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Kotaku Writer Isn’t A Fan Of The Wii U Pro Controller

Brian Ashcraft, a long-term writer for Kotaku, has just published an article titled “I hate the Wii U Pro controller”. Ashcraft says that the Wii U Pro controller is just too light and says that it’s comparable to Sony’s original PlayStation 3 controller, the Six Axis. Another point that he brings up is the fact that the rumble feature on the controller is very subdued compared to the Xbox 360 controller and the Dual Shock 3. You can read his full opinions here.

157 thoughts on “Kotaku Writer Isn’t A Fan Of The Wii U Pro Controller”

        1. And the analogs are actually good, more like the Gamecubes main analog which are the best ever, wish it had the 3 grip circles on it though

  1. It can’t be possible to like one and hate the other when the internetz has just spent 3 months saying they’re the same.

      1. Was kind of referring to the last three months of “zomg the pro controller is exactly like the 360 controller” but ok…

    1. This^

      I always turn the rumble off cause it feels ackward to play with, I have eyes, I don’t need my controller telling I just crashed (GT5.) Now if its subtle, I might just keep it, but for the love of god nintendo, give us an option to turn it off.

          1. Well… in the Wii menu, it was possible to turn off the rumble of the Wiimotes and Classic Controllers. Probably it will be possible with WiiU too

  2. So just because when he sticks the controller up his ass and it doesnt vibrate as much as a 360 or ps3 controller he is going to hate on it?? Thats fucking nonsense i tell you!!

  3. sigh. The thing is, why would you compare it to other controllers? All controllers are meant to be comfortable and of easy use for gamers who invest many hours into video games. It’s like he’s saying he wants a packed down heavy controller.

    Here’s how I see it. All controllers (except the wii remote & nunchuck for you derpers out there) are similar to each other in respect to architectural design of them. The grips, button placements, analog sticks, they are all similar. Why would want to complain about something that’s been working for years? Plus its not like anyone’s forcing you use that controller lol. *shrugs* but it’s all opinionated though so eh.

  4. I am a fan of the heavier controllers, (I’m too scared to hold the light ones in case I drop it or somethng) but as long as it feels durable, then I’m not bothered. Plus, rumble isn’t exactly important, I mean yeah, it’s nice to have it but I ain’t gonna complain.

        1. Never had a hinge break or wear out on me, nor pinch any wires.
          If you did, then you treated the system the way a ham-fisted, retarded Gorilla would treat an overly-complicated puzzle.
          Clumsily and stupidly.

          1. Yes, blame the consumer for known issues. That’s what we call a true Nintendo apologist and sycophant. Your experience doesn’t speak for a sizeable chunk of the userbase, nor can you prove otherwise.

            But maybe your tiny little bitch hands would treat it gently enough so perhaps you’re a rare exception. Forgot you aren’t actually a man, but some child in Nintendo diapers. My bad.

            1. Out of all the people on this site, you are the very last person with any right to toss the word sycophant around. actually, you never had that right to begin with, and your use of the word manchild when you strut around here posting bullshit statistics as if you speak for the majority case when you do not, is purely infantile and hypocritical in the extreme. do yourself a favor and try looking up the meaning of the words you use before you post them so that you aren’t describing yourself with every insult, You sony ass-kissing, graphics company brown-nosing ignorant buffoon.

              1. All of my DS? So you as an outspoken Sony fan, who adores the vita and psp and have talked down the 3DS on several occasions own several DS consoles?

                Right and I can beat Ornstein, Artorias, Carin and Gough without any shield.

              2. Only my first DS has had hinge problems, one of the hinges broke off, so I have to click the top half into place when I open it and close it. But I’ve had that for one for 7 years, and I have 3 others that have had no hinge problems, and I treat them all well, except for my first one the first few years I had it. I think the hinge problems are partly due to design flaws, (which the Lite then fixed, I’d say) and partly to do with my neglect to properly care for it when I first got it.

          2. I did actually have my DS Lite’s hinge break on me. But that was from 5 years of HEAVY use. So I fixed it and hope it will last much, much longer.

    1. when i first got my wii, I thought the wii controller was kinda cheap feeling, like it would break if i dropped it….oh how I found out I was wrong…..I could fight a ninja with just that thing….and win

      1. I’m not just saying that to be a fanboy, you see way more negative Nintendo articles on there than you do about Sony or Microsoft.

          1. Even then, that doesn’t actually prove anything. As if quantity of negative articles guage a blog’s opinion of a company.

                1. If a series of articles based on the personal opinon of writers for a blog present overarching negative views then that blog should be viewed as bias.

                  If you are reallllyyy wanting to get into it, I could run a cross analysis and compare the mean total of negative articles across a span of a year to total of non negative articles and then look at the SD spread.

                  Or, you could just admit you are wrong now.

    1. Kotaku are ultimately writing for their audience. You only need to see the comments in their Bayonetta 2 is a Wii U exclusive article and witness the dregs of society they attract to understand their POV.

  5. …but why is this considered news?

    Anyways, Fist of the North Star 2 trailer came out earlier today, it’ll be coming out on the WiiU as well as PS3.

  6. If its light as a DS3 with the same rechargable battery, and comfortable as the 360 controller, with the high quality Nintendo buttons, then thats easily the best controller ever made, in the style.

        1. Or maybe their heads aren’t up Nintendo arse and actually know how to think for themselves.

          I’ve seen no hands-on praising the WPC quality. None.

                1. So if people feel the hardware quality is low quality and can tell by comparisons, it’s an opinion?

                  Brb, let me strangle a Nintendo fanboy as he gasps for air and tells me I’m hurting him, but in my OPINION I’m not hurting him!

                  He’s not feeling any pain IN MY OPINION.

          1. Literally all he’s saying is, “it’s light, and “i feel like i could snap it”. What, would rather the original xbox controller? The Gamecube controller is one of my favourite controller, and you know what? Its light as hell. But all the buttons last, ive had it for about 10 years and its good as new.

            Complaining about a controller being light is utter shit.
            Whats it gona do?, float out of your hand? No. In fact, the fact its lighter would make longer playthrough more comfortable.

            “Oh the rumble was low”. How many games dont have rumble settings? “i played one game on the controller, and it was low”. Yeeaaaah, great analysis.

            “the buttons are mushy”.
            I know even know how thats a negative, seeing as all fucking buttons are “mushy”. What, he wanted clicking button like on the 3DS but not like any previous Nintendo/Microsoft/Sony. Fuck, what a missed opertunity.

            He’s talking shit, he’s whining about absolutely nothing, and a 1 time experience.

              1. Come on man , it’s a fuking opinionated article . Like the ones saying the xbox 360 is the worst piece of shit of all time becuase it kept red ringing etc etc etc .

                We can quite clearly see from the picture of the pro controller there is pretty much nothing wrong with it , and this guy is having a little fanboy winge to let some steam out .

                None of us can have an opinion until we have lived with it for a couple of day’s. It quite clearly is just a decent normal controller .

              2. No, he’s just talking sense.
                You, however, are following your typically hater-centric routine of accepting literally any criticism that anyone else can throw at it, because nothing you’ve ever come up with on your own had legs to stand on and was either ignored for its utter stupidity, or was debunked outright.
                Try harder.

              3. Are you serious? Haha fucking moron. I read it, i used words he described it with! There was nothing to interpret, there wasnt a hidden message behind it. It was his one time opinion playing Ninja Gaiden 3, and all if his reasons are stupid, and are all based on his own aesthetic preference.

                The article was clearly made just to cause a ruckuss.

                His opinion is what it is, opinionated, and all based on probably a few minutes with the controller.

                The weight of the controller is nothing to whine about, even in terms of preference, because its not what matters. Its not made of helium, or china pottery, its plastic, its not supposed to be dropped, its supposed to put held in your hand. If its comfortable, its works, and the buttons feel good, whats the problem? Complaining about the buttons was the dumbest comment ever however, when he basically just described the 360 and ps3 controller.

                But you know what, considering the durablitiy of Nintendos controller from my personal experience, and durability of the 360 and ps3 controllers, the WiiU pro controller is going to be perfect, as ive had TWO dualshock controllers break on me, and my brother has 3 xbox controllers all with faults, and some are just a year old. Yet i have 3 wiimote and a motion plus. Work perfectly. Classic controller. Work perfectly. Nunchucks.Work perfectly. Gamecube. Work perfectly.

                Fuck off, with your anti-Nintendo bullshit, you’ll side with ANYONE who bashes Nintendo, or says something negative, despite their previous statements, or on how stupid that person may be.

                Piss off you stupid cunt.

                1. Stopped reading at “Clearly made to cause a ruckus”. That’s a heap of horseshit.

                  Until you display intelligence higher than that of a third grader I might consider reading the rest. Because my fucking word, you’re the biggest loser of a fanboy since Nintedward. You will defend everything “negative” and support everything that sounds “positive” with journalists who’s been around for years.

                  Guess what? You’re just a little fanbitch on a Nintendo blog. Your opinion is as important and sound as toenail clippings.

                  Want to make me fuck off, pussy? I swear if I was in your face right now you wouldn’t be able to do shit. You’ll back off, and sit the fuck down. Don’t play tough shit, you’re a faggot and you’ll always be one.

                  1. Stop acting tough on your dad’s computer you little shrimp . You would get your head kicked the fuck in by probably most people on here .

                    I can tell because you are a little troll with nothing better to do other than try an act intimidating on the internet . You pathetic peice of shit. Yes I am a Nintendo fan , lol , that’s why I am on the website .

                    You are just a nerd with issues .

                    1. You’re also a little pussy too. Made obvious when a ton of people called you out in that other thread. Man up.

                      Bunch of fucking dorks worshipping Nintendo. Jesus fucking Christ. GET LAID ALREADY. Nobody even likes Nintendo fanboys.

                    1. Denial card? You’re the one butchering his quotes and calling a controller you’ve NEVER PLAYED “perfect”. Seems to be a fanbitch.

                  2. ”You’re also a little pussy too”- worst come back of all time admitting you are a little pussy . Then trying to tell me to get laid when I have had more girlfriends than you have had hot dinner’s .

                    Stop with the tough guy act , you are on a computer and most importantly you are on a Nintendo orientated website . If your butt hurt’s so much , go to a sony or a microsoft website .

                    I just like reading the news about Nintendo MOST IMPORTANTLY – then I like discussing or correcting people or even sometimes being corrected my self .

                    But when there is people like you around , you leave me no choice but to respond to your comment’s in such an unpleasant way .

                    Calling people nintendo fanboys on a nintendo website is like walking into a bar in New Orleans and saying ”you guys are all black” . Not gunna get you anywhere .

                    1. LOL sure you did. You’ve probably never even talked to a girl in real life. I know for a fact you’re not even above the age of 13 yet.

    1. Well you can argue thy the 360 controller has a very similar button layout to the GameCube controller… So ninty haven’t copied the 360 at all

            1. Yes. It was more ergonomic than the SNES controller, but the button placement was awkward and counter intuative, not to mention there was only 3 of them.

      1. I’d say the 360 controller is just a revision the the Xbox controller, which was pretty much a Dreamcast controller with an extra analogue stick.

  7. I played rayman legends with the pro controller at gamescom, and I really liked it. Especially the triggers. Does not feel cheap at all.

  8. Well, he’s free to hate, dislike, like or love anything he’s come across in his life. But I don’t think this qualifies as news to publish here. Unless, of course, that you expect the part about the characteristics of controller to be the news, and not a Kotaku writer’s rage.

  9. I know I’m going to buy this controller (black, of course). He didn’t say anything that made me not want to buy one. I’m also waiting until someone figures out how to use it on a PC, like they did with the PS3 controller, so I’ll have wireless controller for my PC and Wii U in one. Leave luck to heaven.

  10. I like when handheld gadgets have some weight just cuz it makes them feel non-cheap. (IMO) But when I have the trust of the company behind the device its really not that big of a deal.
    Comfort, however, is. Hope its not uncomfortable to use.

  11. Honestly, no surprise coming from kotaku. Those guys generally just hate on nintendo, and after reading all the comments, seems like most of their readers are 360 fanboys, exclaiming how the 360 has the best controller ever. They clearly have never tried to use the D-pad on it, whatever. Every controller has pros and cons. So long as it’s comfortable and works then get over it. You’ll adjust to the button placement, people have plenty of times before. Mushy buttons. I never used it, so I can’t say anything about how bad it is. That can be bad, but so long as its not all mush where you have to wonder if it even read that you clicked it, then no problem. Light and feels like it could be broken. I don’t feel like the weight is really an issue. Some weight is nice, but light still works fine. The feeling like you could break it thing is the only thing that sounds really like a reasonable concern, but hey, if you’re so worried about how much it feels like it would take to snap it, then get one, do a stress test on it, and then you have a new article to write on that, so that’s a winning situation for them. He said he clearly couldn’t snap it, so that’s good enough for me. Besides, I’ll probably use the gamepad most, so I don’t really care. And he said the gamepad is good, and if even kotaku admits Nintendo has a good product, it must be really really good, despite being wide. Again, people adjust. It takes like a day or two of playing with just that controller. No big deal. I also love how they mention that they all hate the controller. Seriously, even if it isn’t top of the line, everyone hating it is just ridiculous. I mean, compare it to a 64 controller. That thing was just plain weird and even that was fine for what it was, so I don’t see how you could all just flat out hate this. Kinda ridiculous. So are the comments here. Just flame wars. Seriously. I gave my opinion about this article, but I feel pretty much the same about all controllers and consoles, although I do wish Microsoft had heavy hitter exclusive that was less guns and war, cause I just don’t care for that, and also, a console that didn’t have such a limited lifetime. But that’s beside the point. The comment section here is ridiculous. All sides just throwing out all this nonsense. And then acting like the other didn’t even read the article, when they clearly have made some good points. So many blind followers and trolls. Whatever, I like all consoles and am a multi console gamer, so I don’t even really care. Just so annoying that I can’t even follow what looks to be an interesting comment conversation without a flame war starting in the middle. I can’t believe we all even spend the time doing this. Hah, life must be pretty boring to spend all that time arguing in the comment sections. But I guess it is. Whatever. Game on people, and remember, dont overlook a game you love just cause it’s on a console you don’t have or love like the one in your room. Consoles are just tools to play the games we love. Here’s a controller for it, take it or leave it, it’s what we have. So let’s make due

  12. I guess we won’t know for ourselves for a couple months… I’m sure it will be alright. I can’t think of a Nintendo 1st party controller that didn’t feel all that good. I wasn’t a huge fan of the NES Max, but that was a long time ago =) Folks can criticize Nintendo all they’d like for “ripping off” the controller designs of others, but a lot of controllers post 1985 already owe a lot to the original NES controller. Just as a lot of 3D games since the late 90s owe a lot to Nintendo’s Super Mario 64. Thankfully this is the first criticism I have read of this product that actually lists some performance concerns (too light, not enough rumble).

  13. I tried both controllers on the Wii U Experience event in Atlanta. The Game Pad does feel a bit unusual at first because it is wider, but that is due to the screen.

    The pro controller feels great. It is lighter, just slightly heavier than the classic controller for the Wii. The buttons feel like the PS3 buttons, which I prefer over the 360. And all 4 triggers feel like the 360s bumpers. Analogs feel like in between the nunchuck and Gamecube sticks. The rumble is ok, a little lower than the 360.

    It can feel weird after been playing for years with the 360 or PS3 controllers. When my 360 broke down the fourth time, I just got rid of it and got me a PS3. I find the PS3 controller easier to adapt to, but that is just my personal opinion, but it did feel weird at first. I went to play FIFA to my friends house on his 360 while I had been playing it on the PS3 and it always took me a couple of games to adapt to the 360.

    So same thing here, talking crap about a controller on a 30 minute play session, not really fair.

  14. Though its a secondary controller, I definitely need one for Monster Hunter and SSB4. Only time will tell of the quality. You be the judge, not someone else.

  15. so the gamepads too heavy and pro ti lite ok so what we have established is all wiius controls are broked they canot say kiddy or casual or anything else so now its broked LOL haters

  16. “Someone doesn’t like a Nintendo product”

    Yeah, that’s news alright. that’s some nice hate-bait catering to all the fanboys on this God-forsaken website, sickr.

    1. AND THE ANALOG STICKS DONT EVEN WORK AND THE D-PAD ISNT A D-PAD ITS JUST 4 SEPERATE BUTTONS LIKE THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE PAD AND WEN YOU PRESS THE FAKE D-PAD THE OPERSITE END LIFTS UP

      SERIOUSLY ITS LIKE THOSE BRITTLE MADE IN INDIA PADS IN A THE BARGIN BIN AT A GAMING STORE AND WHO CALLS THERE BUTTON LAY OUT SHAPES IM NOT 3 YEARS OLD SONY TRIANGLE SQURE ETC ARE YOU KIDDING ME IM NOT IN A BABY WALKER

  17. This just in!
    Nintendo heard the complaints of the pro controller being too light and not enough rumble. Now made a Jackhammer with buttons so those cry babies stop whining like a bunch of bitches! Have some fun destroying your whole house floor assholes! Hahahaha!

  18. This just in!
    Nintendo heard the complaints of the pro controller being too light and not enough rumble. Now made a 60 lb. Jackhammer with buttons so those cry babies stop whining like a bunch of bitches! Have some fun trying to play your games and destroying your whole house floor in the process! Hahahaha!

  19. laffing the fuuuuk out-loud that’s rich considering dualshock 1/2/3 and sixaxis all ship with UNUSABLE ANALOG STICKS OF DEATH THERE SO LOOSE AND DEAD SPOTTY THERE UN PLAYABLE
    KILLZONE 3 HAS THE SLOPPIEST ANALOG FEEL I HAVE EVER FELT IN GAMING AND PS1 GAMES DIDNT EVEN SUPPORT THEM THEY JUST MAPPED THE D-PAD TO THE STICK

    EVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVEERYONE KNOWS THATS A FACT

    DUALSHOCK PS3 HAS SHOULDER BUTTONS THAT FEEL LIKE JELLY (JELLO) CUBES >>FACT<< AND THE ANALOG STICKS ARE IN THAT LAST MINUTE TACKED ON PLACE THEY WERE WEN THE ANALOG VERSION OF DUALSHOCK WAS RUSHED OUT AFTER N64 RELEASED AGAIN FACT

    NINTENDOS PADS AND MORE IMPORTANTLY ANALOG STICKS ARE OF SUCH SUPERIOR QUALITY

    THIS ANTI NINTENDO PAD RANT IS CLEARLY FANBOY MELTDOWN

    THERE IS NO COMPANY ON EARTH THAT MATCHES NINTENDOS ANALOG STICKS THATS A FACT

    GAMEPAD ANDS PRO WILL HAVE GAMECUBE =-ING OR ABOVE ANALOG STICKS THAT WILL MELT UNDER YOUR THUMB LIKE BUDDA HIMSELF MADE THEM

    LOL AT THE FALL RETARD OF THESE SOMY AND MS FANS ITS INDUSTRY FACT THAT NO ONE HAS EVER MATCHED NINTENDOS STICKS OR UNDER BELLY MELT IN THE HAND -NES OF NINTENDO PADS AGAIN THAT IS A AFACT

    IF I WANTED TO PUT MY HANDS INTO WHEEL CHAIRS AFTER ARTHRITTIC INJURIES ID GAME ON A DUALSHOCK THAT PAD FACT KRIPPLES KIDS FINGERS THAT AGAIN IS A MEDICAL PROVEN FACT

    THE ONLY NON NINTENDO Pad THATS ANY GOOD AND CLOSE TO NINTENDOS IS THE X360 PAD AGAIN ITS SWEETNESS WAS CONPARED TO WHAT

    GUESSED RIGHT YES A NINTENDO PAD

    AND PRO IS CLEARLY BASED ON A GAMEPAD FRONT AND A WAVEBIRD UNDERBELLY

    X360 PAD COPY MYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY CORE GAMER AZZZZ

  20. THE NUMBER ONE REASON IM A NINTENDO FAN IS PADS /CONTROLS/ANALOG STICKS ITS THE NUMBER ONE REASON I WORSHIP THEM THEY GET A ANALOG STICK HAS TO BE WEIGHTED AND FEEL AND FEED BACK “”””””PERFECTLY””””””

    AND MY NUMBER 2 REASON IS LOAD SPEED THERE CONSOLES ARE DESIGNED TO LOAD AS Gaming devices aka arcade boards NOT MOVIE PLAYERS SLLLOOOOWWWWWW

    nintendo designs gaming devices ms and sony make soulless un feeling generic electrical devices please stop fanboys its like i was born on the wrong planet DUALSHOCK IS SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO BAD DEFENDING IT IS PRICELESS FAN BITCHING

  21. im guna dualshock like its 19—-96 du du dududu prices new track its called RETRO GAMER

    HI 5 TO ALL REAKL GAMERS POOR CONTROLS ARE UNACCEPTABLE = SONY AND MS AGAIN A PROVABLE FACT U SERIOUSLY DONT WANT TO GET ME STARTED ON ALL OF THIS IL ASS RAPE EVERY XBOX AND PS FAN WITH ENGINEERRING FACT NOT DUMB OPINION BASED ON FANBOYISM OH I MADE THAT WORD UP TO AND IT GOT COPIED GLOBALLY ON THE NET#

    NEVER TEST WIIBOY101 I MADE 35K UK POUNDS INTO 250 UK POUNDS BY BUYING NMIONTENDO STOCK IN 2005 IV GAMED SINSE 1980 AND PC AND SONY FANBOYS ARE LYING PRICKS WHO OUT OF FANBOYDUM RE WRITE GAMING HISTORY

    MY FAV FAN LIE IS PC HAS ALWAYS BEEN AHEAD OF CONSOLES LIAR LIAR BUMS ON FIRE

  22. everone knows x360s pad was based on gamecube everyone knows this and everyone knows that most ps1 and ps2 fans were not analog users they always used d–pads because there casual gaming button mashers

    i have yert to see any ps1 ps2 fan play PRO EVO SOCCER ON THE ANALOG STICK THERE ALWAYS USING THE 2D D-PAD

    these cretins are destroying gaming and im sick of it

    when windows replaced pc dos IDIOTS SAID IT WAS CASUAL

    when mouse arrived again pc nut jobs said its CASUAL

    when nintendo revealed the analog stick again they screamed CASUAL WEIRD NINTENDO ARE STUPID

    and on and on and on and on it went the os computer industry and its blind fanboys and the usa computer industry are fall of shit they have been recurgatating the same lie against nintendo from the 1980s

    >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>AGAIN A FACT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

  23. Hey i have this same midi controller and i just buhogt a usb midi adaptor for it and i dont get any signal from it through garageband. It turns on and everything but i cant get it to make or record any sound. I dont get anything with regular usb either. Any suggestions?

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