Is this custom N64 controller for the Switch from 8BitDo worth the effort? | REVIEW

The 8BitDo Mod Kit for Original N64 Controller is a DIY kit from 8BItDo that allows you to convert an original N64 controller into a wireless controller to use with the Switch.
This is an interesting mod. It’s a little bit cheaper than the Genuine N64 Controller for the Switch and as far as the installation goes, is fairly straightforward, requiring no soldering. Its limited compatibility might not be a great fit for everyone though and the Hall effect stick replacement is likely to be a contentious topic amongst purists.
This review covers both the wireless mod kit and the hall effect. It also provides an overview of the installation process, some comparison to the original hardware, and what the Hall effect stick is like to use on an original N64.
00:00 Intro
00:26 Overview
02:01 Installation
03:30 Features and specs
04:57 Hall effect stick performance
06:09 Wireless mod performance
07:19 Recommendation
#N64controller #switchcontroller #8bido
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[@seffersonn8559]

Very nicely edited and digestible video. Great work here! I got this modkit because of how hard it has been to get the official NSO controller. It's fantastic for emulation as well. You hit the nail on the head with the stick mod as well. Some games I cannot get behind with it, but some just feel so much better.

[@E-qc3vu]

Ive been looking for someone who has done the mod kit for the n64 controller recently and I came across your channel and I gotta say I was not disappointed. The quality of your videos is really good!

[@goukigod]

Thanks. I do what I can!

[@murky16]

I just saw this mod kit when I was looking thru 8bitdo’s website after purchasing one of their ultimate controllers for my switch. I only wanted to see reviews for the stick replacement as I want to give new life to my n64 sticks and don’t want to use them for the switch anyway so this vid is perfect. I was wondering if anyone has better recommendations for stick replacements as I replaced one of my n64 sticks before with some cheap eBay one. This hall stick looks like it would be the best option, but now I’m curious to see what other people prefer

[@MCKNIGHT92]

How do you close out the application with the controller?

[@dawoodal-kiyumi4467]

Thanks a lot for your review! What if I wanted the wireless feature only without replacing the stick, will the original stick work?

[@goukigod]

Yes of course. You don't need to use the hall effect stick. 8BitDo sell the kit without it.

[@dawoodal-kiyumi4467]

@@goukigod Thanks a lot for your response. Peace! :)

[@XIIIRoxasKeyblades]

I think it’s worth it even though I did a very different method using the mod kit. I actually bought the shell, the buttons and the membrane, and the mod kit with the hall effect joystick actually built the controller from the ground up. in my opinion, it was far more interesting to do it that way and I didn’t have to worry about taking apart one of my N64 controllers that I actually use.

[@Spintechfilms]

Where did you purchase the shell, buttons, and membranes for the project? I was thinking of doing this but didn't know there were options for it

[@XIIIRoxasKeyblades]

@@Spintechfilms purchased everything on eBay. From a seller named “redhandgames”. They had everything from a used shell for a decent price to the buttons and the membranes being sold in one listing.

[@triforcecarrier]

does the C buttons work properly in the NSO 64 games? I mean, does this really works as an actual n64 controller on the switch?

[@ThomasCpp]

I am currently using it with a cheap aliexpress clone controller that uses a moulding of the original case. It works great, that being said, make sure you get the hall stick if you try this as the clone's stick isn't compatible.

[@goukigod]

Good tip!

[@genitalgrinder5704]

If I get a wireless receiver for my N64 will this work with it? Or is this only meant for NSO?

[@goukigod]

I know that it works with the Blueretro so it stands to reason it would work with other receivers. I can't confirm this though sorry.

[@genitalgrinder5704]

@@goukigod Sweet, thank you!

[@miguelmercedes2209]

Does anyone know if this works on a pc or Mac via Bluetooth?

[@gcolombelli]

I just tested both the hall effect joystick in my original controller with the original board (to play on real hardware) and with the 8bitdo wireless board (to play in the N64 MiSTer core), results were... mixed. The analog reports a range of -127 to +127 on the MiSTer core, same as it does with any other non-N64 analog joysticks on the MiSTer, but with the original controller board and plugged to a real N64 the reported range was considerably lower and will even become a problem with certain games, as the max straight forward value was 79. I suspect the way the N64 controller board interprets the signal from the analog stick is to blame here, as I've heard complaints of this happening with many analog stick alternatives on the original board. Cheap alternative controllers are also clearly doing something wrong, as they're giving a much bigger range than N64 games were designed to use, but original Nintendo ones are probably lacking either a potentiometer, a variable capacitor or firmware means to correct those limited range readings it frequently has. There's also probably either a bug in how the MiSTer handles input mapping or in the 8bitdo modkit firmware or on both, (or I'm just stupid and should have tried on Switch mode rather than D-Input mode) as I've been unable to map correctly all buttons on the MiSter. Plugging on my computer to check what the controller was reporting I noticed the C buttons were reported as if it were another d-pad, but there were also another couple of axes that were constantly reporting pointing to one of the diagonals, depending which C buttons I was holding at the time. I've never seen any other controller act like this and this is probably what's confusing the MiSTer. I still haven't tried using an original controller on the MiSTer, haven't tried the SNAC enabled core I've found and would have to improvise a SNAC adapter for it, as I currently don't have one for the N64... this core is still in development, so it's pretty new, a few months ago most people (me included) thought it would be impossible to have a N64 core on the MiSTer.

[@gcolombelli]

Silly me forgot how optical encoders work. I was replacing the worn parts of an original N64 controller and noticed on the stick module PCB there were just the typical optical encoder electronics: LEDs and phototransistors or photodiodes. The fact that 8bitdo's stick module is drop-in compatible with the original one means we can test 4 combinations (readings done using Ryzee119's n64_controller_test rom): original board + original stick = +/- 80 range* original board + 8bitdo' s stick = +/- 80 range* 8bitdo's board + original stick = +/- 127 range 8bitdo's board + 8bitdo's stick = +/- 127 range * not really 80, straight forward value was lower, straight back was a bit higher I still have to dig deeper to find out which one is making some kind of input mapping instead of just counting the pulses or if both of them are mapping values to fit the desired range. I'll try to get my hands into an NSO N64 controller if I can find one for a reasonable price to see what range it reports. I wouldn't be too surprised if also uses the same +/- 127 range most USB and Bluetooth controllers use. Following the tip of some people on MiSTer's discord I tried using the 8bitdo modded controller using bluetooth instead of the wired connection, after doing that, all the buttons were correctly mapped, but I found it a little awkward that it looks like it is doing SOCD filtering both on the d-pad and on the C buttons, not unlike my original controller, that will happily accept all the d-pad and C buttons being pressed at the same time. But that may just be something to do with how MiSTer handle inputs or with Bluetooth. Another little fun experiment I might do later is trying to print an encoder wheel with more slots or with more cogs to try to fix the limited range issue. I'll have to take some good pictures and measurements, or find if someone was insane enough to have done that already, so I can have a 3D model for printing.

[@simpson6700]

@@gcolombelli the SOCD cleaning on the C buttons is very strange. have you tested this on PC to confirm it's not a MiSTer issue? it might also be an X-input issue, if this controller runs through X-input.

[@gcolombelli]

@@simpson6700 Tested on Linux on the D-Input mode, same behavior. I haven't tested it on Windows and I'm not familiar enough with Windows to be able to tell if it's using DirectInput or XInput, but considering 8bitdo calls S and D "Switch mode" and "D-input mode", I'm guessing it uses DirectInput. There's a way to get rid of the SOCD issue: set the controller to Switch mode instead of D-Input mode. You'll have to pair and configure it again, but it works as it should. Since lots of N64 games will fell very awkward to play using a +/-127 range, the N64 core will detect if the controller has that range and map it to +/- 80. I don't remember exactly when it started doing this, but that's the behavior in more recent versions of the core.

[@simpson6700]

@@gcolombelli thank you for testing. so i can use the switch mode on linux? i'm still unsure if i should just get a cheap aftermarket USB N64 controller, or if i should get a used genuine controller and put this kit in it. i don't mind the gamecube style analog stick, as the gamecube controller has always been my favorite, as long as i can set the proper range. i mostly want the extra face buttons. i play a lot of N64 games as randomizers, so semi speedrunner usecase.

[@gcolombelli]

​@@simpson6700 I couldn't get it to work properly on Linux, but it should work, considering how MiSTer uses Linux to handle USB and Bluetooth devices. Probably just a matter of installing some support package or copying a configuration file. I haven't really bothered to try to fix it as my PC it pretty old and I don't do much gaming these days. If I want to play a N64 game, it's easier to either get my N64 or my MiSTer than to try to run on an emulator on my PC. Despite some of it's weird quirks, I really like this modkit and would recommend it for people who like the original N64 controller. It works fine with both 8bitdo's Hall Effect stick module, original N64 stick modules or any replacement parts that also work on original N64 controllers. But if you're into speedrunning, beware of latency. It looks like it has 7 to 12 ms latency depending on the connection method (wired USB, D-Input BT or Switch BT). Currently looks like the best option in terms of latency is using an original N64 controller through a Reflex Adapt, which works both on MiSTer and PC, followed by the Brawler 64 and Tribute 64.

[@shaun8062]

Did you test the 8bitdo hall effect stick in a wired controller with original hardware without the rest of the mod? I've been getting reports that the stick behaves differently and is more accurate, less sensitive, when used with a plain wired controller.

[@goukigod]

Yes. The blue controller seen in this video is an offical wired pad with the hall effect stick. It does feel a bit different. Obviously being wired there's zero lag and maybe that's why. It's certainly not a night and day difference though, at least I didn't think so.

[@WilliamBastos]

Hello! Thanks for your video, it is excellent! Where did you get your modkit? I tried buying from 8bitdo directly, but a series of problems made me refund my order. Even so, I really wish I can grab the whole kit sometime.

[@goukigod]

Cheers! I bought it directly from 8BitDo.

[@WilliamBastos]

@@goukigod I see! Do you think they'll open more of these in the future? It's on pre-order for quite long now. Even the PS1 modkit is being sold normally by now.

[@goukigod]

@@WilliamBastos I'm not sure sorry. I don't have any connection with 8BitDo. From what I understand they are selling them in batches. The website says the next lot "Ships on Sep. 20th"

[@luzolivares6568]

Can i do this with a aftermarket controller

[@goukigod]

Yes, so long as the shell is an exact match of an original controller. If it's off, even by a tiny bit the board may not fit or line up correctly with the buttons and expansion pack port.

[@sneakingelephant]

That's unfortunate about the stick not being a worthy substitute. It sucks how hard it has been to find new sticks for the n64 controller

[@goukigod]

It's not hard to find good replacement sticks. The SteelSticks64 I mentioned are incredible but also cost a small fortune steelsticks64.com/

[@CrankyBonesGaming]

i bet it works well for NSO gameboy games

[@rattlehead431986]

I got my n64 controller off Walmart website for $15 👌 All internals will be stashed away in an airtight/watertight container. Might get put into a time capsule, who knows? Lol

[@rattlehead431986]

I'd really like to know what future plans they have for what's contained inside the rumble pack.

[@audhen1]

The Stick is just a gamecube stick

[@simpson6700]

it's a gamecube style stick, with hall effect sensors.

[@audhen1]

@@simpson6700 Dimensions are still gamecube and not n64. travel is different.

[@DarthPooh]

Rumble is a garbage feature anyway

[@goukigod]

Rumble was groundbreaking back in the 90s' but I could take it or leave it now.