Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Gaming, Odds and ends, Developer, iPhone, SDK, iPod touch
iControlPad goes into production
I'm not so convinced any more that the iPhone really needs buttons or a d-pad (Rolando makes do with just touchscreen controls, and even a game like Tatomic uses "buttons" well on the touchscreen), but especially for retro gaming, they'll really help. So it's probably good news that the iControlPad, which we posted as a concept a while ago, is now real. The picture above is the final prototype before production (though the final product will apparently be black rather than white).
Of course time (including a little playtime) will tell whether it works or not -- Engadget thinks they need some official Apple support, but all they'll really need is developer support in the App Store (they say they already have strong support from the jailbreak folks). And of course that depends on lots of things: how it sells out of the gate, how easy it is to implement the buttons, and whether there's a need for extra controls on the iPhone as well. We'll keep an eye on this one -- it'll end up just another silly iPod accessory, or a must-have add-on for iPhone gamers.
Of course time (including a little playtime) will tell whether it works or not -- Engadget thinks they need some official Apple support, but all they'll really need is developer support in the App Store (they say they already have strong support from the jailbreak folks). And of course that depends on lots of things: how it sells out of the gate, how easy it is to implement the buttons, and whether there's a need for extra controls on the iPhone as well. We'll keep an eye on this one -- it'll end up just another silly iPod accessory, or a must-have add-on for iPhone gamers.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Athtart said 10:44AM on 12-24-2008
WHile the iPhone & Touch make awesome use of the touchscreen potential, there are some game controls, as many have noted, that do not translate well. Having some additional buttons and d-pad will allow for more and different games.
As a gamer I am definitely interested in this product.
Unrelated Grammatical Comment: Your first sentence makes no sense if you remove the parenthetical section:
"I'm not so convinced any more that the iPhone really needs buttons or a d-pad, but especially for retro gaming, they'll really help."
Parentheses are separate and not use like clauses.
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Ryan Trevisol said 11:06AM on 12-24-2008
"Parentheses are separate and not use like clauses."
This cracked me up!
Maxwell said 12:14PM on 12-24-2008
Actually, that sentence uses excellent grammar.
Luidelaparra said 11:11AM on 12-24-2008
I read T.U.A.W. religiously, and I have to say that the grammar trolls around here are ridiculous. Yes, the writer used parenthesis when he should not have but the message was still conveyed. The problem is not with his parentheses but with his run on sentence.
"I'm not so convinced anymore that the iPhone really needs buttons or a d-pad; however they will really help for retro gaming."
The sentence is a run-on for two reasons: 1) the proteosis of his argument is a dangling modifer and 2) the apodosis is really a semi-independent argument and as such needs stronger linking punctuation such as a semi-colon. There is nothing wrong with using parentheses in his arguement (think of prarentheses as whispering a secret to someone). Anyway, I have thus become guilty of what I was just ranting against. There are at least 5 grammatical errors in what I wrote, but as long as I convey my message distinctly and clearly it does not matter. Cut the writers some slack.
Happy holidays to all!
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athtart said 11:46AM on 12-24-2008
Thanks! I knew there were people better suited to explaining it. I typed too quickly (Christmas Rush and all) and obviously mistyped a bit (winces). It really stinks when you point out an error and in doing so make more yourself ;-).
Merry Christmas to All!
Good Grammar or not, I love this site.
solarpos said 11:17AM on 12-24-2008
Yes but will the grammar nazi's BUY a unit? I will.
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Luidelaparra said 11:25AM on 12-24-2008
This grammar nazi will not. I have no problem with the use of the on-screen touch controls that iPhone/iPod Touch currently has to offer. I think that part of the allure of the collective touch devices is their simplicity and ease of use; adding new hardware will diminish this. This seems to be a product better suited for the jailbreaking community where ease of use is not as much of a factor (From what I have experienced the jailbreaking community gets its jollies due to the complexity of what they are doing.).
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punkassjim said 12:40PM on 12-24-2008
I thought the SDK didn't allow access to the dock. Wouldn't a company have a hell of a time getting Apple's approval to make the device when it's pretty clear they're big caterers to the jailbreak community?
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David said 12:58PM on 12-24-2008
I agree on two things...
1. This will have a decent sales record for the jailbreakers.
2. This will have a huge sales record and possibly open Apple's eyes if lots of apps in the App store support it.
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ars_workerbee said 4:04PM on 12-24-2008
this is nonsense. there's no dock connector access to be had in the SDK, so any app that works with this wouldn't meet the app store criteria.
le sigh.
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n said 6:52AM on 12-25-2008
ars_workerbee: I guess this is mostly for jailbreakers who can play Nintendo games etc. They dont need to meet the app store criteria.
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Ryan said 11:48AM on 12-29-2008
So they are releasing a product to a very small percentage of the market to try and convince Apple that they should endorse it? Even if it sells well this company will never make an officially licensed accessory for the iPhone. Like someone said, they are supporting a segment of the market that Apple isn't too keen on. With no App from the App Store supporting it because it won't work, they are going to have a long struggle ahead.
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