...then why did the supposed 'patent holders' wait until the Wii was a roaring success to sue?

And dispite the number of Wii's sold, I doubt that Nintendo have sold $21m worth of Classic Controlers. (And everyone, even me - being a bit of a Ninty fanboi, knows that the 'Cube didn't sell too well.)

%*^$ing patent squatters!

Let me guess... The patents involved are all for either a retarded reason (like using white for the entire casing) or were granted illegally (like filing for a patent on game input controls in the last 20 years, despite plenty being around before then).

I hope Nintendo appeal and win. USA's patent law suites really need to start off with someone checking the damn patent was even legal to start with.