Hack your NES and SNES controllers for Wii

Author: Wil Harris
Published: 21st February 2007
Comments (9) Stumble
Wireless NES controller. Neat.

Wireless NES controller. Neat.

One of the biggest successes of the Wii platform has been the virtual console, where you can download old-school NES and SNES games to play on your console, avoiding the need to have to mess around with emulators and the like. You can even buy a retro gamepad in sleek Wii white to avoid having to use the Wii-mote.

But, for the ultimate in retro, nothing really beats gaming with the original gamepads, with their iconic stylings. Well, Mark Feldman has hacked apart his old controllers, installed some wireless circuitry and a battery from an iPod nano, then created a receiver with a Gamecube controller plug on the end, creating wireless, retro, Wii-compatible gamepads.

His website describes the details you need to do the project yourself, including the transmitters and recievers that have been used, as well as step by step guides with plenty of pictures. You'll need to find some fairly specialist parts, as well the obvious soldering iron, but the project isn't too outrageously difficult.

Go check out the site and the awesome pictures and video, then let us know what you think over in the forums.
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Quote JaredC01 21st February 2007, 17:28
That's probably the coolest mod I've seen in a long time. Retro is the way to go, and damn did he do it right...
Quote riggs 21st February 2007, 17:34
Wow! That's a fantastic idea, if a little complex for an electronics noob like me.
Quote devenfore 21st February 2007, 18:54
That is pretty damn cool. :)
Quote DXR_13KE 21st February 2007, 20:03
awesomeness!!!!!
Quote Vash-HT 21st February 2007, 21:59
Its a really cool idea, but I don't think I would use them over the newer controllers you could use instead. I played a bit of SNES this semester, and didn realize how crappy the controllers were till now.
Quote Skylined 21st February 2007, 23:51
Reminds me of what I did with my old MP3 player.

http://forums.bit-tech.net/showthread.php?t=83706
(I have to fix the pics that I've moved in my image host :p)
Quote antiHero 22nd February 2007, 09:36
Awsome mod IMO!
After reading the log i have to mention that he used a Ipod mini batterie pack not a Nano pack. :(
Quote Mr. Tinker 22nd February 2007, 14:56
For Americans interested in this project: I am planning on doing this, but I was having a hard time sourcing the parts at first. I finally came across Sparkfun.com who has all the parts except the ipod battery (I promise I do not work for sparkfun, I'm just trying to help).
Quote David_Fitzy 23rd February 2007, 13:36
sWiit
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