Belkin JoyPod plans sneak out (now confirmed false)

Update: Belkin reps have contacted us to say that the JoyPod, while a fascinating idea, is not a product they have in development. Oh well!

I guessed that we'd see a more official iPhone controller sooner or later, but I didn't think it'd be this much sooner -- Touch Arcade has unearthed this photo of a Belkin-branded game controller/case for the iPhone and iPod touch called the JoyPod. Looks pretty slick, though as Engadget points out, the ratios don't really work out -- odds are that the final product will have to be a little longer to fit the iPhone in there.

Very interesting, though -- now I'm curious to see if Apple really will support stuff like this. Supporting a third-party controller would seem to go against His Jobsness' suggestion that a multitouch screen could be used for anything (even typing on an awkward non-tactile keyboard), but clearly there's a demand, from consumers if not from devs themselves, to move game controls off the screen and onto buttons you can feel while pressing. How else will you be able to "exprimir al maximo tu iPhone o iPod touch"?

View Tags

Source: http://toucharcade.com/2008/08/30/belkin-joypod-iphone-gamin…

Categories

Analysis / Opinion Gaming Hardware Apple iPhone App Store SDK

Update: Belkin reps have contacted us to say that the JoyPod, while a fascinating idea, is not a product they have in development. Oh...

Add a Comment

Sign in »

10 Comments

Filter by:

Patrik

Wow i wish this was real it seems awesome

September 02 2008 at 9:47 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Steven Fisher

As someone who ended up trying to use a iPhone protective case on an iPod touch, there's just no way the same wrapper could accommodate iPhone/iPhone 3G and the iPod touch.

I highly doubt this is anything more than an idea that will never be executed.

September 02 2008 at 2:31 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

bioh

http://www.icontrolpad.com/ ?

September 02 2008 at 1:31 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

kozefx

you guys obviously haven't played too many games on the iphone yet. sure, ya, nothing like having your fingers all over the iphone to do some action, covering up the screen so you can't see the targets.....duh.

September 02 2008 at 10:37 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

tmonk

They totally copied the Tapwave Zodiac hardware! Not an original thought at all.

September 02 2008 at 8:51 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

1 reply to tmonk's comment

Nick Carter

Exactly! As soon as I copped the photo in Snackr, I had to click through to see if anyone else caught this. I still have my Zod2 sitting in a closet gathering dust somewhere...

September 02 2008 at 3:08 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Tyler Hurst

Lame. Really don't see the point of this, but if people want it, okay. I just hope that those of us who have no interest in ridiculous add-ons won't be left out with software programmed specifically for such.

It's meant to be touched, people.

September 02 2008 at 6:15 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Steve

I don't see how these could work. Most game apps are controlled by touching the screen or the accelerometer. How would these apps be programmed to suddenly give control over to some third party controller instead??

September 01 2008 at 6:26 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Arnold Kim

Check out the diagram

http://toucharcade.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/control.jpg

The iPhone/iPod touch slides into the device.

arn

September 01 2008 at 6:07 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Chris

Although I've read a lot of comments from other boards castigating this controller. I must say from a personal perspective this can only help the iPhone. I believe it opens up a whole new subset of potential buyers to the iPhone platform (mainly hardcore gamers, who would otherwise shun the device). I really would like to see the iPhone capture what's left of the PSP market and truly shine as the first viable total convergence mobile platform.

The design may not be beautiful nor the concept likable (I've read a few snide N-Gage comparisons), however with each new addition to the iPhone it solidifies its position in the market and opens new ones.

Here's hoping for endless possibilities!

September 01 2008 at 5:23 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply