Turn your iPhone or iPod touch into a gamepad with stick-on buttons

I think these could be really useful for emulators on the iPhone. Even the best, officially-emulated games (i.e. Shining Force) don't have the most precision, though it's quite adequate in turn-based games. Ever try a Zelda-like emulated game? Disastrous without the quick button presses/reaction time that physical buttons allow. (I should note that games made specifically for touch-screens, like Zenonia, do have fairly responsive and accurate on-screen controls. I'm referring to ported/emulated games here.)

Like John, I would grab this if I saw it in a store. I wonder if the pads will continue to stick after repeated use though.

Agreed. I am surprised at how much the author attacks the tech when it's clear that it has some benefit. For gamers, there is a lot of benefit for tactile feedback - especially if you. Have been used to the nintendo and Sony platforms of old. I don't know how practical the press on gamepad is, but there is definite value in it's existence.

Totally agree with Rendus, you are NOT looking at the controls on the screen, thanks to fat fingers. Furthermore, even if you are "looking" at the screen, your focus will likely be on the happening portion of the screen, and having to look at where the buttons are is a significant waste of mental processing and reaction time.

Not saying plastic nubs are the best thing ever but if you can see them thru them and can feel them without looking at them, then they are of obvious benefit.

That's what haptic feedback is alllll about, and its the most obvious and persistent drawback with the lovely iPhone. Unimpressed in this article, would totally pay for these if I walked past them in a store. Maybe I'd stop attacking when I mean to be diving away in Samurai 2 for iPad.

"On a touchscreen handheld you are already looking at the controls on the display"

My thumbs aren't transparent.