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New iControlPad Prototype Controls the iPhone with Dual Analog Nubs
iControlPad iPhone Gamepad Case Is Actually Coming
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Purple Dave
11/10/09

In reply to New iControlPad Prototype Controls the iPhone with Dual Analog Nubs
The original version looks a lot better for gaming on the go, as it doesn't significantly decrease the pocketability of the phone. This looks like something you'd need to pull out of a bag or briefcase whenever you want to play games. And I can't see it running for less than $100, at which point I'd have to agree with all the people who said you might as well just buy a DS. #icontrolpadnewdesignanalog
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se7a7n7
11/10/09

In reply to New iControlPad Prototype Controls the iPhone with Dual Analog Nubs
So the iPhone was able to get dual analog sticks before the PSP... #icontrolpadnewdesignanalog
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Nintenboy01
11/10/09

In reply to New iControlPad Prototype Controls the iPhone with Dual Analog Nubs
Any chance for shoulder or rear buttons or something? #icontrolpadnewdesignanalog
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anexanhume
11/10/09

@Nintenboy01: There's actually two shoulder buttons you can't see there. #icontrolpadnewdesignanalog
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Brookespeed
11/10/09

In reply to New iControlPad Prototype Controls the iPhone with Dual Analog Nubs
I have to wonder why Apple isn't getting on board with interface jackets like this more quickly. For the first 5 years of iPod expansion all you'd see were docks in every size and shape. Now they talk about the iPod Touch and iPhone as a core system. The one GPS (vaporware? anyone seen it yet?) and their own POS system are the only official ones I've heard about. It seems this market is really slow to develop. I was planning on pairing a smaller candybar phone with wifi to use as an ad-hoc wireless point with an iPod touch but I keep thinking the iPod is too locked down and has too many caveats. Enhanced experience jackets or peripheral attachements for the system would really change that thought. #icontrolpadnewdesignanalog
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Justin Paulson
11/10/09

In reply to New iControlPad Prototype Controls the iPhone with Dual Analog Nubs
Hmm why don't they make it official, so that I don't have to jailbreak, and get this thing supported by games in the AppStore? I mean Apple opened up the Dock to devs, seems like they could make it legit.
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Xeno promoted this comment Edited by Justin Paulson at 11/10/09 10:06 AM Justin Paulson was starred Justin Paulson was unstarred

Xeno
11/10/09

@Justinpaulson: I'm betting there are licensing fees to be handled in the normal marketplace. If they get out of beta and sell some units for the jailbreakers then they could have resources and a final product to attempt normal approval. Just a theory. #icontrolpadnewdesignanalog
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Justin Paulson
11/10/09

@Xeno: Good point, seems that they could easily get the money they need if they marketed this to some partners that are already large players on iPhone and had them sign on early on.

I think all you need though is the $99 developer fee to start creating and selling accessories and apps for those accessories. You just can't get the "made for iPhone" sticker on there without paying for licensing...I think. #icontrolpadnewdesignanalog
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Kaiser-Machead
11/10/09

In reply to New iControlPad Prototype Controls the iPhone with Dual Analog Nubs
Sad part is that I'd take this over a PSP Go any day of the week. #icontrolpadnewdesignanalog
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Monty
11/10/09

In reply to New iControlPad Prototype Controls the iPhone with Dual Analog Nubs
It just proves the point that the iPhone didn't need to be small and slick with a wonderous touch screen display - it needed to be ridiculously huge, more battery life, plenty of buttons, made with cheap plastic from a Datsun dashboard, and have a design based on the original PlayStation controller. Finally, the perfect iPhone has arrived.
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Edited by Monty at 11/10/09 10:00 AM Monty was starred Monty was unstarred

BergenCountyJC can't beat MW2
11/10/09

In reply to New iControlPad Prototype Controls the iPhone with Dual Analog Nubs
Super Mario Kart? Is that a jail broken app? =( #icontrolpadnewdesignanalog
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USB_Humping_Dog
11/10/09

@BergenCountyJC: The article says, "You'll need to Jailbreak your iPhone,..." #icontrolpadnewdesignanalog
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BergenCountyJC can't beat MW2
11/10/09

@USB_Humping_Dog: +1 for showing me the light #icontrolpadnewdesignanalog
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USB_Humping_Dog
11/10/09

@BergenCountyJC: Go for it. Free your iPhone. Seriously, there's a lot of good stuff in Cydia :) #icontrolpadnewdesignanalog
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OMG! Ponies!
11/10/09

In reply to New iControlPad Prototype Controls the iPhone with Dual Analog Nubs
Or you can go with an actual portable gaming device. #icontrolpadnewdesignanalog
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cabjf
11/10/09

@OMG! Ponies!: I recall reading that the iPhone 3gs is more powerful than the PSP. All it would take is a supported accessory like this (without the jailbrake requirement anyhow) for gaming on the iPhone/iPod Touch to be no different than on a handheld. Well, beside being more powerful. It would be like putting what's good about the DS (touch screen and developer support) together with what's good about the PSP (more online features and better hardware). #icontrolpadnewdesignanalog
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OMG! Ponies!
11/10/09

@cabjf: A non-Jailbreak version is about as likely as an outbreak of avian-swine flu as the only way that Apple can sell IP like the above-pictured Super Mario Kart is by licensing it from Nintendo.

Emulators are unlicensed versions of the programs and Apple does have a somewhat understandable reason to try to break Jailbreak capability - to avoid getting sued by the likes of Nintendo and Sony, as well as every other major software developer.

Finally, remember the old saw - a Jack of all trades is a master of none. As a smartphone, the iPhone is pretty darned good (not as good as a Blackberry for business use though). As a PMP, it's also pretty darned good. As a gaming platform, it's mediocre at best. I'd rather play games on a device built to play games. #icontrolpadnewdesignanalog
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noodleashy143
11/10/09

@OMG! Ponies!: Couldn't Nintendo offer the game? Apple doesn't offer any of the apps, companies pay them to deploy their apps on the iphone. So theoretically, Nintendo could offer an iphone app that works with this extension (although they would probably make one themselves) and it would be fine. You're right in the fact that it would probably never happen though.

Besides, this device doesn't have to be limited to emulators. Game devs could support it for their own games.

Steve Jobs has said that he wants the iPod Touch to become a gaming platform, it just needs to grow more and get better games than all of the free/$0.99 ones it has now.
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Edited by noodleashy143 at 11/10/09 10:24 AM noodleashy143 was starred noodleashy143 was unstarred

cabjf
11/10/09

@OMG! Ponies!: There are plenty of people who prefer a saw (read: PC) for gaming compared to the a console.

You are right in that companies would have to bring their IP to the iPhone for it to be a successful gaming device and you would likely never see the someone like Nintendo, with their own successful portable device, on the iPhone. I thought anyone could put out an accessory for the iPhone though so long as it was either approved by Apple or contained whatever authentication chip is required? What I'm picturing is someone coming along and releasing an accessory like this for non-jailbroken iPhones and then iPhone game developers making use of it (maybe even requiring it to work with their games since multi-touch only really works with certain types of games). #icontrolpadnewdesignanalog
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Maori_Yelir
11/10/09

@noodleashy143: Nintendo and Apple are very similar in one respect; Control. Nintendo would never release anything on the iPhone because, just like Apple, they value having complete control on their hardware and software. Releasing their software elsewhere means they are surrendering some of that grip they have on their products. It would cut down on their profit margins. It's much more likely to see even Microsoft team up with Apple for gaming than it would be Nintendo.

Fortunately, Nintendo no longer makes money off of older systems because everything you buy for them is pretty much used now so emulators probably won't be done away with any time soon. #icontrolpadnewdesignanalog
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Kaiser-Machead
12/23/08

In reply to iControlPad iPhone Gamepad Case Is Actually Coming
I'm happy playing tetris and Xplane 9 (yeah I paid for that shit wannafightaboutit?) on my iPod. I think that, at some point, this sort of thing is totally starting to obscure what the phone is all about.

Or, perhaps the PSP should have a more comprehensive game store, along with beefier on-board storage.
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