Nintendo WaveBird Review - IGN
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`Nintendo WaveBird Review - IGN
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`2/15/15, 8:42 AM
`
`Nintendo WaveBird Review
`
`by M. Wiley
`June 11, 2002
`Submit Tweet Share +1 Share
`Wireless was big at this year's E3. Plenty of peripheral makers had cordless controllers on the floor - everything
`from straight pads to steering wheels to joysticks. While this was exciting to see -- it's about time the
`technology has advanced to a point at which wireless controllers are actually practical -- the real business was
`over at the Nintendo booth, where the company reeled in attendees with fully functional WaveBird controllers.
`Initially announced along with the GameCube console at Space World 2000, the WaveBird has been one of the
`most highly anticipated pieces of hardware on any console.
`The main reason for all the hoopla is that the WaveBird -- in case you see it written differently, the name has
`undergone several minor changes since its inception -- is the first first-party wireless controller. Strict historians
`and pesky know-it-all interns might take issue with that statement, recalling Nintendo's ill-fated NES Satellite
`from the late 1980s, but the WaveBird is the first independent cordless pad.
`And today's the day: The WaveBird has finally landed. To celebrate the event, we all went to the mall at lunch
`and promptly bought all the WaveBirds in _________. I kid you not - all of them. We felt vaguely bad for
`normal consumers, who would have to look elsewhere, but we didn't feel that bad. We were also ushered
`through our purchase by Fran, whose "strike hard, strike fast, no mercy" mentality enabled us to break our
`pangs of guilt like so many toothpicks. We were armed and ready for a wonderfully wireless day.
`In short, the WaveBird lived up to or exceeded all of our expectations, some of which were just plain shattered.
`If you are considering buying an additional controller for your GCN, then I suggest holding off, saving for a few
`more days, and buying a WaveBird. It's that good. With plenty of range, flexible operation, and long battery life,
`the WaveBird is a truly amazing controller, and one whose impact will doubtlessly be felt throughout the
`industry.
`One of the biggest improvements in wireless control is the implementation of RF (radio frequency) technology.
`The alternative, IR (infrared), requires line of sight to operate, which is extremely impractical considering that
`few of us play games in empty rooms while keeping our controllers pointing directly toward the console. RF
`signals are (theoretically) unhindered by such household items as walls, tables, etc. I am not sure which
`frequency the WaveBird uses -- I assume that it communicates at 900Mhz, which is cheaper and less disruptive
`than 2.4Ghz -- but it works like a charm.
`
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`Nintendo WaveBird Review - IGN
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`2/15/15, 8:42 AM
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`Initial claims of operating range varied wildly. The packaging suggests staying within 20 feet of the receiver,
`which plugs directly into a controller port. The first thing we did is walk as far away as we could while
`maintaining control. Fran took a controller and started hiking, continuing until I told him that the signal was
`lost. We had trouble believing the results, a stunning 90 feet. Further down you'll see a picture of our
`experiment. Overkill? Of course. However, you can be absolutely sure that the WaveBird will operate within
`your living room, bedroom, etc. And if you're playing in a room that's too big for the WaveBird, then you've
`nothing to complain about in this world.
`We ran our test using the included pair of AA batteries, which were presumably new. As battery life drains,
`range might decrease, which might be why Nintendo makes the 20-foot claim. At any rate, the WaveBird has
`plenty of range.
`To facilitate multi-player gaming, the WaveBird operates on one of sixteen available channels. You simply set
`the channel on the controller and then set the appropriate channel on the receiver. The only problem here is
`reading the seriously undersized numbers on the dials. Nintendo should have made the numbers opposite the
`color of the dial, as they are extremely hard to read, even under bright lights. If you were in a dark room, then it
`would be practically impossible.
`
`Obviously, you're never going to have sixteen controllers running simultaneously. However, the sixteen
`channels come in handy with even four players. When we connected four WaveBirds we encountered some
`light interference with one of the channels. (You'll witness this in one of the attached movies.) We simply
`moved said controller to a channel farther from the others. We're not entirely sure how the channel system
`works, but we suggest, for good measure, that you skip channels while you play. For example, you could use 1,
`3, 5, and 7 instead of 1, 2, 3, and 4. This cleared up our (minor) problems immediately.
`Unfortunately we could not test the battery life. Nintendo claims 100 hours, but company claims aren't always
`the most reliable numbers. There are also many variables that affect battery life: non-stop vs. periodic use,
`button intensive games vs. simple driving, etc. We will post findings after we arrive at some sort of averages.
`However, given Nintendo's reputation, you can bet that the battery life will be at least acceptable. (And keep in
`mind that we were running the WaveBird at distances far beyond Nintendo's claim.)
`So what do you give up for all this goodness? Most importantly, the WaveBird has no rumble effect. Vibration
`feedback requires a motor, which sucks battery energy like nobody's business. You will see a few wireless
`
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`Nintendo WaveBird Review - IGN
`2/15/15, 8:42 AM
`controllers hit the streets this year with the rumble feature. However, the battery life always bottoms out to two
`or three hours with the effect turned on. One of Nintendo's main goals was designing a long-lasting controller,
`so vibration went out the window early. And the only reason we don't suggest totally abandoning wired
`controllers in favor of WaveBirds is that you will need vibration feedback occasionally. For example, the pad
`might shake lightly when you find a secret in a game.
`Besides the lack of rumble feedback, the only issue is maintaining a battery arsenal, which obviously has
`everything to do with the owner and nothing to with Nintendo. However, it is imperative that you keep extras on
`hand. (Keep them in the fridge.) Few things would be as frustrating as reaching a crucial point in a game only to
`run out of juice.
`
`Ninety feet and still going strong. Click image to enlarge.
`Matt's Comments
`Nintendo's wireless WaveBird controller is my father. It owns me -- there is no doubting that. From the
`moment I first used it, I knew I would have to worship it for the rest of my life. Really, you've read our
`review -- you know we love this thing. Is there really any point to me adding further comments on it?
`Well, just to be on the safe side...
`I've put WaveBird to the test. I played it recently for about seven hours straight with Silicon Knights'
`Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem -- probably the game most of you can't wait to test the wireless
`trophy on. It performed flawlessly from a couple feet away, and then from ten feet, and after that 20 feet.
`In fact, in my entire play time with the game, the WaveBird never missed a beat. Since then, I've had the
`chance to use the controller with GCN titles like TimeSplitters 2, Resident Evil, Super Smash Bros.
`Melee, and XG3 Extreme G Racing. It's worked perfectly every single time. Whether it's a slow
`exploration process of Capcom's survival horror title or twitch-trigger reactions present in Eidos' shooter,
`the controller handles the situations without any blemishes.
`I can sit behind my desk at work and play games on the television ten feet away, an impossibility before. I
`can sit on my couch at home and play without worry of someone walking in and interfering with the
`wires, tripping over them, or whatever. If I wanted to, I could set up mirrors down my hallway and play in
`
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`Nintendo WaveBird Review - IGN
`2/15/15, 8:42 AM
`a different room entirely, watching the television screen off the reflections. Of course, I'm not insane, so I
`wouldn't do that. But I could. Or, I could wheel my television out to my front yard, and then walk to the
`very rear of my backyard and play. I might be institutionalized for this, but the possibility is there. The
`point is, the signal is strong -- totally uninterrupted in my experience, and it goes far -- much farther than
`Nintendo's advertised example of 20 feet, in most cases.
`The controller is as comfortable as ever so have no concerns about that. The signals work fine with four
`WaveBird controllers so that there is no criss-crossing, and the receiver -- which fits snugly into the
`controller slot, does not block out the memory card slots in any way. If you're still undecided, you have
`only two drawbacks to consider. The first is that the WaveBird has no rumble functions. I personally
`couldn't possibly care less about this particular omission quite honestly. It's always seemed more of a
`novelty feature than a gameplay-enhancing one to me. Until Nintendo releases a GameCube title that
`really puts the rumble to good use, I won't miss it at all. I'd much rather have the benefits of no wires in
`my living room. But this is a decision for everyone to make. If rumble is something you absolutely cannot
`forego, WaveBird -- slick as it is -- is not the controller for you. The other consideration is battery life.
`The average Joe will suck roughly 100 hours of play time out of two AA batteries with WaveBird -- quite
`a feat as far as I'm concerned. It's a pretty amazing number, actually. So unless you're afraid of changing
`batteries, or are just abnormally cheap about buying additional ones, this really shouldn't pose any
`problems.
`WaveBird is one of those peripheral devices that totally does what I'd hoped it would, and because of that
`my work and home environments are now completely void of wired controllers. If I had a dog, he would
`be pissed. But my friends and I couldn't be happier. Gaming just got a little more relaxed, a little less
`messy, and a lot more fun.
`One of the absolute best hardware buys you can make.
`Fran's Comments
`I'll avoid repeating too much of what was stated in the review and make this brief. WaveBird is awesome
`on its own merits. If Nintendo is to be believed it lasts close to 100 hours at best, works at insane
`distances (we tested up to around 90 feet), and feels just like the official standard controller with a
`smidgen more weight. This makes WaveBird a
`must-have in my book. It gives me the opportunity to pack up the GameCube behind closed doors in my
`entertainment center -- no wires, no hassle -- and feel totally free from the console. You'd be amazed how
`much of a difference it makes to strike all worries from your mind that you may yank the cord from the
`console, or even harm the GameCube accidentally.
`You definitely shouldn't give up the standard controller, though. The rumble feature is very important in
`games like Zelda where you actually use rumble to find secret items. Well, it's something we expect in the
`GameCube Zelda anyhow. And, I'd be lying if I didn't get certain pleasure out of knowing my opponents
`controllers shake wildly when I
`bludgeon them with the Lipstick flower in Super Smash Bros. Melee. Still, the simple fact is that
`WaveBird is the unbeatable wireless controller for GameCube. You're not going to find a better one,
`unless a third-party manages to make both a better controller design and better wireless combined.
`So, go out right now, and buy yourself at least one WaveBird. I guarantee you and your friends will be
`fighting for rights to it in multiplayer games. If you can afford, buy more than one. You won't regret it.
`
`http://www.ign.com/articles/2002/06/11/nintendo-wavebird-review
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`Nintendo WaveBird Review - IGN
`by M. Wiley
`Submit Tweet Share +1 Share
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`Nintendo WaveBird Review - IGN
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`12 Comments
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`PHENOM59 • 2 years ago
`Next person who reads this: Please reply to my comment so that I know just how long it takes for
`a kindred spirit to dig deep into ign for some nostalgia.
`
`Share ›
` 8
`
`•
`
`Rush_Rage
` • 8 months ago
`> PHENOM59
`I gotcha bro!
`Share ›
` 1
`
`•
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`
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`Bladefinger
` • 10 months ago
`> PHENOM59
`I'm thinking I might pick up a Wavebird today. One of my other GameCube controllers is
`busted and I want one to replace it. The Wavebird sounds like a worthy contender.
`
`Share ›
`
`•
`
`SebaZava
` • 10 months ago
`> PHENOM59
`Even though I've had a Gamecube since 2002, I just bought a WaveBird... today. It's a little
`yellowy but works like a charm. One of the best controllers ever, in my book.
`
`Share ›
`
`•
`
`ceramicsaturn
` • a year ago
`> PHENOM59
`Got a new wave bird yesterday. Seriously it looks brand new. I've had a few over the years
`http://www.ign.com/articles/2002/06/11/nintendo-wavebird-review
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`Nintendo WaveBird Review - IGN
`2/15/15, 8:42 AM
`Got a new wave bird yesterday. Seriously it looks brand new. I've had a few over the years
`but for stupid reasons sold them.
`
`No more. Keeping this forever. Love it too much. Even in 2013 this controller is perfect.
`
`Wanted to learn more about it and checked wiki. Ign's review was in the reference area.
`
`Share ›
` 2
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`•
`
`TheGreatGamingTree
` • a year ago
`> ceramicsaturn
`If I wasn't 4 years old when it was initially released, I would have got my parents to
`buy four of them. Now I am 15, and have finally found a nice used one on amazon
`that I'm going to need to buy soon so I can play some wind waker and super Mario
`sunshine a bit after away for the tv.
`
`Share ›
` 1
`
`•
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`Liverpiggy
` • 2 years ago
`> PHENOM59
`About two months it seems fellow nostalgia seeker ;)
`
`Share ›
` 1
`
`•
`
`Seratara
` • 2 years ago
`> PHENOM59
`This long, apparently. I was playing with my Wavebird one morning and I suddenly
`remembered this review. This is indeed an awesome controller, I love it.
`
`Share ›
` 4
`
`•
`
`PHENOM59
` • 2 years ago
`> Seratara
`That was much faster than i expected.. Good day to you sir.
`
`Share ›
`
`•
`
`OviVoul
` • a year ago
`> PHENOM59
`It seems it's taking longer every time.. 4 months this time..
`
`Share ›
`
`•
`
`> OviVoul
`
` • 3 months ago
`
`kristijan13
`Still here.
`
`•
`
`Share ›
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`
`
`GezR • 2 years ago
`Great controller.
`
`Share ›
` 3
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`Nintendo WaveBird Review - IGN
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`2/15/15, 8:42 AM
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