So I started cloning the Wii U gamepad [video]

▲ So I started cloning the Wii U gamepad [video](youtube.com)

76 points by ingve 5 days ago | 9 comments

▲ hmm37 4 days ago | parent | next [-]

This is great. A few years ago, I decided to buy a WII U, since I have basically every Nintendo console system since the NES. But the gamepad screen was broken and I couldn't sync the gamepad to the screen until I fixed it. And I tried to see if there was any alternative, but there wasn't until now. Hopefully that means more WII Us can be saved... You can sometimes find used Wii Us for $30 without the gamepad, while the gamepad itself costs around $100..

	▲	lathiat 7 hours ago \| parent [-]
		Yeah. As noted in the video the only way to get a new one was via a support process with Nintendo and they ran out of stock in 2024.

▲ csb6 5 days ago | parent | prev | next [-]

Here is a link to the repository for the gamepad simulator: https://github.com/vanilla-wiiu/vanilla

▲ saagarjha 7 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

I wonder if you could run this on the Steam Deck or similar hardware.

	▲	homarp 7 hours ago \| parent \| next [-]
		per the github repo: What devices are supported? `Steam Deck Linux (check Wi-Fi hardware compatibility) Nintendo Switch (requires Broadcom firmware patch or external Wi-Fi adapter) Android (currently frontend only) Windows (currently frontend only) Raspberry Pi (requires external Wi-Fi adapter) iOS - Coming soon`
	▲	chocochunks 5 hours ago \| parent \| prev [-]
		You can. It works really well, except for not supporting the Wii U power button and not yet allowing button reconfig. The latter is annoying because you are using Xbox bindings on Nintendo.

▲ zoklet-enjoyer 8 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

Oh wow. I never played my Wii U without the gamepad, so I didn't know this. Makes sense that the gamepads are still as expensive as they are.

▲ kh_hk 2 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

So I see the merit of a well produced video, don't get me wrong. But wasn't this a bit of a lot of bluff for not so much content?

	▲	Someone1234 2 hours ago \| parent [-]
		My impression the video isn't designed for people "inside baseball," and tries to establish context for "What even is this thing that you're working on?" I guess the author could add a skip if viewers don't want 5-minutes~ of Wii U background/context. Here is a rough timestamped-link for skipping the context: https://youtu.be/jlbcKuDEBw8?si=X1S3g2npigtWf5bk&t=303