Topic: IMPRESSIONS: 3-in-1Virtual Retro Adapter

[TheYoungerPlumber]

NWR tried out the the 3-in-1 Retro Adapter on the show floor. Is the controller adapter a Virtual Console godsend? Not quiteÂ….
 http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/impressionsArt.cfm?artid=18754

 Innex was showing off their 3-in-1 Virtual Retro Adapter on the show floor, and Jared Rosenberg and I swung by to get some hands-on time with the peripheral.    

The product looks sleek enough and doesnÂ’t feel cheap. The square box slightly resembles an N64 and feels very sturdy. A short cable juts out from one side that plugs into an open GameCube port; the other three sides feature the NES, SNES, and N64 controller ports. You must toggle a small switch to change between NES/SNES and N64 mode, but it also felt well-built.    

To demonstrate their product they had a Wii boasting a sampling of Virtual Console games. The button mappings worked as expected for the NES and SNES—including shoulder buttons, start, and select. However, due to a poor design decision, the N64 implementation is a bit lacking. The Kombo 3-in-1 maps the buttons as precisely as possibleÂ…to a fault.  While mapping L (GC) to L (N64) and Z (GC) to Z (N64) sounds perfectly logical on paper, anyone who uses the peripheral will find that it is terrible for the vast majority of N64 games on Virtual Console, since N64 button mappings on VC are often tweaked to accommodate the Classic Controller. This includes the N64 game Innex displayed: Mario Kart 64. Instead of using Z on the N64 controller, you must use C-down, ruining what should be an authentic experience for N64 games. There is no way to customize the button mapping.    

I also have some concern over potential lag in the interface. I am not terribly sensitive to lag in video games, but there was a fairly noticeable delay between when I pressed the jump button and when Mario jumped. Both Jared and I had trouble playing Super Mario World, falling off cliffs and the like. The setup Innex used is very suspect: they were using a composite video connection on what looked like a budget LCD television. I went back and forth in Super Mario Bros. 3 between the NES and Wii Remote, and there was similar (too difficult to say identical) lag using both.    

While the N64 controller button mapping problem is disappointing, the peripheral looks promising for NES and SNES games, and hopefully the input lag is a non-issue. ThereÂ’s no way to tell for sure without testing one out at home.

[Flames_of_chaos]

I had a feeling that this would happen! I heard that this adapter costs 20, so I'd rather spend that 20 on a classic controller.

[Stratos]

Agreed. I was very worried about N64 button mapping issues and it is too bad they lacked foresight in this project.

[Mop it up]

You know what else you can buy for $20? A Nintendo 64 system.

[Stratos]

You know what else you can buy for $20? A Nintendo 64 system.

The "Owner of Everything N64" is right. Might as well go that route. Mine still works fine.

Though I will want to buy certain N64 games on the VC if they ever come out just to be able to support the devs and hopefully gain sequels for them. It happened to S&P, right?

[NWR_insanolord]

You know what else you can buy for $20? A Nintendo 64 system.

The old used games store I loved that was forced to close sold them for twice that and the other one in town that's still there charges even more.

[Mop it up]

Though I will want to buy certain N64 games on the VC if they ever come out just to be able to support the devs and hopefully gain sequels for them. It happened to S&P, right?

Hard to say if that had any effect on the sequel, but that was a game not available in North America so it is a bit of a different story.
The only N64 games I would download are ones that were never released. I'm secretly hoping that Echo Delta gets released on the service but I know it won't happen...

You know what else you can buy for $20? A Nintendo 64 system.

The old used games store I loved that was forced to close sold them for twice that and the other one in town that's still there charges even more.

And that's why game stores are going out of business. Go to eBay, Amazon, and Craiglist and you will find some incredible deals.

[Stratos]

Nintendo actually attributed the number of D/Ls for S&P on the VC as being the reason S&P2 is currently in development. Miracles do happen. 

Also, I thought you hated online shopping, Mop it up. Or is that more for the games themselves?

[Mop it up]

Of course Nintendo is going to say that, it is good PR. But I think they were going to make the game regardless of that, just like they were going to make Twilight Princess regardless of the backlash from Wind Waker.

I don't like online shopping but it is the only option when it comes to older games, there aren't any game stores around here besides GameStop and the like. I don't buy Wii games online!

[AV]

I am not terribly sensitive to lag in video games, but there was a fairly noticeable delay between when I pressed the jump button and when Mario JUMPED .

FIXED.

I know you guys are tired so I'll give you some slack.

About the N64, whenever your using the 'gamecube port' shouldn't that recognize gamecube and thus z will be z. I thought VC games have different config's depending on what is plugged in.

I had problems with n64 games too, I tried to input a code and it refused to work. I had to 'translate' it to work with the controller I had.

[TheYoungerPlumber]

Thanks, Vega. I've made that edit.