iControlPad iPhone gamepad case prototype surfaces

We saw a couple versions of the iControlPad iPhone gamepad surface back in May, but it looks like the clever add-on is getting close to reality -- check out these case prototypes that just popped up. Yeah, it's not, uh, small -- good thing the target price is under $30. Touch Arcade also has some other pictures of another iPhone gaming accessory that looks like it slides open, check it out at the read link.

[Jason @ Aug 25th 2008 5:07PM]

If they can make these, why can't someone just make an physical keyboard for the damned things?

[JimReaper @ Aug 25th 2008 5:12PM]

I've gotten pretty used to the on screen keyboard myself now, but there may well be a physical one for the next iteration.

[jayhawk @ Aug 25th 2008 5:14PM]

the virtual keyboard is a very good and revolutionary. No need physical keyboard.

[mphayvanh @ Aug 25th 2008 6:15PM]

Revolutionary?! It can't even do landscape.

[Carl Vitullo @ Aug 25th 2008 6:12PM]

No, it'll be revolutionary when somebody makes it have tactile feedback. They've had on-screen keyboards since the beginning.

[Flashpoint @ Aug 25th 2008 6:13PM]

The same reason SONY hasn't made a keyboard for the PSP.

Coorperate level incompetence married to neolithic stupidity.

The apple FanMcNuggets claim the touch keys work well enough but they overlook the fact that parts of the keyboard in the corners are not sensitive enough and don't register touches in many circumstances.

I personally would buy this attachment for my iphone but iphones have enough battery life problems as it is.

[who? @ Aug 25th 2008 6:36PM]

Thirded.

Time it takes to learn to use a touch screen keyboard? One minute.

Space you save by not having a big-ass thirty button keypad? Timeless.

[Dale @ Aug 25th 2008 6:43PM]

Steve Jobs sees the lack of a physical keyboard as a good thing as it's far easier to localise software than hardware. I agree, but I do wish the keyboard was a little less dopey.

[lanejasper69 @ Aug 25th 2008 9:00PM]

I disagree, after a few days the touch keyboard rules! I can type super fast on my iPhone no matter what key I'm hitting, just took a bit of getting used to. The benefit of having a virtual keyboard and learning to type on it out-weighs purchasing an add-on hardware keyboard for sure. With an Add-on keyboard (hardare) You'd STILL have to learn to type on it (because it'd still be smaller) AND have to pay for it, AND have to plug it in, AND have it waste more battery life. AND some people would demand a case for it, to keep out lint etc. possibly.

(Kind of defeats the purpose of an all-in-one portable unit) does it not?

I'll take the virtual keyboard any day!

My 2¢

[loosely_coupled @ Aug 26th 2008 3:04AM]

"They've had on-screen keyboards since the beginning."

I don't think some of you guys understand, and most likely the reason is because you haven't actually used an iPhone for any length of time. I too was extremely skeptical about the touch screen keyboard when I first saw the iPhone introduced, however after a few days of adjustment to it I was typing faster and more accurately than I was on my Treo 700!
I doubt most people have even used a capacitive touchscreen before, and especially one of the iPhone's caliber. For the uninitiated, it's like no other touchscreen you have ever used. It's a thousand times more responsive than anything I've tried before, and coupled with the seamless and fluid interface of the iPhone, it's very simple to use. I literally type faster than I did on any other smartphone I've owned, and I would never go back to a hardware keyboard as it's now completely unnecessary and just a waste of space and weight..

[ishism @ Aug 26th 2008 5:58PM]

This comes from the same group who is developing the case for openpandora handheld gaming pc. Maybe they will consider creating a keypad for iphone/itouch.

[Kiwi616 @ Aug 25th 2008 5:07PM]

Make it smaller and thinner and you have yourself a deal here for $30!

[quandmeme @ Aug 25th 2008 7:48PM]

But which games will support it? Will developers add an option to select input between the touch screen and external gamepads? Unless there are standard inputs, each game will have to recognize each input device with a separate option. Development only makes sense if the developer has a sufficiently deep market. These add on makers MUST coordinate so the software can capture the input in a standard way, otherwise they can make the best gamepad and have it work with only the title it comes with. No thanks.

[Jacksplat @ Aug 25th 2008 5:11PM]

What I don't understand is how people can say the iPhone can kill the DS/PSP/Handheld gaming market...and this is what they offer? seriously? Let's make the portable gaming experience huge and ugly...that'll win 'em.

[5thMeridian @ Aug 25th 2008 5:20PM]

Pro·to·type (prō'tə-tīp'): An original type, form, or instance serving as a basis or standard for LATER STAGES.

[My Ipod beats your computer @ Aug 25th 2008 5:27PM]

well iphone/ipod touch arent just gaming devices, they are mobile computer platforms, so graphics and speed will be better than the peice of plastic that nintendo tends to make.

[allislost @ Aug 25th 2008 6:05PM]

@My Ipod beats your computer

It's funny how that piece of plastic isn't prone to hairline cracks like your iphone.

:)

[Jacksplat @ Aug 25th 2008 6:09PM]

@5th - yes it's a prototype, but no matter how you break it down, it's an ugly solution...wrapping the thing in a separate control skin to play games? hardly something I'd want to tote with me just in case of 'down time' and I feel the need for a game.

@MyIpod - yes it's a powerhouse, a very nice piece of hardware to be sure. And I'm sure any games made would be kick ass. However, history I think has pretty well shown us that the flashiest console doesn't always mean the most success (dreamcast, I'm looking at you).

[Rob Pereira @ Aug 26th 2008 2:30PM]

@allislost:

Not prone to cracks?

http://www.joystiq.com/2006/07/17/nintendo-ds-lite-cracks-on-hinge/

[CoolGuy @ Aug 25th 2008 5:14PM]

THIRD!!

[Striker @ Aug 25th 2008 5:15PM]

fail.

[grull27 @ Aug 25th 2008 5:16PM]

fail!

[threefingeredlord @ Aug 25th 2008 5:53PM]

Win?

[Carl Vitullo @ Aug 25th 2008 6:12PM]

No. Definitely not win.

[Meridimus @ Aug 25th 2008 6:34PM]

I guess you couldn't count in the rush to post the fourth comment.

[Hafk @ Aug 25th 2008 5:19PM]

Those ABXY Buttons just look hand-cramptastic!

The D-Pad doesn't look that bad, but those ABXY buttons are a nightmare.

[Hafk @ Aug 25th 2008 5:22PM]

Also, it could be awesome to do a d-pad/touchscreen gameplay with Quake, but that will never happen, due to the way the iPhone's screen was designed.

You know why it was designed that way?

Because it isn't a gaming machine.

[Sudo @ Aug 25th 2008 5:19PM]

It's like a better version of the Ngage. It's not going to kill the DS/PSP.

[Zak @ Aug 25th 2008 5:43PM]

Right, because John Carmack spoke so highly of the N-Gage.

Oh wait, no he didn't.

[Kao @ Aug 25th 2008 5:21PM]

ABXY button layout?

[zephead @ Aug 25th 2008 5:22PM]

Eek, that thing's gonna make the iPhone as big as the Game Gear was (for those of you old enough to remember).

[Hafk @ Aug 25th 2008 5:24PM]

Atleast the iPhone doesn't get 5 hours on six AA batteries. :)

[Ryan Trevisol @ Aug 25th 2008 5:32PM]

Yeah, it gets 2 on a non-replaceable Li-ion battery.

Why in God's name would they invert start/select?

[Eddie Aitken @ Aug 26th 2008 7:41AM]

Start & Select switched boggles my mind like you wouldn't believe.

[Yay. @ Aug 25th 2008 5:25PM]

Wow, of all the games to show-off with a D-Pad, they chose Quake; it's second only to fast-paced Starcraft as THE WORST GAME to use without a mouse!

[sockatume @ Aug 25th 2008 6:14PM]

I'm not sure if you remember the original Quake properly, but it was geared mainly for keyboard control.

[Ineed911 @ Aug 25th 2008 5:25PM]

Does anyone know if any 3rd party developers are working on features like voice calling? How about anything useful to the device that it is lacking instead of this foolishness.

Good luck selling the lot of 1000 that you have produced - waste of time.

[Pomel @ Aug 25th 2008 5:30PM]

Yeah, but can it play.... oh, never mind!

[ozmoi @ Aug 28th 2008 6:30AM]

ah too fugly. I won't buy it!

[ozmoi @ Aug 28th 2008 6:30AM]

ah too fugly. I won't buy it!

[Carl Vitullo @ Aug 25th 2008 5:46PM]

They should make it so the gamepad covers the top and bottom of the iPhone, and have the connector pivot and lock to make it smaller and make the buttons more widely spaced. They'd just have to make the screen a little recessed.
That would make the touchscreen more accessible too, if they wanted to have a DS control style (ie, using the touchscreen to look around)

[Carl Vitullo @ Aug 25th 2008 5:46PM]

Top/bottom should be left and right, I guess.

[required @ Aug 25th 2008 5:47PM]

"needs dual analogue joysticks" - hipster doofus

[masterhalo @ Aug 26th 2008 12:18AM]

i ask for that and they told me to get other people to request it to so they can decide to add it in and shoulder buttons 2!

[1234321 @ Aug 25th 2008 6:00PM]

iphone ripoff

[Ehren @ Aug 25th 2008 6:03PM]

Does it require you to jailbrake ur iphone and or ipod touch?

[hfm @ Aug 25th 2008 6:35PM]

i can't see the iphone becoming a serious gaming contender against the DS without dpad and buttons. I mean, are we seriously considering that every game will control marvelously by tilting the unit or using some crap touch controls on either side of the screen.

I mean I can see it working great for a section of games, but it's far from ideal.

[Kevlar @ Aug 25th 2008 6:36PM]

Instead of trying to copy old d-pad technology, why not embrace what the iPhone does so well with its touchscreen and accelerometer?

Many iPhone developers take advantage of these innovative controls and have produced games that cant be matched on the PSP or DS.

http://www.learnucd.com/kevlar/why-is-the-iphone-popular

[jonathan @ Aug 25th 2008 11:07PM]

that giant piece of plastic seems like a good home for a second battery.

[lanejasper69 @ Aug 25th 2008 9:08PM]

You're on to something there, it'll have to connect to iPhone anyway (see the power LED light?), so why not put an iPhone re-chargeable mini-usb charge pack or battery etc. in there similar to the one Kensington(?) now sells for the iPhone.....great idea!!!

I'm running to the patent office....wanna race? LOL