[Rescuer]

they need to make it smaller and compact so people can actually carry it around.

they have so much potential to make a lot of money on a good product if they make it smaller and more flattering.

[wolverinemarky]

they should redesign the shape if they keep that i wouldnt pay any more then 20 bucks for it, i agree with most of everyone else it looks ugly

[treble26]

the idea is obviously a great idea but the design is really bad. its ugly. i wouldnt buy something that looks like a toy for my rottweiler. i really hope that they change the design on this. i will buy this product if it comes out but i will wait a while until a new and similar product gets released if this is the final design

[lilskaterpunk]

Its alright... Cool.

[cpkirkley]

Originally Posted by Rescuer

this controller is a bone and you want to know if the feel is bang on?

+1

I like the idea, but it seems a little impractical to travel with. My messenger tote is already crowded enough with my work material, and netbook.

Imo, the best design for external buttons wont change the dimensions of the platform as a whole... Kind like that battery pack/case combo. Something like that with DPad (or analog stick...) and buttons on the top and bottom. Same functionality without too much extra bulk, nor do you look like a tool on the subway.

[Rescuer]

plus, if you are out and about, where do you put your phone in order to play on it? in your lap? on the table propped up against something?

remember that other controller being made last year where you basically dock your phone in the middle of the controller, making it kinda resemble a psp?

that could have been an amazing product if it was made properly. people like that just need some investors.

[CaptainChaos]

The concept is cool, but the design is not happening. I agree with rescuer in that the phone needs to sit inside of the controller so that it is one unit.

Gotta love the headphone jack and internal speaker though

[NessLookAlike]

Originally Posted by cpjr

^I dont think so, there are several games I would enjoy but HATE trying to play them using the iphone as the controller.

I dont play alot of games on the phone anyways....but for someone that does it could be quite useful.

It is pretty useless, actually, as was already outlined on one of the other iPhone news sites (Gizmodo? Engadget?), specifically because this controller setup does not do anything for the iPhone's accelerometer, which usually plays a huge role in iPhone games. Maybe this controller will be acceptable to the guy that wants to play SNES games or something along the lines of emulation, but in general, unless that thing sports an accelerometer of its own.. not much use here.

If you think back though, there was a different controller being built a looooooong time ago for the iPhone/Touch, which featured the iPhone/Touch being plugged into the controller, which sort of wrapped around the device, and feature the typical Start/Select/D-Pad/4-button setup of a nice controller pad. Now THAT would be something, if made.

[reeko]

Originally Posted by NessLookAlike

It is pretty useless, actually, as was already outlined on one of the other iPhone news sites (Gizmodo? Engadget?), specifically because this controller setup does not do anything for the iPhone's accelerometer, which usually plays a huge role in iPhone games. Maybe this controller will be acceptable to the guy that wants to play SNES games or something along the lines of emulation, but in general, unless that thing sports an accelerometer of its own.. not much use here.

If you think back though, there was a different controller being built a looooooong time ago for the iPhone/Touch, which featured the iPhone/Touch being plugged into the controller, which sort of wrapped around the device, and feature the typical Start/Select/D-Pad/4-button setup of a nice controller pad. Now THAT would be something, if made.

Asphalt Racing, 9th in the UK AppStore right now does not rely solely on an accelerometer.

If controllers like this are going to be made im sure more games developers will look at other ways to play games, without the accelelormeter.

And if i had the choice betweens buttons and an accelerometer i would choose buttons all day long. The accelerometer seems like a novelty when used IMO

[qwerty30]

Originally Posted by reeko

Asphalt Racing, 9th in the UK AppStore right now does not rely solely on an accelerometer.

If controllers like this are going to be made im sure more games developers will look at other ways to play games, without the accelelormeter.

And if i had the choice betweens buttons and an accelerometer i would choose buttons all day long. The accelerometer seems like a novelty when used IMO

agreed, titles that use the accelerometer stink on ice (IMHO of course) and anything using a 'virtual d-pad' doesn't usually work all that great since you're not getting any sort of tactical feedback. I love my phone but lets face it, the design really limits it's potential...

A device like this is long overdue. I would prefer something like the icontrol pad instead, but at this point, who ever makes it out first will get my $$$

[ivanbalvan]

k, this device is so stupid that it made me finally register.
Listen... Who gives a crap about games honestly? Thats not what you have your phone for...

How about you get a big battery device that has a built on qwerty key board on it... and make your ipod dockable on it.. then you can type much faster and have an external battery for thowse long trips! and besides, you can also use your keyboard as a gaming controller if you really want to.

[MWillis561]

I think where this design totally is in the wrong is that it doesn't incorporate the iphone/ipod into it. Face it, we are going to have to deal with games that use the accelerometer/compass. But if you add in another dimension of buttons then you get an awesome device. That is why it needs to be a controller that encases itself around the iphone/ipod.

So now instead of having just buttons or just accelerometer/compass you will now have both. I think that is what will make the iphone truly a gaming platform.

[Koooookalo]

I for one will be getting that controller just to turn it into a bluetooth enabled SNES controller for my phone.

[Poseidon79]

Originally Posted by ivanbalvan

k, this device is so stupid that it made me finally register.
Listen... Who gives a crap about games honestly? Thats not what you have your phone for...

How about you get a big battery device that has a built on qwerty key board on it... and make your ipod dockable on it.. then you can type much faster and have an external battery for thowse long trips! and besides, you can also use your keyboard as a gaming controller if you really want to.

I completely disagree with you on this one. People buy an iPhone (or any smartphone) for it's versatility. If all they wanted was a phone they'd still have a RAZR (or worse). Apple is trying to push the boundaries of their mobile platform. If a PSP or Nintendo DS had an integrated phone... people would go ape sh*t over it. One of the main selling points of the iPhone is the App Store.. not the phone or the touch screen. I think giving people (and Devs) the OPTION of an external controller is perfect to bridge the gap between a PSP and an iPhone. I applaud their efforts... and if you don't think it's useful then don't buy it. For the rest of us that think the acceleratorameter is restrictive to game play this will be awesome!

[ivanbalvan]

I do agree with what you are saying, but don't you think a device that would work as a case, external battery and a qwerty keyboard would be much more productive? You are not limited to use your keyboard only for typing, what stops you from using wasd keys for movement and I O K L for buttons or w/e you want, and also a battery addon is greatly overdue for iphones, and this would resolve a lot of problems and open up doors for greater customer potential. A lot of people I know do not buy an IpHone simply because they keyboard is harder to use then a qwerty keyboard.
On a serious note tho, are u really going to carry some kind of game pad in ur pocket? why not just carry a PSP atleast that thing dosent die as fast as an Iphone... The Iphone has to be completly redesigned in my opinion, needs to be bigger with a sliding keyboard and a good battery for F(*& sakes. I mean would you guys really care if your iphone was half an inch fatter?