steelseries stratus
Latest
10 iOS games that are 10 times better with an MFi controller
Did you invest in a new MFi game controller only to find that just a fraction of the games on the App Store support it? Or maybe you have a Logitech PowerShell, SteelSeries Stratus, or MOGA Ace Power on your wish list, but just don't know if the gaming payoff is worth it. Worry not, there are plenty of amazing games on the iPhone and iPad that are at their prime when played with a physical game controller. Here's where to start: Terraria - Terraria's touch controls are great, but the game is even more enjoyable if you throw a controller into the mix. Navigating the world, besting enemies, and crafting massive structures is much easier without the sometimes spotty touchscreen as your input device. Sky Gamblers: Storm Raiders - The most well known flight franchise on iOS has full MFi controller support, letting you pitch and roll your steel bird exactly as you want. Adding a new edge to your dogfighting skills has never been easier. Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas - Rockstar has added controller support to the various GTA games on iOS, and they now play exactly as you remember. If you're a big GTA fan, I'd even go so far as to say you should invest in an MFi controller just for these games, as the difference is that profound. Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed - Sonic's latest arcade racer is fast paced and frantic, with weapons flying every which way. Relying on the touchscreen is difficult, but the game plays like butter with a proper controller. Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic - This complex RPG has a ton of dialogue and menu choices, and swinging your thumb to tap the sometimes tiny on-screen buttons gets annoying after a while. The controller completely eliminates this, and if you go with the SteelSeries Stratus, you can even play the game on your big screen and kick back on the couch with just the controller in hand. Jet Car Stunts 2 - Speedy and smooth, Jet Car Stunts 2 is made even better when you don't have to crowd your iPhone screen with your thumbs. Call of Duty: Strike Team - The first-person segments of this tablet shooter can feel just as good as a proper console title when you use a physical game pad. Once you've had a taste, there's no going back. Dead Trigger 2 - Speaking of shooters, Dead Trigger 2 is one of the best on the platform, but it doesn't feel at home without real buttons to press. Star Horizon - This space shooter plays great with a touchscreen, but using a controller is just as solid, plus it offers the added bonus of letting you see even more of the jaw-dropping graphics. Real Racing 3 - Photo-realistic graphics and a smooth frame rate are often hallmarks of a console or PC racer, but Real Racing 3 brings it to iOS. Rubbing fenders with opponents is more responsive and solid with an MFi accessory.
SteelSeries Stratus iOS 7 gamepad launches for $20 less than its pre-order price
SteelSeries' Stratus controller, the first wireless iOS 7 game pad, is now available at Apple stores and on Apple's online store. Since the Stratus went up for pre-order earlier this month, SteelSeries opted to change its price from $99.99 to $79.99 (79.99 euro). The peripheral manufacturer said it will honor the Stratus' new launch price for all pre-orders its taken. The Stratus has two analog sticks, four pressure-sensitive "A, B, X and Y" buttons, four shoulder buttons and a d-pad. SteelSeries claims the controller can withstand 10 hours of play on a single charge via USB. It is supported by games like GTA: San Andreas, Limbo, Call of Duty: Strike Team and Bastion.
The SteelSeries Stratus is the most important iOS gaming peripheral yet
iOS game developers have been swinging for the fences with massive, high-profile mobile games for years already, but they've been doing it without a physical control option. Touchscreen and tilt controls work fine for many genres, and these digital controller stand-ins have definitely gotten better over the years, but any seasoned gamer will tell you that it'll never be quite the same. The future? With the launch of the iOS 7, Apple finally took the step of including a built-in controller framework, allowing third party manufacturers the ability to create iOS game controllers. The iPhone was the immediate focus for these companies, with Logitech and Moga going head to head with the PowerShell and Ace Power, respectively. Having tested both of the these (keep an eye out for our head-to-head smackdown coming soon), I can say that they both work well, but they are hampered by the fact that they require a physical connection to the device itself. This isn't a deal breaker, but it means that if you have a case on your device you'll need to remove it before utilizing the controller. And, although this should be obvious, they work only with the iPhone, so if you happen to have an iPad as well you're out of luck. The SteelSeries Stratus is the first to dodge both of those issue by going completely wireless, using Bluetooth to connect to your iPhone or iPad. It features four face buttons, four shoulder buttons, twin analog sticks, a digital pad, and a pause button. It's also almost impossibly small. As someone with large hands, I laughed when I saw it, but it manages to be completely useable despite its petite form factor. You can put it in your pocket and bring it along without feeling like you have a huge bulge sticking out of your thigh, which is a first. The iPhone as a game console But believe it or not, these selling points aren't why I think the Stratus is truly the most important iOS gaming accessory yet; it's because of its ability to turn your iPhone or iPad into what is effectively an Apple game console. By using the Lightning AV adapter with HDMI output, you can hook your iDevice up to your TV and then sit back and use the Stratus controller to play the games on the big screen. That's pretty damn awesome. The only drawback right now is that in the switch to Lightning connectors, Apple's AV adapters are now a tad laggy compared to their 30-pin counterparts. You probably won't want to play a fast-paced shooter with this setup, but anything else works swimmingly, and it's one of the coolest things I've ever done with my iPhone. If (when?) Apple works out the mild lag issues and thereby making every game on the App Store a fine fit for an HDTV, this will be the single greatest reason to invest in a controller. I say that the Stratus is the most important gaming accessory for Apple's mobile devices because it is, but that doesn't necessarily mean that this particular controller will actually be a success. It's a harbinger of fantastic things to come, but there are a few things holding the Stratus back from bringing game-changing control to the masses. Price of entry For starters, it's the first attempt at an iOS controller for SteelSeries, which means the build quality isn't where it really should be. It's built entirely out of plastic, and it still feels like a toy. The button letters are painted on rather than indented, the clear plastic cover doesn't fit well (if you bother to use it), and the buttons and sticks rattle as though they're a bit loose. This first-run attempt wouldn't be such a turnoff if it weren't for the fact that the thing is so expensive. At a whopping US$99.99 -- currently available for pre-order -- it's not exactly priced for mass appeal. I hear gamers balk constantly at paying $60 for full-fledge console game controllers, and those have been fine tuned to perfection. The $100 price is mirrored by both of the alternatives from Logitech and Moga as well, so it's not like you have a "budget" option to choose from. For controller-based iOS gaming to take the next step and truly challenge other platforms -- like the 3DS and PS Vita -- it's going to have to be a lot more affordable. I think it will be, especially as we move into the next holiday season, but right now it's definitely an expensive niche. We're at an interesting cross roads in mobile gaming at the moment. We finally have some physical control options available to us, and we have fantastic titles like Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas that support them, but it's all still too expensive to really matter. If a mobile gaming revolution does eventually begin to burn within the iOS ranks, I think we'll be able to look back at the Stratus as the spark, but right now it's just as much in danger of being snuffed out completely. Rating: 3 stars (out of 4 stars)
First wireless iOS 7 game pad, the SteelSeries Stratus, up for pre-order
SteelSeries has introduced a new wireless controller, the Stratus. It's the first iOS 7-compatible wireless game pad, which connects to iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch via Bluetooth 2.1. The controller has four pressure-sensitive face buttons, dual analog sticks, four shoulder buttons and a four-direction d-pad. The controller charges via USB for up to 10 hours of gameplay and has LED lights for differentiating players during local multiplayer sessions. The Stratus, which will cost $99.99, isn't available right now, but SteelSeries has opened up a pre-order page. SteelSeries has not announced when the controller will begin shipping.
SteelSeries launches the Stratus, the first wireless iOS 7 gamepad
With its new gaming protocols in iOS 7, Apple opened the door for gamepads that make use of the iPhone's Lightning connector to bring an assortment of inputs to iOS titles. Recognizing that not all iOS gamers own an iPhone, accessory maker SteelSeries has unveiled its new Stratus controller, becoming the first wireless gamepad to support Apple's latest iOS platform in the process. Unlike Logitech's PowerShell and PowerA's MOGA Ace Power, the Stratus connects to an iPad, iPhone and the iPod touch via Bluetooth 2.1, putting four pressure-sensitive face buttons, four shoulder buttons, dual analog sticks and a four-way d-pad in a design that reminds us a little of Sega's Genesis/Mega Drive gamepad, at least in black. While you won't be able to attach your iOS device to the Stratus and play on the move, it does mean you can set it aside and play against up to three other players on the big screen via AirPlay. Without that additional clutter, the Stratus comes in significantly lighter than rival controllers, giving you around 10 hours playtime on a full (USB) charge. SteelSeries has already made the Stratus available for pre-order on its website for $99.99/€99.99, and you can find the link in the source below.
