Control pads for gaming on the iPhone

Ever since games first started running on the iPhone, the issue of controls has always been at hand (so to speak). While the multi-touch screen allows for some very flexible control schemes, it doesn't provide any tactile feedback, and so more delicate controls like a directional pad or buttons aren't always doable (not to mention that they often take up valuable screen space).

Enter the iControlPad, a device that wraps itself around your iPhone and provides some tactile controls to software (we posted about it back in May, but we're closer to seeing an actual release than ever). Touch Arcade's got more on how it works, and pictures of another rumored device (though no manufacturer is mentioned). Button presses are delivered via the serial port, and jailbroken apps already support the pad, with full code and SDK support to come.

Pretty interesting -- iControlPad wants to sell theirs for less than $30, and of course if the idea takes off, they'll have some competition (maybe even from Apple?). The iPhone is already a great gaming device -- would a button-based peripheral make it even better?

View Tags

Source: http://www.icontrolpad.com/

Categories

Analysis / Opinion Gaming Hardware Developer iPhone

Ever since games first started running on the iPhone, the issue of controls has always been at hand (so to speak). While the multi-touch...

Add a Comment

Sign in »

9 Comments

Filter by:

FoundInTheFlood

Frank, it's not about bad games that don't use the touch interface right, it's about retro games not being able to use them in a good way, and people still wanting to play them.

So this is a good solution, IF you need/want it.

It's like the macbook air, some people don't understand it:

It's not "good" in general, it's good if it fits your needs.

August 28 2008 at 8:26 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

timvitotv

That is great idea!

- T

www.MostEmailedNews.com

August 28 2008 at 12:20 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Fred

I thought the whole idea of brining games to the iPhone was to explore new ways of controlling and interacting with games? I like standard old school gaming and that's why I have a console, and a computer. Don't turn the iPhone into a PSP, DS rip off. Anybody remember the N-Gage?

August 27 2008 at 5:04 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

eMax

This is a great idea, and I would love to see Logitech or other perifieral maker come out with somthing bundled with iTunes download credits for certain games that would require it. The only way this is going to go anywhere is if it has real support, either from Apple, or software developers.

Perhaps Epic games wants to bundle Gears of War for the iphone with this thing??

August 27 2008 at 4:29 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Bily Foster

They need to make a speaker set like this for the iPhone and iPod touch (mostly for the iPod touch :D)

August 27 2008 at 2:50 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

mallzombie

Jeremy, since they aren't selling emulators they don't have to worry about it whatsoever.

I'm not sure on Apple's rules for 3rd party peripherals though, you probably have a valid point there.

I wouldn't go dismissing the people behind this project as "fools" by any means. Where's your less foolish project in the prototyping stage?

August 27 2008 at 2:38 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Frank Tinsley

I doubt playing games on iPhone with gamepad attachments will become the norm and frankly hope it doesn't. People that give touch screen gaming a bad rap haven't played a game that makes good use of gestures possible on a capacitance screen like the iPhone's. I would have never guessed Tetris could be so playable without my precious DS buttons but here I am, playing it like a ninja on my iPhone.

August 27 2008 at 2:35 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Jash Sayani

Where Enterprise meets Gaming !

August 27 2008 at 2:10 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Raphael Salgado

That's bulky, but expected. However, with that added size, they better throw in supplemental battery life for two reasons: we'll likely be gaming more, and the device may require additional power that the iPhone 3G really can't afford to sacrifice.

August 27 2008 at 2:06 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply