Controllers

In N64

I have 2 original Nintendo controllers in use and they still work fine even after 8 years now. Never had a problem with those. I played a lot and they aren't even worn out or anything.
I can't complain about the N64 controllers.

That's why I don't know about good other controllers or repairing.

I opened up my brother's (previously my) controller today, opened up the joystick, and dumped out about a teaspoon of ground plastic... it really wasn't a good design for those things...

Yea, my freind used to play N64 so much, about 4 or 6 years later, the joy sticks were plainly worn out, you could not move it up or down, there was nothing left to bring the stick back to the center. I bet they did that to make more money so kids would buy new one, that still happens with GCN, PS2and Xbox controllers

I remember playing Mario Party and playing this mini game where you and a team of other players played tug of war aginst a player in a bowser suit. That one was real hard to beat. I was placeing my hand ontop of the joystick and moving it around, my hand was flat on the tip of the joy stick and when I finally beat it, the joystick tore off some of the skin from my hand, the gentle skin above the palm. It hurt like a mother for a while

Haha im glad im not the only one! That exact level man would wear my hand out! i would be over my friends house when i got home id have like 3 blisters on my hand

I've never seen any other analog stick do that, the N64 has a lot of plastic on plastic friction, so it wears down...

EDIT: I have an idea that may prolong the life of the controller and make it smoother at the same time!

it's rather obvious. use Vaseline or some other sticky thick lumbricant on the parts that rub together to prevent them from grinding away. I'll attempt this tonight when my brother returns so I can check with him before I grease up his controller

If you go to game stores, you will notice this. One PS 2 analog stick was drooping down pretty badly. I noticed this on my Xbox controller. I have 3 Xbox controllers, one is a wireless that I just got but it's the same hugge size as the original huge xbox controller. The other 2 came with th system, I used one a lot and the other I only used liked once or twice. I could see the diffrence

No, the only wireless controllers I trust are GCN's WaveBirds. NES made them with help o you know it was going to be good. When a company makes and unofficial Wireless controller or any controller for that matter, Iwould never buy it. The Wireless Xbox Controller I got was a Christmas Gift though.

well thats ok i guess, i hate them

Yea, I remember my first experience with an unofficial controller. I got my N64 when I was 7 and I got this freaky see-through one as a late gift from a cousin. It was cool so I used it a lot that day when I got it. The next day, the configuration was stuck so when I played Mario 64, Mario would always run to the right.

The Joystick was in the correct position but the game was stuck on the right JoyStick command. I read in the manuel to hold some buttons before starting a game, that worked with the usualy official controllers but that one remained broken.

After that, my freinds had troubles with their unofficial controllers so I stopped trusting the unofficial controllers, the worst comapny to date is MadCatz, they made most of the crap my freinds bought and found to be broken the next day.

Don't buy from MadCatz faile!

You know, I had the same problem with one of my cousins controllers. The damage comes about when they are misused (such as spinning the joystick around as was mentioned before). The problem is that with a lot of N64 games that I have seen, they actually encourage that kind of abuse. Haven't had that problem with my controlers though. Nor any with my third party controller (don't remember what it was called. It is clear and has a slo-mo feature on it (which is pointless in most games since all it does is pause and unpause the game). Let me know how lubricating it works though.

Well, so far it seems to smooth it out a lot. I haven't opened it up to check the condition of the inside again since, I'm going to play it for a while this week, and then check the status this weekend. but I'll let you know then.

Thanks, Now that I have my nieces and nephew (ages 6-10) playing on my system every weekend I am looking for anything that will ensure a longer life for them. The cord on one controller is already fraying and I can just imagine what the poor things look like inside. (I find it funny though, that all that damage has happened since they started using my N64, yet they have an NES in practically mint condition at home that they use all the time:\ )

well, from the two N64 controllers that I've opened, inside the joystick compartment it's common to find piles of ground plastic POWder, so don't be alarmed when you find that.

yeah i can remember along time ago when N64 came out there was always POWder on my joy stick and that happens with PS2s also

For those of you with torn skin, you might be entitled to a free gaming glove.

Although methinks it's expired, no less it would be cool to own a glove.

R.E Fixing an N64 joystick-
i read in the official nintendo magazine some time ago (when the N64 was new) that if you utilise talcum POWder it works a treat. I think maybe you put it near where the bottom of the joystick stalk goes into the controller, i'm not entirely sure to be honest, but it could be worth a try. I've never tried it as mine have been o.k

I'm sure we all know about the joystick problem on the N64 controllers.

does anyone know a way to repair it? or are there third party controllers that don't suffer such a premature death?

I had considered attempting to replace the joystick with one from another controller, say a PS(2) joystick for example. Does anyone have any words of wisdom for me?

I have 4 controllers and 2 of them saw A LOT of use (a blue and a green one). Neither has major problems with the stick, the center of it is kinda loose and floppy, but it still has spring left.

the Nintendo 64 I got off ebay came with 2 Nintendo brand controllers (both grey). anyways, they work okay but I HATE how loose the joysticks are in both of them. for $20 bucks on ebay you can buy 4 "brand new" joysticks for the N64 controller. I think Im going to try this out once I get some money. since I only need two I'll sell the other 2 for $12.00 bucks total ($10 for the joysticks and $2 for shipping), if anyone wants try this out also.

You're not the only one who had that happen. I also did that on many other mini-games that required spinning the joystick. That game alone destroyed 3 contollers belonging to me and some friends over a weekend.