Amazon has started selling the Duo Gamer Bluetooth gamepad from Discovery Bay. Designed for iOS devices, the wireless gamepad features two analog sticks, four buttons in a diamond-array, two shoulder buttons and a directional pad. The Duo Gamer supports only Gameloft titles such as Asphalt 7, Order & Chaos Online, Brothers in Arms 2, N.O.V.A. 3, and Modern Combat 3. The Discovery Bay Duo Gamer Bluetooth gamepad is priced at $79.99. [Amazon]
Finally. I think the mobile controller that I’ve been waiting for has arrived. And it’s not from Apple, Samsung or any of the major mobile device manufacturers. It’s from a small company, the same one who made the iControlPad. As one might expect from a group who named its product the iControlPad 2.
Like its predecessor, the iControlPad 2 can connect to any device that supports Bluetooth. But as you can see, the iControl Pad 2 has a lot more to offer. It packs a 55-key keyboard, a d-pad, four face buttons, two analog nubs, two shoulder buttons and more into a case that’s about as wide as the iPhone 4 is tall. It also has a new swiveling clamp, so you can tuck it behind your phone while still keeping it attached, and a 1360mAh battery that lasts up to 14 hours per charge.
The iControlPad 2 can also connect via USB and is open source, meaning it can be made to control all sorts of devices. Imagine using just one remote to game on your phone and tablet, control your HTPC and order your robot butler to attack the neighbors. I am vividly imagining that last bit.
Best of all, the iControlPad 2 can be made to work with a lot of games with virtual buttons thanks to BluTrol, the same app used by the iCade 8-Bit. Skip to about 3:30 in the video below to see how easy it is to map the buttons. What isn’t clear is if the app is built-in to the iControlPad 2 or if we have to jailbreak the device to install and use the app.
Pledge at least $69 (USD) to its Kickstarter fundraiser to reserve your own iControlPad 2, and check out its official website for more information. Of all the controllers I’ve seen, I think this has the best potential of becoming a standard controller for mobile devices.
[via Hack A Day]
Nintendo’s Wii U gamepad may be the star of the Wii U show, but it won’t be available as a standalone at launch. It will, however, be available when games that function with more than one WiiPad become available, according to Nintendo America CEO and prez Reggie Fils-Aime. “Through the launch window, there are no games that leverage a second controller. And so, during the launch window here in NOA [Nintendo of America] territories, we will not be selling at retail a second gamepad,” he told investors during a Q&A this afternoon. “But certainly, when the games come out, we’ll be making that accessory available,” he added. As for when games will take advantage of a second WiiPad is another question altogether, and one that Nintendo isn’t willing to answer just yet.
Initially, the Wii U only supported one WiiPad per game, with additional control handled via the Pro controller or Wii remotes. Nintendo changed its tune, though, following public outcry for multiple WiiPad support.
Filed under: Gaming
Nintendo Wii U gamepad not for sale separately in US until games support multiple controllers originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 13 Sep 2012 21:19:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Been keeping up with Steam’s Big Picture interface? Then you probably know it’s already in beta. The 10-foot UI hopes to help Valve’s content distribution portal get comfortable in front of your couch, offering gamers access to their favorite PC titles from a gamepad-friendly interface. We piped the beta out to our own living room to take a look, and weren’t surprised to find a sleek attractive UI with a heap of polish. That said, we were glad we didn’t leave our mouse and keyboard at the office.
Continue reading Steam Big Picture beta hands-on
Filed under: Gaming, Software, HD
Steam Big Picture beta hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 11 Sep 2012 09:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Archos has just announced their first gaming tablet known as the Archos GamePad, where it will merge physical gaming controls for that old school touch alongside a full Android-powered tablet, delivering an experience that Archos hopes you have never enjoyed before. Despite its name, the GamePad is not just all about play, as it will also be a viable light working device alternative as you can access email, the Internet, as well as a slew of applications through the Archos GamePad itself. On the outside, you will see a 7″ capacitive touchscreen display complete with physical control buttons and analog sticks. Being a Google certified tablet, you can fully access Google Play without missing a beat.
Underneath the hood lies a dual-core 1.5GHz processor that works in tandem with the Mali 400MP quad-core GPU. Apart from that, the Archos GamePad will be equipped with automatic game recognition and mapping tools, where these patented technology will make sure you can enjoy control compatibility with every new and advanced Android game that rolls out. We are informed that over a 1,000 Android games out now will play nice with the Archos GamePad’s physical controls, back catalog titles that originally didn’t support physical controls included.
What do you think of the form factor, is it a wee bit too thin to be comfortable enough to hold for hours of intensive gaming on end?
By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Archos 80 XS and 97 XS tablets planned for the future, Archos 101 XS Review,
Archos already has its hands in the kiddie-tablet market, with its 7-inch Arnova Child Pad, and it’s taking on the productivity-minded crowd with its keyboard-toting 101 XS. Now the company is going after another niche segment with the just-announced GamePad. The 7-inch slate runs Android 4.0 with a dual-core processor clocked at 1.5GHz and a quad-core Mali 400 MP GPU, and it sports physical gaming controls in addition to the standard touchscreen. Archos includes its own “game recognition and mapping tools,” which ensure that the physical buttons are compatible with Android games that use virtual controls (some 1,000 titles are apparently compatible with the GamePad at this point). Of course, this is an internet-enabled device as well, and it will include full access to the Play market and WiFi connectivity when it goes on sale at the end of October. Other specs include 8GB of internal storage, plus a microSD card slot that adds up to 64GB. There’s also a mini-HDMI connection for outputting content to your TV. For now, Archos is only announcing pricing as “less than €150”, and the device will drop in the US and Europe at the same time. For now, the below-the-break press release will have to satisfy your curiosity.
Archos unveils 7-inch GamePad with physical controls, Ice Cream Sandwich for ‘less than €150’ originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Aug 2012 08:06:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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It’s been almost a year since Thrustmaster rolled out its first replica Ferrari 458 Italia racing wheel and pedal set for Xbox 360, and the company’s finally outed its successor: the Ferrari Vibration GT Cockpit 458 Italia Edition. Like its elder, the GT Cockpit has an 11.2-inch replica of the Ferrari 458 Italia’s steering wheel, with A,B, X and Y buttons in place of turn signals and an Engine Start button that’s actually a d-pad. It also sports brushed metal paddle shifters and 16-bit resolution to ensure a realistic digital driving experience. However, the new wheel is attached to a base sporting a pair of stamped steel pedals via an adjustable steering column. The whole thing has metal underpinnings and weighs 22 pounds to provide stability as you virtually race around Sebring or Laguna Seca. Plus, it’s foldable, so you can easily stow it out of the way when you’re not doing your best Stig impersonation.
In addition to the GT Cockpit, Thrustmaster has also outed the GPX LightBack Ferrari F1 Edition Gamepad. It largely looks like a standard corded 360 controller, with a Ferrari-style white and red paint job (replete with racing sponsor logos), backlit thumbsticks and two rows of LEDs at the top of the controller. The LEDs are programmed to provide visual indicators for engine speed or braking power, and the thumbsticks have been tweaked to be more precise than those on other available 360 gamepads. The F1 gamepad’s up for pre-order today for $49.99, and the GT Cockpit can be yours in September for $300. Wanna know more? Check out our hands (and feet)-on impressions after the break.
Filed under: Gaming
Thrustmaster unveils Ferrari Vibration GT Cockpit 458 Italia Edition and Ferrari gamepad for Xbox 360, we go hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 15 Aug 2012 00:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Miss out on your chance to snag the Android-based gaming console during OUYA’s Kickstarter tour-de-force? Worry not, friends. The outfit has opened up pre-orders it promised for those who didn’t take the plunge initially via on its website. While you will have to wait another month to get your mitts on a kit of your very own, the second round of advance purchasing will set you back $109 for US customers and $119 for those abroad. Included in the aforementioned price tag is the console, a single controller and the requisite shipping costs. Hit up the source link below to part with your funds and begin the waiting period.
Filed under: Gaming
OUYA console pre-order now available for non-backers starting at $109, slated to ship in April originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 09 Aug 2012 10:53:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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It’s a wrap! Suffice it to say, it’s a been a relatively short, yet astoundingly fruitful — and initially record-breaking — funding run for OUYA, the hackable, Android-based gaming console. With just 29 days to work with since being announced, the Yves Behar-designed system has raked in over $8.58 million thanks to just under 63,300 backers on Kickstarter as of its official 1AM ET funding deadline today (You’ll find the final tally below).
Those who opted for developer editions will be able to start tinkering with their own units around December, while the majority of backers should receive the console as early as March 2013. Missed the Kickstarter bandwagon? Don’t fret, because OUYA plans to take pre-orders from the general public over the web soon, expecting those units to arrive at doorsteps near April.
The numbers are only part of the picture, of course. If you’ll recall, OUYA swiftly acquired a slew of partnerships from companies like OnLive, Square Enix, XBMC, Vevo, and Robotoki — and as if that wasn’t enough, just yesterday Namco Bandai and Plex officially joined the content-providing party as well. What’s more, we now know that each console will support up to four of those touchpad-equipped controllers for local multiplayer action. Even with all that, this story is far from over, as Joystiq points out that Julie Uhrman and company “promise” to have more updates before its official launch. Naturally, it still remains to be seen how OUYA’s (literally) tiny, Tegra 3-powered footprint will fare against the big three in gaming, but we’re cautiously optimistic.
So, while the final, mass-produced product is still months away, in the meantime you’ll find a recap of all the highlights from OUYA in the nifty saga module below. You can also hit up our friends at Joystiq here for extra insight from the company about its successes so far.
Update (1:15AM): Despite the timer hitting zero, it appears that pledges are still being accepted past the 1AM deadline — better be quick! We’ll be sure to update the numbers again as soon pledging is officially halted.
Update 2 (7:30AM): It took a bit of time, but OUYA’s Kickstarter is officially not accepting any more pledges. The final numbers? 63,416 backers helped to raise a final sum of $8,596,475.
Filed under: Gaming
OUYA’s Kickstarter funding is complete: over $8.59 million raised, starts shipping in March originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 09 Aug 2012 01:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Despite the millions of dollars of profits that it’s raking in, Apple still hasn’t come up with a way to include native support for physical controllers in iOS games. The best that we can hope for is for a gamepad manufacturer to step up and get support from developers. I really hope Bladepad does that.
The Bladepad is a Bluetooth 4.0 gamepad that comes with all the buttons and sticks present in a modern console controller: a D-pad, two analog sticks, four face buttons, four shoulder buttons and even a select and start button. It comes with a case, but you can detach the Bladepad itself if you choose. It even comes with a charger that can simultaneously juice up the controller and the iOS device that it’s attached to.
Now for the bad news. Because it uses Bluetooth 4.0, the Bladepad is only compatible with the iPhone 4S and the new iPad. Worse, as of this writing the controller is confirmed to work with – drum roll please – only one game. The makers of the controller did say that they’re working with “several major game studios and many independent studios as well.” I really like how the Bladepad looks and fits, so I hope it gets widespread support from developers.
A pledge of at least $59 (USD) on Kickstarter gets you a Bladepad, but if you ask me I think you should pledge less than that. You might be stuck with a beautiful controller that has no games to control.
[via AVING]
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