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iCade-compatible games listed
Touch Arcade has a list of the games on the App Store currently compatible with ThinkGeek's iCade arcade stand for the iPad. It's certainly more than just the one official Atari app that it was compatible with at release, but the list is still pretty short, with only 16 titles included: No Gravity Warblade HD Sideways Racing Silverfish MAX Match Panic Mos Speedrun Velocispider Super Mega Worm Super Mega Worm Vs. Santa Compression HD IronStar Arena Emerald Mine Space Inversion Space Inversion 2 Space Inversion Puzzle Freeesh The good news is that with titles like Super Mega Worm and Velocispider in there, these are definitely some quality titles, not just filler-ware. The list is still pretty small when you think about the App Store in terms of total number of games. Hopefully spotlighting titles like these will encourage developers to step up and support the iCade, especially when a game like theirs makes sense for a real-life arcade stick and buttons. True, the audience of people that actually owns the device is smaller than the iPad audience in general, but the iCade is a pretty cool and unique setup, and it would be nice to see it supported a little more widely.
Think Geek's Electric Guitar Bag holds your laptop, lets you 'rock' the commute
ThinkGeek's really letting the jams out this time. The company is no stranger to shirts emblazoned with playable instruments -- but a messenger bag? Its new Electric Rock Guitar Bag features 14 buttons for a fretboard so you can strum any songs in a Major key, and a detachable amp that cranks all the way up to an obligatory 11. You'll also have room for a 17-inch laptop, while its eight pockets can hold your Green Day and Blink-182 chord-charts. Come August 28th, 50 bucks is all it'll cost ya to rock while you're rolling during the commute, but in the meantime, we know the perfect synth player for when you wanna get that office band started.
8-bit glasses lower the resolution of your bank balance
Haven't you heard? 8-bit is the new black. A trend that started with ThinkGeek's April-Fool's-turned-real-product neckties quickly spawned other accessories like watches and hair bows. Now, people with more money than sense can hop on the chiptune style-train as well, thanks to SAMAL Design's new line of pixelated glasses. The specs are available in two styles: "5dpi," which are based on hipster-friendly plastic 1980s Ray-Bans, and "6dpi," which are based on hipster-friendly 1980s dad-glasses. One pair will set you back 280-ish bucks, and will be precisely in style if American Apparel ever manages to produce an 8-bit v-neck.
Ion iCade Arcade Cabinet review
The iCade Arcade Cabinet began as an April Fool's joke in 2010, but this golden unicorn of iPad accessories has actually made it to production, showing up at our door last week. iCade creator ThinkGeek partnered with Ion to make this former imaginary gadget a reality, and so far it appears to be a hit, backordered for weeks soon after hitting the online store in April. The $100 cabinet pairs with your iPad or iPad 2 over bluetooth, bringing familiar hardware arcade controls to the Atari's Greatest Hits app, which includes classics like Missile Command (free), and Pong, which you can download from within the free Atari app for $1. The iCade is an awesome addition to your gaming collection, but it won't replace the hours of coin-dropping at your local arcade. Read on to find out why this accessory may become a permanent fixture on our desk. %Gallery-124649%
Thumbs-on review of ThinkGeek's JOYSTICK-IT for iPad
A while ago we were sent a couple of Joystick-IT "thumb sticks" from ThinkGeek (note: ThinkGeek uses all caps for the product name -- I respectfully decline to shout at readers throughout this post, and I consider this an increasingly annoying practice by marketers). Designed to give an old analog joystick feel to your iPad, the Joystick-IT sticks are little metal joysticks with conductive pads on the bottom coupled with a suction cup so that they can stick to your iPad, provide some "bounce" (with the conductive sponge) and control a game by using your fingers or thumbs. Read on for a quick review of how these work in real life and whether they are worth the US$24.99 price ($39.99 if you buy two at once). Design Well, I have to say these are cleverly designed. As you can see in the gallery, they provide a bit of spring from the spongy parts, and under the spongy parts is a conductive mesh to relay your controls to the screen. The metal on the sticks (necessary for these to work) feels solid and sturdy, not like a cheap plastic toy. The suction cup is necessary for sticking the thing onto the screen of your iPad, and comes off easily but not so easily it'll pop off during gameplay. Still, the suction cups look like they'll eventually snap off as they are connected by a very small diameter of rubber to the stick itself. By "snap off" I mean they look like they'll break. They definitely popped off the screen without too much pressure. Plus, while the metal is necessary, I am a little concerned about damaging my screen should I push down too hard. %Gallery-123403%
iCade arcade cabinet for iPad starts selling at $100, already on backorder
Humans, they just love mixing the old with the new. To wit, the iCade gaming cabinet for the iPad, an April Fools' joke that was just a fun idea this time last year, has gone and turned very real, replete with FCC certification and now a pre-order page. The Bluetooth-communicating iPad enclosure seems to have originally been on sale for immediate delivery, but ThinkGeek has burned through its first shipment of units faster than you can say "Atari's Greatest Hits." The second batch of $100 iCades is expected by May 20th at the very latest, although orders are being taken only from the US for now. The rest of the world needn't despair, however -- we hear building one of your own is a pleasurable and rewarding experience.
iCade iPad arcade cabinet one step closer to late May release
It's almost here! Sources report that Ion Audio's iCade arcade cabinet for the iPad has passed FCC approval, just in time for the planned release on May 31. The cabinet was originally seen as an April Fool's Day joke on ThinkGeek, but in the past few years, it's steadily moved towards reality and will soon be available for US$100 from that site, along with partners Ion Audio and Atari, who've already released over 100 retro games that are ready to be played on it. One interesting note: the cabinet will apparently be powered not just by the dock connector on the iPad, but with two AA batteries as well. That's only a minor inconvenience (and a small price to pay for having a fully-working set of arcade buttons and a joystiq to play iPad games with), so it shouldn't stop retro-loving iPad gamers from grabbing this one when it finally becomes real at the end of May. [via TiPB]
iCade hits FCC, gets torn asunder
The Ion iCade, our favorite April Fools' joke turned actual product, has just passed through the FCC and moved one step closer to retail reality. The arcade cabinet for your iPad had all its Bluetoothy bits laid bare and even brought along its user manual, in case you're the type who bothers to read those sordid things. There aren't too many surprises here except, perhaps, the inclusion of an Ikea-esque hex key -- some assembly required. With the green light from the feds, though, that means the iCade is right on schedule for its May 31st release. If you want to ensure you nab one of the first batch, you can pre-order it now for $99 from either GameStop or ThinkGeek. And, while you wait for the blissful marriage of Atari's Greatest Hits and Bluetooth joystick, you can peep the pics in the gallery after the break.
PLAYMOBIL™ Apple Store Play Set: Ignite Apple fandom in your kids
Hey, your kids are probably going to spend a lot of time in Apple Stores in the future, so why not get them started early with the new PLAYMOBIL™ Apple Store Play Set? ThinkGeek (purveyor of fine April 1 products such as Lightsaber Popsicles and Angry Birds Pork Rinds) is proud to bring you this fantastical set. According to ThinkGeek, the set "introduces children to the magic of Apple technology." There's an entire two-level Apple Store staffed by PLAYMOBIL™ associates, with tiny demo tables filled with minuscule Apple gear, software shelves, and even the kid's corner on the ground floor. Upstairs, there's a Genius Bar and a Keynote Theater staffed by a mini Steve Jobs figure. The Store is designed so that you can use your own iPhone 4 as Steve's screen in the theater, and there are simulated Keynote presentations available for download on the PLAYMOBIL™ website. The officially-licensed store comes with over 60 accessories, and measures 28.3" x 14.2" x 15.7" (72 cm x 36 cm x 40 cm). As if the coolness of the little PLAYMOBIL™ staffers isn't enough, there's even an optional Line Pack you can buy to stage your own Apple device launch parties. (See if you can spot Mini-Woz on his Segway!) No word on availability. In the meantime, whet your appetite for playtime with a gander at our gallery! %Gallery-120190%
April Fools' Day roundup: Google overload edition
Ah, April 1st. It's that time of the year again when the internet is rife with odd news and pranks. As before, news sites like us end up with a healthy stream of tips throughout April Fools' Day (thanks, by the way), so let us round up some of the best findings for your comedic appetite. Contenders include the usual suspects like Google and ThinkGeek, the former of which dominating the gigglesphere this year with some new "features." We also have some interesting submissions from Hulu, a font company, and probably plenty more to come as the day progresses, so keep watching this space as we add new entries to this post. Right, let the fun commence after the break.
ThinkGeek's Joystick-It offers a more traditional arcade joystick for your iPad's screen
You've probably seen the Fling, which is TenOne's stick-on joystick for the iPad. Now, ThinkGeek has introduced a competitor -- the Joystick-It is another stick-on joystick for the iPad's touchscreen, this time styled a little more closely to an actual arcade controller. The bottom of the stick has what looks like a suction cup that attaches to the device, and then you can move the stick around to control a capacitive widget on the bottom that acts as your finger normally would on the touchscreen. I haven't gotten to play with it, but I can't imagine that it offers as big a range of movement as the Fling does. Then again, the Fling is more of a controller-style joystick, while the Joystick-It looks like a full arcade stick, and it has a smaller footprint on the screen. The Joystick-It is more expensive than the Fling, too, at one for US$25, or two for $40 plus shipping from ThinkGeek. We'll have to try one out soon and let you know what we think.
ThinkGeek slaps a joystick on the iPad
If that pseudo-analog nubbin didn't satisfy your touchscreen gaming needs, ThinkGeek has revealed its own "Joystick-It" arcade stick attachment for the iPad. The aluminum stick will go on sale for $25 at the end of the month. See it action after the break.
iPad occupies new quarters in iCade arcade cabinet
Know what your desk, coffee table or car dashboard needs? The iCade. That is if you have an iPad and want a (very) small arcade cabinet to stick it in. Built by ION for internet nerd wares vendor ThinkGeek, the iCade features a special iPad cradle designed to not scuff your precious tablet, along with a ball-top joystick and eight concave buttons. If you have the money, space and understanding loved ones to spare, you can pre-order the iCade for $99 from ThinkGeek. Shipments begin this spring and include the iCade app, a front-end for (initially) a handful of Atari classics, such as Asteroids, with the promise of more to come. The iCade API is also being provided to iOS devs free of charge, so here's hoping the likes of Cave release updates to make their games compatible with this inspired add-on.
Ion iCade hands-on: gaming on the iPad like it's 1979 (video)
You may recall ThinkGeek's pretty convincing April Fools' prank last year: the iCade cabinet for the iPad. Now, thanks to the keen beans at Ion, the two companies held hands and turned this totally rad concept into reality (although they're definitely not the first). Come late spring, retro gaming enthusiasts will be able to pick up one of these well-built Bluetooth joystick kits for $99 direct from Ion, and eventually they'll make it across the pond for about €99 and £79. Don't worry, there'll be plenty of classic games available to suit the iCase courtesy of Atari, who's already got Asteroids working beautifully on the iPad (and it's actually a lot harder than it looks); any iOS game that takes a Bluetooth input peripheral should also play nice with the iCade. Hands-on video after the break. %Gallery-113155%
ThinkGeek Joystick-It brings arcade-style fun to your otherwise mundane tablet gaming experience
We've seen many arcade-style joysticks for video game consoles over the years, and the trend is making its way to the tablet market. The ThinkGeek Joystick-It attaches to your tablet's screen in a position of your choosing so that you can game on your shiny new slate in a decidedly retro way. The joystick is all-aluminum, works with any game that has an on-screen control pad, and does its thing without the use of batteries. We don't know how the device actually attaches to the display, but we do know that it is more aesthetically pleasing than other tactile control solutions we've seen at CES this year. The Joystick-It will cost $24.95 and be available by the end of January, so if old-school gaming is your thing, check out the demo video after the break. [Thanks, Jessica] %Gallery-113014%
Official t-shirts provide uniforms for Minecrafting
In what might be the first official merch release for a game that hasn't even hit beta, you can now express your appreciation for indie sensation Minecraft by wearing some real-world Minecraft ... crafts. ThinkGeek is selling two officially-licensed t-shirts, one featuring the Creeper and another bearing the logo of a fictitious Crafters union. Each shirt is available for $20 in sizes up to XL, with XXL and XXXL versions available for an additional dollar per X. Either is a great gift for the Minecraft fan in your life -- but if you don't have the money for t-shirts, you can always give the thoughtful gift of personal assurance that monsters can't knock your house over.
New Stormwind and Orgrimmar mugs available from TavernCraft
Taverncraft and ThinkGeek now have available both the Alliance and Horde Taverncraft mugs for order at their respective sites, just in time for the holidays. The Alliance mug features King Varian Wrynn and the capital of Stormwind, while the Horde mug features Orgrimmar with once-Warchief Thrall. Both mugs are stoneware and are shipping in late December. Check them out at Taverncraft and ThinkGeek.
ThinkGeek TK-421 iPhone keyboard case review
We've been eagerly waiting for iPhone cases with built-in keyboards to hit ever since iOS 4 added Bluetooth keyboard support, but they simply haven't materialized like we'd hoped -- in fact, ThinkGeek's TK-421 case is the first to hit the market, nearly eight months after iOS 4 was first announced. Now that it's finally here, we've got to ask -- is this thing the ultimate iPhone accessory? Does the iPhone actually need a keyboard? Does flipping open automatically make something awesome? Read on to find out. %Gallery-108609%
ThinkGeek's synth shirt brings a new wave to your wardrobe
Looking for a new wearable instrument now that you've finally worn out your bongo drum t-shirt? Then you might want to consider ThinkGeeks' new synthesizer shirt, which packs five different sampled instruments, full polyphonic sound, and a handsome "wearable" amp. Head on past the break to get an idea of what the shirt's capable of, and look for it to start shipping on November 29th for $29.99 to $32.98 depending on the size.
Another hardware keyboard solution for iPhone
There are many iPhone detractors who still won't let go of the fact that the iPhone doesn't have a physical keyboard. Whether it's because the on-screen keyboard is too difficult to use, or the move away from "the norm" is too jarring, it's what holds back many from making the switch or from liking the iPhone they already have. There have been physical keyboard solutions for the iPhone for some time now, like the 4iThumbs and iTwinge overlays, but now there's a new type of keyboard from ThinkGeek that connects to your iPhone via Bluetooth and doubles as a case. The $49.99 keyboard is powered by its own rechargeable batteries (recharges via USB) and, when not in use, can flip to the backside of the phone. Unfortunately, once the keyboard is flipped to the back, it's obstructing the camera, so taking photos is going to be cumbersome with this thing attached. It's also going to add a bit of bulk to your phone, but what do you expect when you're carrying around a separate keyboard for the thing? [via iPhone Savior]
