NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams developers prefer GameCube controller to Wiimote

Playing games with the Wiimote is all well and good, but if it’s convenience and ergonomics you’re looking for then the GameCube controller has both of those in spades. And in this update of NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams for the Nintendo Wii, it seems that the team behind the highly-anticipated sequel likes the controller too. Click on Read More to check out the entire story.

For those of us currently anticipating the holiday release of Sega‘s NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams for the Nintendo Wii, here’s an interesting little tidbit that should shed more light on the game’s control system: it seems that Sonic Team USA, the division of Sega currently behind the game’s development, prefers using GameCube controllers to play rather than the Wiimote itself.

The reason for this is that the team felt that the GameCube controller felt more like the original 3D controller that was released with the original NiGHTS. The fact that the Gamecube’s analog stick is shorter and more like the Sega Saturn‘s controller pad helped a lot.

Of course, Takashi Iizuka, head of Sonic Team USA, gave the innovative motion-sensing wand its own time in the spotlight, saying that using the Wiimote on its own gave you that extra dimension of feeling like you’re actually flying (while controlling NiGHTS in the game’s flying sections).

But he does acknowledge that the GameCube controller does feel more natural and in-keeping with the original’s control scheme. Does this mean, then, that there will be in-game support for the last-gen controller in the title? We can only hope.

And speaking of hope, Iizuka let loose another one that should have long-time Sega fans’ hopes up, and that’s the possibility of a Burning Rangers sequel on the Wii. While he didn’t confirm anything, he did say that there’s a ridiculous amount of demand for a Burning Rangers title on the Wii, and ended his statement with a rather cryptic “we’ll see.” Definitely leaves room for a sequel being announced there, right?

In any case, updates as we get them.