not an important sensation to the gaming experience.
*
Ready for some wireless fun
*
What's Changed?
There are a few differences with the latest revision of the GameCube controller. The biggest is that it no longer features a 'quick' button -- a function designed for fast-trigger gaming, according to Nintendo. Either the company figured out a way around the battery-zapping feature, or simply decided that it was ultimately not worth the drain on power. In its place is an orange LED that lights up when the controllers signal is being used, a handy way to test the connection. Switching channels is as easy as rotating a dial on the lower end of the controller, which works to absolutely eliminate interference from other connected Wave Birds. Beyond everything else, the controller now appears to be the standard gray, as has been seen for years on Nintendo 64 controllers. It's somewhat dull, not nearly as flashy as the silver prototype, but we'll live, and once you play with the device we imagine you will too.
Nintendo's Demo
Obviously proud of the device, Nintendo showed us one demonstration of the Wave Bird's functionality at different distances. It began by proving that it worked quite triumphantly from short distances of a couple feet, but also amazed us by hooking up a Wave Bird to a GCN perhaps 35-40 feet away, and behind a wall -- it worked without a single stutter. Of course, the company doesn't recommend using its wireless controller from distances so far, but the mere fact that it's possible is a testament to the reliability of closer range cordless play.
Playing Around
We played with Wave Bird for more than five hours, testing the controller with the latest version of Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem, a title that will incidentally ship on the same day as Nintendo's wireless controller. It performed perfectly, from various distances. Initially, Eternal Darkness was running with a regular controller. We paused the game, plugged in the Wave Bird receiver and turned on the controller -- it worked. Easy and intuitive, just the way we like it. From there, we had a go with the game, running around, flipping through menus, casting spells and generally trying to test the reactions of fast movements. Wave Bird got the trick done without a hitch, delivering fast response times, no lag, no stutters and no broken connections.
*
*We attempted the same experiment from a distance of perhaps 15 feet. All of the same tests were executed with exactly the same results -- flawless performance. Interestingly, some less informed members of the press who had obviously never heard of or seen Wave Bird in action kept looking for the wires that connected the controller to the console. This was amusing. These same people, when walking in front of us, could be seen checking the flooring for wires, as to not trip over them. It was refreshing, for them we imagine and certainly for us, not to worry about such wires, or the accidentals that are commonplace with them.
Overall
Overall our first real play time with the Wave Bird convinced us that, barring any possible battery power consumption drawbacks, this is the best controller to own, period. The feeling of the GameCube controller, our personal favorite across all next-generation consoles, remains unchanged -- snug and well suited to the hands. But now there is the added benefit of no wires, no worry of the family dog chewing away the cords to a controller, no worry of one's little brother tripping over the wiring and breaking something. And because the RF signal works from a distance of 30 feet, sometimes more, gamers can sit and play wherever it is they feel most comfortable without worry of the wire reaching. At only $39.95 -- a few bucks more than the regular controller, Wave Bird scores big. Come June 24, there's only one way to play Eternal Darkness as far as we're concerned -- wireless.
Sounds great! Can't wait to get one! To see the pictures click here (http://cube.ign.com/articles/356/356754p1.html)
What do you guys have to say?