The purpose of this Guide is to: a) Give the 4-1-1 on using Gamecube controllers on the Nintendo Wii, and to b) Explain how to connect your Gamecube controller or Wii Classic Controller to your Nintendo Wii system to play Virtual Console games.

The Nintendo Wii has a cool additional feature in that it can play all Nintendo Gamecube games, and you can also play Nintendo 64 , Super Nintendo, NES, and Sega Genesis and even Neo-Geo and Turbo Grafix 16 games on your Wii through what is known as the virtual console.

The problem is, however, that you cannot use the Wii Remote and Nunchuk to play these games.  You will need either Wii Classic Controllers or better yet, you can use Gamecube Controllers in order to play.  If you look on the side of your Wii console, you will see a small plastic flap which opens up to reveal four controller inputs, as the picture shows below.



Simply plug the end of your Wii Classic Controller or Gamecube Controller into the port on the far left, and you are connected!  Although Nintendo recommends that you only use the Nintendo Brand Gamecube Controllers , you can use aftermarket (third-party) controllers for Gamecube and should be fine.  The same rule applies to Gamecube Dance Pads

If you are looking to use a Wireless Controller on your Wii, you can do this by putting in the your wireless controller's receiver into one of the ports, turn on your wireless controller, and you will be good to go.  With wireless controllers, Nintendo recommends that you use only the Nintendo Wavebird Wireless Controller    (With the Wavebird, you need to adjust the little wheel on the controller and the little wheel on the receiver so that they both point to the same number)

Although 3rd party wireless controllers for Gamecube might work the same, you just might not be able to physically fit the 3rd party wireless receiver into the back of the console, depending on the brand.