First Party GameCube controllers and their similar knock-offs

RockinX

So I saw a rare sight today: A platinum-colored GameCube controller at a store that was closed.

Now, I don't know whether to try and buy it or not, because a while ago, a friend of mine went to another city on vacation and brought himself a controller that looked a lot like an official controller, and when he opened it, he found out it was a third party controller that sucks.

Since there is nothing I can do about piracy, I'm wary about this. How can I tell it's official? My friend said the box looked exactly like a real controller's box.

Cameron_Talley

RockinX wrote: »

So I saw a rare sight today: A platinum-colored GameCube controller on a store that was closed.

Now, I don't know whether to try and buy it or not, because a while ago, a friend of mine went to another city on vacation and brought himself a controller that looked a lot like an official controller, and when he opened it, he found out it was a third party controller that sucks.

Since there is nothing I can do about piracy, I'm wary about this. How can I tell it's official? My friend said the box looked exactly like a real controller's box.

Nintendo Seal of Quality?

Where in the world do you live? In the US, the controllers are sold in those damn plastic blister packs. They still sell them in the Wii section, or at least they do at most big-box retailers...

RockinX

I live in Venezuela.

My friend said that the pirated controller had the Seal of Quality, and it looked just like a regular official GameCube controller in a blister pack(I know what they look like, I bought a second one with my GameCube six years ago).

What worries me is that they won't sell them for cheap.

Can anyone help me here?

maximumzero

If I were on the hunt for a 'Cube controller and couldn't find an official one I'd likely just import the white one from Play-Asia.

RockinX

That's what I really want to do, but my lame-ass country disabled the use of prepaid credit cards online and I lack a real credit card to use for online purchases

Black Ice

How do receipts work over in Venezuela? Here in the U.S., I remember once going into a store with some friends at the mall and seeing a pair of headphones that had a 1 year satisfaction guarantee. My friend needed some new headphones, his friend (for whatever reason) had an MP3 player. He bought the headphones, opened them up on the counter, listened to a song on the MP3 player, didn't like them, and returned them within 1 minute of buying them.

Could you just open up the box and look at the GameCube controller after you buy it, and if it isn't legit, return it with a receipt?

maximumzero

RockinX wrote: »

That's what I really want to do, but my lame-ass country disabled the use of prepaid credit cards online and I lack a real credit card to use for online purchases

Having a checking account--Paypal?

Improvolone

The wire of a GC controller is 76.25 inches (not including the connector on the end). The connector is 1.5 inches. There are also two surface level triwing screws on the back of the controller. One on the d-pad part, one on the c-stick part.


I got all of this looking at an official controller. If this knockoff has these things so accurately, I would be shocked.

RockinX

Thanks, Improvolone, I'll check into those things when I buy it.


Black Ice, they should work the same way, but it varies from store to store, especially when dealing with imported goods. I'll ask the seller.

Also, in a semi-unrelated note, when buying a game, you need to open it right there in order to determine the game is inside and/or not scratched. Apparently, a few people have claimed there was no game after going home. I think it's safe to assume those customers were lying.

maximumzero wrote: »

RockinX wrote: »

That's what I really want to do, but my lame-ass country disabled the use of prepaid credit cards online and I lack a real credit card to use for online purchases

Having a checking account--Paypal?

Last time I checked, they only accepted credit cards for my country. That might have changed by now, but you can't exchange dollars for my currency without a credit card because the president wants all dollars for himself. It (yeah, I'm not going to refer to my president as "him") also limited online purchases to 400 dollars a year through credit cards.

maximumzero

RockinX wrote: »

Thanks, Improvolone, I'll check into those things when I buy it.


Black Ice, they should work the same way, but it varies from store to store, especially when dealing with imported goods. I'll ask the seller.

Also, in a semi-unrelated note, when buying a game, you need to open it right there in order to determine the game is inside and/or not scratched. Apparently, a few people have claimed there was no game after going home. I think it's safe to assume those customers were lying.

maximumzero wrote: »

RockinX wrote: »

That's what I really want to do, but my lame-ass country disabled the use of prepaid credit cards online and I lack a real credit card to use for online purchases

Having a checking account--Paypal?

Last time I checked, they only accepted credit cards for my country. That might have changed by now, but you can't exchange dollars for my currency without a credit card because the president wants all dollars for himself. It (yeah, I'm not going to refer to my president as "him") also limited online purchases to 400 dollars a year through credit cards.

Well, got a friend/relative that would let you order it on their card and then just pay them in paper monies? That's what I used to do when I was younger.

RockinX

maximumzero wrote: »

RockinX wrote: »

Thanks, Improvolone, I'll check into those things when I buy it.


Black Ice, they should work the same way, but it varies from store to store, especially when dealing with imported goods. I'll ask the seller.

Also, in a semi-unrelated note, when buying a game, you need to open it right there in order to determine the game is inside and/or not scratched. Apparently, a few people have claimed there was no game after going home. I think it's safe to assume those customers were lying.

maximumzero wrote: »

RockinX wrote: »

That's what I really want to do, but my lame-ass country disabled the use of prepaid credit cards online and I lack a real credit card to use for online purchases

Having a checking account--Paypal?

Last time I checked, they only accepted credit cards for my country. That might have changed by now, but you can't exchange dollars for my currency without a credit card because the president wants all dollars for himself. It (yeah, I'm not going to refer to my president as "him") also limited online purchases to 400 dollars a year through credit cards.

Well, got a friend/relative that would let you order it on their card and then just pay them in paper monies? That's what I used to do when I was younger.

Yeah, I've got a few friends, but I'd have to check with them if they can exchange a different country's currency for their own. Which wouldn't be a bad idea considering there are some stuff I really want to get online. If you don't mind me asking, did you use to live in a different country before? Or did you use do the favor to a relative?

maximumzero

Nah I've always lived in the US, but back when I was in the pre-18 days I would ask my aunt for use of her credit cards to buy things off of what was then Lik-Sang (:x Sony) and just give her the cash for them.

And some times she would do it as payment for mowing her lawn and the like.

h8b1llg8ts

Had this same problem here in the US with oXbox controller. The ones they sell now are really cheap knock offs. The only ones I can find are either used or new with the donation of your kidney.

http://forums.penny-arcade.com/showthread.php?t=59867

But most of your mom and pops in the US do sell them. I even found at my local Fry's the Wavebird's for $14.99. Even a couple of them.

RockinX

Well, I bought it, and they let me test it. I doubt this is a third party knockoff.

I had gone to another store previously, and it was more expensive there, plus they didn't guarantee it was official.

Thanks for all your help, guys!