WaveBird

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The WaveBird Wireless Controller was a radio frequency (RF) based wireless controller manufactured for the Nintendo GameCube video game console.

Contents 1 Development 2 Design 3 Price 4 Legacy 5 References

[edit] Development

Nintendo had been attempting to create a reliable wireless controller since the early Famicom era. Its first attempt was for the AVS (Advanced Video System), the precursor to the NES which included two wireless controllers but was never released. The next attempt was an infrared (IR) adapter called the NES Satellite, for the NES. Released in 1989, it used the aforementioned IR to extend the length of up to four wired controllers, which would plug themselves into the base of the unit. The base could then be positioned anywhere within a certain range of the NES without the need for a cable. However, the extension base still needed a direct line of sight with the NES console, a problem also present on third-party wireless IR controllers. Unfortunately, infrared has significant limitations; one being that it is line of sight only; there had to be a clear space between the IR port and the controller. Radio Frequency controllers were not possible in the late 1980s as the early digital RF links were bulky and used too much power to be useful in battery-powered devices.

Only a decade later, advancements in integrated circuits made radio controllers for game consoles commercially viable. The WaveBird - released in 2002 - solved previous usability problems of wireless controllers by relying on radio frequency communication instead of infrared, allowing the controller to be used anywhere within 20+ feet of the console without a need for a direct line of sight.

[edit] Design

The WaveBird GameCube controller is designed and sold by Nintendo.^[1] Unlike most wireless controllers, it relies on RF waves (first used in gaming with Atari's CX-42 joysticks^[2]) rather than the previously more common method of infrared line-of-sight control.^[1]

In terms of design, the WaveBird controller is built mostly in the same way as the standard GameCube controller; the components (analog sticks, buttons, and triggers) and layout remain the same, while adding the wireless functionality and an internal battery pack. The WaveBird controller is somewhat larger than a standard GameCube controller, with the "center hole" between the D-Pad and the C-Stick replaced by the RF mechanism. In terms of capabilities, the only feature the WaveBird controller lacks when compared to the standard controller is the rumble feature, whose motors would reduce battery life. ^[1]

• The early versions of the controller's radio transceiver runs in the 900 MHz unlicensed band.^[3] Later versions of the controller have a transceiver that operates at 2.4 GHz. ^[4]
• Up to 16 WaveBird controllers can be used in the same area if each is set to a different channel.^[5]
• The range of the WaveBird controller is officially 20 feet,^[5] but some users have reported ranges of 60-70 feet.^{[citation needed]}
• The WaveBird controller is available in the United States and Canada in light gray and Platinum color choices.
• The Platinum-colored WaveBird controller was released in December 2002.
• 1,000 Special Edition Gundam WaveBirds (Two-Tone Red with the Neo-Zeon logo in the middle) were available through a contest held by Club Nintendo in Japan to coincide with the (Japan only) GameCube release of Mobile Suit Gundam: Gundam vs. Z Gundam. ^[6]
• The WaveBird's name is a reference to Dolphin,^[7] the GameCube's codename during its development.^[8]
• Battery requirements for the WaveBird controller are 2 standard AA batteries.^[5]
• Since the launch of the Wii, the Wavebird has seen increased popularity as it can be used to play both GameCube and Wii Virtual Console games wirelessly.^[9]

[edit] Price

The Wavebird is widely considered the first practical wireless controller for a videogame console. At the time, neither the Sony Playstation 2 nor the Xbox offered a wireless solution. The only alternatives were 3rd party products that often had poor quality. As a result, the price point of a Wavebird ran around $40. In today's market however, the price of these controllers has increased dramatically. A brand new sealed one can cost upwards of $80, and have frequently reached $100. Platinum Controllers may run slightly higher. Lower supplies of these controllers have been cited as the reason for the high price, as well as the recent spike in demand. ^[9]

[edit] Legacy

Wireless controllers are now standard on all seventh generation consoles: Nintendo's Wii, Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Sony's PlayStation 3.

Like all GameCube controllers, the WaveBird is compatible with the Wii,^[10] for use with GameCube titles and select Virtual Console and Wii titles.

Following speculation that Nintendo might re-release the Wavebird due to the popularity of its use on the Wii, a Nintendo representative confirmed that there were no plans to offer Wavebirds in stores again. ^[11] Although the rep stated that "Original GameCube Controllers" would be available directly from Nintendo, there is no listing for the Wavebird. ^[12]

[edit] References

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