The adapter: N64 and Gamecube controllers supported. Gamecube vibration and N64 Rumble supported. 100% functional without installing special drivers. (Connects as an USB HID joystick with PID force feedback) Works under Linux, Mac OS X and Windows. I have just pushed out version 3.2 of the Wii U Gamecube adapter. The biggest thing added to this release is full support of third party adapters. With the general lack of first party adapters and the relative glut of the third party adapters, I figured this addition was well overdue.
We have Dance Dance Revolution pads with Gamecube plugs for the Wii, and I wanted to be able to play games on the PC using a dance pad--I thought (rightly!) that Tetris would be particularly fun. As a bonus, I also wanted to be able to use our (knock-off) Gamecube controller to for games on the PC, as I don't have any PC gamepad.
![Gamecube Adaptor Drivers Gamecube Adaptor Drivers](http://www.mayflash.com/Up/day_150106/20150106171310380.jpg)
One can buy a GameCube Controller adapter for $16, but I am cheap, and I wanted to be able to have different settings for different games, without any software fiddling on the PC side (GlovePIE, FreePIE, vJoystick, etc.) For instance, for some games I want the pad (and the sticks on the Gamecube controller) to generate arrow keys; forfor other games, I want it to generate WASD controls; for some I want to use the Gamecube controller as a joystick with different button mappings for different games.
The solution is a $2 'black pill' STM32F1 development board. It's more powerful than an Arduino (32-bit ARM processor at 72MHz), has a USB peripheral, runs at the 3.3v needed for the Gamecube controller, and already has software (after a patch or two) that supports USB Keyboard/Joystick/Mouse all at once.
This Instructable will also tell you how to get started making USB HID devices with the STM32F1 and the Arduino IDE.
The design allows for up to 15 different operation modes, indicated by four LEDs. One can switch operation modes with two push buttons. For instance, mode 1 is a joystick emulation that merges the two shoulder buttons into a single sliders, mode 2 is a joystick emulation that keeps the shoulder buttons as separate sliders and mode 4 emulates keyboard arrow keys.
Parts needed:
- 'Black pill' STM32F103C8T6 minimum development system. Don't get the slightly cheaper red or blue ones, as they have deficiencies. Currently $1.90 on Aliexpress (here; I had ordered for $2.05 here)
- Gamecube extension cable. Currently $1.53 on Aliexpress (here)
- Four red LEDs
- Four 220ohm resistors
- Two momentary switches (one will do in a pinch)
- One 10 uF capacitor
- One 100 nF capacitor
- A small piece of protoboard (I cut it from a larger chunk)
- Wire
- Solder
- Something to put it in (a small cardboard box; a food container; I made a 3D printed case)
Tools needed:
- Computer
- Arduino or other UART-to-USB bridge device
- Soldering iron
- Micro USB cable
- Multimeter or continuity tester
- Optional: 3D printer
- Optional: 2D printer
Here's the github page for the software.
Super Smash Bros. fever has kept the GameCube controller alive far longer than the plunky cube the controllers originally plugged into. Many players fell in love with how Super Smash Bros. Melee played with a GameCube controller. Nintendo kept native GameCube controller support for the Wii (at least at first) before moving on from the controller with the Wii U. Or so we thought.
When Super Smash Bros. 4 launched, Nintendo released an adapter to support four up to four GameCube controllers on Wii U. The Nintendo Switch received the same treatment when Super Smash Bros. Ultimate launched late last year. The official Nintendo adapter is, sadly, hard to find for a reasonable price, but there are numerous options that get the job done well. We’ve rounded up the best Nintendo Switch GameCube controller adapters below.
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The cool thing about connecting GameCube controllers to your Switch is that you can use them with virtually any game. While the main draw is reliving the Melee-feeling in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, GameCube controllers can act much like the more expensive Pro Controllers, giving you a more traditional controller option for both AAA games and indies on Switch.
1. Pdobq adapter
Closely resembling the official Nintendo adapter, the Pdobq adapter is a great option. It’s slightly smaller than Nintendo’s adapter, but it has identical functionality. The Pdobq adapter supports four wired GameCube controllers. If you own a second adapter, you can enjoy up to eight player local multiplayer with compatible games. You don’t need to download a driver to use it on Switch, and it’s also compatible with Wii U, PC, and Mac. Switching between console and PC mode is as simple as pressing a button. Pdobq’s adapter supports rumble and turbo features for applicable GameCube controllers.
2. Mayflash adapter
Mayflash’s adapter was first introduced in 2015 for Wii U and remains one of the most popular third party GameCube adapters today. It has a more box-like design that may be more appealing to some. The Mayflash adapter has four GameCube controller inputs and works with Switch, Wii U, PC, and Mac. The plug-and-play design means that you don’t need a driver to play games on any platform (a driver is required for vibration on PC, though). Like the Pdobq adapter, you can plug two adapters into your Switch for eight player local multiplayer. The Mayflash has the same features as the Pdobq adapter, so the decision here is largely a matter of aesthetics.
3. 8Bitdo Gbros. adapter
Retro accessory manufacturer 8BitDo offers a decidedly different option for your GameCube controller adapter needs. With the look of an oversized dongle and bearing the original shade of GameCube indigo, the Gbros. adapter is the ideal choice for those who tend to play a lot of solo games. The adapter syncs to your Switch wirelessly, so all you have to do is plug your controller into the adapter. This frees up the space between you and your TV from a mess of cords. The downside is that each adapter only supports one controller, so you’ll need to buy multiple if you’re having a LAN party.
Gbros. requires two AA batteries and gets around 30 hours of gameplay before needing to replace them. One of the biggest strengths of the Gbros. adapter is that it has a screenshot button. That may sound like no big deal, but playing with GameCube controllers using other adapters doesn’t allow you to take screenshots. The Gbros. adapter also has a home button to let you return to the Switch’s menu screen — another feature that is lacking with GameCube controllers (and most adapters). 8Bitdo’s handy little adapter also works with NES, SNES, and Wii Classic controllers.
4. Official Nintendo adapter
If you have the adapter from the Wii U era, it works just fine with the Nintendo Switch. Nintendo re-released the adapter alongside Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, but like many things Nintendo, the adapter is unavailable in stores just months later. If you absolutely have to have the Nintendo logo on the adapter, well, you can spend almost four times its original price on Amazon.