Devices like ThinkGeek's iCade have added physical controls to iOS games before via Bluetooth, but 60beat's GamePad has a unique twist: it's a controller that works using your device's headphone jack. Plugging the accessory into your iPad, iPhone, or iPod Touch causes the on-screen controls on a supported game to disappear, allowing you to use the GamePad's familiar dual analog sticks, D-pad, and 10 action buttons for a full-screen gaming experience. Even better, the device requires no batteries: it pulls power over the headphone jack, making it a lightweight candidate to have on hand for spur-of-the-moment gaming. The device also ships with an audio splitter, so we're assuming that the controller doesn't completely block your sound. Of course, a controller is only as good as the titles it can be used with, and the selection is currently slim. Only Bugdom 2 and the zombie game Aftermath made it for launch, but 60beat promises more compatible games will be coming by February of 2012. If you'd like to wrap your hands around a real controller the next time you sit down with your iPad, the accessory is available now for $49.99.


There are 32 Comments. Add yours.
Eh, pass. Great concept, but this needs to be baked in at the OS level.
Posted on Dec 30, 2011 | 11:44 PM EST reply Recommend (8) Flag actions
What’s the point of this when it’s just as compact to take a handheld gaming console with you?
Posted on Dec 30, 2011 | 11:45 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
I have an iPad and iPhone. I don’t have a PSP, 3DS, or Vita. When I travel, I’m almost certain I’ll be taking my iPhone and/or iPad. For $50 I can use a device I already own along with physical controls or I can fork over three to five times as much for a dedicated device.
Posted on Dec 31, 2011 | 10:13 AM EST reply Recommend (3) Flag actions
Too bad it uses the headphone jack, thus blocking the sound output. I wish they’d remedy it by building speakers into the controller itself. Also, it seems that developers will need to implement support into games individually, so there’s no guarantee it’ll work equally well with all games. Great concept though; this would definitely be better for FPS and Racing games than onscreen controls.
Posted on Dec 30, 2011 | 11:54 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Article says a headphone splitter is included.
Posted on Dec 31, 2011 | 1:37 AM EST reply Recommend (4) Flag actions
Sound output; Speakers;
Posted on Dec 31, 2011 | 4:14 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Crappy screen + crappy controller + crappy indie developer (and don’t disagree, most indy developers deliver complete and utter crap) makes this such a fucking fail of a pic.
Posted on Dec 30, 2011 | 11:55 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
The iPad screen isn’t crap. You don’t have the controller, nor do I, so we don’t know if that’s crap. Indie developers cannot be blanket-branded as crap. Look at Minecraft and its popularity.
If anything is crap, it’s the quality of your input.
Posted on Dec 31, 2011 | 5:34 AM EST reply Recommend (15) Flag actions
I hope LolyPopBrigade was taking notes, because he/she just got SCHOOLED!
Posted on Jan 01, 2012 | 6:21 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
Looks like someone grew up in the 90’s (like me).
Posted on Jan 02, 2012 | 5:07 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Comments from people like you really tarnish this site firstly grow up. Secondly don’t comment on a product you’ve never held let alone used and thirdly indie developers are producing some incredibly innovative content thanks to the mobile App industry.
Posted on Dec 31, 2011 | 6:00 AM EST reply Recommend (6) Flag actions
Indie developers? You;re pretty ungrateful. Most indie developers sell their work at such low prices for some amazing works of art and truly innovative gaming. Look at Minecraft, Terraria, Cogs ect.
Posted on Dec 31, 2011 | 7:26 AM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
Cogs amazing ? The indie devs of “old” such as Carmack and Sweeney actually pushed the game industry towards the AAA games we have today. Indie devs of today such as those behind Cogs and the like, think small and want nothing but to develop the next Angry Birds. That is not innovative at all.
His post was rushed and too harsh but he does have a point there.
Posted on Dec 31, 2011 | 7:04 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Annoyed that developers don’t support WP7 eh? Sour grapes are never attractive.
Posted on Dec 31, 2011 | 9:39 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Lol I see the trolls are getting their comments in before the year ends.
Posted on Dec 31, 2011 | 9:57 AM EST via mobile reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
A heaphone jack wire ? Do they actually know bluetooth ?
Posted on Dec 31, 2011 | 12:07 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
And then we have 2 devices to charge even more frequently.
Posted on Dec 31, 2011 | 4:24 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Very true its a shame Bluetooth can be such a power draw.
Posted on Dec 31, 2011 | 6:01 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Bluetooth 4.0 uses much less power than previous versions, which is present in the 4S and most likely all future iDevices. I’m confident Apple and developers will take good advantage of it. Can’t wait for an accessory that gives the iPhone/iPod real button controls.
Posted on Dec 31, 2011 | 7:45 AM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
Edit: And is supported in the OS level so game developers design controls around it.
Posted on Dec 31, 2011 | 7:46 AM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
Seems like you don’t know iPad 2, iPad1, iPhone 4 or lower version do not open Bluetooth for everyone. You need to jailbreak to get it work or you need to have an extra 30 pins Bluetooth adaptor to make it work.
Posted on Dec 31, 2011 | 8:02 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Huh? I can connect my iCade to my iPad 1 without jailbreaking it, no Bluetooth Adapter required.
Posted on Dec 31, 2011 | 12:48 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Untrue. All you need is build it to Apple’s specifications and get it approved by Apple. There are quite a few Bluetooth accessories that work right out of the box, without extra connectors or anything.
Posted on Dec 31, 2011 | 1:19 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
Then you wouldn’t be able to power the controller. That was the whole point of using the headphone jack so you don’t have to put batteries in the controller.
Posted on Jan 01, 2012 | 3:44 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
I see that a headphone splitter is included, but I would like to know if you can still have sound coming out of the internal speakers while playing, or do you have to wear headphones if you want audio?
Posted on Dec 31, 2011 | 3:15 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
While I like Pangea’s Bugdom 2, it’s hardly been much of a draw since Apple allowed native apps instead of Web 2.0 apps. Even if Pangea updates their entire catalog, they’ll hardly be promoting the controller in large numbers.
Posted on Dec 31, 2011 | 11:57 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Awesome idea, needs more game support. The future of iOS gaming looks good :).
Posted on Dec 31, 2011 | 1:06 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
The idea is not that creative…. I have a gaming console to play games with a controller. If it was integrated with iOS on a full scale, while trying to take a bite at the console market, then yes you have my attention.
Ideas like these, along with keyboard ad-ons for tablets, contradict themselves. When I by a table I want a tablet. If I needed a screen and a keyboard I would go ahead and purchase a laptop.
Posted on Dec 31, 2011 | 6:55 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
tablet*
Posted on Dec 31, 2011 | 6:56 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
While all you guys are right about the product just remember a few things:
1- The sound is utilized through the speakers on the iPad/iPhone
2- Future version may allow headphone connection through a split
3- Using direct cable link means simplicity, guaranteed speed/sensitivity, and no extra battery drain (on those already thirsty demanding games).
4- This turns your device into having one extra function, and may mean no need to buy a console for most people (remember how popular Wii became?)
5- This concept doesn’t apply strictly to Apple devices
6- Such function may become compatible in OS layer (iOS, Android 5, or even CyanogenMod)
Posted on Jan 01, 2012 | 4:05 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
I’m happy to see some development in this area, but I really want it supported by the OS, and would rather have it built into a case for the iPhone/iPod touch so it holds more like a Vita/DS. Easy enough, right?
Posted on Jan 01, 2012 | 11:22 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
If this starts to get really good support from developers, I’ll have to pick one up, but until then I will be waiting and watching.
Posted on Jan 01, 2012 | 3:45 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Something to say? Choose one of these options to log in.