Retro Fighters N64 controller

I was surprised I couldn't find a thread created about this.


For years, I have stated I am not a fan of the N64 because of the horrible pitchfork controller.

But that may soon change.

In 2017, this Californian-based company named Retro Fighters created a Kickstarter to create a revamped and modernized N64 controller. To say the Kickstarter was a success is an understatement. It appears they got 12x their funding goal.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects...-64-controller

http://retrofighters.com/wp-content/...100x900_sm.png

They also sent a prototype to a YouTuber:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jgG0Z7pPu-I

I'm definitely eager to purchase one once they hit retail in spring. I've never given the N64 much of a chance because of the horrendous controller. My big concern is they won't be able to keep up with demand and it will become like NES Classic 2.0

I'm going to get one of these but I really wish they'd chosen someone other then this dude to review the thing.

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Originally Posted by BonusKun

I'm going to get one of these but I really wish they'd chosen someone other then this dude to review the thing.

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Hater, the Drunken Hobo look is going to be huuuuge this year!

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Originally Posted by BonusKun

I'm going to get one of these but I really wish they'd chosen someone other then this dude to review the thing.

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If you go into the comments of that Kickstarter page, theres like 5 other people who said the same thing

I backed this near the end of the campaign, I'm optimistic it turns out well. Heck you can barely buy a stock controller for less than $20 anyway.

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Originally Posted by NeoVamp

Hater, the Drunken Hobo look is going to be huuuuge this year!

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Nah I just don't like the fact he looks like someone who forgot he isn't a kid anymore. I can think of a lot more people on YT who could actually talk about this thing and not look like a hipster douchebag.

Is there anything to say about the controller or is everyone here a fashionista all of a sudden?

Is the analog stick actually going to be able to live up to the original? I hear there's a lot of problems in making a 1:1 replica. I couldn't make it all the way through the video, but it didn't seem like he actually took it apart and did an analysis or anything. Any insight from those who know more about the N64 stick?

Well just looking at it now, the wings look too fat near the tip (just like Dual Shock 4). They might not be flaring out enough either (again, just like DS4).

I don't watch many gaming videos with people in them, but as soon as I saw the thumbnail I said "Aw fuck, that guy?"

I've only once had the misfortune to skim one of his videos, but he is the lamest combination of everything I hate about wannabe youtube stars, complete with the most far reaching caricature for an avatar which absolutely looks nothing like him. Apparently he likes to think that he looks like Classic Gaming Quarterly, but in reality he is a living, breathing Robert Crumb background character.


Anyway, I have a grey one coming that I'll likely sell as soon as I get one of the first colored controllers (clear purple or solid black?). I'm really hoping that every part of it works well enough to be the definitive N64 controller.

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Originally Posted by BonusKun

Nah I just don't like the fact he looks like someone who forgot he isn't a kid anymore. I can think of a lot more people on YT who could actually talk about this thing and not look like a hipster douchebag.

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The guy is like in his early 30s.

In that Kickstarter page, a lot of people were suggesting ReviewTechUSA to review it, as hes been known to be more critical and less biased. Well its water under the bridge I suppose.

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Originally Posted by Black_Tiger

Anyway, I have a grey one coming that I'll likely sell as soon as I get one of the first colored controllers (clear purple or solid black?). I'm really hoping that every part of it works well enough to be the definitive N64 controller.

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Its the only N64 controller that looks capable of being that. The Hori 64 controller does look like a major improvement over the stock pitchfork controller, but its too small and crammed, and obviously expensive. I was actually considering getting one from Japan eBay, maybe like a couple weeks before this controller was revealed.

I'd love to get my hands on one for review as there are very few YouTube channels that I trust for reviews these days. Seems that most of the popular channels play with these things for 20 minutes (after getting it for free) and do a fluff "review" based on a press release.

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Originally Posted by avlon

I'd love to get my hands on one for review as there are very few YouTube channels that I trust for reviews these days. Seems that most of the popular channels play with these things for 20 minutes (after getting it for free) and do a fluff "review" based on a press release.

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He didn't even do that. It was a whole 13 minutes of him fucking around with it and he didn't even seriously put it thru the paces like some other people I know would have. I would have preferred CGQ or ReviewTechUSA to get a hold of one of these things instead of a 30 year old man child.

That Avatar image reminds me more of Kevin Smith then him.

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Originally Posted by BonusKun

He didn't even do that. It was a whole 13 minutes of him fucking around with it and he didn't even seriously put it thru the paces like some other people I know would have. I would have preferred CGQ or ReviewTechUSA to get a hold of one of these things instead of a 30 year old man child.

That Avatar image reminds me more of Kevin Smith then him.

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That sounds terrible, but I'm not surprised. I'll have to disagree about ReviewTechUSA. His reviews (when he does them) aren't much better. The guy spends more time ranting about irrelevant speculation and YouTube drama than "reviewing" anything. He's entertaining sometimes, but that channel name is a complete misnomer. "Rich's Rants" would suit him better.

For reviews, I find that RetroRGB tends to do a far better job. He tends to give things a far more detailed review and actually does provide tech/retrogaming news. ReRez is also a good channel that does a good job reviewing things with really nice production quality. Lastly, of course I'll plug myself, but since I actually have to buy stuff (and I generally like to put a little production value into most reviews) there is no way I can keep up with the other guys.

I've never been huge on this RGT guy.

Rich from ReviewTech is a creepy dude now these days. More of a PC elitist even though he does play consoles. I can't see him talking about this controller, even if he loved the 64. Looking at the image, this doesn't impress me. I'd like to see how others feel about it outside of YouTube.

Shades of DSP. Nevertheless, the controller seems to be pretty nice. I anticipate its public release.

Been following this, hoping they ship out soon like promised so I can read some end-user reviews. Would've otherwise backed the KS, but they wanted 20$ for shipping to this side of the pond, and knowing how inflexible KS's shipping options are, the final store should have better ones.

I do like the three-prong controller, especially when holding like a gun and shooting. Hoping to get to N64 deving soon.

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Originally Posted by avlon

That sounds terrible, but I'm not surprised. I'll have to disagree about ReviewTechUSA. His reviews (when he does them) aren't much better. The guy spends more time ranting about irrelevant speculation and YouTube drama than "reviewing" anything. He's entertaining sometimes, but that channel name is a complete misnomer. "Rich's Rants" would suit him better.

For reviews, I find that RetroRGB tends to do a far better job. He tends to give things a far more detailed review and actually does provide tech/retrogaming news. ReRez is also a good channel that does a good job reviewing things with really nice production quality. Lastly, of course I'll plug myself, but since I actually have to buy stuff (and I generally like to put a little production value into most reviews) there is no way I can keep up with the other guys.

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I agree. RTU has had some good videos, but now he is not much more than click bait, shouting, and baseless speculation. Aka YouTube gold.

Maybe y'all were thinking of GameTechUS (aka kevtris). I know I've gotten the two confused. His videos are interesting because he actually dissects things and provides technical insight that most people can't.

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Originally Posted by Tower of Power

I agree. RTU has had some good videos, but now he is not much more than click bait, shouting, and baseless speculation. Aka YouTube gold.

Maybe y'all were thinking of GameTechUS (aka kevtris). I know I've gotten the two confused. His videos are interesting because he actually dissects things and provides technical insight that most people can't.

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I agree. GameTechUS is one of those channels that can really teach you something. I'll name a few other great small to medium-sized channels that actually provide good reviews and entertain.

RetroRGB - A little bit too techie for the casual audience, but still good, thorough reviews for the rest of us who are really into this hobby.
Retro Buyer's Guide - Honest reviews. Covered a lot of niche retrogaming products.
Retro Core - Same as above, does a lot of head to head comparisons between ports.
GameXplain - Good coverage on newer consoles.

As for this controller... If any of you have a Micro Center near you, you may find it there. They carried the NES version of this as well as retro-bit and 8bitdo stuff.

Here is the important part of the message that investors received today:

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First off, we have officially finished production, now it is all about transit and fulfillment time. We are expecting to receive everything in our warehouse for fulfillment around the week of 2/19. We don't anticipate any delays, but if there were any delays in transit we will notify everyone. Even if a delay were to occur it wouldn't delay shipments by more than a week. Our goal is to get all orders shipped out by the end of February.

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Originally Posted by avlon

As for this controller... If any of you have a Micro Center near you, you may find it there. They carried the NES version of this as well as retro-bit and 8bitdo stuff.

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Fry's would probably carry it as well.

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Originally Posted by gamevet

Fry's would probably carry it as well.

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Most likely. I wish they would open up a few on the East coast.

I just want a few of the damned things on the off chance that the friends of mine who have not committed suicide can be coaxed into some N64 fun at some point, and this can only be achieved if they're not stocked exclusively in Devil's Buttcrack, Wyoming.

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Originally Posted by Raijin Z

I just want a few of the damned things on the off chance that the friends of mine who have not committed suicide can be coaxed into some N64 fun at some point, and this can only be achieved if they're not stocked exclusively in Devil's Buttcrack, Wyoming.

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I'm prepared to order it online, I live in a 80,000 pop city but the chances of a local retail store having it are not existent.

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Originally Posted by NeoVamp

Hater, the Drunken Hobo look is going to be huuuuge this year!

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I believe the politically correct term is "hipster".

This controller looks good. I have never liked the original. I think there are only three real alternatives, the Boomerang, the Alpha 64, and the Super Pad 64. The Boomerang and Alpha 64 are hard to find. The Super Pad 64 is easier to find but is not as comfortable to use and the analog stick is not as durable.

http://www.nesworld.com/n64/joypads/boomerang64.jpg

http://media.gamerevolution.com/imag...lpha64_001.jpg

https://i.warosu.org/data/vr/img/000...1730273594.jpg


I am interested in getting one of these but I still wish someone would just make an adapter so I could use a Phoenix Revolution controller instead.

http://pds.exblog.jp/pds/1/200706/25...8_21163552.jpg

Yea thats one of my concerns with this controller. Even if 10% of N64 owners want this controller, how many people is that? Millions. Supply has to meet demand!!

The Super Pad 64 Plus (Bones Justice has pictured above has a different thumbstick) was my favorite. It was the best Mario Kart 64 controller. Very solid, stronger spring on the analog stick than a stock Nintendo controller.

This controller was released worldwide a couple days ago, it has a defect where the analog stick hits the left shoulder button. I can't afford to do my planned N64 haul(with this controller included), so its good I waited a bit before ordering one of these.

^^
That controller has the same issue with the C buttons and R... if you press the R button the right way you can see the C right and C up buttons move.

Maybe these defected controllers will end up on eBay for a couple dollars, I can think of a couple games that are still playable with gimped controls.

From reading Kickstarter comments, it seems the L / analog button issue is fixable by trimming a tiny bit of the internal analog stick component.

However, the more worrying comments are that the d-pad sucks. Several people have commented that fighting games aren't easily playable because diagonals aren't being read well.

Someone needs to make Dreamcast controller, extra buttons, triggers that can be programmed with macros and a repositionable stick and D Pad, something along these lines...

Attachment 13936

... Good controller actually, I have three.

The last kickstarter email I got said that they will fix current issues in the next batch which will include or just be the colored controllers.

If the d-pad actually affects any games I'd care to play, I might hang on to my Hori controller.

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Originally Posted by Gryson

From reading Kickstarter comments, it seems the L / analog button issue is fixable by trimming a tiny bit of the internal analog stick component.

However, the more worrying comments are that the d-pad sucks. Several people have commented that fighting games aren't easily playable because diagonals aren't being read well.

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If some of these start popping up on eBay, I might get one and break out my dremel kit

They said that if it comes to it, they might send out replacement parts if people are comfortable swapping them out.

Looks a damn sight better than the usual controller!!!

I have the HORI mini-N64 controller, and frankly this one seems very similar, but I'll stick with the HORI.

I prefer the original controller since it's the closest you can get to a modern dual analog scheme in FPS games, by holding it from the left side and using the Dpad for moving and the analog stick for aiming. It works great and you don't have to re-wire your brain in order to play old N64 FPS games. Which is impossible with this new controller.

Have you tried Goldeneye with dual controllers? It's Wii-like dual wielding then.

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Originally Posted by Soulis

I prefer the original controller since it's the closest you can get to a modern dual analog scheme in FPS games, by holding it from the left side and using the Dpad for moving and the analog stick for aiming. It works great and you don't have to re-wire your brain in order to play old N64 FPS games. Which is impossible with this new controller.

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I take it you are proud to be a WASD gamer?