A controller for the iPhone ... or bust

The iControlPad project seems to have fizzled out, so another group is trying to bring the dream of a hardware iPhone button-based controller to life. Controller or Bust is a new project trying to move through the long list of steps required to get a hardware controller into production. The blog is the work of Benjamin Morisse, who is looking for all kinds of help from the community to get an actual controller off the ground. "This is ridiculous," he writes. "The iPhone was introduced over three years ago and there still isn't a game controller peripheral available to the masses. I've seen several prototypes that have kicked around the internet for some time now, but nobody has stepped up to the plate and actually delivered." All true, and Morisse hopes to change that himself.

One big issue is getting approved by Apple -- in order to run a peripheral that actually connects to the iPhone hardware, the project will have to be approved in the "Made for iPhone/iPad" program, and that's been the biggest obstacle for developers so far. But Morisse is working on that already, along with iterating on product designs, so hopefully he'll accomplish that goal quickly.

In the meantime, we'll wait and see. There's certainly a demand for such a device at a reasonable price -- Steve Jobs may not like buttons, but most gamers do, so the first actual production device to go on sale in this market will probably find plenty of buyers.

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Source: http://controllerorbust.com/

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The iControlPad project seems to have fizzled out, so another group is trying to bring the dream of a hardware iPhone button-based...

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M47R1X

Thank you Mr. Miller. I've been following the ICP since day one (okay, maybe a little later, but close) and I will say it's DAMN near completion. In fact it would be, if not for the joys of the 30-pin issue. BT to the rescue! My iPod Touch and Droid will be rocking soon!

I do have to say tho, competition IS good, as long as it isn't Apple specifically. They will rape you hard. And they won't even buy you dinner first. I wouldn't say to stop this project, but rather step it up to ludicrous speed. Oh, and what about the Gamebone that this looks like? That thing is Apple appoved (or pending, not sure) and it looks quite a bit like this. However, trashing the ICP is a no-no. The pandora team is awesome and they fight for what we want. That's my main beef with this project. Everyone needs a little informing I s'pose.

October 16 2010 at 12:39 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

William Miller

Also wanted to add that as you can see from the render at the top of the main icontrolpad.com page (and pictures of actual prototypes) the ICP team tried the PSP style controller as well. One big reason they went to the current design is so that more phones would work as well as future iphones, if not with the current clips then ones could be made cheaper than buying a brand new ICP just for a single phone. Plus it has a battery inside as well for those battery chugging emulators and yes, some games on non-jailbroken devices :0).

October 14 2010 at 12:18 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

William Miller

Who is uninformed??

Great news everyone, thanks to some bluetooth advice from a nameless source iControlPad will work on all iPhones, jailbreak or no Jailbreak. 12:37 AM Oct 10th via web - Craigx Twitter

October 14 2010 at 12:12 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Specialized

No offense to anyone but personally I would not be able to bring my self to buy the iControlPad due to its ugly design, and jailbroken only requirement. That my opinion I am in no means trying to bash the development of iControlPad, my opinion is my opinion and take it for that.

Hopefully everyone can contribute in ideas and such to get Controller or Bust going. I will be mocking up the design here quick in CAD so that we can keep the project moving. And seeing that my University has a 3D printer we will be able to prototype the design soon.

October 14 2010 at 11:19 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Nori

This looks great! Sure it may be a while before its out but I really like the idea.

October 14 2010 at 9:38 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Phil

iControlPad is in production. What a load of misinformed balls. I suggest anyone working on ControllerOrBust give up. The Pandora/iControlPad team will tell you why. It'll take you another 5 years to get something together, and by then everyone who cared would already have an iControlPad.

October 14 2010 at 3:34 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

4 replies to Phil's comment

Specialized

I am helping with the project and if anyone has ideas or wishes lets get them to us at http://controllerorbust.com/ as soon as possible.

October 13 2010 at 10:17 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply